Summary

  • Huge scrap metal fire shuts airport

  • Halloween pumpkin started fire that killed boy

  • Husband accused of murder denies anger 'uncontrollable'

  • Police summit over town centre vandalism

  • Plans to put shops on car park get approval

  • Haircuts for Muslim men as Ramadan ends

  • Government asked to reconsider West Brom's safe-standing proposal

  • World Cup apologies after Robbie Williams gives finger

  • Euromillions winner still works at Asda

  • 'Lucky boy' kitten rescued from car's engine

  • Click on related stories to read updates from your area

  • Live updates on Friday 15 June

  1. Boys released over murder teen's stabbingpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 16 June 2018

    Three boys arrested after Keelan Wilson was stabbed yards away from his home have been released.

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  2. 'Surprise' as teenager catches cowpoxpublished at 03:11 British Summer Time 16 June 2018

    A 15-year-old boy is diagnosed with the historical disease now usually only found in animals.

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  3. Rape accused tells of affair with girl, 17published at 22:26 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Two former teachers at top private school Christ's Hospital are accused of sexually abusing pupils.

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  4. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

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

  5. Council to tackle 'risky' cross-border taxispublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Emily Lloyd

    Taxi drivers who fail to get a licence from Shropshire Council but instead get one from a neighbouring council pose a "significant risk" to public safety, a report says.

    Sign for taxi

    Drawn up by the local authority's licensing team, it says it can't guarantee the neighbouring council's criteria for giving a licence would be as robust as its own.

    The report, which goes before councillors next week, external, says this increase in "cross-border hiring" is the "most acute" taxi licensing problem facing them.

    But it says there are plans in place for the council to join up with a new national register which will detail all licence refusals and is due to go live later this year.

  6. Former council leader reveals attackspublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Ann Lucas became the first female leader for Coventry City Council in 2013.

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  7. Station's £800k improvements unveiledpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Andrew Hewkin
    Newsreader, BBC Shropshire

    A ceremony's been held to mark the completion of improvement work at Shrewsbury's railway station.

    New waiting roomImage source, Arriva Trains Wales

    More than £800,000 has been spent on new waiting rooms and toilets at the Grade II listed building.

    Network Rail now plans to carry out work on the Dana footbridge across the tracks.

    Town crier opening railway station improvementsImage source, Arriva Trains Wales
  8. Ryton blaze: Photos from 'challenging' firepublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A fire crew in Coventry says today's huge fire at a metal recycling company in Warwickshire proved "challenging, external".

    Huge plume of smokeImage source, @Binley_Fire

    Scrap metal is burning at White's of Coventry, close to the A45, near Ryton-on-Dunsmore.

    Warwickshire Fire Service says it's now under control and its Binley fire crew's tweeted these photos from the blaze.

    Flames at the siteImage source, @Binley_Fire
  9. Agricultural show entries hit by threat of bovine TBpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Ben Godfrey
    BBC Midlands Today

    Thousands of people are expected for this year's Royal Three Counties Show, external this weekend but some farmers haven't entered their cattle due to the threat of Bovine tuberculosis (TB).

    Due to the prevalence of the disease in the West Midlands, external, organisers of the Malvern event have insisted all cows being entered must have a clear TB test result.

    Cows at this year's event

    I've been told by some farmers at this year's show that that can mean testing their cattle three times for the show, at a cost of hundreds of pounds.

    For some of them from further afield, that's meant not entering due to the expense.

    Organisers say they are taking every precaution for the show, now in its 60th year, and still have over 700 cattle entries.

  10. Ex council boss's home 'shot at twice'published at 18:25 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Ann Lucas, first female leader at Coventry City Council, said security measures were put in on police advice.

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  11. Women's Tour in picturespublished at 18:23 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Tens of thousands of people turned out to watch the Women's Tour from Atherstone to Leamington Spa in Warwickshire today.

    Women's TourImage source, PA
    Women's TourImage source, PA
    Women's TourImage source, PA

    The 150km race was won by Australian Sarah Roy, who sprinted to the finish line at Leamington Spa.

  12. Hospital switch for patients aims to ease A&E pressurepublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Michele Paduano
    Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

    Patients who need emergency treatment in parts of Kidderminster won't be taken to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital from Monday for a week., external

    Worcestershire Royal A&EImage source, Google

    Instead, the county's clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), who plan NHS services, say they'll be taken to the Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch.

    The areas affected are those in the DY10 and DY11 postcodes, which is most of Kidderminster.

    Worcestershire's Clinical Commissioning Groups say the move is a pilot for a week and is aimed at seeing if it eases pressure on the Worcestershire Royal in Worcester.

    On average, it's just under 15 miles (24km) from the DY10 postcode to the Alexandra Hospital and just over 18 miles (29km) to the Worcestershire Royal.

    For DY11 postcodes, the distance to each hospital is on average the same, 20 miles (32km).

  13. Euromillions winner Amanda Lewis still works at Asdapublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    BBC News England

    A lottery winner who scooped £1m is still working at the supermarket where she bought the ticket two years on.

    Amanda Lewis, from Stafford, described her Euromillions win as "life-changing" - but she still works part-time at Asda on Molineux Way in Wolverhampton.

    Amanda Lewis with gold handsImage source, The National Lottery

    The 51-year-old used a £2 win from a previous lottery draw to purchase the winning numbers in June 2016.

    Despite being able to buy new homes for her family, she said she would not give up her job of 16 years.

    Quote Message

    I think I would get bored if I didn't work. People have said I should set up my own business, but, to be honest, I have been there so long I don't have a clue what I would do if I didn't work there."

    Amanda Lewis, Lottery winner

  14. Video: What's the weather got in store?published at 17:44 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Rebecca Wood
    BBC Midlands Today

    It should be a dry start to the evening, but cloud will increase bringing a few showers and lows of 10C (50F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  15. Ryton blaze: Battle to stop pollution getting into riverpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Fire crews at the huge scrap yard blaze in Ryton-on-Dunsmore say they're also trying to stop pollution from the fire getting into a nearby river.

    Firefighters around one of the boomsImage source, Warwickshire Fire Service

    Having been at the site since around 10:00, the service says it was under control by about 16:00.

    They and the Environment Agency say there are two booms now in place to catch pollutants from the water running off , externalthe ground around the fire.

  16. Traffic cones and bike among recovered river rubbishpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Faith Page
    Reporter, BBC Shropshire

    An old bike, having been pulled from the riverImage source, Shropshire Wildlife Trust

    Traffic cones, an office chair and a saw were among trailer-loads of rubbish removed from the River Severn as part of a major clean-up, external this week.

    Volunteers led by Shropshire Wildlife Trust spent three days litter-picking along several miles of the waterway in Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth., external

    Quote Message

    We pulled out a highways gritting tub, countless bottles, shoes. Funnily enough, we got some Victorian clay pipes as well, we got heritage litter."

    Pete Lambert, Shropshire Wildlife Trust

    More of the litter pulled from riverImage source, Shropshire Wildlife Trust
  17. Huge scrap metal fire shuts airportpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Smoke from the fire can be seen for miles around and drivers are being warned to take care.

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  18. Scrap metal fire 'under control'published at 17:06 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    The fire at a scrap metal yard in Ryton-on-Dunsmore is now "under control", said the fire service.

    At it's height about 70 firefighters were at the site, with crews travelling from the West Midlands and Northamptonshire services to help Warwickshire crews.

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  19. Scrap fire's smoke can be seen for milespublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 15 June 2018

    Fire at scrap metal plant near Coventry sends up plumes of smoke which can be seen for miles.

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