Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 27 August to Sunday 2 September

  • Click on related stories for updates from your area

Live Reporting

  1. Buses replace trains

    BBC News Travel

    Disruption to rail services through Coventry and Leamington Spa is likely to be ongoing until about 16:00.

    Buses will replace trains, National Rail says.

    Services from Birmingham New Street are also affected.

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  2. Space collection to go under the hammer

    A space exploration collection, belonging to a 71-year-old from Staffordshire, is set to go to auction, including parts from an Apollo space craft.

    Space expert Phill Parker, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, has decided to part with his entire lifelong collection, which includes nearly 200 lots of memorabilia.

    Among the items going up for sale at Hansons Auctioneers on 3 September are an Apollo power sub assembly, space shuttle cables, an Apollo on-board grapefruit and pineapple drink tube and a Mir spacesuit.

    Some of the lotsHansons Auctioneers

    The writer has interviewed many of the Apollo Moon astronauts including Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernan, Charlie Duke.

    He said the sale would ensure his collection continues to "record the first golden age of space exploration".

  3. Rail lines blocked as emergency services called

    BBC News Travel

    Emergency services are dealing with an "incident" near Leamington Spa and Coventry, West Midlands Railway says.

    All lines are blocked and bus services are being sought.

  4. Police staff sacked over indecency offences

    Andre Rhoden-Paul
    BBC News

    A West Mercia Police staff member has been dismissed for gross misconduct, after being convicted of child indecency on the internet offences.

    The man, who was not in a public-facing role, was sentenced earlier this month to 12 months in jail suspended for two years.

    Supt Helena Bennett, head of professional standards, said the man involved had "received the harshest sanction".

  5. Pair sought over bus stab attack

    West Midlands Police has released CCTV images of two men officers want to speak to following a stabbing on a bus.

    CCTV of two menWest Midlands Police

    It happened in Birmingham city centre following a "dispute".

    Police say the victim, who was injured on 16 July at about 20:15 is still recovering from his injuries.

  6. Striker Berahino 'earns respect' of Stoke City team-mates

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke City manager Gary Rowett says Saido Berahino has earned the respect of his teammates, after he scored his first goal in 913 days.

    toke City"s Saido Berahino celebrates scoring their first goal with team matesReuters

    The 25-year-old has struggled for the Potters since joining for £12m in 2017, had to explain a drugs ban and was barely used towards the end of Stoke's battle to avoid last season's relegation.

    But he ended his two-and-a-half-year goal drought as his side knocked Premier League Huddersfield Town out of the Carabao Cup in the second round.

    When he scored everybody went over to him, which shows they were all really pleased for him. He's worked hard since pre-season and earned the respect of his teammates."

    Gary Rowett, Stoke City manager

  8. Appeal for fatal hit-and-run crash witnesses

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Police are hoping to track down witnesses who may have seen a fatal hit-and-run crash in Coventry.

    Saqalain Ahmed, 21, (pictured) died when his electric bike was struck by a Black BMW X5 on Avon Road in July.

    Officers are still trying to trace the vehicle and its driver.

    Saqalain AhmedWest Midlands Police

  9. Worcs and Warks back in County Championship action

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Worcestershire will be without England all-rounder Moeen Ali (pictured) for today's County Championship match against Lancashire at Southport.

    But he could be available tomorrow, if he's not named in the England team for the fourth Test against India at Southampton.

    The Pears will be looking to build on their innings win over Yorkshire in their last County Championship game, which moved them off the foot of the table, above Lancashire.

    Worcestershire"s Moeen AliALLSPORT/Getty Images

    While in Division Two, leaders Warwickshire are also in action, away at bottom side Glamorgan and coming off the back of their last game also seeing them win by an innings.

    You can follow both games via BBC local radio commentary or the BBC Cricket website.

  10. Your pictures: Blue skies and green fields

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Here's some lovely pictures the BBC Weather Watchers have shared.

    Peter Steggles sent this one in from Longnor.

    LongnorPeter Steggles

    OldStation snapped this great picture in Lyonshall.

    We love seeing your weather pictures, send them in to us here.

    LyonshallOldStation

  11. Calls for more convictions for DNP diet pills supply

    The mother of a student who died after taking toxic slimming pills says she hopes more people will face manslaughter convictions for supplying the drug.

    Eloise Parry, 21, from Shrewsbury, who had been studying at Glyndwr University, Wrexham, took eight tablets containing dinitrophenol (DNP) after buying them online from Bernard Rebelo.

    In June, Rebelo, 31, of Gosport, Hampshire was found guilty of her manslaughter and jailed for seven years.

    Eloise ParryParry Family

    Her mother, Fiona, says there needs to be stricter regulation of the sale of DNP online, and that more people who sell it should face the consequences.

    Fiona Parry

    She is not the first person to die, she hasn’t been the last, it is such a shame that he is the only person that has been convicted of manslaughter, because every single one of those people who has died shouldn’t have done so and really it would be nice to see further convictions for manslaughter, I hope this isn’t the only one."

    Fiona Parry, Mother of Eloise

  12. 'We can't be wrapped in cotton wool'

    GJ van Velze, the Worcester player who missed almost an entire season with concussion, on how he fell back in love with rugby.

    Read More

  13. Fake 'Squishies' seized by council

    More than 2,000 illegal replicas of a popular children's toy have been seized by a trading standards team.

    Officers from City of Wolverhampton Council carried out test purchases from a number of local stores and markets of "Squishies"-type toys to ensure the products were legitimate and safe for children.

    The council said they were being sold as genuine products, but tests showed they were fake replicas, and failed several health and safety regulations.

    They also had faults in the packaging, labelling and lack of warning labels required by law.

    Paul Dosanjh, Trading Standards Service Lead at City of Wolverhampton Council, Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council and Susan White Trading Standards Officer at City of Wolverhampton Council.City of Wolverhampton Council

    The council said it was now working with other councils to combat distributors of illegal fakes.

    It’s important we carry out these test purchases, especially on new products where often fake goods are replicated putting customers at risk. Our local traders have also been affected and left out of pocket due trusting suppliers not complying with the law."

    Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council

  15. Happy 60th Birthday Sir Lenny Henry!

    BBC News

    Dudley's finest comedian, actor and television presenter Sir Lenny Henry turns 60 today.

    To mark the occasion, BBC News has taken a look back over his career and life in pictures.

    Sir Lenny HenryGetty Images

    Born in 1958, Sir Lenny said of his childhood: "My family came to the UK at a time when blacks were just beginning to be integrated into British society.

    "I was one of just three blacks in our school."

    Television exposure came to Sir Lenny at the age of 16 on the talent show New Faces, when he bunked off school to try his luck as a comedian in 1975.

    Take a look at the full piece here.

    Sir Lenny HenrySHUTTERSTOCK

  16. Man with sword chased down street

    A man with a sword has been arrested by police after a chase in Birmingham.

    Insp Ahmed of West Midlands Police tweeted: "Literary (sic) can't get my breath, my officers just chased a young man off Soho road who has a sword on him!! Just heading into custody."

    Sword@InspAhmedWMP

  17. Triathlete, 70, in South Africa competition

    BBC Midlands Today

    A 70-year-old triathlete from Worcestershire will be taking part in the Ironman 70.3 World Triathlon Championships in South Africa this weekend.

    Roger Day from Broadway trains eight times a week and combines his sport with running his own business.

    This weekend, he'll be taking on athletes from 90 other countries as they swim 1,900 metres, cycle 56 miles and run a half marathon.

    Roger Day

    It's the chance of a lifetime, I'm really looking forward to it, training has gone quite well. There's over 30 in my age group, so the quality is quite good, I'm hoping for a top-10 finish."

    Roger Day

  18. Crowdfunded film almost completed

    Shooting is due to finish later on a Shropshire film that has been four years in the making and partly paid for through crowdfunding.

    The Long Way Home tells the story of a group of soldiers in the trenches on the Western Front during World War One.

    Jacob Lewis-Taylor

    Its producer is 21-year-old film-maker Jacob Lewis-Taylor, from Bridgnorth, who used the thousands of pounds raised to pay for studio time.

    We raised about half the film's budget through crowdfunding which is fantastic, as first time feature film-makers, we didn't have any kind of backing."

    Jacob Lewis-Taylor

  19. Aston Martin confirms stock market plans

    BBC Business Live

    Aston Martin has confirmed its potential intention to float on the London Stock Exchange.

    The Warwickshire-based firm will publish a prospectus on 20 September setting out plans to float at least 25% of the shares of Aston Martin Lagonda.

    Aston Martin carGetty Images

    The luxury car maker has also published its half-year results - it said operating profits climbed 17% to £64.4m while the company made a pre-tax profit of £42m.

    Aston Martin expects to deliver between 6,200 and 6,400 vehicles this year and hopes to motor ahead to between 7,100 and 7,300 in 2019.

    Over the medium term it plans to more than double production to 14,000 cars a year.