Summary

  • Updates from Monday 5 March to Sunday 11 March 2018

  • Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area

  1. Library illumination for International Women's Daypublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    The Library of Birmingham's being lit up today to mark International Women's Day.

    Illuminated Library of BirminghamImage source, Birmingham City Council

    The city council says it'll be illuminated in the suffragette colours, 100 years after some women were granted the vote in Britain.

  2. Ten more in court over bike 'rampage'published at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    A total of 29 men have been charged over the "five-hour Ride Out".

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  3. Crufts 2018: Going for canine goldpublished at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Lucie Plant
    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    A Herefordshire woman is competing with her dog at Crufts and says she hopes it will encourage more people to get involved in the sport.

    Media caption,

    Kathy and Dido

    Kathy Williams and her dog Dido are taking part in Rally Obedience, which was only introduced at Crufts last year.

    Kathy, from Kingsthorne, says it's a less competitive version of obedience which any owner and their dog can do.

  4. Meghan hugs schoolgirl on Women's Day visitpublished at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    The girl, who dreams of being an actress, met the Suits star at an event promoting girls' careers in science.

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  5. Farm fire extinguished after almost 18 monthspublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    A waste fire at a farm near Rugeley is finally out after nearly 18 months.

    Firefighters were first called to Oak Tree Farm, at Sitting Mill, on 5 September 2016 and a decision was made to cap the fire - rather than put it out straight away - to reduce the risk of polluting water in the area.

    JCB and fireImage source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

    Fire crews have continued to monitor the site since then, making more than 80 visits, and in January this year it was decided it had burnt down enough and could be safely extinguished.

    Since then firefighters have been injecting water to put out the remaining fire.

  6. Iron Bridge to be illuminated all year roundpublished at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Shropshire's famous iron bridge is going to be illuminated all year round., external

    In the past, the bridge in Ironbridge has been lit up for special occasions, but Telford and Wrekin Council has decided to spend £70,000 to make it permanent, with £30,000 of that coming from the Arts Council England.

    Illuminated bridgeImage source, Telford and Wrekin Council

    The authority is making the move as part of celebrations to mark the town's 50th anniversary and says it will "benefit the local community and provide new appeal for visitors, while enhancing Ironbridge’s night time economy."

  7. Crufts 2018: In facts and figurespublished at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A group of Dogue de Bordeaux working dogs stand together as their owner arrives for the Crufts dog showImage source, Getty Images

    As "the world's greatest dog show" is under way at the NEC in Birmingham today, here is Crufts broken down into figures:

    • 22,000 – The number of dogs expected at Crufts across the four days of the show
    • 3,623 – The number of dogs from overseas entered into the show this year
    • 90 – The number of years the Best in Show prize has been awarded
    • 48 – The total number of countries entered into Crufts this year
    • 7 – The number of times a Cocker Spaniel has won Best in Show - more than any other breed
    • 1 – the number of dogs that have "pooped" live on TV in the main arena at Crufts

    (Source: Crufts, external)

    Two Old English Sheepdog peer from within a bus shelter as their owner arrives for the Crufts dog showImage source, Getty Images
  8. More images from royal visit to Birminghampublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been at an event encouraging young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths at Millennium Point in Birmingham today.

    They've also been meeting the crowds of well-wishers who have come out to see them.

    They will be heading to Nechells Wellbeing Centre later.

    Harry and MeghanImage source, Getty Images
    HarryImage source, PA
    MeghanImage source, Getty Images
  9. Briefcase full of cash taken in burglarypublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    A black briefcase containing £5,000 in cash, plus some Australian and Czech currency has been stolen from a house in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

    Staffordshire Police said the burglary on St Paul's Road happened on 25 February and they are also trying to trace jewelry, including a man's bracelet and a 22-carat gold signet ring with the letters JCH.

  10. Elias Mattu: Funeral service followed by cremationpublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Family, friends and dignitaries have gathered at St Peter's Church in Wolverhampton for the funeral of the former mayor, Elias Mattu.

    Elias Mattu funeralImage source, City of Wolverhampton Council

    The service is being broadcast via a big screen to members of the public who've gathered outside.

    Elias Mattu funeralImage source, City of Wolverhampton Council

    The ceremony will be followed by a burial at Danescourt Cemetery.

  11. Yawning dog gets Prince Harry's attentionpublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Prince Harry stopped to speak to well-wishers - including dogs - who waited for the couple in Birmingham since the early morning.

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  12. Woman arrested after man found dead in doorwaypublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    A 38-year-old woman has been arrested after man was found dead in a doorway in Sandbach this morning.

    Cheshire police say they were called out to the property on Townfields at 06:48 to and are at the "early stages of establishing the circumstances".

    SandbachImage source, Google
  13. Badger cull may expand to nine new areaspublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Applications to join the scheme are from areas at "high risk" of bovine TB, Natural England says.

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  14. Te'o returns to England starting line up for France matchpublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    BBC Sport

    Worcester's Ben Te'o will be back for England in the Six Nations match against France on Saturday.

    He replaces Jonathan Joseph at outside centre and is one of a number of changes, with Owen Farrell due to captain England for the first time.

    Ben Te'oImage source, Getty Images

    Te'o was on the replacements bench for England's defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.

  15. Minute's silence observed for Wolverhampton mayorpublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Flags flew at half mast in Wolverhampton in as people gathered to observe a minute's silence in for the former mayor, Elias Mattu, who died recently.

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    A horse and carriage carrying Mr Mattu's coffin lead the cortege from his home in Penn Fields into the city centre where it stopped in St Peter's Square.

    A screen showed shots of the popular councillor throughout his 18 years of service.

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  16. In photos: Dogs arrive for Crufts 2018published at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    For many dog owners and lovers, today marks the start of the high point of their year as Crufts is underway at the NEC in Birmingham.

    It lasts until Sunday and here are some of the scenes from the venue as the dogs started arriving:

    A dog wears a zebra print coat as it arrives with its owner arrive for the first day of Crufts 2018Image source, PA
    Dogs and their owners arrive for the first day of Crufts 2018 at the NEC in BirminghamImage source, PA
    A woman laughs as she puts a protective sock on to an Old English Sheep Dog during the first day of the Crufts Dog ShowImage source, Reuters
  17. Royals greeted by dignitaries and crowdspublished at 11:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle have been greeting crowds of well-wishers in Birmingham ahead of their visit to Millennium Point.

    Meghan MarkleImage source, Getty Images
    Prince Harry and Meghan MarkleImage source, PA

    The pair will have a go at building apps and touchpads, before hearing from young people about their motivations to pursue science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects.

    Meghan MarkleImage source, PA
  18. Trapped children rescued from house firepublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Five children have been rescued from a house fire in Tunstall this morning.

    They were trapped with an adult on the upper floors of a three-storey home on Madison Street and firefighters had to go in through thick smoke to get them out.

    House fire damageImage source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

    Two adults had already escaped the home before firefighters arrived just after 07:00.

    The family were taken to hospital and treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.

    The fire service said the fire appeared to have started in a tumble dryer in the kitchen.

    Quote Message

    Worryingly there were no working smoke alarms in the home so the fire was only discovered when one of the occupants got up and smelt smoke.

    Roy Daniels, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

  19. Sea Life centre sees 35% of animals diepublished at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Owner Merlin Entertainments said a "technically complex" water problem was behind some of the deaths.

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  20. Royal couple arrive in city for visitpublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have arrived at Birmingham's Millennium Point.

    The couple were greeted by John Crabtree, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands.

    Retired teacher Josie Weeks, 62, from Leeds, got up at 5am to travel to Birmingham for the royal visit and carried a posy of white blooms for Ms Markle.

    Prince Harry and Meghan MarkleImage source, PA

    Stephen McNally, 61, from Stourbridge, said he had travelled with a group of friends, with many carrying bouquets for Ms Markle.