Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 17 December to Monday 24 December

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Live Reporting

  1. Extra police patrols after Solihull shooting

    Police patrols have been increased in Solihull after a woman was shot in the shoulder in her home.

    Police on the street

    Police were called to Dovehouse Lane, Olton, near the Jaguar Land Rover factory.

    The victim was shot twice in the shoulder after the gunman forced his way into the semi-detached property.

    One neighbour, Nick Boneham, told the BBC the shooting has shocked those living on the street and he gave first aid to the victim.

    I took her into the lounge, she was bleeding. I was caught out a bit, I'm not used to this sort of thing, it's just a surprise."

    Nick Boreham, Neighbour

  2. Railway lines blocked 'by incident'

    BBC News Travel

    All railway lines between Lichfield and Rugby are blocked this morning due to emergency services handling an incident, West Midlands Railway says.

    The operator says it happened at around 10:30 and replacement coaches have been requested for train passengers.

  3. Battle over village pub to be decided in new year

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A battle over the future of a Herefordshire pub is going to be taken to an appeal in the new year.

    The owner of The Lamb Inn at Stoke Prior, Terry Windmill, wants to turn it into a four-bedroom home, but Herefordshire Council is opposing the move, saying it could still meet a community need.

    The Lamb InnGoogle

    The appeal hearing will be held at Hereford’s Town Hall on 23 January.

  4. Robbers flee on foot after getaway car 'stuck in traffic'

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Masked men who raided a jewellers had to escape on foot after their getaway car got stuck in traffic, police say.

    Entrance to the Octagon CentreGoogle

    The five men smashed windows at the Henry Rose store in the Octagon Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, yesterday morning.

    Officers say they took a large quantity of jewellery and made off in a grey Vauxhall, but had to abandon it due to congestion.

  5. Man charged with murder over flat death

    Kevin Shepperson was found dead in a flat in Willenhall, Walsall, in August.

    Read More

  6. Review of bus services to hospitals

    Bus services to hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford are being reviewed, to see if more might be needed when services at the two sites are reorganised.

    Emergency treatment is likely to be based in Shrewsbury, but patients wanting planned operations will have to travel to Telford if the changes go ahead and Shropshire Council is carrying out the study to see what impact this will have.

    Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

    The local authority is also trying to increase the number of bus services for patients.

    The review of hospital services, known as Future Fit, is due to conclude next year.

  8. Third man charged with murder over flat death

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A third man's been charged with the murder of a man found at a flat in the West Midlands in August.

    Kevin Shepperson, 39, was discovered fatally injured at the property on Bloxwich Road South, Willenhall, Walsall.

    Two men were charged with his murder in August.

    Today, West Midlands Police says they've charged a 21-year-old man of no fixed address and he's been remanded into custody, to appear before magistrates on 3 January.

  9. Wolves legend 'captured the hearts' of fans

    BBC Sport

    Tributes have been paid to the former Wolves captain Bill Slater who has died at the age of 91, after suffering with Alzheimer's disease and illness.

    Bill SlaterGetty Images

    Slater won three league titles in the 1950s, the club's most successful period, and also lifted the FA Cup after leading the side to a 3-0 win over Blackburn at Wembley in 1960.

    Slater, who earned 12 England caps, remains the last amateur to play in an FA Cup final - for Blackpool in 1951.

    He is also the only part-time player to be named Footballer of the Year, in 1960.

    Wolverhampton Wanderers have said they are "extremely saddened" to learn of his passing.

    "Bill captured the hearts of Wolves supporters during the club's most successful period and will be remembered with great fondness," a club statement said.

  10. Kingsley Burrell death: Family vow to fight for inquiry

    BBC News England

    A family say they will keep fighting for a public inquiry over the restraint of a mental health patient who died in 2011.

    Kingsley BurrellFamily picture

    Kingsley Burrell died in hospital from a cardiac arrest days after being detained by West Midlands Police in March 2011.

    He had been arrested and sectioned after reporting being threatened by gunmen in Birmingham.

    He was taken to a psychiatric unit where he was physically restrained.

    Yesterday, a police officer was sacked for breaching standards after being found guilty of giving a false account in relation to Mr Burrell's collapse.

    After the misconduct panel hearing, Desmond Jaddoo, spokesman for the Burrell family, said he would be writing to the Home Secretary to ask for a public inquiry into the death.

  11. Robbie Williams' planning row with Jimmy Page at an end

    BBC News England

    Plans for an underground pool at Robbie Williams' west London home have been conditionally approved, despite objections from neighbour Jimmy Page.

    Robbie WilliamsPA

    It puts an end to a five-year battle between the musicians which saw Page oppose the Stoke-on-Trent-born singer's proposals.

    The Led Zeppelin guitarist said he feared construction work could damage his mansion Tower House.

    Planning committee chairman councillor Quentin Marshall suggested the pair "find a way to talk" about the issues.

  12. Hundreds expected at stab victim's cathedral funeral

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Family, friends, students and teachers are all due to attend the funeral today of a schoolboy who was fatally stabbed in Coventry last month.

    Jaydon JamesFamily handout

    Jaydon James was fatally wounded on a street in the city in November - two weeks after his 16th birthday.

    No-one has been charged in connection with the killing.

    Hundreds of mourners are expected for his funeral at Coventry Cathedral.

  14. Burton's EFL Cup semi-final place 'remarkable'

    BBC Sport

    Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough said reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals was "absolutely remarkable" after victory at Middlesbrough secured the League One side's place in the last four for the first time.

    Jake Hesketh scoringGetty Images

    Jake Hesketh drilled low beyond Darren Randolph from the edge of the area at the start of the second half for the only goal of the game.

    It ensured Burton's memorable run in the competition continues, having overcome higher ranked opposition in four of their five League Cup ties this season.

    The Brewers are also the first team from the third tier of English football to reach the semi-finals of the competition since Sheffield United, then managed by Clough, in 2014-15.

    Ninety-two clubs come into the competition and Burton Albion in the last four, it's absolutely remarkable. You always need a little bit of luck in any cup competition and we got a bit tonight but I thought we earned it. We played very, very well at times."

    Nigel Clough, Burton Albion manager

  15. Universities told to end 'spiralling' grade inflation

    BBC News Education

    Coventry University's among a number of universities which the Office for Students (OfS) is warning are giving too many students top degree grades.

    Generic image of studentsGetty Images

    The watchdog's analysis shows the number of graduates in England being awarded first and upper-second class degrees rose from 67% in 2010-11 to 78% in 2016-17.

    The OfS report also finds that 14 institutions had an unexplained rise of above 20% in firsts and upper-seconds.

    Of these, the second highest rise was Coventry University, at 24.4%.

    In a statement, the university said: "We've invested heavily in further enhancing teaching and learning and ensuring fast and good quality feedback, which is reflected in outstanding progress for the university between 2010-11 and 2016-17. This study does not take this progress into account.

    "We'd suggest our proportions of firsts and [upper seconds] are in line with our position in the UK rankings, recognising the great learning progress that our students make."

  16. 'Sensational' Solihull Moors lose FA Cup replay

    BBC Sport

    It was heartache for Solihull Moors fans last night, as the non-league side took League One Blackpool to extra time in their FA Cup replay but lost 3-2.

    General view of play during the FA Cup Second Round Replay match between Blackpool and Solihull MoorsGetty Images

    Solihull had come back from 2-0 down before Adi Yussuf glanced in a header and then scored a penalty to make it 2-2, but Jay Spearing converted a penalty in the 105th minute to send Blackpool through.

    I thought we were sensational for the whole piece. It was an incredible turnaround. We looked like we were going to win. We were wonderful and I'm proud as punch of them. To lose with a penalty decision like that was hard to take. It is what it is."

    Tim Flowers, Solihull manager

  17. Barn fire tackled in Shropshire

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A fire involving a barn full of straw's been tackled overnight by firefighters in Shropshire.

    They were called to the building in Rednal, near Oswestry, just before midnight.

    The service says it contained a lot of straw, agricultural machinery and took them more than two hours to put out.

    While they battled it, local residents were told to keep their windows and doors shut.

  18. Cloudy with showers to start - here's Wednesday's weather

    Alex Hamilton
    BBC Weather

    It's a cloudy start to the day in the West Midlands with showers around, but that's not the whole weather forecast for Wednesday:

    Alex Hamilton

    You can get a latest forecast for your part of the region at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.

  19. Live updates for the West Midlands

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

    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 and Facebook.

  20. PC sacked over account of collapse death

    PC Paul Adey was convicted of giving a false account in relation to Kingsley Burrell's fatal collapse.

    Read More