Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 30 July to Sunday 5 August

  • Click on related stories for updates from your area

  1. Mum cleared of blame after boy hit by carpublished at 19:49 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Caine Ellis suffered a serious brain injury after the incident in Acocks Green in 2008.

    Read More
  2. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:05 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

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

  3. Bridge closure and faulty signals...published at 19:03 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    BBC News Travel

    A reminder that a fault with the signalling system , externalat Birmingham New Street is causing disruption to journeys though the station, the National Rail website reports.

    Services may be delayed by up to 20 minutes or cancelled and the disruption is expected to last until 8pm.

    Also, a road vehicle has collided with a bridge , externalbetween Oxford and Worcester Shrub Hill.

    Network Rail has advised the line between these stations will remain closed until repairs have been carried out.

    Services between Oxford and Worcester will be cancelled, or where possible, diverted via Cheltenham Spa for the rest of the day.

  4. Houses to be bought for temporary accommodationpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    An agreement to buy up to six properties to use as temporary accommodation for homeless families has been reached by councillors in Stratford-upon-Avon.

    District council leader Tony Jefferson said the authority was "keen to reduce the reliance on Bed and Breakfast" provision.

    Stratford District CouncilImage source, Google

    The authority would now be able to "act quickly" to buy suitable properties on the open market, it said.

    The decision was taken at a meeting of the cabinet on Monday.

  5. Well-wishes after former MP reveals Parkinson's diagnosispublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Current and former MPs have sent their best wishes to former defence minister and Conservative MP Sir Peter Luff who's revealed his Parkinson's diagnosis.

    Sir Peter Luff

    Sir Peter, who was MP for Worcester and Mid Worcestershire until 2015, said he now takes medication and leads a normal life.

    On Twitter, current Health Secretary Matt Hancock, external said he admired his bravery in going public and that there was "much more to do" to help people with Parkinson's disease.

    Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, external sent her "very best wishes" while former Labour MP Michael Dugher said, external he used to shadow Sir Peter as defence minister and called him "profoundly tolerant" and "unfailingly nice".

  6. Coventry City owners see rise in profitspublished at 18:33 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Simon Gilbert
    Political Reporter, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    It's been revealed the owners of Coventry City, Sisu Capital, saw a massive jump in profits last financial year.

    Coventry City Football Club badgeImage source, Getty Images

    Accounts filed at Companies House , externalshow the company went from a £157,000 loss in the previous year to a £2.86m profit.

    Sisu Capital is the parent company of the two businesses which make up Coventry City - Otium Entertainment and Sky Blue Sports and Leisure, headed-up by directors Joy Seppala and Dermot Coleman.

    The latest accounts show the two jointly received almost £3m from Sisu in the past financial year.

  7. 'Significant' fish deaths after thunderstormspublished at 18:25 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A "significant" number of fish have died in rivers due to thunderstorms after the long heatwave, the Environment Agency says.

    Man checking dead fishImage source, Environment Agency

    It says the dead fish have been found in the past day on the River Tame and River Anker, external.

    The heatwave, it said, lowered river levels before the thunderstorms washed pollutants into the watercourses, with which depleted rivers couldn't cope.

    Man pumping oxygen via water into riverImage source, Environment Agency

    The Environment Agency is pumping oxygen into the rivers to help surviving fish., external

  8. Councillors agree budget for road planpublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    David Lawrence

    A scheme to ease traffic in parts of Nuneaton has moved a step closer after councillors agreed to spend almost £9m on the project.

    Bermuda planImage source, Warwickshire County Council

    The Bermuda Connection Scheme, external would link West Nuneaton with the Griff roundabout and, supporters say, reduce congestion in parts of the town centre, improving access for residents and businesses.

    Part of the plan would see traffic crossing the busy A444, upgrading an abandoned road bridge.

    Funding for the scheme was agreed in 2014 but the costs have more than doubled. Councillors have agreed to allocate a further £4.2m to the scheme.

  9. Shrewsbury Town boss confident of keeping duopublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    James Bond
    Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

    Transfer speculation over Shrewsbury Town's Jon Nolan and Toto Nsiala (pictured) isn't unfounded, according to manager John Askey, but he insists they're still happy at the club.

    Toto Nsiala of Shrewsbury TownImage source, Getty Images

    Both have attracted other clubs' attentions for the part they played in Shrewsbury's promotion chase last season.

    But Askey told BBC Shropshire the pair are expected to be in the side for what'll be his first game in charge, after being appointed to the role in June.

    Quote Message

    I'm 100% sure on the team that I'm going to pick. I'll be as nervous as anybody in the room before the game but nerves are a good thing I think."

    John Askey, Shrewsbury Town manager

  10. Video: What's the weather got in store?published at 17:57 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    Most areas will remain dry through this evening and tonight, with some clear spells and lows of 11C (52F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands

  11. Health bosses call for funding over stalled hospitalpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Health bosses are set to ask the government to step in and pay for the completion of the stalled £350m Midland Metropolitan Hospital.

    Midland Metropolitan Hospital

    The Board of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Health Trust is being asked to back the move at its meeting on Thursday 2 August.

    If accepted, the trust will ask the Treasury for £150m to finish construction, of which £25m is needed to weatherproof the two-thirds completed building.

    The project was halted in January when the hospital’s private finance partner and builder, Carillion, went bankrupt.

  12. Kidnap arrest in missing midwife probepublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Police are looking for Samantha Eastwood, 28, who did not turn up for her night shift on Friday.

    Read More
  13. England pick Rashid over Moeen for first Testpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    BBC Sport

    Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali won't play in the first Test match against India at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

    Moeen AliImage source, PA

    The team for the game's been confirmed today and has Adil Rashid as the only spin bowler in the side.

    Rashid, 30, will play his first Test in almost two years.

  14. Man, 64, was victim of two-car crashpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    West Mercia Police appeals for information after the crash, which also left seven men injured.

    Read More
  15. Death risk fears over boats planpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    Charlotte A Broadbent
    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Safety concerns are being raised over plans to bring leisure rowing boats back to the River Severn in Worcester.

    River Severn in WorcesterImage source, Google

    City councillors have agreed to spend up to £30,000 exploring the idea which they hope will boost tourism. , external

    But sports clubs, including those with the university, are worried and say inexperienced tourists could put themselves and other river users at risk.

    Quote Message

    If there are people out there in small dinghies, completely untrained and they maybe can't swim, there is danger of somebody dying - very real danger."

    Ian Mayhew, Coach, University of Worcester

  16. Four jailed over drug and gun networkpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    The ring leaders of a drug and gun supply network have been jailed.

    David Pedley and Ezekial OsbourneImage source, West Midlands Police
    Image caption,

    David Pedley and Ezekial Osbourne

    West Midlands Police said David Pedley was seen at locations across the Birmingham area meeting drug dealers who were later stopped and caught with cocaine and a Smith & Wesson revolver.

    At Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, the 37-year-old, of Arden Vale Road, Solihull, was jailed for a total of 17 years - he had admitted drug offences and was found guilty of conspiracy to supply a firearm.

    Associate Ezekial Osbourne, of Edgware Road, Erdington, was jailed for 10 years and three months. He admitted drugs offences and was convicted of a firearms offence.

    Edward Stuart and William ButlerImage source, West Midlands Police
    Image caption,

    Edward Stuart and William Butler

    Edward Stewart, 30, and 39-year-old William Butler were also jailed for their involvement.

    Stewart, of Addison Road, Northampton, was jailed for six years after being convicted of supplying a firearm. Butler, of Brays Road, Sheldon, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for drug offences at an earlier hearing.

  17. Cyclist dies after hit-and-runpublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 31 July 2018

    The 21-year-old suffered serious injuries in the collision and died in hospital two days later.

    Read More