Summary

  • Updates from Monday 18 February to Sunday 24 February 2019

  • Click Related Stories for updates from your area

Live Reporting

  1. Bin strike: Council will pursue injunction despite protests

    Riyah Collins
    BBC News

    Birmingham City Council will continue to pursue an injunction against striking bin workers, despite calls from Labour party members to withdraw it.

    At an emergency cabinet meeting this morning, it was agreed that the council will continue to hold talks with Unite the Union but will also proceed with legal action to stop the strikes which it said were "unlawful".

    Picket sign reading "betrayed again by a Labour council"

    Strike action began on Tuesday which saw more than 300 refuse workers picket outside four depots in the city.

    Councillor Brett O'Reilly, cabinet member for clean streets, waste and recycling, said: "My hope is to find a resolution without legal action, but if that fails an injunction is the only way."

    Rubbish piled up in Birmingham

    A letter signed by 23 Labour councillors yesterday said seeking an injunction was “misconceived and counter productive” and called on senior councillors to "step-back" from their current approach.

    “Senior officers are being allowed to drive a particular approach to industrial relations which gives rise to confrontation and disharmony," the letter read.

    Unite workers are due to walk out again on Friday.

  2. Tennis: Dan Evans beats champion in Florida

    BBC Sport

    British number three Dan Evans is through to the last-16 of the Delray Beach Open in Florida after he beat defending champion Frances Tiafoe.

    Dan EvansAFP

    Tiafoe served for the match at 6-5 in the second set, but Birmingham-born Evans broke the American and won the tie-break 7-1.

    World number 148 Evans, 28, then lost serve at 5-4 up in the third, but eventually prevailed 3-6 7-6 (7-1) 7-5.

  3. Masked men threaten residents with metal bars

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Four masked men armed with metal bars have broken into a house and threatened the people inside.

    Nantwich Road, Tilstone BankGoogle

    Cheshire Police says the burglary happened on Monday night on Nantwich Road, Tilstone Bank, near Nantwich.

    They say the victims weren't hurt but were left very shaken as the men escaped with cash.

  4. Your photos: Daffodils arrive

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Daffodils are either already out in bloom or poised to, according to several photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

    These two are from users Graham's Vista in Sutton Coldfield and Janiejane13 in Hereford:

    Sutton ColdfieldGraham's Vista
    HerefordJaniejane13

  5. Two charged over city centre stabbing

    The victim, 20, who has not been named, was seriously injured near Holliday Street on Sunday.

    Read More

  7. Pub bombings: Families consider inquests walk-out

    BBC WM

    Some of the families of the people killed in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings are going to hold crisis talks with their legal team to discuss whether to boycott or walk out of upcoming inquests.

    They're due to start from 25 February and last for nine weeks.

    Victims

    A total of 21 people were killed and 182 were injured in the explosions in two city centre pubs, the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town, in November 1974.

    To the disappointment of the families, the coroner has ruled out the naming of those suspected of carrying out the bombings.

    They've also told the BBC that they're unhappy that funding for their efforts has been cut.

    They were refused legal aid and had to fundraise to pay for a judicial review last year.

    If we decide to walk out it will be out of sheer disgust and contempt for our so-called judiciary system."

    Julie Hambleton, Sister of pub bombing victim

  8. Shopping centre owner scraps dividend

    Shares in Intu, which owns the Merry Hill and Potteries shopping centres are down after it scrapped its full-year dividend.

    Merry Hill centreGoogle

    John Strachan, intu chairman, said the company "has had a challenging year with a difficult retail and uncertain economic environment" and highlighted a failed takeover bid from Bullring owner Hammerson among others.

    The company said its property values reduced by 13% (£1.4bn), citing "uncertainty around the UK economy and the challenging retail background".

  9. Substance found on street 'from fire extinguisher'

    Hazel Morgan
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    The fire service says a substance found at a street in Stoke-on-Trent this morning is believed to be from a dry powder fire extinguisher.

    Tape cordoning off road

    The emergency services have been at East Crescent, Sneyd Green, since just after 07:00 and sealed off the street while tests were carried out.

    At one stage, paramedics said they checked over a person on the street as a precaution.

    After tests, Staffordshire Police says the substance is not toxic and "does not present a danger to the public".

  10. Call for action on 'tragedy' of rough sleeper deaths

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner says there needs to be a more accurate record of the number of rough sleeper deaths in the region.

    David Jamieson was speaking after West Midlands Police reported it had dealt with five such incidents already this year.

    Empty bed roll

    Chief Constable Dave Thompson said it was hard to get accurate figures, as officers were not directly involved in all such incidents.

    He said the force would be meeting with the coroner next month, to get a better picture of the numbers.

    The number of people ending up on the streets is increasing hugely and it is having a devastating impact on their health and wellbeing. We are seeing people tragically die on the streets and if we are to address that we need to understand why they are dying.”

    David Jamieson, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner

  11. Five taken to hospital after M5 crash

    Five people have been taken to hospital following a crash on the M5 near Droitwich.

    It happened at around 01:50 and involved two cars, a lorry and a 4x4 towing a trailer.

    Ambulance

  13. Medical checks after 'unidentified substance' found

    Hazel Morgan
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    One person's being checked over by paramedics after police said an unidentified substance was found in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Sealed off street

    Officers say it was reported just after 07:00 and they've sealed off East Crescent, Sneyd Green, while tests are carried out.

    The ambulance service says they don't believe anyone's hurt but they are checking one person out as a precaution.

    Fire crew on street

  14. Crowds greet RAF Tornado retirement fly-past

    Crowds have turned out in Staffordshire to watch the last official flights of the RAF Tornado.

    The RAF TornadosJonlandscape

    The aircraft flew over the National Memorial Arboretum in formation before heading over MOD Stafford and Cosford yesterday.

    They're carrying out a series of fly-pasts before leaving active service at the end of March.

    Instagram user @jonlandscape took this photo in Stafford during the visit.

  15. Bus passengers weigh in on Brexit

    Passengers on Birmingham's Number 11 route tell us how they feel about Brexit.

    Read More

  16. Horse racing returns after equine flu outbreak

    BBC Midlands Today

    Racing returns to Ludlow today for the first time since a national outbreak of equine flu suspended the sport.

    Ludlow racecourseGoogle

    The crisis was sparked earlier this month when three vaccinated horses tested positive at the Cheshire stables of Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain.

    Two horses with the virus from that yard raced at the Shropshire course before it was officially cleared by the authorities.

    Officials at the racecourse have urged people coming to the venue today to be careful of their clothing if they've been to any infected sites.

    Earlier this week, charity The Animal Health Trust confirmed new outbreaks of equine flu in six parts of Shropshire and Worcestershire.

  17. Road sealed off after 'unidentified substance' found
    Breaking

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A road's been sealed off in Stoke-on-Trent after police say an unidentified substance has been found.

    They say they have officers at East Crescent, Sneyd Green, this morning and the substance is currently being tested.

  18. Crash on M42 near Solihull

    BBC News Travel

    Drivers are being warned of congestion this morning after a crash on the M42 near Solihull.

    Highways England says two lanes are affected between J5 and J6.

  19. Murder victim's father to open knife surrender bin

    BBC Midlands Today

    A father whose son was stabbed to death in an apparently unprovoked knife attack will unveil Walsall's first knife surrender bin this morning.

    James BrindleyFamily handout

    James Brindley (pictured), 26, was stabbed in the heart 400m (1,312ft) from his parents' home in Aldridge in June 2017.

    In February 2018, 17-year-old Ammar Kahrod was jailed for at least 17 years for his murder.

    Today, James' father Mark will join the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to cut the ribbon on the bin.

    It's the 13th bin installed by the PCC as part of his bid to try and tackle the increasing problem of knife crime.