Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Paedophile who 'preyed on boys' jailed for abuse
Murder arrest after woman's body found
'Serious' multi-vehicle M6 crash
Arrest over people-smuggling network
Burglar breaks into house and takes a bath
'H&M hamster' abandoned in park
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Updates from Friday 6 April

Live Reporting

Carers set to lose breaks after charity's funding cutpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
A father says he believes fellow carers will struggle after Cheshire East Council cut funding to a charity that supports people with degenerative muscle conditions.
The NeuroMuscular Centre (NMC), external has been helping hundreds of families in Crewe and Nantwich for 28 years but says a budget cut means it can no longer provide breaks for carers.
Image source, Google
Jay Vaja told BBC Radio Stoke he's used the centre with his son Sanjay, after he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.
The council says help will still be given to those who need it through a different framework.
Quote Message
When we found out about his condition, we were really shocked to learn about it. NMC was always there to give us support, guidance and helped us all along the way and, if that is taken away, I think it will be a great loss."
Jay Vaja, Father
Shakespeare & Hathaway gets a second seriespublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Tom Cooke
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
A BBC One daytime detective drama filmed in Warwickshire has been commissioned for a second series.
Shakespeare & Hathaway – Private Investigators, stars Jo Joyner and Mark Benton, and is filmed in various locations around the county.
Worst streets for missed bin collections namedpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Local Democracy Reporting Service
A list of some of the most frequently missed streets for refuse collections have been released by Birmingham City Council:
1. Alcester Road South in Billesley – 63 reports
2. Shenley Fields Road in Weoley – 60 reports
3. Brownfield Road in Shard End – 59 reports
4. Selly Oak Road in Bournville – 52 reports
5. Harborne Park Road and Northfield Road in Harborne – both had 51 reports each
The council argues that the figures, which run from February 2017 to this year, may be skewed by residents falsely claiming the whole road had been missed.
The council says, once tested, it plans to introduce new "computer-modelled" rounds.
Quote Message
The existing rounds were produced as a result of the wheelie bin roll out in 2013–2015. Since then additional homes have been built and added to the existing rounds. The redesign of the service will rebalance the rounds to ensure they are achievable.
The city made the headlines for all the wrong reasons over a dispute with waste collectors last year and in recent weeks was even mentioned by Theresa May in Prime Minister's Questions.
'No guarantee' cemeteries won't flood againpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Simon Gilbert
Political Reporter, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
A council says it can't reassure people that four cemeteries in Coventry won't flood again after heavy rainfall.
Lenton's Lane, St Paul's, Walsgrave and Canley have all been left under water in places due to long-running drainage issues.
Image source, Google
Coventry City Council recently spent £75,00 in a bid to improve drainage at Lenton Lane and said further work was planned.
Pumps are now being used to clear surface water from the sites.
Quote Message
We are sorry for any upset caused. We would like to reassure people that our staff are working to clear all affected areas as soon as possible. Unfortunately we can't guarantee that this won't happen again in the future but we will continue to monitor and make improvements where we can."
Coventry City Council
In the papers: New place of worship planspublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Hereford Times
The Hereford Times has these top stories, among others:
Commonwealth Games openpublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Dan Pallett
BBC Midlands Today Sport
The Commonwealth Games opening ceremony is under way at Australia’s Gold Coast city.
You can follow coverage live on BBC One and online.
Image source, AFP / Getty Images
More than 6,000 athletes will compete for 275 gold medals over the next 11 days.
There are a wealth of competitors from the West Midlands here, from gymnasts to squash. I'll be bringing you the latest on BBC Midlands Today over the games.
And remember.... Birmingham will host the next games in 2022 after being named host city last year. I kid you not. This is just outside the Carrara Stadium in the Gold Coast:
Boxer hopes to put Burton on the map for more than Marmitepublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
BBC Sport
Burton boxer Frazer Clarke says he's confident of winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
His hunt for the win on the Gold Coast starts on Friday in the superheavyweight 91-plus kg category.
The 26-year-old has recovered from a hand operation to make the team and hopes there'll be plenty of support for him in Burton.
Quote Message
I'm not here down under to make up the numbers. I really think I can win the gold medal. Burton's the home of Marmite but it's also the home of beer and hopefully there'll be a lot of people in the pubs watching."
Frazer Clarke, Burton boxer
Flood defences finished for fast-flowing riverpublished at 10:56 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
The flood defences now look to be in place in Shrewsbury this morning as the Environment Agency's expecting river levels in the town to rise.
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About 200 tonnes of water a second is rushing over the weir in the town today, according to Chris Bainger from the organisation, external.
There are two flood alerts covering the River Severn through Shrewsbury, external, meaning flooding is possible.
Men wanted after failed roof distraction burglary attemptpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Police want to speak to these two men who are suspected of damaging a couple's roof and then demanding £1,000 to repair it.
West Midlands Police says, external the pair tried to trick the 89-year-old man into handing over the money. While one man showed the homeowner the roof, another man sneaked upstairs but was caught by the victim's wife. Officers say the woman screamed and the men ran away.
Image source, West Midlands Police
Officers believe the pair carried out a recce two weeks earlier at the house on Prince of Wales Road in Coventry offering to clean the guttering.
Quote Message
We’ve secured some very clear images of the two men, who we suspect are from the travelling community. These are men who thought nothing of preying on vulnerable members of the community and trying to steal from them."
PC Munmohan Sahota, West Midlands Police
Delays continue on M6 after lorry sheds its loadpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
BBC News Travel
Delays continue on the M6 southbound near Castle Bromwich after a lorry shed part of its load.
Two lanes are currently closed, external. Drivers heading to the airport are being urged to leave extra time for their journey due to delays of about 40 minutes in the area, with surrounding roads also affected.
Image source, @HighwaysWMIDS
Stoke City appeal as Bennell abuse inquiry held by FApublished at 10:19 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City are appealing for anyone to contact them who may have been abused while convicted paedophile Barry Bennell was working with the club.
The former coach was jailed for 31 years in February for abusing 12 young players at different clubs between 1979 and 1991.
Stoke City released a statement this morning to say it is taking part in the FA’s independent inquiry., external
Image source, Getty Images
Quote Message
Bennell was never formally employed by Stoke City. However, if anyone has any knowledge or information in relation to Bennell’s association with the club and particularly if it involves matters of historic child sexual abuse we would ask you to contact the club as soon as possible."
Stoke City FC
Man due in court after mum dies in crashpublished at 10:10 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM
A Black Country man is due to appear at Walsall Magistrates' Court later after a fatal road crash.
Tyler Kendall, 22, from Whitebeam Close in Lower Gornal is charged with causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop after a road collision.
Image source, Family handout
Vikki Jones (pictured), 30, died after the crash on Wood Road in Lower Gornal in September.
In the papers: Rise in hate crime reportedpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Express and Star
Here are some of the stories making the hweadlines on the Express & Star website this morning:
- Rise in hate crime reports to police across the Black Country, external
- Church leaders sign letter against EDL protest in Walsall, external
- Call for more safety measures after Broadway West crash, external
Arrest after china smashed in shop crashpublished at 09:49 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
A man's been arrested after a car smashed through the front of a shop at the Spode Heritage Centre in Stoke-on-Trent at the weekend.
Staff there say damage is estimated at thousands of pounds,, external but the museum's collection has survived intact.
A 39-year-old man who was arrested by police has been released pending investigations.
Ambulance series shortlisted for Bafta awardpublished at 09:41 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
BBC One series Ambulance, featuring the daily trials of West Midlands Ambulance Service, has been shortlisted for a Bafta, external.
The nominations were released this morning. Ambulance is named in the best Factual Series category, up against Catching a killer, Drugsland and Hospital.
Waltham Abbey: Police name victims of M25 crashpublished at 09:25 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Two women who died in a crash on the M25 in Essex have been named.
Sevim Ustun and Ayse Ustun, both from Luton, died after an articulated lorry and an Audi were in collision on the anti-clockwise carriageway at Waltham Abbey about 23:20 on 19 March.
Image source, Twitter/Lorraine
Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene; a 10-year-old girl - who was seriously injured - remains in hospital.
A 33-year-old man from Bedworth was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
He has been released on bail until 18 June pending further enquiries, and police are continuing to appeal for witnesses.
Flooding 'likely' in areaspublished at 09:23 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
A number of warnings are in force in the West Midlands, with the Environment Agency warning that flooding is likely in areas.
Those living in areas prone to flooding in the following areas are advised to take "immediate action":
- Bredon's Norton, River Severn
- Melverley, River Vyrnwy
- Wyre Piddle, River Avon
This is the scene currently in Evesham - watch the live webcam here, external.
Image source, Farson Digital Watercams
In addition, there are 147 less serious flood alerts in place across the country, including for the River Severn throughout Shropshire and Worcestershire, the River Wye in Herefordshire and the River Blythe in Warwickshire.
People are being warned not to drive through flood water after a number of incidents in which motorists have had to be rescued.
Recycling centre floodspublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Upton-upon-Severn household recycling centre has flooded after the nearby brook burst its banks.
Worcestershire County Council says it will be closed today and will tweet further updates., external
Image source, Worcestershire County Council
Image source, Worcestershire County Council
The Environment Agency says , externalit is seeing two major peaks on the River Severn: On a stretch between Worcestershire and Gloucestershire; and further upstream in Shropshire, caused by rain at the beginning of the week in Wales.
Peaty withdraws from 200m breaststrokepublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Adam Peaty will not compete in Thursday's 200m event at the Commonwealth Games.
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M6 delay after lorry sheds loadpublished at 08:51 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
Breaking
A lorry has partly shed its load on the M6 southbound between junctions 5 and 4a, near Castle Bromwich.
Highways England say, external one land is closed and police are at the scene.