Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

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Updates from 27 December to 1 January
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River levels fall in flood warning areaspublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Allen Cook
BBC News
Levels on the River Avon in Worcestershire are starting to fall, even with two flood warnings still in place on the watercourse.
Image source, Google
The Environment Agency issued them for the Strensham and Bredon, external and for the Wyre Piddle, external areas.
But in both cases this afternoon, it says the level at the Evesham Gauge is falling, although both warnings remain in place, meaning flooding is expected in the areas.
Gritting to prepare for more icy weatherpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Vicky Norton
BBC Radio Stoke
With temperatures set to fall below freezing tonight and with further snow and ice forecast, pretty much all the local councils say they'll be out gritting:
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UK year in pictures 2017published at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
BBC News UK
A muddy challenge, a protest and a dog show are the subjects of three pictures from this area that make BBC News' pictures of 2017.
We've been choosing a selection of our favourite pictures taken during the past year around the United Kingdom.
You can see all the photos here on the website including this one, of activist Saffiyah Khan facing down protester Ian Crossland during an English Defence League rally in Birmingham:
Image source, Joe Giddens/PA
Murder charge over Boxing Day deathpublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
A 29-year-old man was pronounced dead after he was found in the street with stab wounds.
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Football: Sadler believes Shrewsbury have ambition to succeedpublished at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
Shrewsbury Town club captain Mat Sadler says he's expecting more signings in the January transfer window, so they can continue their push for automatic promotion from League One.
They got that started yesterday by extending the loan of Ben Godfrey from Norwich until the end of the season.
But Sadler also feels the current squad is second in League One on merit and there is an ambition among the players to prove the doubters wrong.
Quote Message
There are still people who will expect the slide to come and we're out to prove those people wrong
Mat Sadler, Shrewsbury Town captain
Teen driver arrested after crashing into bus stoppublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
A 16-year-old has been arrested after a stolen car crashed into a bus stop.
At 05:05, Staffordshire Police officers spotted a car they believed stolen being driven at speed on Norwood Road, Pensnett.
Image source, Google Maps
Image caption,
The accident happened on Commonside in Pensnett
The car failed to stop for officers and made off, before crashing into a bus stop on Commonside, also in Pensnett.
No-one was injured and the boy was arrested on suspicion of theft of a car and dangerous driving.
He is assisting police with inquiries.
Worcester Warriors lose player to American Football dreampublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Worcester Warriors have announced their lock Christian Scotland-Williamson (pictured) is to leave Sixways in order to pursue a career in American Football in the USA., external
Image source, Getty Images
But the club has moved quickly to replace him with Anton Bresler joining immediately from Edinburgh.
Their new addition made 61 appearances for his previous side, including helping the Scottish club reach the European Challenge Cup final two years ago.
In the papers: Snow weather warningpublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
The Sentinel
These are among the Sentinel's top stories today:
Vandalised train carriages delay disability planspublished at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Nigel Dolman
Reporter, BBC Shropshire
Damage to two historic rail carriages means plans for a carriage for disabled passengers have been postponed.
The pair, which run on the Severn Valley Railway, were vandalised over the Christmas period while they were in Kidderminster.
Image source, Severn Valley Railway
Graffiti was painted on them and the organisation says they've been removed from service, meaning shorter trains until they are repaired.
Severn Valley Railway says it also means it can't start work on a wheelchair dining car until February, while the repairs are made.
Quote Message
On one of the carriages, the paint is so thick and bubbly and runny, it's like a pebble-dashed toilet wall. So that will have to be sanded by machine back to a flat surface, so we can't do anything other than that, that will be a complete repaint
Hugh McQuade, Carriage restoration manager at Severn Valley Railway
'Rotten Tesco turkey ruined Christmas'published at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Kirsten Shore - who said the bird tasted of bleach - was among a number of shoppers who complained.
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Newquay man's 'Christmas saved' after train cancellationpublished at 13:33 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
A man says his "Christmas was saved" when he was driven 426 km (265 miles) by a stranger to see his family after his train was cancelled.
Mike Kerr, 25, from Newquay, Cornwall, was due to travel to Tamworth in Staffordshire to visit his sister and five-year-old niece - a trip he makes every year.
However, strikes meant his train was cancelled and he was given a refund for his ticket and was faced with spending Christmas alone.
The part-time musician posted in a public Facebook group, external appealing for help and was "amazed" that someone got in touch to say they would give him a lift.
"I didn't know what to say. I hoped someone would come to my rescue but never thought they would," Mike said.
Mike was offered a lift for free and was told by the driver to give what he could afford to charity rather than paying for fuel.
Image source, Mike Kerr
Image caption,
Mike was able to spend Christmas with his sister and his niece
Mystery £4m donation to make 'huge difference' to homelesspublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Sophie Calvert
Newsreader, BBC WM
A community organisation says a mystery donation of £4m could make a "huge difference" to homeless people in parts of the West Midlands.
The money came anonymously to the Heart of England Community Foundation, external just before Christmas Day.
Image source, Heart of England Community Foundation
The organisation says it came with a request from the mystery donor that the money is used to create new accommodation for homeless people or upgrade existing sites.
The community foundation says it'll use £3m to support three initiatives next year and invite groups to bid for a slice of the other £1m.
Quote Message
This could make a huge difference to organisations that are working with homeless people on the ground. What we want to provide is accommodation that helps them to sustain themselves and to have a safe place to stay
Tina Costello, Chief executive of Heart of England Community Foundation
In the papers: Millions for hospital from parking feespublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Birmingham Mail
These stories are among the main ones on the Birmingham Mail's website today:
Transport warning with icy weather alertpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Allen Cook
BBC News
More transport delays are being predicted for tomorrow as the Met Office has put out a yellow weather warning for ice for Friday.
Image source, Littleacorns
As the freezing conditions continue, it says it's expecting icy patches in the morning as a band of rain, sleet and snow heads across England.
This latest weather warning covers most of the West Midlands., external
Ice Hockey: Coventry Blaze 2-3 Cardiff Devilspublished at 12:22 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
BBC Sport
Coventry Blaze suffered defeat to Elite League leaders Cardiff Devils last night after twice leading in the game.
Image source, Scott Wiggins
Devils had edged Blaze on a penalty shoot-out in Cardiff on Tuesday and in the return Coventry took the lead through Danick Paquette's second-period strike.
Gleason Fournier equalised but Danick Paquette restored Blaze's lead.
In a frantic ending, Patrick Asselin again brought Devils level before Andrew Hotham's winner on 13:24.
Scotland-Williamson leaves Worcesterpublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Edinburgh lock Anton Bresler signs for Worcester, who have lost Christian Scotland-Williamson to American football.
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Hospitals made £174m in parking chargespublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Record sum comes as more hospitals charge disabled people and issue fines for non-payers.
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In the papers: Rising costs delay metro expansionpublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Express and Star
The Express and Star website has these main stories on its website today:
Football mascot's sudden death draws tributespublished at 11:48 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Sophie Calvert
Newsreader, BBC WM
Tributes have been paid to a man who was a mascot for West Bromwich Albion and who died suddenly on Boxing Day., external
Image source, West Bromwich Albion
The club says Richard Eades (pictured, left), who was 42, had many friends at the Hawthorns and leaves a fiance and two young children.
He started working for them on the ground staff when he was 14 before going on to take the roles of several Albion mascots, among other jobs with the club.
The Baggies say they'll give him a full tribute before their New Year's Eve game against Arsenal.
Quote Message
He was a 42-year-old rascal is the best way to describe him. He was always laughing and joking. We had a good chemistry as friends and mascots
Dave Challoner, Richard Eades' friend and fellow mascot fun-maker
'We need to do a job for the league against Wolves'published at 11:28 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017
Bristol City boss Lee Johnson says his side "need to do a job for the league" by beating leaders Wolves on Saturday.
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