Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 23 July to Sunday 29 July

  • Click on related stories for updates from your area

Live Reporting

  1. Council's children's services 'requires improvement'

    Children's services in Herefordshire still "require improvement" inspectors from the education watchdog say.

    Ofsted says action since the last inspection in 2014 has been "too slow" and that social workers for the authority are "struggling" with high caseloads.

    Herefordshire CouncilGoogle

    While acknowledging some progress has been made, inspectors say the quality of management across the service is "too variable".

    The council says it's "confident" it's on course to get a "good" rating in the future.

    In March, a High Court judge named Herefordshire Council as causing "dreadful failures" in the handling of children in its care.

    At the time, the authority said it was "remedying past mistakes".

  2. Drive-by shooting investigated

    A road in Birmingham was sealed off by police yesterday following a drive-by shooting at a house.

    Gun shots were fired from a passing car at a house on City Road in Birmingham on Sunday at about 14:40, say police. Nobody was injured.

    City Road, BirminghamGoogle

    Anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands Police.

  5. Streets 'safe' despite acid attack

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    People in Worcester are being urged by police not to think the city is becoming unsafe after a a three-year-old boy was seriously hurt in a suspected acid attack.

    Officers were called to Home Bargains in the city on Saturday afternoon and say the youngster was "deliberately attacked".

    Police in the areaSWNS

    The force this morning says three men are in custody after being arrested in London.

    It's the latest high-profile acid attack in the UK, but Ch Supt Mark Travis says the numbers of incidents in Worcester are "still very, very low".

    "I absolutely understand the community will be concerned, these are life-changing incidents, this is something that lasts forever and we need to send a message that this is unacceptable," he said.

  6. Drag teen banned from school talent show

    Lewis Bailey, 14, dressed in drag for non-uniform day and will join stars of RuPaul's Drag Race.

    Read More

  7. Community shock over 'acid' attack on boy

    Residents in Worcester have described a suspected acid attack on a boy, three, as 'terrible' and 'worrying'.

    Read More

  8. Crash brings M6 to a halt

    BBC News Travel

    Traffic's now at a standstill northbound on the M6 between J10 and J10A after the earlier crash involving several vehicles.

    Highways England said traffic was stopped to allow the scene to be cleared.

  9. 'It's been hell' - shisha lounge closure welcomed

    BBC WM

    The MP for Ladywood, Shabana Mahmood, has called the licensing of shisha bars as "totally inadequate", following the closure of two premises in the city.

    Last week, the city council revoked the licence of Arabian Nites in Highgate which is to remain closed for three months after a shooting there in May.

    The move took away the venue’s ability to sell alcohol, serve late night refreshment and play music, but selling shisha itself is not covered by a licence, LDRS reporter Carl Jackson said last week.

    Arabian Nites, Highgate, BirminghamGoogle

    Ms Mahmood has called for tighter rules nationally to stop venues from opening in residential areas as "people are having to go through absolute hell to get these places shut down".

    It's been hell for two and a half years. We've put up with cars speeding up and down the road until 2-3am and patrons arguing in the streets when they're leaving. We've had nothing but litter and rubbish. We've just had no end of trouble and it's been absolutely horrendous."

    Lil Stubbs, Local resident

    The Home Office says it is for local authorities to use their powers to review the licences and they have an extensive range.

    The BBC has attempted to contact Arabian Nites for a response.

  10. 'A real sense of what Coventry can be'

    Martin Winch
    BBC News

    The new culture secretary says Coventry has lots of work to do in reaching out to the whole community in the run up to 2021.

    Jeremy Wright, who is also MP for Kenilworth and Southam, made the future UK City of Culture his first visit outside London after being appointed.

    Godiva Awakes, in the Coventry Cathedral ruinsCoventry City of Culture Trust

    Coventry is undergoing huge change anyway physically. Anyone who knows Coventry, knows that is under way so I think adding this extra cultural dimension that the City of Culture brings, means that we have a real sense of what Coventry can be, and I think that is immensely exciting."

    Jeremy Wright, Culture Secretary

  12. Worcestershire re-sign India's Ashwin

    India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will rejoin Worcestershire in September for their final two County Championship games.

    Read More

  13. Acid attack on boy: 'Open mind' over what happened

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Detectives investigating a suspected acid attack in Worcester say they're keeping "an open mind" about what happened.

    What should you do to treat a chemical burn?

    The boy was in a pushchair when he was "deliberately attacked" at Home Bargains in Worcester at 14:15 on Saturday.

    This morning, police said three men had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident.

    Ch Supt Mark Travis said the force still had work to do and appealed for anyone with more information to contact them.

  14. Three released on bail after bridal shop fight

    Three people who were arrested after police were called to a fight at a bridal shop in Birmingham have been released on bail.

    Officers were called to Seher Boutique, in Alum Rock Road, Saltley, on Saturday after a reports a number of people had been "fighting with weapons".

    Seher Boutique, in Alum Rock Road, SaltleyGoogle

    West Midlands Police say a 22-year-old woman and two men aged 46 and 24 have been bailed with conditions.

    A 50-year-old who was also arrested in connection to the incident remains in hospital with a fractured eye socket, say police.

  15. 'Real quality' from new Stoke City signing

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke City boss Gary Rowett says new signing James McClean will bring "real quality" to the team.

    James McCleanStoke City FC

    The Potters signed the Republic of Ireland winger from fellow Championship club West Bromwich Albion for an initial £5m.

    The fee for the 29-year-old could rise to £6m with add-ons.

    McClean is Stoke's fourth signing of the summer as the team look to bounce back from their Premier League relegation.

    James is a player I've admired for a long time. He has real quality with his left foot and is an old-fashioned winger."

    Gary Rowett, Stoke City manager

  16. BBC drops The Great Pottery Throw Down

    Sarah Robertson
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    The TV show The Great Pottery Throw Down has been dropped by the BBC, BBC Radio Stoke's confirmed.

    Excerpt from Series One of The Great Pottery Throw Down

    The programme, filmed at Middleport Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, was due to return for a third series.

    In the show, home potters from around the country headed to the city, the home of pottery, in their quest to become Top Potter.

    The BBC says “whilst they are proud of the show and very grateful to everyone involved in the two series, we sometimes have to take difficult decisions in order to make room for new shows.”

  17. Ryanair customers urged to claim compensation

    More than 100,000 passengers could be in line for compensation after their Ryanair flights were cancelled because of strikes.

    The Civil Aviation Authority has urged customers to claim under European flight rules.

    The industrial action last week also affected flights at Birmingham Airport, with more pilot and cabin crew strikes due this week.

    Ryanair pilot strikeReuters

    When a flight cancellation is caused by strike action by the airline's employees, the airline is required to pay compensation to passengers in respect of the cancellation of the flight, if it has not warned passengers of the cancellation at least two weeks prior to the scheduled time of departure."

    Spokesperson, Civil Aviation Authority

  18. 'Use it or lose it' as students leave city in the summer

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    With students now on a summer break, residents in Coventry are being urged to help combat the drop in trade - particularly at shops and bars.

    Experts say the city takes a hit when Coventry University is on its summer break with students contributing more than £145m each year to the local economy.

    DrinkGetty Images

    We've got great weather at the moment. We've got a great city so we've got an opportunity now for the people of Coventry to come out and benefit from all of those bars, restaurants, cafes and shops that have opened because of the students."

    Andy Talbot, Chair of the business improvement district, Coventry

  19. In the papers: Reaction to 'diabolical' acid attack on boy

    Worcester News

    The Worcester News has been covering the acid attack on a boy in the city, saying three men have been arrested.

    It adds that the incident has left Worcester "stunned" with one shopper telling the paper "it’s diabolical".

    The paper also reflects the reaction of the city's MP Robin Walker who describes it as "very concerning".

  20. Worcestershire look to get batting against Somerset

    BBC Sport

    Worcestershire will be looking to take the last Somerset wicket early on day two of their County Championship Division One match at New Road.

    The momentum swung back and forth on day one, as the visitors recovered to 241-4 from a position of 11-2.

    Moeen Ali in actionGetty Images

    But England all-rounder Moeen Ali helped Worcestershire fight back with three wickets as Somerset ended the day 324-9.

    You can follow coverage of the match on BBC local radio and on the BBC Cricket website.