Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 February

  • Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area

Live Reporting

  1. Cars stored so long they were 'overgrown with weeds'

    A couple have each been ordered to pay £680 for illegally keeping more than a dozen cars at their home.

    Some of the vehicles had been there so long they had become overgrown with weeds, Telford and Wrekin Council said.

    Cars in yardTelford and Wrekin Council

    David and Lynette Lunn from Old Vicarage Road in Dawley were served an enforcement notice in November 2016, ordering them to move the vehicles and they were taken to court when they failed to comply.

    Yesterday, Telford magistrates found them guilty of failing to comply with the council's order and told them to each pay a fine of £250, £400 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

    Their neighbours have had to wait patiently for a long time for the investigation to be carried out, for the appeal to be heard and then for this prosecution to take place."

    Cllr Richard Overton, Telford and Wrekin Council

  3. Duncan Edwards: Special service to be held

    Nearly 100 Manchester United fans will head to the West Midlands for a special service to remember Duncan Edwards.

    Busby Babe Duncan, from Dudley, was one of 23 people killed in the Munich air disaster 60 years ago.

    Duncan EdwardsFamily handout

    The service is open to the public and will take place at 11am on Sunday at St Francis’ Church in Laurel Road.

    The Manchester United fan club, which has been fundraising for charities in Manchester and Munich will present a cheque to launch the newly-founded Duncan Edwards Foundation.

    The aim of the foundation is to raise funds to support young people in Dudley who have a great sporting ability but may struggle to pay for things like kit, equipment or expenses.

  4. Motorway reopens after crash

    Highways England says all lanes are now open on the M6 after an earlier crash.

    Long delays have been reported due to the closure between junctions two and three near Coventry.

  5. Artell believes Crewe were 'best team by country mile'

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says his side were by far the better team last night and that if they had taken their chances they would have beaten Accrington by several goals.

    They ended up losing 1-0 and are just one place above the League Two relegation zone.

    David ArtellGetty Images

    Kayden Jackson's first half goal was enough to stretch Crewe's winless run to six games.

    The best team by an absolute country mile lost. On one hand that's a massive positive, but on the other if you've played that well, you definitely shouldn't lose.

    David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager

  6. Junctions still closed after fatal accident

    There are still some closures in place after two crashes on the M6 in the early hours.

    Warwickshire Police says a man in his 30s was pronounced dead at the scene of a seven vehicle crash between junctions two and three near Coventry at about 01:43GMT

    There was another crash between two lorries at junctions one and two just before 02:45GMT.

  8. Motorway cleared after crash

    Both lanes have reopened on the M42 after an earlier crash, according to Highways England.

    However, there are still some delays in both directions from junction 7a to junction 4

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  9. Tigers face Wildcats in cup semi-final

    Andy Giddings
    BBC News

    Telford Tigers travel to play Swindon Wildcats in the semi-finals of ice hockey's National Cup tonight.

    The two sides have met six times already this season, with the Wildcats winning five, but Tigers head coach Tom Watkins believes his side gained some confidence by winning the final meeting.

    Tigers vs WildcatsSteve Brodie

    Tonight is the first leg and the two sides are due to play the reverse fixture, at the Telford Ice Rink on 20 February, with the winner due to play the Sheffield Steeldogs.

  10. Shrewsbury return to top of the division

    James Bond
    Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

    Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Hurst said he was "delighted" to get back to winning ways after their defeat to Plymouth at the weekend.

    They left it until the 82nd minute to get the winner against Fleetwood, and the 2-1 victory lifts them up into first place in League One, after Wigan's 2-0 defeat to Blackpool.

    Paul Hurst

    Shrewsbury now play three of their next four games at home, starting with Rotherham on Saturday.

  11. Car driver killed in motorway crash

    A man has died and two others needed hospital treatment after an accident on the M6.

    Seven vehicles were involved in the accident including lorries, a van and a car.

    West Midlands AmbulanceWest Midlands Ambulance Service

    Warwickshire Police said a man in his 30s was declared dead at the scene. A lorry driver in his 30s and a van driver in his 50s were both taken to hospital.

    The accident took place during the early hours between junctions two and three near Coventry.

  12. Malvern to keep overnight fire cover

    Malvern fire station in Worcestershire is going to keep its full overnight cover.

    The Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority had been considering relying solely on retained firefighters.

    Fire engine

    Instead the authority decided on a different option, which involves sharing staff with Evesham.

  13. Decision due on future of health helpline

    Andy Giddings
    BBC News

    A decision is due today on the future of Shropshire's non-emergency health advice line, Shropdoc.

    The Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group meets today and is expected to say the number should be switched off, with all non-emergency calls going to the NHS 111 number instead.

    Shropdoc

    The Shropdoc service will still exist though, with 111 able to divert callers to its team, if their help is needed.

  14. House to house inquiries after home attacked

    House to house inquiries and forensic investigations are taking place after masked intruders tried to raid a house.

    Krav maga expert David Pugh said he fought off four men armed with baseball bats and golf clubs who attacked his son and 20-week-old puppy in Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull, during the early hours of Tuesday.

    David PughDavid Pugh

    West Midlands Police has urged anyone with information to come forward.

    The intruders searched the houseDavid Pugh

  15. Motorist has 136 unpaid fines

    A driver has racked up £6,620 in parking fines in one year.

    Details released by Wolverhampton City Council after a Freedom of Information request show one vehicle was slapped with 136 penalty charges in the 2016/17 financial year.

    None of the fines have been paid and most were handed out on the Whitmore Street car park.

    Parking wardenGetty Images

    The council said it has instructed enforcement agents to recover the outstanding debt.

  16. Martial artist fights off home invaders

    Martial arts trained David Pugh fought off the machete-wielding gang who stormed into his home.

    Read More

  17. Library remains shut after Rep explosion

    The Library of Birmingham says it will be closed today due to "technical issues" following last night's explosion at the Repertory Theatre.

    A technical fault caused the problem which saw hundreds of people evacuated.

    Broad Street, BirminghamWestsidebid

    Most of the area has since reopened after being cordoned off.

  19. Vandalism and cable theft disrupts Metro

    Points are having to be changed manually at Wednesbury Parkway.

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  20. The show must go on....actors continue despite disturbance

    A doctor, who was watching last night's show at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, said actors carried on despite the 'loud bang'.

    Dr Thomas Lancaster said it happened about half an hour into a production of Brief Encounter.

    Hundreds of people were evacuated at about 20:00 GMT after a blast, caused by a technical fault.

    The scene at the Rep last night

    Suddenly this loud bang was heard, it was very clear to me, I was sat near the front of the auditorium. The actors just continued, finished off their scene, the curtains came down. In the background you could hear the robotic voice asking people to leave. The staff came in and marched people away from the building."

    Dr Thomas Lancaster, Theatre-goer