Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 February

  • Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area

Live Reporting

  1. Hospital's new £500k facility due for April opening

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Work on a £500,000 new inpatient facility at a Warwickshire hospital's expected to be finished in April.

    Ellen Badger HospitalGoogle

    South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust says work began last month at the Ellen Badger Hospital, Shipston on Stour.

    The trust says the move will allow for more services for the local community and are the first part of a longer term revamp of the site.

  2. Diet pill overdose death 'huge mistake'

    On the anniversary of her death, Beth Shipsey's parents say she did not mean to take her own life.

    Read More

  3. Family calls for tougher diet drug controls

    The family of a 21-year-old who died after overdosing on an illegal diet drug wants tougher controls.

    Beth Shipsey, from Worcester, died after taking pills containing the substance DNP in February 2017.

    DNP is an industrial chemical which is not intended for human consumption, but it is sold illegally in diet pills as a fat burning substance.

    Doug and Carol Shipsey say they want the government to do more to stop it being imported into the country.

    Family of girl who died from illegal diet drug call for tougher controls

  4. Your photos: Branching out with tree pictures

    BBC Weather Watchers

    We appear to have a theme this morning of trees being photographed against blue, sunny skies by our BBC Weather Watchers.

    Here are three, from users Thornhill Watch in Hednesford, Staffordshire; Peter Steggles in Longnor, Shropshire and Johnqa in Lyonshall, Herefordshire.

    HednesfordThornhill Watch
    LongnorPeter Steggles
    LyonshallJohnqa

  5. Arrest after men 'stabbed in neck with Biro'

    Lucy King
    News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

    A teenager's been arrested on suspicion of assault after two men were stabbed in the neck with a Biro at a homeless shelter in Stoke-on-Trent, police said.

    Staffordshire Police were called to the Macari Centre, Hanley, last night after reports that two people had been assaulted.

    Macari Centre signStoke-on-Trent City Council

    Two men, aged 25 and 38, were taken to hospital for treatment for neck wounds but the force says their injuries are not life threatening.

    The 19-year-old's still in custody.

  6. Burton must be mentally tough - Clough

    Burton manager Nigel Clough challenges his players to be "mentally tough enough" to turn around their poor home form.

    Read More

  7. GKN calls Melrose bid 'opportunistic'

    BBC Business News

    Engineering firm GKN has written to shareholders describing a hostile takeover bid from turnaround specialist Melrose as "entirely opportunistic".

    GKN signPA

    GKN has its headquarters in Redditch and employs 4,000 people in the West Midlands.

    Yesterday, it said it would sell off non-core parts of its business and return £2.5bn in cash to its shareholders over the next three years.

    Today, the firm said that the terms of the £7.4bn offer from Melrose "fundamentally undervalue" the business.

  8. Childhood cancer research gets £11m boost

    BBC Midlands Today

    Scientists in the West Midlands are to receive a major cash boost for research into cancer.

    University of Birmingham

    University of Birmingham

    Cancer Research UK says it will invest nearly £11m over the next five years in their clinical trials unit at the University of Birmingham.

    The charity says most of the money will go towards finding new treatments for children with cancer.

  10. Railway disruption: Lines reopen

    BBC News Travel

    The railway lines between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton are back open now, after they were blocked earlier this morning:

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  11. Plans for 600 homes to be discussed

    Plans to build 600 homes in Shrewsbury are being discussed by Shropshire councillors for a third time today.

    A decision had been deferred because of concerns about the lorries moving on and off the site at the back of Shirehall and Shrewsbury College.

    House buildingPA

    Changes have now been made to reduce construction traffic and the applicants, Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon, are also promising cycle ways and footpaths.

    The application is for full planning permission for 353 homes and outline permission for the remaining 247.

  12. The English coach preparing to face Arsenal in Europe

    BBC Midlands Today

    A former football league defender from Solihull is the only English manager left in European competition this season.

    Graham Potter: The English coach making a name for himself in Sweden

    Graham Potter currently manages Ostersunds FK who are in action tonight as they host Arsenal in the Europa League.

    He played for Stoke City, Birmingham City, Shrewsbury Town and West Bromwich Albion during a 13-year career.

  13. Railway disruption: Man dies in incident

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A man's died in an incident at Sandwell and Dudley Railway Station this morning.

    Arriva Trains Wales tweeted that he had been hit by a train.

    West Midlands Ambulance Service said their paramedics arrived within seven minutes of being called but couldn't do anything to save him.

    Trains between Birmingham and Wolverhampton have been disrupted this morning, with National Rail Enquiries saying that could last until 10:00.

  14. Masked men attack security guard in cash box robbery

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A cash box has been stolen from a security guard who was attacked as he returned to a van in Shrewsbury.

    Arlington WayGoogle

    Two masked men reportedly approached him, West Mercia Police say, on Arlington Way on Tuesday.

    They assaulted him and took the box, making off in a black Seat Leon which was later found abandoned on Albert Gardens.

    Officers say the security guard was left shaken but not seriously hurt.

  15. Pollution investigation after 'significant' fish deaths

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    An investigation's now under way after large numbers of fish died in a waterway in Worcestershire.

    Dead fish in waterEnvironment Agency

    The Environment Agency says they were called out yesterday to Piddle Brook, Pershore, calling the number of deaths "significant".

    They say they believe they've now stopped the pollution which caused the fish deaths and water quality has improved.

  16. Robotic arm used in hospital surgery in 'UK first'

    Ben Godfrey
    BBC Midlands Today

    A Birmingham hospital says it has become the first NHS hospital in the country to use pioneering technology to complete hip replacements.

    Robot arm in surgery

    The Royal Orthopaedic has invested in a robotic arm which it says helps the surgeon perform hip surgery to within a fraction of a millimetre.

    It's designed for patients suffering from degenerative joint disease.

  17. Railway disruption: Delays and cancellations 'until 10:00'

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Train services are now "heavily disrupted" between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton and Network Rail says that's now expected to last until at least 10:00.

    It's because emergency services are dealing with an incident between the two stations.

    National Rail Enquiries says customers can use buses between Wolverhampton and Birmingham and the Midland Metro between Preastfield and Birmingham.

  18. Ashes cricket confirmed for Edgbaston in 2023

    BBC Sport

    Birmingham will host an Ashes Test in 2023 as well as 2019, the England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed.

    EdgbastonWarwickshire County Cricket Club

    Edgbaston, along with Headingley, The Oval, Lord's and Old Trafford, will all host England v Australia matches in both series.

    The ECB has also announced Birmingham as one of the cities that will host the new eight-team Twenty20 tournament in 2020.

    Warwickshire County Cricket Club says it's "excellent news" that the stadium will host a Test match in four of the five years from 2020 to 2024.

  20. Railway line blocked between Birmingham and Wolverhampton

    BBC News Travel

    More now on the disruption to trains between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton this morning.

    Arriva Trains Wales says it's because a person's been hit by a train between the stations and the line is blocked.

    It says services may now be delayed or cancelled.

    West Midlands Railway tweeted that passengers travelling between Birmingham and Wolverhampton can use Midland Metro and National Express buses to continue journeys while there's disruption.