Updates from Friday 24 November
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BBC Radio Stoke
A northbound stretch of the A500 in Stoke-on-Trent is expected to stay closed until at least 11:30 after a person died following a crash involving two lorries.
The collision happened northbound at Wolstanton at about 05:15 and the road was closed in both directions between the Basford turn-off and Wolstanton Retail Park.
The southbound section has reopened.
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Dave Richards says his concentration levels have improved since he became the club's first-choice keeper.
Image source, Crewealex.netRichards kept his first clean sheet away from home in Tuesday night's win at Morecambe.
Quote MessageIt is mostly about concentration, staying involved in the game. Even though the ball's up at the other end of the pitch, you still need to be switched on just in case there's a quick counter attack, quick break. That's when you need to be ready to make your save."
Dave Richards, Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper
Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire
Finger food is being introduced at Telford and Shrewsbury hospitals in a bid to help people with dementia gain more independence., external
Image source, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS TrustThe trust running the sites says the Butterfly Boxes have been designed as an addition to existing meals.
It says patients with dementia often have problems with eating and drinking and the small packs are designed to be picked at when they are hungry.
Allen Cook
BBC News
Two cats have been rescued from a fire in Wolverhampton which firefighters say was caused by a faulty mobile phone charger. , external
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceWest Midlands Fire Service says it happened on Thursday in the New Cross area.
They're urging people not to use cheap, substitute mobile phone appliances.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceBBC Radio Stoke
One person has died after a crash involving two lorries on the A500 at Wolstanton, Stoke.
The collision happened on the northbound carriageway at about 05:15 and the road has been closed in both directions between the Basford turn-off and Wolstanton Retail Park.
Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather
A frosty start for many. Through the rest of the day there will be mainly clear skies with plenty of sunshine and a small risk of the odd shower.
It will be cold, but with lighter winds than yesterday. There will be highs of 7C (45F).
Weather for the West Midlands
Andrew Dawkins
BBC News
Good morning and welcome to our live updates for Friday.
We'll bring you the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates for the West Midlands between now and 19:00.
If you'd like to get in touch to comment or share your news and photos, go to the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external, email us, or tweet @bbcmtd, external.
Employee "emotional" after clocking up 40 years at the site where his parents also worked.
Read MoreDoctors say patient safety could be put at risk under plans to integrate three trusts.
Read MoreNorma Francis was driven home in a taxi from a Scottish hotel after contracting norovirus there.
Read MoreWe'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 on Friday, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.
Rob Mayor
Political reporter, BBC WM
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Labour's David Jamieson, says he’s been given reassurances the force will get an improved funding settlement next month.
It comes after the policing minister Nick Hurd MP (pictured) used a short speech in Birmingham to say he understood the pressures being faced by the West Midlands force.
The Conservative minister was visiting Birmingham to officially re-open the force's refurbished headquarters.
Earlier this month MPs met the policing minister to call for more government funding, which has fallen by £145m since 2010.
BBC Sport
A long-awaited study into the links between heading a football and brain damage will start in January, the Football Association has announced.
The doctor who claimed former West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle (pictured) died because of repeated head trauma is to lead the study.
Image source, PADr Willie Stewart says his report would aim to "provide some understanding of the long-term health impact of football within the next two to three years".
It will be titled 'Football's Influence on Lifelong Health and Dementia Risk'.
The inquest into Astle's death in 2002 found that repeatedly heading heavy leather footballs had contributed to trauma to his brain.
Aga has bit out at rumours on social media that its workers in Coalbrookdale were turned away this morning and even shut out of its factory.
The firm, which is ending production at the site, said work to wind down the site was ahead of schedule and it was agreed some workers could go home early.
It said a photo showing the factory gates shut was set up by workers as a "symbolic image" - one "Aga supported".
"No staff were turned away at any point and none has been prevented from entering the site," a spokesperson said.
A number of staff will continue working until 30 November and work to wind down the site will continue until the end of March 2018, the firm added.
Among the headlines on the Shropshire Star website today:
The officer shared the information with someone from outside the force, police say.
Read More
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A competition to be the new face of Stoke-on-Trent has been won by a 23-year-old from Hanley., external
Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilShop worker Jozef Clark was selected from more than 3,500 photo submissions to be the face of a photo mosaic which will sit next to the town hall in Hanley.
The city council says the artwork is one of the main projects to come from its UK City of Culture 2021 bid, with the winner of the award set to be announced next month., external
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today
It will be a mostly dry night with the chance of frost in rural spots, with lows of 0C (32F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Alistair Binney
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
An appeal by supporters of Worcester City Football Club against a council decision to refuse plans for a new stadium at Perdiswell has finally been submitted.
The club's supporters trust had six months to challenge opposition to a new 4,400-seater stadium plan.
Planning officers had recommended proposals for approval in July, but they were rejected after city councillors voted not to grant planning permission.
The appeal will now be considered by a national planning inspector.
Mark Elliott
BBC News
As many of the staff ended their jobs today at Aga's foundry in Coalbrookdale, it felt like the end of an era.
When the final staff leave on 30 November, it will bring to an end more than 300 years of cast iron production on the site.
Image source, Carolyn HealyFrom 1709, when it was first used by Abraham Darby I as a foundry, this part of Shropshire was such a huge part of the industrial revolution it was like having a Microsoft or an Apple in the county.
Speaking to some of the people who've worked here, they say it was a tough job, physical work of "hard graft" but they add that it was a "fantastic environment" to work in.
Many of the workers leaving today hung boots on the gate, a tradition for those leaving a closing foundry, as Aga praised the staff for their "positivity, dignity and attention to detail at this difficult time".
