Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Updates from Monday 9 - Sunday 15 April
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Live Reporting

Three wickets on opening morningpublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
Worcestershire took a crucial wicket just before lunch on day one of their opening match of the County Championship at Hampshire.
Image source, PA
The home side were 131-3 at the break with England's James Vince (pictured in action) out in the penultimate over of the session, bowled by Steve Magoffin.
Earlier, the Queenslander also removed Jimmy Adams for 33 while Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach took the other wicket to fall of Lewis McManus.
Warwickshire, looking to start their new season in Division Two, saw no play before lunch at Edgbaston where they are hosting Sussex.
There's commentary on both games on BBC local radio and updates on the BBC Sport website.
In the papers: 'No money claim' from footballerpublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Shropshire Star
These are some of the stories appearing on the Shropshire Star website today:
Arrest made after hospital stabbingpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
A man was injured after a stabbing in the Birmingham hospital's car park on Thursday.
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'Arrogant' drink-driving footballer banned and finedpublished at 13:08 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
BBC Wales News
A footballer who missed a court appearance after being caught drink-driving has been banned and fined.
Image source, Getty Images
James Hurst, 26, from Sutton Coldfield, who has played for West Bromwich Albion, Shrewsbury Town and Birmingham City, was convicted of drink-driving on Wrexham high street in December.
He missed his subsequent trial at Llandudno Magistrates' Court last week and an arrest warrant was issued.
On Wednesday, Hurst pleaded guilty to failing to surrender bail and was fined £1,430 with a 20-month driving ban.
He had been described as "arrogant" by the police officer who breathalysed him and she told magistrates last week that when she arrested him he said: "I'm a millionaire. I will take the ban and pay the fine."
Weekend closure for city road for flood workspublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Work to prevent flooding on New Road in Worcester will see the route shut all weekend from this evening.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
A bus battles flood water on New Road, Worcester, in 2014
The £1.2m scheme started in January, external with the aim of raising nearly 200m of road, cycle paths and footpaths by 38cm (15 inches).
From 20:00 tonight, the county council says the road will be closed with a diversion in place until 06:00 on Monday, although there'll be access to site like the cricket ground., external
Pet stolen in burglary 'may have been sold'published at 12:37 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
A French bulldog, stolen in a burglary which saw a man threatened with a knife, may have been sold in Wolverhampton, police say., external
Image source, West Mercia Police
Three masked men burst into a house on Portland Street in Hereford last month and also used pepper spray on three people inside.
The burglars made off with the dog, along with other items, and two of the victims needed hospital treatment.
Now, detectives say they think the bulldog, which is microchipped, may have been sold without the buyer realising she's a family pet.
Patel signs new Warwickshire contractpublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Jeetan Patel, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Ryan Sidebottom and Alex Thomson all sign new contracts with Warwickshire.
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Long-delayed £13m station given all-clearpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Kenilworth's new railway station has been "authorised" for use by railway bosses, although the opening date has not yet been finalised.
Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector of Railways Office, revealed the news on Twitter, external.
Image source, Warwickshire County Council
Work started on the £13m station in Priory Road- where the previous one was shut in the 1960s under the Beeching cuts - in early 2015.
Since then the project has faced numerous delays and rows over when it could be staffed, despite being finished in December.
Park set to remain closedpublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
West Park in Wolverhampton remains sealed off and police say it is expected to remain closed over the weekend amid a forensic search.
Det Chief Insp Edward Foster, from West Midlands Police's homicide unit, said his team had been "working around the clock to understand what happened to this girl".
He said a number of people had come forward with information, but officers still wanted to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious or saw a young girl in the park from Wednesday night onwards.
Two teens arrested after girl’s body found in parkpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Breaking
Sophie Madden
BBC News
Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a teenage girl was found in Wolverhampton's West Park on Thursday.
The 14-year-old girl, who was reported missing the day before, has not yet been formally identified.
A post-mortem examination concluded that she died from blunt force trauma to her head.
The boys, 16, 17, were arrested from their home addresses in Wolverhampton and have been taken into custody where they will be questioned by detectives.
Kerpow! Lost Batman footage screenedpublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Footage of actor Adam West teaching road safety to children has not been seen for 50 years.
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In the papers: Thieves 'stab farmer'published at 11:41 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Hereford Times
The Hereford Times is covering these main stories today:
Worcestershire take first wicket of cricket summerpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
Play is under way for one of our local cricket sides as the County Championship got started today.
Worcestershire chose not to contest the toss at Hampshire and are bowling first at the Ageas Bowl.
They took the first wicket of the summer at about 11:13 as Joe Leach got Lewis McManus out, leaving Hampshire 5-1.
But the weather's stopped there being any play between Warwickshire and Sussex before lunch at Edgbaston.
There's commentary on both games on BBC local radio and updates on the BBC Sport website.
Pub 'badly damaged' in blazepublished at 11:15 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A pub's been badly damaged in a fire.
It was lucky, the fire service says, the Offley Arms in Madeley, Staffordshire,, external was shut when the blaze started last night.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service
It's caused "significant damage" and four fire engines were needed to get it under control.
The service is now investigating what caused it.
Safety watchdog launches recycling plant investigationpublished at 11:01 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Breaking
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating after a man died at a recycling plant in Bordesley Green.
Image source, Google
Police said the man, in his 60s, was crushed when one HGV rolled into the other and trapped him at C & J recycling centre on Thursday.
A HSE spokesperson said: "HSE is aware of the incident and is working alongside West Midlands Police to investigate."
Boxing club told to move out after 50 yearspublished at 10:50 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
The people who run a community boxing club in Solihull say they're worried they might be asked to leave premises they've been using for over half a century.
The Solihull Amateur Boxing Club says it found out on social media that it's got to leave the Summerfield School Referral Centre in July.
Image source, Solihull Amateur Boxing Club
A petition has been launched in support of the club and already has amassed more than 700 signatures.
The council says it's helping the club find a new venue.
Barrier put up to stop travellers moving inpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
A new, steel height restriction barrier has been installed at playing fields in Wolverhampton to prevent unauthorised traveller encampments.
City of Wolverhampton Council said it had installed the barrier at Windsor Avenue playing fields to "protect" the site.
Steve Woodward, head of environmental services, said it would stop caravans.
Additional security measures were also previously installed in February which included new steel magpie posts and lockable bollards.
Image source, Wolverhampton Council
In photos: Damp scenes from morning rainpublished at 10:19 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
BBC Weather Watchers
A damp start for much of the West Midlands and our BBC Weather Watchers have been creatively snapping scenes of wetness.
These two are from users Wendell G in Lichfield and Pix Elated in Leominster:
Image source, Wendell G
Image source, Pix Elated
In the papers: Death at recycling plantpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Birmingham Live
On the Birmingham Live page today, they're covering:
Grade II listed gates taken away for restorationpublished at 09:47 British Summer Time 13 April 2018
Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire
A pair of old railway gates that form part of Ironbridge's industrial heritage are being taken away for restoration today., external
Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council
The Grade II listed level-crossing gates in Jackfield were installed in the 1860s as part of the Severn Valley Railway.
Telford and Wrekin Council says the restoration work could take a few months, depending on how long the wood takes to dry out.