Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 3 December to Friday 7 December

  • Click Related Stories to read news from your area

  1. Vale's Legge recovering after seizurespublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Port Vale defender Leon Legge is recovering at home after suffering four epileptic seizures on Sunday.

    Read More
  2. Stranded yachtswoman 'could be on land by Christmas'published at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    The stranded Bromsgrove yachtswoman Susie Goodall could be on dry land by Christmas if rescue attempts go to plan, according to the founder of the race in which she got into trouble.

    Her boat was wrecked by a storm in the Pacific ocean while taking part in the Golden Globe round-the-world challenge.

    A boat has been diverted to pick her up and take her to a port in Brazil.

    Susie GoodallImage source, Getty Images

    Race founder Don McIntyre said he expected her to be picked up at 09:00 tomorrow after two days adrift at sea, and while he said things were "pretty grim there right now" he said she had been in "close communication" by text message.

  3. Man disembowelled during drugs rowpublished at 10:29 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Aaron Huntley now uses a colostomy bag after the attack in a row over drug-running, a court hears.

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  4. Coventry street cordoned off by policepublished at 10:17 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    An area of Willenhall, Coventry, has been cordoned off by police.

    Scene of cordonImage source, Karly Bedding

    Chepstow Close, close to the junction of Stretton Avenue, has been closed to vehicles.

    Resident Karly Bedding said she'd been told by officers the police activity involved one address in the area.

    We'll bring you more news as we get it.

  5. A&E funding granted for hospitalpublished at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Funding has been agreed for a new £36m A&E department at Walsall Manor Hospital.

    Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust submitted a bid for the cash earlier this year.

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    Conservative MP for Walsall North, Eddie Hughes, said the new department was an "essential development" for the borough; improving capacity, patient care and conditions for staff.

  6. YouTube deletes cheating videos after investigationpublished at 10:01 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    BBC Trending

    YouTube has deleted thousands of videos promoting academic cheating after a BBC Trending investigation.

    The videos advertised essay-writing services, which can lead to serious penalties for students.

    Media caption,

    YouTube deletes cheating videos after BBC investigation

    The Students Union at Coventry University has been campaigning with the slogan #DefeatTheCheat to raise awareness among fellow students.

    The union's vice president for education, Adedoyinsola Adebanjo, said several Coventry students this year were blackmailed for up to £5,000 after using an essay-writing service.

  7. Patient safety plea over plan to axe hospital rolespublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Medical bosses are urging patient safety over hospital plans to shave millions from a budget overspend by cutting the number of posts.

    It's set to be done through not filling 288 vacant posts across Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford's County Hospital, including surgical and specialist roles, along with admin positions.

    Rob Irving from the Royal College of Nursing said he had sought assurances that patient safety would not be jeopardised and expected jobs "critical to patient safety" to be safeguarded.

    Hospital

    University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), which runs the sites, says it's not unusual for large trusts to have hundreds of vacancies at a time, and its risk management process will ensure patient care will be unaffected. It adds personnel for key clinical posts are being recruited in the usual way.

    UHNM papers , externalproposing the cuts will be examined at the next board meeting on Tuesday. The trust says the move would save it £3.7m. Its deficit is £69m.

    Mr Irving said: "I would fully trust the senior management of the organisation to make sure that patient safety is absolutely paramount and that patients are not put at risk by these decisions."

  8. Cyber crime centre discussed under £5m planspublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Carmelo Garcia

    Nearly 200 jobs could be created in Hereford as a council looks to approve a £5m loan to build a centre of research into cyber crime.

    Artist's impression of how the new centre would lookImage source, Associated Architects

    The University of Wolverhampton is behind plans for the centre at Skylon Park, Rotherwas, which include three laboratories.

    A Herefordshire Council report says the authority would receive shares in return for its loan from public funds.

    The plans will be discussed next week by the authority's cabinet., external

  9. Stranded sailor waits for rescuepublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Bad weather is delaying attempts to rescue a Worcestershire sailor who's spent a second night stranded on her wrecked yacht in the Pacific Ocean.

    Susie Goodall

    Susie Goodall, from Bromsgrove, was taking part in the Golden Globe round-the-world race when her yacht capsized in a severe storm.

    The 29-year-old was about 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn in the southern Pacific Ocean when she lost her mast during "ferocious" weather.

    A cargo ship sent to rescue her isn't expected to arrive until this afternoon.

  10. Shop fire investigatedpublished at 08:06 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Fire crews were called to deal with a shop fire in Stoke-on-Trent overnight.

    Fire sceneImage source, Staffordshire Fire Service

    Part of The Strand, in Longton, was closed for a time this morning.

    Scene of fireImage source, Staffordshire Fire Service

    One crew remains at the scene and an investigation has been launched, says Staffordshire Fire Service.

    The road has been reopened.

    Fire crewsImage source, Staffordshire Fire Service
  11. Lady Godiva to feature on new city flagpublished at 07:51 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Lady Godiva will feature on a new flag for Coventry which has been unveiled on the anniversary of the city being named City of Culture 2021.

    Flag

    The flag, designed by Simon Wyatt, won a public vote after a competition run by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire.

    It shows Lady Godiva side-saddle on her horse with sky blue bands edging the flag.

    Station presenter Vic Minett said: "As a Cov kid, I’m genuinely thrilled by the winner; the enduring symbol of Godiva on horseback is recognisable well beyond the city, even the UK".

    The flag will be raised around the city later today, including the Council House and Ricoh Arena.

  12. Baggies v Villa: Injury concerns and suspension returnspublished at 07:26 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    BBC Sport

    West Bromwich Albion could be without winger Hal Robson-Kanu for the visit of local rivals Aston Villa this evening.

    The 29-year-old was replaced by Dwight Gayle after coming off at half-time of Monday's 1-1 draw against Brentford.

    West Brom"s Hal Robson-KanuImage source, Reuters

    Aston Villa will have Alan Hutton back for the trip to the Hawthorns after he returns from a one-game suspension.

    The right-back picked up a fifth booking of the season in Villa's 5-5 draw against Nottingham Forest and missed the win against Middlesbrough.

    The Baggies will be looking to make up ground on the top two in the Championship while Villa will be eyeing up getting into the play-offs.

  13. Video: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 07:16 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Alex Hamilton
    BBC Weather

    After a wet and dull start it should turn brighter with some spells of sunshine and highs of 13C (55F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  14. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Vanessa Pearce
    BBC News

    Welcome to our live service for Friday.

    We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

    We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook, external.

  15. Books tell war stories through child's eyespublished at 01:07 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2018

    Drawings by young refugees show how their lives have been affected by conflict.

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