Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 22 October to Sunday 28 October

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  1. Main road closed as firefighters deal with blazepublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    More than 30 firefighters have been at the scene of a large building fire in Staffordshire overnight.

    The A5 is closed at Ivetsey Bank as two crews continue to deal with the fire at a derelict building.

    FireImage source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
  2. App helps man communicate after throat cancerpublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    BBC Midlands Today

    A man whose voice box was destroyed during treatment for extensive tongue and throat cancer has been able to talk again in his own voice - with the help of a new app.

    Craig Robinson

    Craig Robinson, from Bedworth, used technology from America to record thousands of words and phrases before his operation.

    By using the app he's able communicate once again.

  3. CCTV appeal over slaughtered goatpublished at 11:06 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    Staffordshire Police says the animal's theft is an "emotive experience".

    Read More
  4. Pensioner critical after 'hit-and-run'published at 11:03 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    An elderly man is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a white van after collecting a takeaway, police said.

    West Midlands Police said the pedestrian, who is aged in his late 70s, was crossing the A435 Alcester Road in Druids Heath, Birmingham, at about 22:25 last night, when he was hit.

    He was taken to hospital where he is being treated for critical injuries.

    Police are now appealing for anyone who saw what happened to get in contact.

    A435 Alcester RoadImage source, Google
    Quote Message

    The man is in a critical condition and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or has CCTV or dashcam footage to get in touch.

    Quote Message

    We believe the van had writing on the side and are asking the driver to do the right thing and hand himself in so they can explain what happened."

    Det Sgt Alan Wood

  5. Man pleads not guilty to flat murderpublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    Darren Barnes is accused of killing Edwin Bradley, 65, who died from a head injury.

    Read More
  6. Villa hopes for back to back winspublished at 10:44 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    BBC WM Sport

    Aston Villa will be looking for back to back wins under Dean Smith when they travel to Norwich in the Championship this evening.

    Full-back Neil Taylor started in the win over his old club Swansea, which he also hopes will help him force his way back into the Wales squad.

    Neil TaylorImage source, Getty Images

    Villa will be without suspended midfielder John McGinn after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 1-0 win over Swansea.

  7. Railway damage was caused by vandalspublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    BBC News Travel

    The problems on the railway between Longbridge and Droitwich this morning were caused by vandals, West Midlands Railway has said.

    The damage to railway equipment at Bromsgrove has meant fewer trains running today and buses replacing services on that line.

  8. Arrests after 'cannabis factory' discoveredpublished at 10:12 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    David Landau
    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Two people have been arrested after the discovery of a "cannabis factory" in Coventry, police said.

    It was found on Humber Road after a tip-off from the local community.

    Cannabis plantImage source, Thinkstock

    West Midlands Police found 72 cannabis plants in a bedroom and growing equipment set up in two other rooms.

    A man aged 38 and a 17-year-old were detained at the address.

  9. Police hunt man 'after goat stolen and killed'published at 10:02 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    Police want to talk to the man in this photo after a goat was stolen from a farm near Rugeley and slaughtered.

    It was reported missing from the farm on Yoxall Road on Sunday 7 October and it's thought the animal was taken the evening before.

    Man in the darkImage source, Staffordshire Police
  10. Emergency services at scene of 'serious collision'published at 09:56 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    West Midlands Police said they are dealing, external with a "serious collision" on Birmingham New Road in Tipton.

    The force said the A4123 is closed between Tipton Road and Burnt Tree. It asked people to avoid the area.

    West Midlands Ambulance Service tweeted that they are also at the scene, as well as the air ambulance.

  11. Train lines reopen after disruptionpublished at 09:44 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    BBC News Travel

    All lines have reopened following earlier problems on the trains.

    Some services might still be delayed.

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  12. More takeaways on high streets across West Midlandspublished at 09:11 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    Alex Homer
    BBC Shared Data Hub

    Figures out today show 410 new fast food outlets have opened up across the West Midlands in the last eight years.

    A takeaway restaurantImage source, Jack Taylor/Getty Images

    Birmingham saw the biggest increase and now has 220 more takeaways than it did in 2010.

    Research suggests people most exposed to them are nearly twice as likely to be obese.

  13. Court order stops homes being builtpublished at 08:49 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    BBC Midlands Today

    Housing developers have been ordered to stop building on a site in Droitwich despite hundreds of homes being left unoccupied or not yet built.

    The homes

    Persimmon Homes has been told that unless improvements are made to an access road, all works must be halted.

    A court order means that no more than 188 houses can be occupied before an agreement is made with the local highway authority.

  14. Dashcam appeal after cyclist deathpublished at 08:32 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    Drivers with dashcam footage are being asked to come forward after a cyclist was killed on on the A449 at Hartlebury yesterday morning.

    The man, who was in his 60's and from Brierley Hill, Dudley, died after he was hit by a lorry.

    Near the junction of the A449 and Manor LaneImage source, Google

    A second cyclist, also a man in his 60s from Hagley, was taken to hospital.

    A 48-year-old man from Halesowen has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

  15. Crews at 'severe' fire at derelict buildingpublished at 08:08 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    Fire crews are in attendance at a "severe" building fire in Ivestsey Bank, Wheaton Aston, Stafford.

    Staffordshire Fire and Rescue says it has six crews at the scene.

    It says a "large derelict building" is on fire and there are road closures in the area.

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  16. Signalling problems on trainspublished at 07:53 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    BBC News Travel

    We've got some more travel news for you, there's a problem with the signalling systems between Wolverhampton and Smethwick Galton Bridge.

    Services are delayed by up to 20 minutes.

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  17. FA Cup first round drawpublished at 07:49 British Summer Time 23 October 2018

    BBC Sport

    The FA cupImage source, Getty Images

    The draw for the first round of the FA Cup was made last night, and there's a few teams from across the wider West Midlands region in action:

    • Scunthorpe Utd v Burton Albion
    • Port Vale v Sunderland
    • Shrewsbury v Salford City
    • Walsall v Coventry City
    • Crewe Alexandra v Carlisle

    You can see the full draw here.