Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories - BBC News

Summary

Updates from Monday 25 February to Sunday 3 March 2019
Click Related Stories for updates from your area

Live Reporting

Tyseley factory fire: Road closurespublished at 07:23 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2019
There are currently two road closures in place following the fire at a factory in Tyseley, Birmingham.
Wharfdale Road and Rushey Lane are closed in both directions.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
The nearby Tyseley Railway station remains open, said the city council.
People are being advised to avoid the area.
More than 100 firefighters tackle factory blazepublished at 07:14 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2019
More than 100 firefighters have been called to deal with a severe blaze at an industrial estate in the Tyseley area of Birmingham.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Crews were first called to the factory on Wharfdale Road just before 03:00.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 2
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 2
Crews prevented the fire spreading to surrounding businesses, the fire service said.
There are no reports of injuries.
Video: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 07:12 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2019
Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather
After a chilly start, with some bright spells, cloud will build bringing showers and rain with highs of 11C (52F).
Media caption,
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:02 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2019
Vanessa Pearce
BBC News
Welcome to our live service for Thursday.
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
Will Birmingham's boom benefit all?published at 00:25 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February 2019
Not since the 1960s has Birmingham experienced so much redevelopment - but will the boom benefit everyone?
Read More
Pub bomb brothers 'celebrating baby news'published at 21:14 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Inquests into the blasts which killed 21 people in Birmingham hear further tributes to the victims.
Read More
Legionnaires' death widower 'fell apart'published at 20:40 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Elaine Brown, 69, died after a stay at The Feathers Hotel in Ludlow.
Read More
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Andy Giddings
BBC News
We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow.
Eviction case triggers council housing reviewpublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Local Democracy Reporting Service
David Irwin
Housing officials have admitted they "fell short" when they evicted a family on a freezing cold afternoon in Solihull.
Image source, Google
Solihull Community Housing (SCH), which manages the council’s housing stock, told its board this week that it has reviewed its procedures and made improvements.
It said there were concerns with this case about the very low temperatures on the day in question and the timing of the decision.
When it was then flagged up to senior management, the family - who had been housed in temporary accommodation – were provided with somewhere to stay.
In the papers: Drug dealer jailedpublished at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Staffordshire Live
The Staffordshire Live website has these stories today:
Tonight and tomorrow's weatherpublished at 18:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today
A clear start to Wednesday night but it won't stay that way, here's the full forecast for tonight and tomorrow for the West Midlands:
Media caption,
Rebecca Wood
Get a latest forecast at any other time from the BBC Weather website for your part of the West Midlands.
PM tells council 'get a grip' over Birmingham bin strikespublished at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
BBC Politics
The prime minister's waded into the Birmingham bin row and urged the city council to "get a grip" of the situation.
Talks have been taking place today between the union Unite and the authority to try to break the deadlock.
Image source, Getty Images
More than 300 workers started a series of walkouts over claims of "secret payments" made to non-striking GMB staff after a dispute in 2017 - claims denied by the council and GMB union.
This afternoon, responding to concerns from Solihull Conservative MP Julian Knight in the Commons, Theresa May blamed the strikes on failures by the Labour-run council.
The local authority says it's in everyone's interests to end the row before tomorrow to avoid it going to court.
Man guilty of pub punchbag row killingpublished at 18:18 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Daniel Baird was stabbed to death amid a "stabbing spree" sparked by a row at a Birmingham pub.
Read More
Scout group to be given former youth club buildingpublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Local Democracy Reporting Service
An out-of-use Shropshire youth centre could be given to a local Scout group, so they can bring it back to life, according to the local council.
The building in Much Wenlock ceased being the town's youth club seven years ago and the leader of Shropshire Council, Peter Nutting, said "it seems a perfect opportunity to hand it over".
Image source, Shropshire Council
The 1st Much Wenlock Scout Group has been using the building since November and a recommendation due to go before the council's cabinet suggests giving them ownership on a 99-year lease.
It had previously been put up for sale by Shropshire Council, with a guide price of £80,000., external
Brothers 'were celebrating pregnancy' when bomb explodedpublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Two brothers who were killed in the Birmingham pub bombings were celebrating news of a pregnancy when they died, their inquests have heard.
Image source, Family Handout/PA Wire
Desmond and Eugene Reilly (pictured left to right) were in the Tavern in the Town when one of two bombs planted by the IRA on 21 November 1974 exploded.
Their older brother, Sean Reilly, told the inquests into the atrocity, which started this week, that his brother Desmond had at the time been "in great spirits" at news that his wife was pregnant.
His was one of a number of emotional "pen portrait" tributes read at the outset of the new hearings.
Mr Reilly added that the bombers "took away our brothers' futures and part of our future too" and "part of us died with them on the day they died".
'People are shocked and worried'published at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
West Midlands Police Chief Constable says 'blunt action' to be taken on knife crime
Read More
Man injured in stabbingpublished at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
A man has been stabbed in the arm in Birmingham this afternoon.
The 29-year-old was taken to hospital just after 14:30 and part of Aston Street has been cordoned off while police investigate.
Image source, Google
In the papers: Council denies sending 'dismembering' emailspublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Worcester News
Here are some of the top stories from the Worcester News today:
- Council denies sending 'dismembering' email, external
- Boy taken to hospital after collapse, external
- Popular Worcester restaurant has closed, external
Pub's licence revoked over 'drugs and violence' fearspublished at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gurdip Thandi
A Birmingham pub that's been plagued by drugs and violence has been stripped of its licence.
West Midlands Police had applied to the city council's licensing sub committee for the order to shut the Sutton Tap on South Parade, Sutton Coldfield, saying they'd been called to a string of violent incidents at the venue in the last year.
Officers told a meeting they'd found evidence that nitrous oxide - also known as laughing gas - was being dealt at the pub and said people were being served past last orders.
The landlord's lawyer admitted to councillors there had been "serious problems", but promised to increase CCTV and security.
But the committee decided the licence would be revoked in a bid to stop more crime and disorder.
Askey hits out at 'poor refereeing' after goals disallowedpublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Port Vale manager John Askey said he was "furious" when what he saw as "two perfectly good goals" were disallowed in their defeat to Cheltenham at the weekend.
He went on to say "it's not making an excuse" and "I don't think it's unlucky, I just think it's poor refereeing".
Image source, Getty Images
If the two goals had been allowed, Port Vale could have won the game and been in 19th place in League Two, six points clear of the relegation zone.
Quote Message
We had the ball in the back of the net twice, two perfectly good goals. When they get taken away from you it's very difficult to. you know what more can you do? I don't think it's unlucky, I just think it's poor refereeing."
John Askey, Port Vale manager