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
Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area
Updates from Friday 6 April

Live Reporting

Stoke manager thanks fanspublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Stoke City manager Paul Lambert has thanked the club's fans for their support in the fight against relegation.
Stoke's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday left the Potters three points from safety with just six Premier League games to play.
Lambert says he wants to give the supporters what they deserve.
Image source, Getty Images
Quote Message
A big compliment to the supporters for the way they get behind us, especially in this moment. I think they've been brilliant, the supporters have been excellent and we'll try everything we can to stay in this league."
Paul Lambert, Stoke City manager
In the papers: Patrols steer revellers away from riverpublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
Shropshire Star
Some of the main stories on the Shropshire Star website today are:
Woman dies in 'carbon monoxide leak'published at 14:31 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
A 75-year-old man is in a serious condition after a suspected leak at their home, police say.
Read More
Road to close for flood alleviation workpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
BBC Hereford and Worcester
New Road in Worcester will be closed to all traffic for a weekend for flood alleviation work.
Image source, Worcestershire County Council
All three lanes past the cricket ground will be shut from the evening of Friday 13 April until 06:00 on Monday 16 April.
Crews tackle 'severe' factory firepublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
The entire Christmas decorations factory was engulfed in flames at some point, fire crews said.
Read More
Drone police calls on the uppublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
Calls to West Midlands Police to report flying drones rose by 42% last year, according to figures obtained by a freedom of information request.
Image source, PA
Across the UK, the number increased by almost a third.
Drone-related calls to West Mercia police rose from 175 in 2016 to 231 in 2017, and from 150 to 193 in Staffordshire.
It comes as the government prepares to introduce more regulation on the use of the devices.
Athlete's apprehension over beasts of Ozpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
Dan Pallett
BBC Midlands Today Sport
In little under 24 hours, the Commonwealth Games will get under way in Australia.
A number of West Midlands athletes are vying for gold medals on the Gold Coast, including Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty who's from Uttoxeter.
I've also spoken to Matthew Hudson-Smith from Wolverhampton who is a bit more apprehensive about what Oz has to offer...
Quote Message
Seven out of 10 of the most dangerous animals live in Australia, so I'm petrified."
Matthew Hudson-Smith, Athlete
Traffic officer punched unconsciouspublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
The officer managed to arrest his attacker despite being knocked out.
Read More
Traffic officer punched unconsciouspublished at 13:40 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
A police officer was punched unconscious and had to be treated for facial injuries after stopping a man for suspected traffic offences.
Image source, Google
Police said the man was stopped on Treforest Road in the Stoke area of Coventry at about 00:20 and punched the officer several times before abandoning his vehicle.
Despite briefly losing consciousness, the officer managed to chase and detain a suspect.
The arrested man - whom it emerged was wanted in connection with an armed robbery, police said - remains in police custody.
Black and white proof of zoo's new arrivalpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
A new arrival at Dudley Zoo is the first of its type to be born there in 21 years.
This black and white ruffed lemur was born a few weeks ago but has now been seen out of its nesting box.
Image source, Dudley Zoo
Quote Message
It’s been over 20 years since we’ve had a black and white ruffed born here and we’re absolutely thrilled. They are the only primates whose babies stay in the nest for the first few weeks of their lives."
Pat Stevens, Upper primates section, Dudley Zoo
WBA caretaker boss: 'We need to get back the unity'published at 13:13 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
BBC Sport
West Brom caretaker manager Darren Moore says he wants to unite the club after Alan Pardew's departure.
The relegation-threatened Baggies parted company with Pardew yesterday after eight straight league defeats.
Former defender Moore, who was part of Pardew's backroom staff, takes temporary charge with the club bottom of the table, 10 points from safety with six games remaining.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Darren Moore (right)
"We've always bounced back before and that's what we will do again," he said.
"West Bromwich Albion has always been a family for me. And that's the word I shall focus on - family.
"We need to get the unity back among everyone - the players, the staff, the fans, everyone connected with Albion, because that is the only way forward."
Woman dies after 'carbon monoxide leak'published at 13:04 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
A woman has died and a man is in a serious condition in hospital following a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a property in Cannock, West Midlands Ambulance Service says.
Staffordshire Police said it was called to Old Penkridge Road at about 10:30.
The force said the dead woman was in her 70s. The man, according to the ambulance service, was aged 75.
Image source, @SNAPPERSK
Police say the woman's death is currently being treated as unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious.
In the papers: Price hike for hospital parkingpublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
Coventry Telegraph
Some of the main stories on the Coventry Telegraph website today are:
Hippodrome stages first in-house productionpublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
BBC Midlands Today
The Birmingham Hippodrome will make history this evening by staging its first ever in-house production.
The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel is a collaboration with Open Theatre Company – one of the region’s leading promoters of learning disabled arts.
Luke Greenwood, who's from Solihull and has Asperger's, will be making his theatre debut.
He says the experience has been stressful but is looking forward to the performance.
Quote Message
We’ve been working with Open Theatre Company for over a decade to provide opportunities for young people with learning disabilities in the arts. Now we have the chance to expand that work even further and make a real difference to a new generation of emerging artists living and working in the UK."
Fiona Allen, Chief executive, Birmingham Hippodrome
New hub to help army veteranspublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
The new hub will provide information and advice on services and benefits for veterans.
Read More
Armed police at cordoned-off areapublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
Hannah Quinn
BBC Radio Stoke
An area of Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, is cordoned off, with armed officers attending the scene, police have told the BBC.
The area between Hanford Court Care Home and a clinic on New Inn Lane is not accessible to traffic and pedestrians.
Staffordshire Police said it was unable to comment further but officers were called at 11:15.
Fire crews scale back work at factory firepublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
Monica Rimmer
BBC News
Fire crews tackling a "severe" fire at a factory in Wolverhampton have scaled back their work at the site.
About 17 firefighters remain at the scene on Alma Street where the fire broke out last night.
Image source, @SNAPPERSK
At the fire's height, more than 50 firefighters were in attendance at the industrial unit which, the fire service said, contained Christmas decorations.
The fire service stopped the blaze spreading to two neighbouring units.
Investigations are under way.
Defence contract hope for firmpublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
The government says parts for the next generation of armoured troop carriers could be built in Telford, as part of a £3bn defence contract.
Image source, Getty Images
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the Geman consortium Artec has signed a number of supply deals with British-based companies, including BAE Systems, which has a base at Hadley Castle.
The MoD said Telford was among six locations being considered for a full production-line, with a decision due some time next year.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David criticised the Ministry of Defence's decision to choose Munich-based Artec to deliver new armoured carriers for the Army.
Leek woman to represent Britain in powerlifting competitionpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
BBC Radio Stoke
Staffordshire will be represented at the European Powerlifting Championships later this year.
Great Britain's Fay Northcott, 25, from Leek, will compete at the tournament in France later this year.
Flood warnings in place after heavy rainpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 3 April 2018
Flood sirens have sounded and a barrier has been activated after heavy rain and snow.
Read More