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

  1. Coventry City 2-1 Cheltenham Townpublished at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Marc McNulty fired Coventry back into the League Two play-off spots with the decisive goal over Cheltenham Town.

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  2. Carlisle United 1-2 Port Valepublished at 18:03 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Port Vale move four points clear of the League Two relegation zone with victory at Carlisle United

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  3. Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Blackpoolpublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Jon Nolan's goal early in the second half proves enough to give Shrewsbury a hard-earned win against Blackpool.

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  4. Northampton Town 2-1 Walsallpublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Chris Long scores a first-half brace as Northampton end their six-game winless run with victory over Walsall.

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  5. Inquiry over man found dead in streetpublished at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Police believe the victim, who has not yet been identified, died in a road traffic collision.

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  6. Recovery truck engulfed in flames on M6published at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    The truck had another vehicle on its back on the northbound hard shoulder of the motorway.

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  7. Twelve charged over biker 'ride out'published at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    The men are accused of taking part in an illegal rally through Solihull and Birmingham in June 2016.

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  8. Hart 'best place to live in UK'published at 10:32 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    The Hampshire district came top in a study that looked at factors including life expectancy.

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  9. How to wrap awkward Christmas presentspublished at 23:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Gift wrapping expert Neelam Meetcha counts leading retailers among her clients.

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  10. Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Wolvespublished at 22:12 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Ruben Neves' classy finish helps Championship leaders Wolves edge past struggling Sheffield Wednesday to go seven points clear.

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  11. Our coverage across the daypublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 on Monday, but keep an eye out here for more updates before then.

  12. Main route set for weeks of closurespublished at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Carlie Swain
    BBC News

    Drivers are being warned over weeks of road closures around Shrewsbury in the new year., external

    Wyle Cop in direction of English BridgeImage source, Google

    The work - which could last about nine weeks - is part of a multi-million pound plan to revamp routes around the town.

    Shropshire Council says from 8 January, Wyle Cop will be closed to traffic heading out of town towards the English Bridge.

    The diversion route will take motorists through Frankwell, Meole Brace and Old Potts Way.

  13. Are drunken passengers at stations 'hilarious'?published at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Facebook

    People on the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external have been reacting to the video issued by Network Rail showing festive drinkers falling on to tracks.

    Birmingham tops the list of stations with the most alcohol-related delays.

    Media caption,

    The drunk passengers who fall on to rail tracks

    Amy Evans wrote: "Maybe if someone is clearly that intoxicated they shouldn't be let through the barriers or maybe have someone escort them to the train."

    Julie Brindley wrote: "What idiots and then the police had to risk their lives they should be fined."

    Basil Sponge: "Pubs shouldn't serve people who are clearly drunk, and neither in my opinion should shops be selling more booze late at night."

    Wendy Clarke wrote: "I'm sorry i know i shouldn't laugh but that was hilarious".

  14. Opening of new civic centre delayed after building damagedpublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Vicky Norton
    BBC Radio Stoke

    Newcastle-under-Lyme 's new multimillion-pound civic centre, which was due to be completed this autumn, won't now open until next year, because it's been damaged., external

    Castle House buildingImage source, Staffordshire County Council

    The £15.4m, four-storey building next to Queens Gardens will house the borough council, some Staffordshire County Council services, the police, Aspire Housing and the town's library.

    The county council says parts of the rear of the Castle House site need replacing after they were damaged during installation.

    It says the builders are footing the bill.

  15. Fresh ideas needed to tackle scourge of drugspublished at 18:50 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    "Brave" new ideas are what's needed to tackle the problem of drug abuse in the region, including treating some addicts as having a medical problem and not as criminals, according to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

    David Jamieson

    About 22,500 heroin and crack cocaine users in the region are estimated to be costing the area at least £1.4bn a year.

    At a special drugs summit today, PCC David Jamieson said it was time the region considered new methods including using things like introducing safe injecting rooms.

    Ideas from the summit will be considered next year.

  16. County to host more refugees and asylum seekerspublished at 18:43 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Anna Russell
    Newsreader, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    More refugees and asylum seekers are going to be rehomed in Herefordshire , externalover the next 12 months.

    Syrian refugee children play at the Zaatari refugee campImage source, AFP/Getty Images

    Herefordshire Council says 60 Syrian refugees have already been "successfully" settled in the area in the last year.

    Today, it says its cabinet's agreed with the Home Office that it can support 40 asylum seekers and 35 refugees in family groups.

  17. Wasps take on La Rochelle on home turfpublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

    Nathan Hughes returns to action for Wasps after recovering from a bruised knee sustained while on international duty.

    Wasps face La Rochelle in their return European group match at the Ricoh Arena tomorrow.

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  18. Bail for murder suspectspublished at 18:35 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Four people arrested over the death of an elderly man who was "viciously" beaten and robbed in his own home have been released from custody on conditional bail.

    Arthur "Bob" Gumbley with his injuriesImage source, Staffordshire Police

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

    He died in hospital on 12 December after his condition worsened.

    Staffordshire Police said the bailed four, from Birmingham, included two men, 42 and 34, and two women, 33 and 29, who were arrested on suspicion of murder.

  19. 'The paths are lethal' - your views on icepublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Facebook

    News that ambulance crews have been kept busy by falls on ice has got you talking on the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external.

    A spokesperson for the ambulance service said while roads seemed to have been gritted, pavements were often still icy.

    Ice genericImage source, AFP / Getty Images

    Zoe Brady wrote: "Paths are lethal, school run this morning was the most dangerous it has been all week. Have seen half a dozen fall."

    Karen Edwards wrote: Can remember when gritters would include the pavements... trouble us there are now cars parked in the way... maybe they could think about pedestrians and not park on the pavement."

    Lisa Micklewright: "The council's have all been disgusting this week. No grit to be had anywhere the pavements are sheer Ice. What do we pay our council tax for?

    Rosalia Beccarelli wrote: "Let's just do what all other countries, where snow falls often and more abundantly, do: you clear the pavement in front of your house (and grit it). Neighbours can help each others: if you can clean a football pitch, you surely can do something for pavements too!"

    Join the conversation here, external.