Summary

  • Post-mortem test on boy, 7, 'inconclusive'

  • Birmingham could face rivals in bid to host Commonwealth Games

  • Husband jailed for life after admitting wife's murder

  • Girl found 'safe' after huge police hunt in Coventry park

  • Dance teacher, 72, guilty of child sex abuse

  • RBS to close 11 branches in the West Midlands

  • Hospital A&E to offer routine HIV test

  • Veterans protest over charity closure

  • Updates on Friday 1 December

  • Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area

Live Reporting

  1. Veterans hold protest march

    Veterans have staged another protest march in Newport, against plans to close a residential care facility for servicemen and women.

    Charity Combat Stress, which runs Audley Court, says it's making the move because it is struggling to keep up with demand and it plans to offer people care in their homes instead.

    Combat Stress demo

    The buildings which have been providing residential care until now, will instead be used as offices.

    The protesters held a similar march in October.

  2. Stoke City star backed for England spot

    BBC Sport

    Stoke City's Jack Butland should be England's number one choice as keeper, because Joe Hart is making "terrible mistakes", says 1966 World Cup winner Gordon Banks.

    Joe Hart and Jack ButlandPA

    Hart, 30, is on a season-long loan at a West Ham side currently in the Premier League relegation zone.

    He has won 75 international caps, but former keeper Banks told BBC Sport: "I don't think he is playing well, especially when they kick it to him and he can't pick up."

    Banks hopes Butland will get a chance to impress boss Gareth Southgate when England face Netherlands and Italy next March.

    I see him make terrible mistakes, lots of times he is lucky they don't score. I think Jack Butland is a really good goalkeeper. If he gets a chance in these next two friendlies and plays well, I think he will look to play him [at the World Cup]."

    Gordon Banks, 1966 World Cup winner

  3. Crane calendar 'perfect gift if you don't like someone'

    Andy Giddings
    BBC News

    The creator of the 2018 Crane Spotting calendar says the collection of photos of cranes around the UK would be "the perfect gift if you don't like someone".

    Kevin Beresford from Redditch says sales have been low so far, but he has produced a range of alternatives, including one of football statues.

    calendarsKevin Beresford

    He found fame with his "roundabouts of Britain" calendar over a decade ago, but has also been busy photographing post boxes and phone booths this year.

    calendarsKevin Beresford

    Mr Beresford has sold thousands of the calendars since he started, but admitted they are tounge-in-cheek.

    Kevin BeresfordKevin Beresford

  4. Does Birmingham face competition for Commonwealth Games?
    Breaking

    BBC Sport

    Birmingham has been made to wait to find out if it will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

    The city was the only interested party before the original 30 September deadline but its bid was deemed "not fully compliant".

    How weightlifting could look at Birmingham 2022Birmingham 2022

    The Commonwealth Games Federation now says it has received "updates" from Australia, Canada and Malaysia - but did not confirm any official bids.

    The body will offer a further update after a board meeting on 6 December.

  5. M5 crash blocks two lanes

    BBC News Travel

    Two lanes of the M5 northbound J8-J7 are blocked after a crash involving several vehicles near Worcester.

    Highways England says delays are building in the area.

  6. Man admits strangling estranged wife

    Christopher Jeffrey murdered his wife Sarah days after she moved out when their marriage broke down.

    Read More

  7. New boss Pardew aims to secure future of WBA skipper

    BBC Sport

    The club future of Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans is expected to be clarified when he holds talks with new West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Pardew.

    Jonny EvansReuters

    Manchester City, Arsenal and Leicester all failed with summer bids for the 29-year-old Albion captain, whom the Baggies value at over £30m.

    The club plans to offer him a new contract and Pardew is keen to meet Evans after being appointed team boss on Wednesday.

    Jonny is a fabulous player and very important for the club. I am looking forward to seeing him and will have a good old discussion with him."

    Alan Pardew, West Bromwich Albion boss

  8. New name for grammar school

    Sophie Madden
    BBC News

    A Shropshire school dating back to the 17th Century is set to change its name from the start of next term.

    Adam's Grammar School, in Newport, will be known as Haberdashers’ Adams from January, to mark its origins.

    Adams Grammar SchoolGoogle

    William Adams, from Newport, founded the school in 1656. Since it began, its name has already been changed four times.

    It is part of a group of schools supported by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.

    I believe the new name Haberdashers’ Adams is an ideal way to reflect the influence of our founder and the continued and vital support we receive from the Haberdashers Company."

    Gary Hickey, Headmaster

  10. CCTV images released by police investigating assault

    These CCTV images have been released by West Mercia Police, following reports of an assault in Malvern on 2 September.

    The force said a woman in her 30s is reported to have been knocked over on Grange Road and suffered cuts and bruises to her face and pain to her neck and back.

    Police say they are keen to speak to the man pictured below.

    CCTV imagesWest Mercia Police

  11. Jewellery photos released in 'vicious' burglary probe

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Bob GumbleyStaffordshire Police

    Pictures have been released of jewellery thought to have been stolen during a break-in which left an 87-year-old with "horrific injuries".

    Arthur "Bob" Gumbley was found lying on the floor and covered in blood at his home in Endwood Drive, Sutton Coldfield, in Birmingham, shortly before 22:00 on 21 November.

    The photos of jewelleryStaffordshire Police

    Police said Mr Gumbley was punched in the face and kicked while on the floor and his house had been ransacked.

    They say he's still being treated in hospital and have released photos of two pieces of jewellery which they say they believe were taken in the burglary.

  12. Non-league sides bid for FA Cup upsets

    BBC Sport looks at five non-league sides hoping to pull off giant-killing acts in the FA Cup second round.

    Read More

  13. City of Culture cities make social media push

    The cities bidding to be UK City of Culture in 2021 are making a push on social media to impress the judges.

    The winner is due to be announced next Thursday on the BBC's One Show.

    The teams from the five shortlisted cities have been told the judges will be monitoring support on sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

    Coventry seems to be doing well, because it's got #ThisisCoventry trending on Twitter and Stoke-on-Trent is also asking for support on social media.

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  14. Husband jailed for life after admitting wife's murder
    Breaking

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A man's been jailed for life after admitting murdering his wife after she died at their home in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Sarah Jeffery, 48, was found dead at the house on Church Avenue, Baddeley Green in June and police said she'd been strangled.

    Church AvenueGoogle

    Christopher Jeffery, 51, also of Church Avenue, Baddeley Green was due to go on trial, but changed his plea to guilty at Birmingham Crown Court this morning.

    He was given a life sentence and told he'd serve a minimum of just under 12 years in prison.

  15. 'Atkinson should not ref this weekend'

    Stoke boss Mark Hughes feels Martin Atkinson's failure to send off Liverpool's Simon Mignolet should not go unpunished.

    Read More

  17. Dance teacher, 72, guilty of sex abuse

    One victim said Neil Harris would look at her bare chest and say "let's see how you're developing".

    Read More

  18. Norovirus outbreak shuts ward

    A ward at Warwick Hospital has been closed to visitors, because of a suspected norovirus outbreak.

    The Malins Ward will only be open to visitors on "compassionate grounds" the South Warwickshire Foundation Trust said.

    Warwick Hospital signPA

  19. Former council leader completely quits Conservative party

    Phil McCann
    Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

    Former Cheshire East Council leader Michael Jones says he has left the Conservative party completely.

    Michael JonesCheshire East Council

    Earlier this year, he quit the local Tory group ahead of a vote which could have seen him suspended.

    The vote was over his business dealings and questions over the way in which council contracts were awarded during his time as leader.

    Mr Jones denied wrongdoing and accused the council's current leader, Rachel Bailey, of orchestrating a campaign against him - she firmly denied being behind any such attacks.

    Mr Jones remains a councillor for Bunbury, but says he is now no longer aligned to a political party.

  20. Falklands widow's work at National Memorial Arboretum

    John Bray
    BBC News

    Margaret Allen had been married a week when her husband went to serve in the Falklands War.

    Iain Boldy died when HMS Argonaut was bombed. His body was never repatriated.

    War widow's special place at National Memorial Arboretum

    Margaret is a Royal British Legion volunteer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and is part of a team helping service veterans.

    The volunteers have pointed ex-military personnel in the direction of financial, medical and emotional support.