Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Live updates from Thursday 27 December to Monday 31 December
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Live Reporting

PCC promises to name makes of car most frequently stolenpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
BBC WM
The West Midlands police and crime commissioner, external has promised in 2019 to once again name the makes of car most frequently stolen in the area.
David Jamieson wants owners to be aware of how vulnerable their vehicles can be.
He's been leading a national campaign to get manufacturers to tighten security after it emerged so-called keyless cars were being stolen in under a minute.
Quote Message
Car crime has tripled in a matter of two or three years. There's big organised crime, there's people who are buying cars that are unsafe because they've been stolen and put together. It is a big serious issue right the way across the West Midlands and I might say across other parts of the country."
David Jamieson, West Midlands PCC
Crash victim was 'loved and well known'published at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Prakash Kaur, 64, was a mother, sister, daughter and friend, her family said in tribute.
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Man 'falls seriously ill' during theatre's pantomimepublished at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A theatre had to be evacuated midway through a pantomime last night after an audience member fell ill.
Officials at the Crewe Lyceum say people at the performance of Jack and the Beanstalk were asked to leave while paramedics treated the elderly man.
The ambulance service said he was taken to Leighton Hospital in a serious condition.
Hundreds offer home to 'viral' dumped dogpublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Footage of 'Snoop' being abandoned in Stoke-on-Trent has been viewed by millions, the RSPCA says.
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Man who died in Tamworth hit and run namedpublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
A 90-year-old man who died after a hit and run close to a crossroads in Staffordshire has been named by police., external
Image source, Google
Isaac Wright, from Atherstone, Warwickshire, was knocked down in Watling Street in Tamworth at about 22:45 GMT on Friday.
Police said a 48-year-old man from Tamworth was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released under investigation.
In the papers: Charity match set up after Australia deathspublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Shropshire Star
From the Shropshire Star:
Van Breda signs two-year Worcester dealpublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Worcester Warriors' South African utility back Scott van Breda signs a new deal at Sixways.
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Flood alerts still in place for two areaspublished at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
People in parts of the West Midlands are being warned there could still be flooding near two rivers.
Image source, Google
The Environment Agency has flood alerts in place this morning for the Severn Vyrnwy Confluence in Shropshire, external and the River Lugg, south of Leominster., external
In both cases, it says river levels are starting to fall but low-lying land could still be affected.
Fire crews rescue woman and dog from flat firepublished at 11:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
A woman and her pet dog have been rescued this morning from a fire in Coventry.
Image source, Google
West Midlands Fire Service said more than a dozen firefighters were sent to the blaze just after midnight at Skipton Lodge, Stoke Heath.
It said they managed to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring flats and they're trying to find out what caused it. , external
The service hasn't revealed whether the woman or the dog have been hurt.
In the papers: Praise for teen after house firepublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Coventry Live
From Coventry Live:
West Brom wait for news on top scorer's injurypublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
BBC WM
West Bromwich Albion head coach Darren Moore says they'll assess Dwight Gayle's injury over the next few days.
Image source, Getty Images
The club's top scorer came off after only 10 minutes in their 2-0 win over Wigan in the Championship.
Quote Message
We'll probably get a scan or something on him and see where he's at. At the moment, I'd be speculating, it looks like a muscular injury. He signalled to come off, he knows his body so we'll see over the next few days."
Darren Moore, West Brom manager
Daughter 'spent £275' on hospital parkingpublished at 10:43 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
BBC News UK
A woman says she had to spend £275 on parking while visiting her mother at Hereford County Hospital over a six-week period.
Image source, Google
Helen Davies, from Hay-on-Wye, told the BBC: "My mother needed me and I couldn't leave."
She added her brother parked at a nearby supermarket as he refused to pay the fees but "he got two parking tickets so he may as well have paid [them]".
Research by the Press Association has revealed almost half of NHS hospitals in England have increased car parking prices in the last year.
Midland Metro trams' holiday servicepublished at 10:28 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
It's not just trains running a reduced service today, Midland Metro trams are on a holiday service until the weekend.
Image source, West Midlands Combined Authority
Network West Midlands says there's a tram every eight minutes until the evening when the service moves to one every 15 minutes., external
A normal weekday service won't resume until 2 January.
In the papers: Wedding warning over drone usepublished at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Worcester News
The Worcester News is covering these stories today:
'Repairs needed' after £47k car crashes in ditchpublished at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
A driver's facing a lot of repairs police say after a £47,000 Mustang ended up in a ditch.
Image source, Warwickshire Police
The crash happened on the A45 near Rugby yesterday morning when control of the vehicle was lost in wet conditions, external, according to the Warwickshire force.
It added no-one was hurt when the car collided with trees.
Villa goalkeeper saluted for late penalty savepublished at 09:41 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Aston Villa's goalkeeper Orjan Nyland has been praised by his manager after saving a penalty to give the side a win at Swansea City.
Image source, Getty Images
Conor Hourihane had headed Villa into the lead in the second half but Swansea were awarded a late penalty when Nathan Dyer was bundled over.
However substitute Bony's low spot kick was pushed away by Nyland.
Quote Message
He [Orjan Nyland] has been doing very well of late. Everyone knows we've signed another goalkeeper [Lovre Kalinic] to put competition in an area we want to strengthen, and that's what it's doing for Orjan."
Dean Smith, Aston Villa manager
Soldier misses out on Antarctica trek recordpublished at 09:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Allen Cook
BBC News
A Hereford soldier has lost out in his bid to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unassisted.
British Army Captain Louis Rudd, 49, was beaten by American explorer Colin O'Brady who completed his attempt in 53 days.
Image source, British Army
Both men set out on 3 November.
Rudd, a father of three, was inspired to attempt the adventure after the death of his friend and colleague, Henry Worsely, along the same route.
Worsely died of an illness after he was rescued 30 miles from the finish line - the Ross Ice Shelf.
Rudd's website says he still has 50 miles to complete and he's expected to do that in the next day or so., external
In the papers: Drug dealer jailed after morning raidpublished at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
Stoke-on-Trent Live
The Stoke-on-Trent Live website's covering these stories today:
Parking fees rise at hospitals in 2017-18, analysis findspublished at 08:47 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
BBC News UK
Car parking prices have risen at more than four in 10 NHS hospitals in England in a year, data suggests.
A total of 124 of the 152 trusts running hospitals responded to Freedom of Information requests by the Press Association, with 53 saying prices were up for visitors or staff, or both.
Image source, Getty Images
The analysis highlighted an overhaul of charges at Shrewsbury and Telford that has seen the cost of a five-hour stay more than double since October 2017 to £8.
It also showed Hereford County Hospital and Mid Cheshire Hospitals among a list of places with the most expensive one-hour stays.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "We have made it very clear that patients, their families and our hardworking staff should not be subjected to unfair parking charges.
"NHS trusts are responsible for these charges and ensuring revenue goes back into frontline services, and we want to see trusts coming up with options that put staff, patients and their families first."
'Tight schedule' worries Wolves boss after Fulham drawpublished at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time 27 December 2018
BBC WM Sport
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo says his side is facing a tricky period, with games coming thick and fast in the next week and a half.
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves came away with a scrappy 1-1 draw from their visit to Fulham on Boxing Day as Romain Saiss grabbed his first Premier League goal for the visitors.
The club now faces Tottenham on Saturday, followed by Crystal Palace on Wednesday and then Liverpool in the FA Cup the following Monday.
Quote Message
It's a very tight schedule. It is very, very difficult for the players because three days between games is very hard and with this kind of intensity. So we have to rest well, recover and go for the next one."
Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves manager