Summary

  • Simon Johnson death: Teenage burglar guilty of murder

  • Drunk passengers 'risk death on railway'

  • Children's home TV film prompts inquiry

  • Car theft 'relay' devices seized in Birmingham

  • Cash and phones found in police raids

  • Small police stations 'could move to community buildings'

  • Council's 'ludicrous' threat to evict Christmas tree

  • More flood alerts for the West Midlands

  • Darts prepares to say farewell to unlikely revolutionary

  • Updates from Friday 15 December

  • Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area

Live Reporting

  1. Two decommissioned machine guns among surrendered firearms

    Rifles, shotguns, revolvers and two decommissioned machine guns were among 245 firearms handed in to West Midlands Police last month.

    The force said it was "really pleased" with the response to the two-week campaign.

    GunsWest Midlands Police

    More than 100 of the guns were still operational and they will now be destroyed.

    The deactivated weapons included a World War Two "tommy gun" and an SK47, which the force said could easily have been put back into use.

  2. Elderly man dies after 'vicious' beating

    An elderly man who was "viciously" beaten and robbed in his own home has died.

    Arthur 'Bob' Gumbley, aged 87, was found lying on the floor at his home in Endwood Drive, Sutton Coldfield, on the evening of November 21.

    He died in hospital on Monday after his condition worsened. He was being treated for injuries to his chest, neck, arms and face.

    Four people have been arrested over the murder.

    Arthur 'Bob' GumbleyStaffordshire Police

  4. Search for answers to pedestrian crash death

    Police say a 74-year-old Birmingham man who died after being hit by a motorbike at the weekend had been returning home from the pub when the collision happened.

    Lloyd Reeves, from Great Barr, and the 25-year-old motorcyclist were both taken to hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning, but Mr Reeves died a short time later. Detectives are trying to piece together why it happened.

    Lloyd ReevesWest Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police is hoping to find witnesses to the collision on the A34 Walsall Road.

    Mr Reeves family described him as a "much-loved father, brother and uncle who recently became a granddad for the first time" and said he would be "greatly missed".

  5. Man dies after 'vicious' attack

    Four people are arrested after the 87-year-old died after being robbed and beaten in his own home.

    Read More

  7. Armed police search after bookmakers robbed

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A man who robbed a bookmakers in Newcastle-under-Lyme's believed to have had a shotgun with him, hidden in a bag.

    The Coral bookmakers in WolstantonGoogle

    Armed police were sent to the area around Coral Racing on High Street, Wolstanton last night, but police say a suspect wasn't found.

    The force says he made off from the bookmakers with cash and no staff were hurt.

  8. Goose's future no longer on ice

    Good news! The goose stuck in the ice on a canal has been rescued.

    The RSPCA found the bird, who they said had become "waterlogged and seemed to have a bad leg" on a stretch of the Soho Loop in Birmingham.

    He has been taken away for treatment and will be released elsewhere later on.

    A spokesman said they had had several similar calls over the last few days.

    Goose

  9. Why allotment seed swapping is vital

    Researchers want to learn more about allotment seed swapping as it may be vital to future plant health.

    Read More

  11. Three flood alerts as snow melts

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    With the snow and ice melting, the first flood alerts have been issued in the West Midlands.

    River Severn near ShrewsburyGoogle

    The Environment Agency says there are now three in Shropshire:

    • The River Severn near Shrewsbury
    • The Severn Vyrnwy Confluence near Oswestry
    • The Tern and Perry Catchments around Shrewsbury and Telford

    The alerts mean flooding is possible in those areas and people should be prepared.

  12. West Brom look to end winless run at Anfield

    BBC Sport

    West Brom have dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season after Crystal Palace beat Watford 2-1 last night.

    Alan Pardew's side travel to Anfield to face Liverpool tonight, aiming to end a 14-game winless run in the Premier League.

    Alan PardewGetty Images

    Pardew said the key to turning around their season will be restoring confidence in their play.

    We'll approach the game with a game plan to try and get a result there, although that sounds easier to say than to do."

    Alan Pardew, West Brom manager

  13. 'Front window exploding' was first sign of house fire

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A woman only realised her house in Stoke-on-Trent was on fire this morning when the front window exploded, the fire service says.

    Smoke coming from front of houseStaffordshire Fire Service

    Firefighters were called to the semi-detached home on High Lane, Chell and say the lady was lucky to get out without injury.

    Staffordshire Fire Service says the fire was caused by clothes left too close to open fire.

    They add that the damage to the house means the family are unlikely to be able to move back in before Christmas.

  14. PC 'had abuse images of two-year-olds'

    Former West Midlands officer James Duffield had about 100 indecent images of children.

    Read More

  15. More members of prison drone smuggling gang jailed

    Andy Giddings
    BBC News

    More members of a gang who used remote-controlled drones to deliver items to prisoners in jails around the West Midlands have been jailed at Birmingham Crown Court.

    Drone pilot Mervyn Foster, who flew at least 49 flights to deliver contraband was given a sentence of six years and eight months.

    And the partner of the ringleader, Craig Hickinbottom, 32-year-old Lisa Hodgetts from Tividale, was given a 16-month suspended prison term for money laundering.

    Craig Hickinbottom's brother John, was seen with an extendable hook, ready to collect the goods

    Craig Hickinbottom's brother John, was seen with an extendable hook, ready to collect the goods

    A man described by police as Foster's "right hand man" 35-year-old John Quinn from Swancroft Road in Tipton was jailed for four years and eight months.

    Hickinbottom's brother, 50-year-old John Hickinbottom, was jailed for four years and eight months.

    Yvonne Hay, who is 41, and her 46-year-old boyfriend, Francis Ward, of Bloxwich Road, Walsall, were both jailed for two years and four months.

    Drone warning sign

    There was a suspended sentence for 19-year-old Terry Leach from Wednesbury Oak Road, Tipton, and 21-year-old Ashley Rollinson of Waiver Road, Brierley Hill was sentenced to 11 months in prison, but has already served his sentence on remand.

    A warrant was issued for the arrest of another defendant after he failed to attend court, 37-year-old Sanjay Patel from Telford - he was given a four-month sentence in his absence.

  16. Prison drones drug smuggling gang jailed

    Drones were used to transport drugs, phones and other goods into jails across the UK.

    Read More

  18. Stoke-on-Trent considering another UK City of Culture bid

    Vicky Norton
    BBC Radio Stoke

    Another bid to see Stoke-on-Trent crowned UK City of Culture could be given the go-ahead.

    Bottle kilns in Stoke-on-TrentAlamy

    That's according to city council bosses, after the city lost out on the 2021 title when Coventry was announced as the winner last week.

    The authority's leaders say nothing's been confirmed yet but the topic is up for discussion and hasn't been ruled out for 2025.

    What we need to do early in the new year, we'll sit down, plan what we're going to do over the next year or two. Goalposts can change but we're going to make sure that the city of culture bid, which was a very positive experience, remains positive going ahead."

    Councillor Anthony Munday, Council's cabinet member for leisure

  19. Nicola Payne: Parents 'too old' to keep going with search

    Trish Adudu
    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    The parents of missing Coventry mother Nicola Payne say they are handing over the search for her to the next generation.

    Marilyn Payne told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire she and her husband are getting too old to keep going and Nicola's nephews and nieces are taking up the campaign.

    Nicola Payne with babyWest Midlands Police

    With tomorrow marking the 26th anniversary of Nicola's disappearance, her brother Scott says they're trying to make more use of social media.

    The mother-of-one, who was 18 at the time, went missing while walking to her parents' house.

    They've come up with a new video for Facebook and they're launching the new website, Find Nicola Payne and all the different media platforms are find Nicola Payne."

    Scott Payne, Nicola Payne's brother

  20. Peter Kay cancels comeback comedy tour for family reasons

    BBC Entertainment and Arts

    Comedian Peter Kay has cancelled his mammoth stand-up tour, which was due to start in April in Birmingham, "due to unforeseen family circumstances".

    Peter KayGetty Images

    "This decision has not been taken lightly and I'm sure you'll understand my family must always come first," he wrote on Twitter.

    Kay's cancelled all future work projects which also includes several Dance for Life events, one of which was to be in Coventry.

    The 44-year-old was due to start his first tour in eight years next April with several dates at the Genting Arena, Birmingham.