Midlands Live: Snow and ice disruption latest

Summary

Rail services finishing early
Gunman jailed for 12 years for bowling alley siege
Freezing weather 'worst in a decade'
Several train services suspended
Man arrested over grandmother's murder
Live updates from Friday 2 March
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Live Reporting

City drone use researchedpublished at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
The use of drones to provide security for Birmingham's Commonwealth Games and during Coventry's year as UK City of Culture to assist traffic congestion is to be researched.
Image source, West Midlands Combined Authority
The West Midlands has been chosen as one of five areas across the country to explore how unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used in urban areas.
Coventry University will work alongside Transport for West Midlands to lead the study, as part of the Flying High Challenge run nationally by Nesta, external.
The drones could also be used to assist police at crime scenes, monitor air pollution or help find missing people, project leaders said.
Shrewsbury Town P-P Yeovil Townpublished at 11:17 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Tuesday's EFL Trophy semi-final between Shrewsbury and Yeovil is called off because of the freezing conditions.
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Shrewsbury v Yeovil: Game offpublished at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
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Cold weather delays work on town centre roadpublished at 11:00 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Work to resurface one of the main roads through the centre of Shrewsbury has been delayed because of the cold weather.
Wyle Cop was due to be closed to traffic for five nights, starting tonight, but the project is now scheduled to start on Monday 12 March.
Image source, Google
Work to improve the pavement has also been delayed and one lane on Wyle Cop will remain closed until the work is complete, meaning traffic heading out of town will have to take a different route.
Quote Message
The low temperatures, both day and night, are also affecting the upgrading works to the footway as the new materials require laying temperatures higher than those forecast for the remainder of this week."
Shropshire Council
MPs grill Carillion directorspublished at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Carillion directors are being questioned by members of the Public Accounts Committee as they investigate whether the government's response to the Wolverhampton firm's collapse has been effective.
Sir Phillip Green, Richard Howson, Keith Cochrane and Emma Mercer will be grilled by cross-party MPs.
You can watch live coverage here., external
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Woman trapped in wreckage after crashpublished at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
A woman was trapped in her car for an hour after a crash last night.
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service
Rescuers worked to free the woman after the crash on Banbury Road, Stratford-upon-Avon just after 23:30.
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service
She was treated for a fractured arm and jaw, as well as cuts to her face, before being taken to hospital.
In the papers: Drugs and ammunition recovered as five jailedpublished at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Birmingham Live
Some of the main stories on the Birmingham Live website today are:
Football's 'good to go' at Wycombe for the visit of Coventrypublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Thanks to under-pitch heating, the football match between Wycombe Wanderers and Coventry City is "good to go" this evening, the club has announced.
Kick off at Adams Park is at 19:45.
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Football pitch wrapped up against the cold ❄published at 10:19 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Shrewsbury Town are hoping the so-called "beast from the east" doesn't put their Wembley dream on ice.
Tonight, they're at home to Yeovil in the semi-final of the Checkatrade Trophy.
The pitch has been covered since last Wednesday in a bid to keep it playable.
After another freezing night, the groundstaff will be checking throughout the day to make sure the game can go ahead as planned.
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'No comment' on Bennell during fans forumpublished at 10:06 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
No further comment was made about convicted paedophile Barry Bennell by his former club Crewe Alexandra at a fans forum event last night.
Earlier this month, Bennell was found guilty of 43 charges of historical child sexual abuse. He worked at the club during the 1980s and 90s.
Last night chairman, John Bowler addressed the audience, saying:
Quote Message
It would be inappropriate to talk about that further or make further comment. When we have more comments the club will issue a statement. Therefore tonight we are talking about football and that is the way we must keep it.
John Bowler, Chairman, Crewe
The club had previously said if it had any suspicion or belief that Bennell was committing acts of abuse the club would have informed the police immediately.
Carillion finance director raised alarm before collapsepublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Carillion directors have been criticised by MPs again saying they were not willing to "wake up and listen" to warnings of its collapse.
Image source, Getty Images
The Work and Pensions and Business Select Committees have published new information which reveals that last year financial director of construction services, Emma Mercer, was raising concerns about the accounts she found just six weeks into her job.
MPs said her revelations threw up serious questions, not least for the Wolverhampton's firm's auditors, KPMG.
You can find all of the latest business news stories on our live feed.
Three-vehicle crash blocking M6 lanepublished at 09:39 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
BBC News Travel
A three-vehicle crash is blocking one lane of the M6 southbound within junction 10, near Wolverhampton.
Drivers are being warned to take care on approach.
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Aston Martin roars back into the blackpublished at 09:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
BBC Business News
Aston Martin, James Bond's car of choice, sold just over 5,000 vehicles last year, allowing the firm to post its first annual profit since 2010.
Image source, Getty Images
The Warwickshire-based sports car producer made a pre-tax profit of £87m last year, compared with a £163m loss in 2016.
Its flagship DB11 coupe proved popular with buyers, helping drive its sales tally to a nine-year high, Aston Martin said.
It also confirmed it is considering a stock market listing.
In the papers: Worcester Newspublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Worcester News
Here are some of the top stories to feature on the newspaper's website this morning:
Signalling fault delaying rail servicespublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
BBC News Travel
A signalling fault at Northampton is causing delays to rail services between Rugby and Milton Keynes Central.
Disruption is expected until 10:00.
Cancer tests cancelled due to A&E pressurespublished at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Bowel cancer tests at Worcestershire Royal Hospital are being cancelled at short notice due to severe pressures on A & E.
Image source, PA
Patients with pre-booked appointments are being told not to attend due to lack of beds.
Chris Pinfield from the local Healthwatch organisation said the cancellations were "unacceptable".
The trust that runs the hospital has apologised to patients, calling the cancellations "regrettable" and blaming the "high numbers of seriously ill patients coming through accident and emergency".
Walsall fight to stay out of relegation zonepublished at 08:53 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
BBC WM Sport
Walsall travel to managerless Peterborough United for tonight's League One match.
Image source, Getty Images
The Saddlers are trying to widen the five point gap from them to relegation zone, while Peterborough, despite sacking manager Grant McCann, are only six points outside the play-off places.
Former Albion coach David Oldfield is in temporary charge.
Welsall boss Jon Whitney said he'll take the positives from Saturday's narrow home defeat to leaders Blackburn.
Quote Message
We're not going there just to park a bus, because that's not us as a team, we'll go there to create problems for them.
Jon Whitney, Walsall manager
Mental health services 'inadequate'published at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
BBC Midlands Today
The specialist community mental health services for young people at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust are inadequate, according to a new report.
Eight areas for concern were highlighted in 2016 but 12 months on, only three have been addressed., external
Inspectors raised concerns around infection control, medicine management, health and safety and safeguarding.
Overall the trust’s "outstanding" rating remains unchanged.
Special assistance dog Opal returns after five monthspublished at 08:17 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
Stephanie Barnard
BBC News
A puppy in training who went missing during a walk five months ago has been found.
The 13-month-old Golden Labrador, called Opal, was being trained by Canine Partners to help people with disabilities.
The charity says she was found, external "safe and well" after she went missing in October 2017.
This video was made when she went missing.
Media caption,
#FindOpal: Search on for missing £20k training dog
Quote Message
As many of you will know, one of our puppies in training, named Opal, went missing at the end of October last year. We are delighted to say she was found safe and well and is now back in our care. There is an ongoing investigation in place and if and when we are able to, we will share any relevant information with you all.
Canine Partners, Facebook
School closures as snow fallspublished at 08:08 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2018
BBC Radio Stoke
A number of schools have closed in Staffordshire, due to snow.
- Ormiston Horizon Academy
- Watermill Special School
- Blackfriars Academy in Newcastle
- Abbot Beyne School, external, Burton