Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

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Live updates from Monday 3 December to Friday 7 December
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Rail chaos: Transport Secretary 'should take some responsibility', MPs saypublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
BBC Business News
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling should take some responsibility for the chaos around new timetables on Northern routes in May, MPs have said.
Mr Grayling has apologised for the disruption but said he was given reassurances by the train company only days before.
Image source, Getty Images
In a scathing report on timetable changes, the Transport Select Committee said "genuine change" was needed to restore trust in the railways.
MPs said although Mr Grayling had not been fully informed, this could not absolve him of all responsibility.
Mr Grayling admitted mistakes had been made, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme:
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I accept responsibility for myself and my department not asking tough enough questions.
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At no point did I get the information that I would have needed to intervene.
Inquest into Jaydon James stabbing deathpublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
An inquest has been opened into the death of Coventry teenager Jaydon James.
The brief hearing was told a postmortem investigation found the 16-year-old died of a stab wound and that West Midlands Police was conducting a murder investigation.
Image source, PA
Jaydon was with a number of friends in the Wood End area of the city when he was attacked shortly before midnight on 24 November.
The inquest has been adjourned to resume at a later date.
Soldier into 30th day of Antarctica challengepublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
If you thought you were cold this morning...
Herefordshire soldier Lou Rudd is into the 30th day of his attempt to become the first person to complete a solo, unsupported crossing of Antarctica.
His website says he has traveled 404 miles so far and temperatures today are -34C, which will feel like -48C with wind chill.
Football: New Shrewsbury manager's playing historypublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
BBC Radio Shropshire Sport
The new Shrewsbury Town manager Sam Ricketts comes to the club with Premier League and international experience and has played for nine different clubs, including local rivals AFC Telford United.
Image source, Getty Images
Ricketts retired from playing in 2016 because of injury, having played more than 500 games, mostly in defence.
He played 52 times for Wales.
Image source, Getty Images
The 37-year-old was part of the Hull City team which won promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and he also played for Bolton in the top division.
His last club as a player was Coventry City. He moved into management with Wrexham.
Image source, Getty Images
Arrests over knifepoint car jackingpublished at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
Two men have been arrested after a car was stolen at knifepoint in Birmingham last night., external
Image source, Google
Police said they were called after a man in his 20s was slashed across the hand with a knife in Duddeston Mill Road, Nechells, as his Mercedes was stolen.
The vehicle was spotted later that night in Selly Oak, with the pair arrested after a chase, according to the West Midlands force.
The two men, aged 20 and 23, are suspected of robbery, possession of a bladed article and drugs with intent to supply.
Stoke City player pays for rough sleepers to stay in hotelpublished at 11:06 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
BBC News NI
Stoke City footballer James McClean has paid for four rough sleepers to stay in a hotel in his hometown of Londonderry.
Image source, Getty Images
The Republic of Ireland winger and his wife Erin have covered the cost of four rooms in a city centre venue.
He contacted his family on Sunday, asking them to track down anyone sleeping on the streets.
The footballer is well known for giving back to the community in which he grew up.
'Cost of HS2 could double'published at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
BBC Business News
An industry expert has told the BBC he expects the cost of the first phase of the HS2 rail programme to double.
Image source, HS2/PA
HS2 is the government's planned £55.7bn high-speed rail network to connect London to Birmingham and then to Manchester and Leeds.
Michael Byng, who wrote the railway industry's guidelines on how to estimate project costs, told the Today Programme he reckons the cost of the first phase alone will be £55.95bn.
The government says that phase will cost £27bn.
However, the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling dismissed Mr Byng's view, saying: "[The project has] got a budget and it's got to live within that budget. The budget is £55.5bn at 2014 prices. That's all there's going to be."
In the papers: Numbers of council tax debts revealedpublished at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
Hereford Times
From the Hereford Times today:
- FOI reveals number of court summons for council tax debt, external
- A49 at Dinmore Hill re-opens following crash, external
- Santa's sleigh set to tour Hereford's streets, external
Police out in numbers to prevent trouble at derbypublished at 10:24 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
Around 180 police officers will be on duty for tonight's game between Port Vale and Stoke City in the EFL Trophy.
Staffordshire Police says there has been "lots of chat" by people who want to cause trouble, so there'll be officers deployed inside the stadium and out.
Image source, Staffordshire Police
Burslem Park will be closed at 16:30 and only Port Vale fans will be allowed to drink in pubs in the town.
The force said it wanted to "minimise the opportunities" for confrontations to take place.
Statue to honour long distance runnerpublished at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
A statue to honour the record-breaking long distance runner John Tarrant is being made by teenagers and will soon be in place at Hereford's skate park.
He got the nickname Ghost Runner as he had to hide and gatecrash races after being stripped of his amateur status because he'd won a few cash prizes for sport as a teenager.
John was raised in care and the creators of the statue hope it will inspire young people to find opportunities through sport.
He died in Hereford in 1975.
In the papers: More police officers to get Taserspublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
Express and Star
From the Express and Star:
Your photos: A misty start to the daypublished at 09:42 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
BBC Weather Watchers
It was a cold, clear night, but this morning we've seen some freezing fog around the West Midlands.
These photos were taken by BBC Weather Watchers at Blythe Bridge in Staffordshire, Wolston in Warwickshire, and Worcester.
Image source, PattyG
Image source, WorcesterPip
Image source, Melanie
Mother's plea over teenage son's killingpublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
The mother of a boy who was fatally stabbed in Coventry is appealing for help in putting his killer behind bars, but warned against using his death as an excuse for further violence.
Jaydon James, 16, was attacked on 24 November in the Wood End of the city.
In a statement calling for justice to come through the courts, Gemma James said: "I don’t want anyone to take matters into their own hands and to use Jaydon’s death as an excuse to start conflict or to seek their own retribution.
"That will not solve anything and would make an awful situation even worse."
Image source, West Midlands Police
A 16-year-old arrested on 29 November and bailed on suspicion of murder has been charged with an unconnected robbery. He's being held at a youth detention centre.
Two boys also injured in the attack on Jaydon have been released from hospital.
EFL Trophy: Port Vale v Stoke Citypublished at 09:13 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale manager Neil Aspin says there are still lots of bragging rights at stake tonight in the EFL Trophy despite the Stoke City team they're facing being an under-21s side.
The two teams play each other at Vale Park in the first knockout round of the contest.
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The one thing that you can't take away is that it's Port Vale against Stoke City and whenever there's a game between the two teams at any level and against any team, you obviously want to come out as the winner."
Neil Aspin, Port Vale manager
The prison where inmates 'walk like zombies'published at 08:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
More details have been revealed about the "appalling" conditions uncovered at HMP Birmingham earlier this year that led to the government taking it over from G4S.
Inspectors said they found "drug taking was barely concealed" in an environment likened to a war zone, with inmates "walking around like zombies, high on Spice".
Inspectors reported: "We witnessed many prisoners under the influence of drugs and some openly using and trafficking drugs around the prison."
More findings here.
Image source, HM Inspectorate of Prisons
In the papers: Threats towards veterans charity staffpublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
Shropshire Star
From the Shropshire Star:
- Veterans charity staff working from home after 'threats and abuse', external
- Mother jailed after taking sons to Antigua, external
- Child cruelty and neglect cases triple, external
Ice Hockey: Canadian forward quits Coventry Blazepublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport
Canadian forward Kelin Ainsworth is leaving Coventry Blaze to sign for a Danish team.
The 26-year-old has played 28 games for the club, scoring eight goals and recording 12 assists.
Image source, Scott Wiggins
Coventry says a financial settlement has been agreed between the clubs and head coach Danny Stewart says they hope to have a replacement "as soon as possible".
National centre for Bosnians opens in Birminghampublished at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
A new centre has been opened in Birmingham for the 10,000 people of Bosnian origin who live in the UK.
About half of that figure are believed to live in the city.
'Bosnia House' is a place for families to keep their culture alive and raise awareness of their history.
Nighttime traffic warden fines 'could raise £40k a year'published at 07:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
Traffic wardens in Coventry could patrol at night in a move to collect more fines.
The city council says the after-dark patrols could raise £40,000 a year.
Image source, Getty Images
The authority is looking for ways to make up a £10m shortfall in its budget and says it will consult on the proposals.
It is also considering more cameras to monitor bus lanes, and more patrols to stop people illegally parking outside schools.
New owners for Legionnaires hotelpublished at 07:35 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018
Ludlow's 17th century The Feathers Hotel has been bought by Crest Hotels for an undisclosed sum.
The hotel was forced to close for two months last autumn after an outbreak of Legionnaires disease and the death of a guest.
Image source, Google
It was put up for sale in January.
The new owners say they'll be investing more than £500,000 in the venue.
An inquest into the death of 69-year-old Elaine Brown is due to take place next year.