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

  • Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area

  • Updates from Friday 6 April

  1. Delays continue on trainspublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    BBC News Travel

    Train delays between Coventry and Nuneaton continue, after a fault caused many West Midlands Railway services to be delayed or cancelled this morning.

    Now the train operator says, external road transport will run between these areas, including Bermuda Park, Bedworth and Coventry Arena.

  2. Flood alert upgradedpublished at 08:40 British Summer Time 4 April 2018
    Breaking

    Mark Elliott
    BBC News

    A flood alert in the north west of Shropshire has been upgraded to a warning, external - which means flooding is expected.

    The flood plains around Melverley, close to where the rivers Severn and Vyrnwy meet has turned red on the Environment Agency's map.

    Flood map - MelverleyImage source, gov.uk

    There are also lesser flood alerts for lower down the River Severn, the Tern and Perry catchments and the Upper Teme.

    Check your local area for flooding on the Environment Agency map., external

  3. 'Better exploring than in front of TV'published at 08:32 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    Max's exploits certainly got people talking on Facebook, external. While some were very supportive, others questioned how it could happen.

    Cat De Jonge wrote: "Better your little man is splashing in puddles and exploring monuments than cooped up in front of the telly! X"

    Andy Lobstie: "Happens when you let sprogs run wild hope they where billed the 10's of 1000s it cost to free him."

    Rescuing MaxImage source, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service

    Chris Grove: "Poor lad but what was his dad thinking of letting him climb inside? It's a monument not some sort of play equipment!"

    Natalie Mullin: "This is definitely something my Harry would do. Ignore all the negative comments. Max will enjoy telling the class this story when they are back at school xx"

    Jane Tudge: "For those all having a go; I guess your child has never done anything risky, silly or even adventurous?! If they haven’t then I feel sorry for them. Max must have been very scared at the time and his family."

    Max in ambulanceImage source, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service

    Max Morgan's mum said despite the accident her children "thrive" on being outside and having fun and "will continue to do so".

  4. Boy who got stuck in hole 'dreaming of next adventure'published at 08:22 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    A who who got stuck in a stone monument while visiting Wightwick Manor near Wolverhampton "is dreaming of his next adventure" says his mum.

    Last night we shared the story of seven-year-old Max Morgan on the BBC Midlands Facebook page, after he got stuck in a hole and had to be cut free by firefighters.

    Max Morgan stuck in a holeImage source, West Midlands Fire Service
    Quote Message

    He only got stuck because he decided to go in knees first (god knows why!). Max is tucked up in bed, looking forward to his invite to the fire station tomorrow night and dreaming of his next adventure."

    Jana Morgan, Max Morgan's mum

  5. Flood barriers go uppublished at 08:12 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    The Environment Agency is busy in Shrewsbury this morning installing flood barriers at Frankwell.

    Flood warnings remain in place across the West Midlands, the latest updates from the Environment Agency can be found online., external

    Flood team in ShrewsburyImage source, Environment Agency / James Roberts
    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  6. In the papers: Family 'feared for their lives'published at 08:02 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    The Sentinel

    Here are some of the top stories to feature in The Sentinel newspaper this morning:

  7. Inventor plans to scrap waste collectionspublished at 07:46 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    BBC Midlands Today

    An inventor has created a washing machine sized incinerator that could revolutionise household waste collections.

    Nik Spencer from Worcestershire invented the Heru or Home Energy Resources Unit at his workshop in Abbots Morton.

    It turns domestic rubbish safely into hot water and a small amount of ash that flushes down the drain automatically.

    Nik Spencer and his invention - Heru
    Quote Message

    You'd either put it into your home or have one outside where your wheelie bin was, because a lot of people might not have the room. It's versatile and can go inside or outside your house. You just put all of your material in there instead of giving it to the council."

    Nik Spencer, Inventor of the Heru

  8. Midwife leads review into baby bereavementpublished at 07:33 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    Amy Cole
    BBC Midlands Today

    A midwife has been asked to lead a national review that could change the law for bereaved families.

    Sam Collinge (pictured left) works at University Hospital Coventry, caring for women who lose their babies during pregnancy.

    Sam Collinge and a photo of a maternity wardImage source, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust / BBC

    The review will look at plans to allow parents whose child dies before 24 weeks the option to register their baby's death.

  9. Trains 'delayed or cancelled'published at 07:19 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    BBC News Travel

    Trains between Coventry and Nuneaton may be cancelled or delayed due to a fault on a train, says West Midlands Railway., external

  10. River levels set to rise as more rain forecastpublished at 07:16 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    River levels in the West Midlands will continue to rise with more rain forecast today, the Environment Agency is warning.

    Flood water in Worcester

    The flood gates were shut in Upton upon Severn yesterday to protect the town. The Environment Agency has set up a flood incident centre to monitor the situation.

    Flood water in Worcester

    You can follow updates from the West Midlands Environment Agency team on Twitter., external

  11. Your latest 50-second weather forecastpublished at 07:11 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    Rich Davis
    BBC Weather presenter

    Bright spells and a few showers this morning which will become more frequent in the afternoon with some heavy bursts at times.

    Some hail and thunder is possible too - highs of 11C (52F).

    Media caption,

    Latest West Midlands weather forecast

  12. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:01 British Summer Time 4 April 2018

    Stephanie Barnard
    BBC News

    Good morning and welcome to our live service this Wednesday.

    We'll be bringing you all the latest news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands between now and 19:00.

    If you'd like to get in touch with the team today, email, tweet, external or get in touch via Facebook., external

  13. Boy, 7, gets stuck inside stone monumentpublished at 20:26 British Summer Time 3 April 2018

    Max Morgan has "grown a bit" since previous visits to the same National Trust site, his father says.

    Read More
  14. Sex assault council leader diespublished at 19:10 British Summer Time 3 April 2018

    George Lord was jailed for four years for sexually assaulting his victim in the council chamber.

    Read More
  15. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 3 April 2018

    Monica Rimmer
    BBC News

    That's it for our live coverage on Tuesday, we'll be back from 07:00 on Wednesday.

    Keep an eye out here for more updates before then.

  16. West Midlands teams in football action laterpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 3 April 2018

    BBC Sport

    Three West Midlands teams are in action in the Championship tonight.

    Aston Villa are at home to Reading - a win would keep them in contention for a play-off position.

    Top-of-the-table Wolves host Hull at Molineux, but will be without full-backs Ruben Neves and Matt Doherty, who are both suspended after being sent off in Friday's game.

    Birmingham City travel to fellow strugglers Bolton. Boss Garry Monk will be looking to build on successive wins which have lifted the Blues out of the drop zone.

    You can listen to all the games on BBC WM and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.

  17. Demonstration over mental health staffing issuespublished at 18:46 British Summer Time 3 April 2018

    Protesters have been demonstrating about what they say is the poor quality of children’s mental health services in Shropshire.

    Demonstrators

    They say children’s lives are at risk because of cancelled appointments that are down to having only one consultant psychiatrist.

    South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Trust says it’s actively recruiting, but there is a national shortage of child psychiatrists.

  18. Protest over youth mental health servicepublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 3 April 2018

    Families say children's lives are being put at risk because of cancellations in appointments.

    Read More
  19. Council leader, found guilty of sexual assault, diespublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 3 April 2018

    The disgraced former leader of Worcestershire County Council, George Lord, has died.

    George Lord

    The Conservative politician, who was from Bromsgrove and in his 80s, resigned in 2010 and was later jailed for indecently and sexually assaulting teenagers.

  20. Video: What's the overnight weather got in store?published at 18:31 British Summer Time 3 April 2018

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    It will be a return to showers tonight with brisk southerly winds and lows of 8C (46F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather for the West Midlands