Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 6 August to Sunday 12 August

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Live Reporting

  2. Plea to parents after video of near miss with cyclist

    Parents are being urged to speak to their children about road safety, after a driver had a near miss with a child cycling into the path of his oncoming car.

    Footage shows near miss with cyclist in Bromsgrove

    Dashboard camera footage was shared by Robert Allen - group commander for Hereford and Worcester Fire Service - who posted the video online to raise awareness.

    He said because he was driving under the speed limit, he was able to react quickly to the incident which happened on Sunday at about 17:00.

    Today, Det Supt Stacey Williamson of West Mercia Police said, while the child's not in any trouble, she wants to "ask families to work with us so that everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer".

  3. Wolves seal Dendoncker signing

    Wolves sign Belgian midfielder Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht, initially on loan for the 2018-19 season.

    Read More

  5. Parents asked to check school bags for knives

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    George Makin

    A Sandwell councillor has spoken of her horror after police advised parents to search the school bags of children as young as seven for knives.

    LetterWest Midlands Police

    The guidance comes in a letter on how to protect youngsters and includes checking their satchels before they leave for the classroom.

    The letter, sent out before the summer holidays, asks parents to have a "honest and open conversation" with their children about the dangers of carrying weapons.

    Saying the majority of knives seized are for kitchen use, it advises: “Please make sure that your children are not taking knives out with them; a simple check of a bag before school or before they go out will prevent the contents of your knife drawer getting out on the streets.”

    Caroline White, a local councillor and mother, said she was shocked when she saw a copy.

    I received a letter from a child’s school saying asking to parents to check kids’ bags for knives. It was a junior school. I was horrified, I’d rather be checking my kid's bags for toys than knives."

    Caroline White, Labour councillor for Cradley Heath and Old Hill

  6. Battery-powered trams to be rolled-out

    More than 50 battery-powered trams could be added to the transport network in the West Midlands.

    TramTransport for West Midlands

    Transport for West Midlands said it was tendering for 18 new trams, with the option to purchase a further 32 in future, as part of the tram network extension.

    All existing trams will be retro-fitted with the battery technology, it said, taking away the need for overhead electrical wires.

    The new trams will provide services on a number of forthcoming services running between Wolverhampton St George’s and Birmingham Grand Central.

    The first of the new trams are expected to be in action by summer 2021.

  7. More than 80 birds 'massacred by mink'

    Lucie Plant
    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    A specialist bird breeder says half of his flock have been killed in a suspected mink attack.

    More than 80 Indian grey junglefowl were found dead at a farm near Worcester and Ron Taylor says he will need to bring in more birds from India if his business is to continue.

    Mr Taylor is thought to be one of only a handful of breeders in the world and exports about £10,000 worth of the birds to a plant Kenya each year, which then uses their feathers in fishing lures.

    More than 80 birds 'massacred by mink' near Worcester

  8. Hospitals see soaring summer A&E attendances

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Three of the biggest NHS trusts in the West Midlands have seen thousands more people going to their A&E units this summer compared with last year, according to new figures.

    Attendances across England soared in July, with health bodies saying the heatwave had added to existing pressures on the NHS.

    They say there were reports of more people turning up with dehydration, heart failure and kidney problems related to the unusually high temperatures.

    University Hospital CoventryGoogle

    The University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust saw the largest rise of the trio, with a total of 20,594 going to their emergency unit in July 2018, a rise of 4,112 on July 2017.

    There were also increases of 2,260 for the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, to a total of 23,552; and 1,454 for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, reaching a total of 18,240.

    The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust's figures did rise by 26,034 across the same period, but the trust merged with Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust during that time.

  10. CCTV released after ATMs ripped out of wall in raid

    CCTV footage has been released by police hunting robbers who ripped two cash machines out of the wall at the University of Birmingham.

    Officers believe the three men arrived in a white van, dragged the machines out of the wall before making off with them on 11 July.

    The van was found burned and abandoned a short while later.

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  11. 'Back garden' development rejected by planners

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    David Irwin

    Building on back gardens will become more and more common in Solihull, a borough councillor has warned.

    Proposed developmentBHB Architects

    Council planners rejected plans for five detached homes in Stonor Park Road last night.

    More than 350 people had previously signed a petition against the creation of the cul-de-sac, which the planning committee ultimately deemed would harm the surrounding area.

    Having heard representations, several members of the committee said they were uncomfortable with the plans and the decision was taken to refuse planning permission – going against the original recommendation by planning officers.

    Back garden developments are not popular but we have them and we’re going to have them and they’re going to stay and we’re going to get more and more of them, I think, over the years. But this particular back garden development, in my opinion, is far too cramped."

    Councillor Glenis Later, Lib Dem, Elmdon

  12. Danish challenge for TNS in road to Europa League

    BBC Sport

    The New Saints will be playing at Cardiff City Stadium this evening as they continue their bid to play in the Europa League.

    They face Midtjylland, the Danish champions, in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie.

    Cardiff City StadiumALLSPORT/Getty Images

    Seven years ago, Saints lost 8-3 on aggregate to the Danes in the same competition.

    Saints or Midtjylland will face the losers of the Champions League tie between Malmo of Sweden and Hungary's Videoton in the Europa League play-offs.

    The tie has been switched to Cardiff City Stadium as Uefa regulations mean Saints' Park Hall in Oswestry is unable to stage games after the second qualifying round.

  13. Family given 'only 24 hours' for homeless relocation

    James Pearson
    Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A woman's told BBC Hereford and Worcester that her family was given just 24 hours to decide whether to leave London for Kidderminster or risk becoming homeless.

    Tenzin Choedon

    Tenzin Choedon's family is one of 22 who have been rehoused in Worcestershire in the last five years by the London borough of Brent, with what she says is little or no support.

    Councils across the capital are taking advantage of the West Midlands' lower housing costs, to try and find accommodation for those at risk of homelessness.

    My husband lost his job, I was eight months pregnant but they just wanted to force us to move from London, just take or leave. It's really stressful. I asked the man for two more weeks, I wanted to find property myself in London, he said no, you've got only 24 hours."

    Tenzin Choedon, Mother from Tibet

    Brent Council says it always aims to house people as close to their area as possible but it has a lack of affordable housing.

  15. Woman badly bitten in dog attack

    A woman has needed hospital treatment for a severe bite after being attacked by a dog.

    Billy Buns Lane, WombourneGoogle

    Police say the 29-year-old was walking with her own dog on a field near Billy Buns Lane, Wombourne, Staffordshire, on Friday evening, when it happened.

    They say she and her pet were both attacked by the other dog, thought to be a cross-breed bull mastiff.

    Officers say the dog's owner left without handing over any details.

  16. Climbing zone opens in £14.5m revamp

    Joshua Cook
    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    A new climbing centre is opening at Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre in Leamington, nine months behind schedule.

    It is a part of a wider £14.5m revamp that also includes the St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre in Warwick.

    The "clip 'n climb", opening on Friday, features climbing walls and a range of equipment designed to test balance and strength.

    Leamington climbing centre opens after delays

  17. Man arrested after taxi driver attack

    A man has been arrested after a taxi driver was attacked in an attempted robbery in Warwick in the early hours of 30 July.

    The driver was attacked in Exham Close, and taken to hospital with an ear injury.

    The 28-year-old has been released under investigation.

  18. Shrewsbury sign Tranmere's Norburn

    Shrewsbury Town pay an undisclosed fee to sign midfielder Ollie Norburn from Tranmere Rovers on a three-year deal.

    Read More

  19. Council chief exec's £10k pay rise in spotlight

    Rob Mayor
    Political reporter, BBC WM

    The Chief Executive of Walsall Council is to recieve a £10,000 pay rise, after less than a year in the job.

    Dr Helen PatersonWalsall Council

    It takes Dr Helen Paterson's salary to £175,000 a year, while three other executive directors will get a rise of more than £7,000.

    The leader left Wrexham County Borough Council to join Walsall in November.

    While she will earn more than the prime minister, her pay package is substantially lower than her predecessor and the council points out that is it comparable with chief executives at other authorities.

    The need for talented senior officers remains strong in the local government sector. It is therefore a necessity that the council remains competitive in the market to attract and retain skilled individuals to manage and deliver the council's vision."

    Councillor Mike Bird, Leader Walsall Council