Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Updates from Monday 5 March to Sunday 11 March 2018
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Live Reporting

Plans for new housing development approvedpublished at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Plans for a new housing development, with more than 2,200 new homes, has been approved for the south of Worcester.
It will be built between the St Peter's area of Worcester and the village of Kempsey, and include shops, a new primary school, a doctors' surgery and employment land.
Image source, PA
Malvern Hills District Council gave their approval last night, despite concerns about extra traffic.
Work on the first 200 homes is expected to begin next year.
Suspects released in murder inquirypublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Sarbjit Kaur was found dead at her home as a result of asphyxiation.
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Tigers hopes of lifting league title endedpublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
BBC Sport
Telford Tigers are looking to the playoffs after their slim hopes of winning the league title were ended last night.
They were beaten 6-3 by Hull Pirates at the Telford Ice rink and will probably now face Whitley Warriors in the end-of-season knockout competition.
Image source, Lauren Rankin
Tigers are still waiting for the league to decide what should happen to their game against Billingham, which was called off last Saturday because of the snow.
Their remaining games against Solway Sharks and Nottingham Lions will be played at the weekend.
Increase in international dog entries for Crufts 2018published at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
Thousands of dogs and people are descending on Birmingham from today for what's billed as "the world's greatest dog show".
Image source, Reuters
Crufts is taking place at the NEC until Sunday and organisers say they'll welcome 27,000 dogs this year.
They also say there's been an increase in international entries to 3,623,, external with animals coming from countries including Peru and Kazakstan.
The much-coveted Best in Show award will be given on Sunday and was won last year by an American Cocker Spaniel named "Afterglow Miami Ink".
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Afterglow Miami Ink winning in 2017
Royals meet apprentices in city visitpublished at 10:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Meghan Markle recently said she wants to "shine a light on women feeling empowered" as she begins to work with royal charities.
Media caption,
Meghan Markle pledges to 'shine a light' on female empowerment
Today she and Prince Harry will meet Birmingham apprentices supported by the royals' organisation the Royal Foundation.
The foundation set up in 2009, focuses on causes close to the royals' hearts, including the armed forces, conservation and mental health.
The royals will join Coach Core apprentices in Nechells - all training to become sports coaches and mentors within the community.
Science centre prepares for royal visitpublished at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
The Chief Executive of Millennium Point said her team has been working "around the clock" to make sure the building is ready for a visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
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Judith Armstrong said she was hoping that the royal couple would take part in some of the science experiments they'll be running with young women today as they build apps and touchpads.
Today's visit is the latest leg in the regional tours the prince and his fiancee are undertaking in the run-up to their May wedding.
Bears chief hails Edgbaston allocationpublished at 10:37 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Warwickshire CEO Neil Snowball hails Edgbaston's allocation of major matches as a "fantastic result".
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Murder probe gunshot victim namedpublished at 10:22 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
A man who died of a gunshot wound in Birmingham, prompting a murder investigation, has been named as Christopher Colgan.
Image source, Google
The 31-year-old was found critically injured at a property in Parkhouse Drive, Erdington, on Friday.
A man aged 30 and a 17-year-old male, who were arrested in connection with the death, have been released on bail.
Det Ch Insp Edward Foster said: "We are continuing to investigate the circumstances around Mr Colgan’s death and would ask for anyone who has information but not spoken to officers already to get in contact."
Prize money for Women's Tour in Britain increasedpublished at 10:12 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
BBC Sport
The prize money for this year's Women's Tour in Britain, which will pass through Warwickshire and Worcestershire, has been increased by £49,000, making it identical to the equivalent men's tour.
Image source, Women's Tour
The prize fund for the five-day route now stands at £80,000.
The race in June begins in East Anglia, and passes through Suffolk, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire and finally Wales.
The 17-team event, now in its fifth edition, forms part of the UCI Women's WorldTour.
Stoke promise positive approach to Man City gamepublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City's assistant manager Stuart Taylor is promising a positive approach to their match against Man City at the weekend.
Their opponents are cruising towards the league title having won 25 of their 29 games, losing only once, and are 16 points clear.
Image source, Getty Images
Stoke City have drawn their last three games and have won only once in 2018.
Quote Message
We know that it's going to be more difficult, we know that everyone's going to have to be up for the game, but within the dressing room there's a belief, there's a confidence that we can do well."
Stuart Taylor, Stoke City assistant manager
Federation wants better police protectionpublished at 09:39 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Staffordshire's police federation wants a change in the law to protect officers when they're forced to drive at high speeds.
It says some officers have been investigated for dangerous driving while in a chase, even though no complaints were made and no one was injured.
Image source, Staffordshire Police
The federation says they're allowed to run red lights and speed at times, but laws need to go further and that the training they receive should be taken into account when they are considered to have committed a criminal offence.
Quote Message
We want to be there when the crime's taking place and catch those that do it. It's always more difficult afterwards to catch those that have gone."
Keith Jervis, Staffordshire Police Federation
New badger culls consideredpublished at 09:28 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
The government is considering plans to allow people to shoot badgers, external in Warwickshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire - along with five other counties.
Image source, PA
It said said Natural England has received applications or expressions of interest for a Badger Disease Control Licence in the areas as part of efforts to tackle tuberculosis in cattle.
A two-week consultation has now been launched.
Culls will only take place on land with the landowner's permission, it said, and land will only be entered onto if prior access has been agreed.
Crewe's Bennell response 'disappointing'published at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
The former managing director of Crewe Alexandra is "deeply disappointed" by the club's denial that they were warned about ex-coach Barry Bennell.
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Noel and Liam to headline (separate) Radio 2 gigspublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Noel and Liam Gallagher will headline Radio 2's Biggest Weekend in May - at separate sites.
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Liam to join city's Biggest Weekend line-uppublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
BBC Music
Coventry's Biggest Weekend line-up has been boosted by the addition of Liam Gallagher.
He'll be joining BBC Radio 2 on their stage on May 27.
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Council improvement panel to stay onpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Monica Rimmer
BBC News
A panel brought in by the government to oversee the running of Birmingham City Council is to remain despite saying in August it would stand down.
Image source, PA
However in a letter to the Secretary of State, the Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel said it is proposing "a more collaborative approach".
The letter outlines "significant changes" which will bring "some new challenges in the years ahead."
Ian Ward, Leader of the City Council "welcomes" the move.
Rail ticket collection problemspublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
BBC News Travel
Travellers using rail services are being told that an issue is preventing collection of pre-booked tickets.
Customers on West Midlands Railway services can travel with their booking confirmation until further notice.
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Driver causes two-car crash after swerving to avoid foxpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Two cars crashed into the central reservation on the A50 near Sudbury last night after a driver swerved to avoid hitting a fox.
Police said a Peugeot hit the barrier when it steered around the animal and a Skoda also crashed as it swerved to avoid the car.
Thankfully neither driver was injured.
Image source, Derbyshire Police
Image source, Derbyshire Police
Snow still lingering in some areaspublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
There's still plenty of snow about...
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Music pioneer's spray paint tributepublished at 08:28 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2018
A life-sized portrait of composer Delia Derbyshire is due to be spray-painted onto a university building later.
Image source, Coventry University/Stewy
Delia Derbyshire is best known for creating the Doctor Who theme tune when she was employed at the BBC's Radiophonic workshop.
Her picture will be painted on the Ellen Terry building in Coventry by Bristol street artist Stewy to mark International Women's Day.