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
Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire
A music festival in Shropshire has been cancelled.
Organisers of the Fieldbounce Festival, planned for 5 May in Oswestry, say it can't go ahead, external because of "circumstances beyond their control".
They had previously announced, external that Scouting for Girls and Dappy would be among the acts.
Allen Cook
BBC News
There are still long delays on the M6 in Staffordshire this evening after a crash just after 14:00 this afternoon.
One lorry driver was taken to hospital, according to the ambulance service,, external while oil spilled on to the northbound carriageway, external, between junctions 15 and 16.
The whole carriageway was shut until just before 17:00, but by 18:00 two lanes had been reopened., external
Shrewsbury Town take on Lincoln in the Checkatrade Trophy final.
Read MoreThe Worcester News has these stories today:
West Midlands mayor Andy Street is in Coventry today presenting details of the city's bid to become European City of Sport 2019.
City councillors last month approved the bid to submit an application, external after being nominated for the title by ACES Europe, the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation.
Winning the title could bring "high visibility to a city’s sporting offer, support access to external grants and open access to a network of cities in sport across Europe," the council report said.
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Lee Blakeman
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Five-time world darts champion Eric Bristow, who's died at the age of 60, has been described as being a major force in the game's popularity today.
He also won five World Masters titles, was a founder player when the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) was formed in 1993, and was awarded an MBE for his services to sport in 1989.
Archive: Bristow wins first BDO World Championship in 1980
Tributes flood in for him, including praise from Staffordshire, where Bristow lived:
Stoke-on-Trent's sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor, who was mentored by Bristow, wrote on Twitter:, external "Words cannot express how sad and shocked I am to hear the terrible news about Eric's passing. A huge influence on my career and a larger than life character, the world has lost a legend. RIP pal."
Fellow Potteries darts player Ian White told BBC Radio Stoke he's gutted to have lost a great friend: "It hits you. He wasn't a family member but he was a family member in the darts and it's just so sad news to hear him gone. You just thought he'd never go."
PDC chairman Barry Hearn told the BBC: "He is probably one of the reasons why darts is where it is today - it hasn't lost that touch with the ordinary man, because it is made up of ordinary men with extraordinary ability, and Bristow was the ringleader from the beginning. His name is synonymous with darts."
Some of the main stories in this week's Coventry Observer are:
Image source, Coventry ObserverA motorcyclist died in a crash on the A429 Fosse Way in Warwickshire yesterday, police say., external
The motorbike is believed to have hit a car going in the opposite direction while travelling from Tredington towards Moreton-in-Marsh.
The rider, a 65-year-old man from Oxfordshire, died at the scene.
A Sandwell road is to be closed to traffic to allow "extensive" fly-tipping to be cleared, the council says.
Image source, Sandwell CouncilForge Lane in West Bromwich will be closed on Sunday 8 April between 06:00 and 12:00 to clear the carpets, fridges, bin bags and kitchen cabinets that have been dumped at the spot close to Sandwell Valley.
Image source, Sandwell CouncilCCTV cameras are being installed at the site once cleared, the local authority says.
BBC WM Sport
Wolves can take a huge step towards promotion to the Premier League tonight as they take on second place Cardiff City.
Image source, Getty ImagesA win would put the team nine points clear of their opponents with five games left to play.
Wolves have stabilised after defeats by Fulham and Aston Villa and are four games without loss following the midweek draw at Hull City.
Birmingham Live
The headlining stories on the Birmingham Live website today include:
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Anti-flooding roadworks in Worcester are on track to finish on time.
The county council says the works on New Road, to raise the road level to prevent flooding, are still set to end by 14 May.
The authority says that's subject to there being no "unforeseen delays due to underground services”.
It does mean New Road will still be disrupted when Worcestershire County Cricket Club hosts two County Championship matches, against Nottinghamshire and Essex.
No one from the cricket club was available to comment on the impact.
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today
Latest West Midlands weather forecast
BBC Sport
England and Sale wing Denny Solomona has been banned for four weeks for making a homophobic slur in the match against Worcester last month.
Image source, Getty ImagesSolomona is banned until 8 May, so will not play again this season unless Sale reach the Premiership play-offs.
Microphones picked up Warriors fly-half Jamie Shillcock raising the issue during the Sharks' win.
BBC Sport understands the word Solomona is alleged to have said is similar to that used by Mathieu Bastareaud in a European Cup match in January.
Leslie Bryan was arrested in 2016 when police were informed of the abuse.
Read More
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
A man's been arrested in Stoke-on-Trent in connection , externalwith what police are calling "one of the most significant people smuggling networks operating between Iraq and the UK".
Image source, National Crime AgencyThe National Crime Agency said the 38-year-old was arrested in the city on Thursday on suspicion of immigration offences. He's since been released on bail.
Two more men - from Oldham and Newton Heath, Manchester - were also detained on suspicion of immigration offences.
When officers arrived at the Stoke-on-Trent home a naked man fled the property.
Read More
BBC Business News
Bargain Booze and Wine Rack are set to be sold to food wholesaler Bestway for £7m.
Image source, ConvivialityConviviality's retail arm, which has a base in Crewe, was looking for suitors after the company ran into financial difficulty.
The sale is expected to save 2,000 jobs at the chains.
Earlier this week, the wholesale division of Conviviality was bought by C&C, the owner of Magners cider.
Both deals were completed through a pre-pack administration process, which was overseen by PwC.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
One lane has been reopened on the M6 in Staffordshire to release traffic after a multi-vehicle crash this afternoon.
Highways England says there's around four-and-a-half miles of trapped traffic after the collision which happened between junctions 15 and 16. , external
The crash resulted in an oil spill, police said, adding that the other lanes were still blocked by a jack-knifed lorry., external
Allen Cook
BBC News
A man cut free from one of two lorries which collided as part of a multi-vehicle M6 crash has been taken to hospital suffering with chest pain. , external
West Midlands Ambulance Service said the driver of the second lorry was unhurt.
The crash happened at about 14:00 on the northbound carriageway between junctions 15 and 16 in Staffordshire.
Highways England says it's working to get one lane open past the site., external
The hurt man is in his 50s.
