Summary

  • Click on Related Stories to read updates from your area

  • Live updates from Monday 21 May to Monday 28 May

  1. Man charged with van driver's crash murderpublished at 21:19 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Andre Thomas, 25, is accused of killing 31-year-old Daniel Blount in a fatal crash in Birmingham.

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  2. Legal challenge over PCC fire service rolepublished at 19:42 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Fire authority leaders say there was a "misleading" consultation over £4m savings.

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  3. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

  4. Attempted murder arrests over chip shop stabbingpublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over a stabbing at a chip shop in Birmingham.

    Police say a 22-year-old man is being treated for serious wounds to his chest and legs following the "unprovoked" attack at Roj Roj Fish and Chips on Smallbrook Queensway on 17 May.

    The arrested pair - both 20, from Nechells and Edgbaston - were arrested this morning and remain in custody.

  5. Look behind the scenes at new water parkpublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Joshua Cook
    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Media caption,

    A peak behind the scenes at Coventry's new water park

    Work is continuing at a new £36.7m water park in Coventry.

    The new facility, set to replace the current sports centre on Fairfax street, is expected to open in spring 2019.

    Featuring a 25m pool, spa and nine slides, the city council says it will provide a lot of fun.

  6. Police and Crime Commissioner 'disappointed' over legal challengepublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia says he's "disappointed" that Shropshire's fire authority has decided to mount a legal challenge against plans that will see him take on oversight of the area's fire services.

    The home secretary approved plans for John Campion to take over the role from Shropshire and Hereford and Worcester fire authorities in March.

    However, the Shropshire fire authority has voted to seek a judicial review into the decision.

    John CampionImage source, Police and Crime Commissioner

    Mr Campion said the challenge would likely "delay benefits being delivered for our local communities and emergency services alike, and result in further significant and unnecessary use of taxpayers' money”.

    Quote Message

    The central argument, that single governance in West Mercia can deliver more effective and efficient services for our communities, has been consistently supported via public consultation, independent assessment, and by government.”

    John Campion, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner

  7. Getting ready for Birmingham Pridepublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Yusaf Akbar
    BBC News Online

    Media caption,

    Thousands of people are expected to head to Birmingham for the city's Pride festival

    This weekend thousands of people from across the country are expected to descend on Birmingham’s gay village to celebrate the Pride festival.

    At the centre of the two-day event is the parade, which starts in Victoria Square on Saturday.

    Festival Director Lawrence Barton said it would be the "largest" parade in the event's history.

    Pride started in 1997 and Mr Barton said it had now become "an important part of people’s calendar".

    I went to meet Birmingham drag queen Queeny as she prepared for the big weekend.

  8. Fire leaves house a 'shell'published at 18:35 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A house has been left a shell, the fire service says, following a huge blaze which also destroyed a car and van parked outside, external.

    People living in the home on Huntsmans Walk, in Kinver, Staffordshire, were unharmed.

    The devastated houseImage source, Staffordshire Fire Service

    Crews were called after midnight.

    The fire service thinks the blaze started accidentally but, because of the devastation, it cannot yet say the exact cause.

    The shell of the houseImage source, Staffordshire Fire Service
  9. Port Vale sign ex-TNS defenderpublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    BBC Sport

    Port Vale have added centre-half Connell Rawlinson to their squad, on a one-year deal.

    He's joined them after being released by Welsh champions The New Saints yesterday.

  10. 'Weedkiller' wipes out 500 treespublished at 18:26 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    It is thought the planting project has been targeted deliberately, ruining the work of volunteers.

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  11. Father and son guilty of 'horrific' abusepublished at 18:25 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Anthony Potts, 49, and son Nathan, 26, were behind "one of the worst" child abuse cases police had seen.

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  12. More rain and cloud forecast for tonightpublished at 18:16 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Shefali Oza
    BBC Midlands Today

    One band of rain has passed over the region, but more is forecast.

    And there could be some thunderstorms over the weekend.

    Media caption,

    Shefali Oza with the weather forecast for the West Midlands on 24 May

  13. Corrosive substance attack reported on anglerpublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    A man has suffered burns after a corrosive substance was reportedly thrown at him., external

    The Railway pubImage source, Google

    Police say the attack happened yesterday afternoon as the man was fishing at a pool near to the Railway Pub in Heron Cross, Stoke-on-Trent.

    The 31-year-old has been treated in hospital for burns to his wrist.

  14. Robins happy with Coventry preparationspublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Coventry City manager Mark Robins says the gap between the play-off semi finals and the final has given his players some recovery time and top scorer Marc McNulty is now back in training.

    He's expected to be fit for the final at Wembley on Monday after recovering from a hamstring strain, which almost forced him out of the semi-final win at Notts County.

    Mark Robins

    Robins also said excitement would really start to build on Saturday when the first play-off final is played and that it is his job to keep the players calm.

    Quote Message

    Preparations are going well, couldn't have gone any better. We're just looking forward to it. I think the gap between the games has been good for the recovery time and we've used that as well as we possibly can."

    Mark Robins, Coventry City manager

  15. Student fined after admitting racial harassmentpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    BBC News England

    A law student who pleaded guilty to harassment over racist chanting has been fined £200 and ordered to pay £500 compensation.

    Sandby halls of residence

    Rufaro Chisango filmed people chanting "we hate the blacks" outside her room in a halls of residence on 5 March.

    Joe Tivnan, 19, from The Parklands in Erdington, Birmingham, admitted racially or religiously aggravated harassment.

  16. Pregnant cow rescued from pondpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A pregnant cow's been rescued from a pond, external in a two-hour operation by fire crews.

    They were called this morning to Red Hill Farm, Stafford, and say the animal is safe and well and due to give birth next week.

    Fire crews on the waterImage source, Staffordshire Fire Service
  17. Huge spike in police 999 calls 'partly due to hot weather'published at 17:20 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    John Acres
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    The recent hot weather may be partly behind a spike in the number of 999 calls to police in Staffordshire, the force says.

    Call centreImage source, Staffordshire Police

    It says that, in a typical May, officers average about 450 emergency calls a day, but this month they're getting about 100 extra each day. , external

    Police have told BBC Radio Stoke that the hot weather's a factor and they're expecting demand to rise over the bank holiday weekend.

    Quote Message

    In the month of May so far, it's been the highest number of 999 calls on record for a very, very long time so we're taking, on average, around 530 999 calls a day, which is 100 more than we would normally expect at this time of year."

    Lisa Styles, Staffordshire Police

  18. Time to moo-ve: Escaped cattle invade residential streetpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 24 May 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    The cowsImage source, A Little Bit of Stone

    People living in Stone, Staffordshire, had an unusual visit this week when a herd of cows came for a wander down their street.

    Farmer Matt Weaver told website A LIttle Bit of Stone, external that the cattle got out through an un-padlocked gate and wandered into Aston Lodge.

    He added that he was alerted by a neighbour and the cows were rounded up and taken home.

    The cowsImage source, A Little Bit of Stone