Summary

  • Updates from Monday 25 February to Sunday 3 March 2019

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Live Reporting

  1. Energy firm under the spotlight after ban

    Sophie Calvert
    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council says it's trying to find out just how big customer service issues are at the energy company Solarplicity.

    Ofgem has banned the company from bringing in new customers for three months.

    Electric kettle and microwave ovenGetty Images

    The council partnered up with the renewable energy firm in May last year in its "community energy scheme", which involved installing solar panels on homes - it's understood 5,000 households in the city have signed up.

    The council says it's aware a small number of residents have experienced problems and it is seeking assurances from the company.

    Solarplicity has told us it has improved and that the ban doesn't affect the solar panel scheme.

  2. Woman charged with flat murder
    Breaking

    Police investigating the death of a man found with fatal stab wounds on Saturday in a block flats in Birmingham have charged a woman with his murder.

    Window

    Officers were called to Frensham Way in Harborne just after 11:00, when the body of a 29-year-old man was discovered.

    A 26-year-old woman is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court later.

  3. Investigations after teenager stabbed in street robbery

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Investigations are under way in Coventry, after a teenage boy suffered multiple stab injuries during a street robbery.

    Remembrance Road, in WillenhallGoogle

    The 17-year-old was attacked on Remembrance Road, in Willenhall, just before 18:00 on Saturday.

    He was treated for non-life threatening injuries to his chest, arm and back, West Midlands Police said.

    Officers said his bag was stolen during the attack.

  4. Coady: 'Sloppy decisions' at Bournemouth

    BBC WM Sport

    Wolves captain Conor Coady says there were "a few sloppy decisions", after the referee Roger East gave three penalties in the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

    Conor CoadyReuters

    Two of them were awarded to the hosts as Josh King scored for the home side, but he also missed a spot-kick, after a foul that was outside the box.

    Raul Jimenez converted a penalty for Wolves, who had a further claim for a spot-kick waved away, after Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham misjudged a clearance and the ball bounced off his arm.

    No-one comes out and has a go at the referees. I'd never, ever do that, but I thought there was a few sloppy decisions... We get people having a pop at us when we've had a bad game and we make bad decisions and I didn't think the first one was a penalty."

    Conor Coady, Wolves captain

  5. Bullring owner faces 'tough year' as it posts £268m loss

    BBC Business News

    Shopping centre owner Hammerson, owner of Birmingham's Bullring and Grand Central, reported a £268m loss for 2018.

    It said its UK property values fell during the second half of 2018 by 9.3%.

    BullringGetty Images

    David Atkins, chief executive of Hammerson, said 2018 was "a tough year particularly in the UK".

    He said "tenant failures" coupled with ongoing challenges in the retail sector "created a difficult operating environment", putting pressure on property values.

    "Outside of the UK our destinations performed better with a strong contribution from premium outlets," he said.

  6. Tigers forward says goodbye with a hat-trick

    BBC Sport

    Telford Tigers forward Doug Clarkson scored a hat trick in his final game for the club last night, to help them to a 17-1 away win over bottom-side Nottingham Lions.

    He’s returning to Canada to work as a firefighter and he leaves the team a point behind league-leaders Hull Pirates with a game in hand.

    There were also goals for under-18 players Alex Blake and Fin Howells.

    Doug ClarksonSteve Brodie

    Coventry Blaze sufferered back-to-back defeats over the weekend, away to Sheffield Steelers and at home to Fife Flyers.

    The results mean they drop out of the playoff places in the Elite League, but they have games in hand on their rivals.

    Coventry Blaze vs Sheffield SteelersDean Woolley

  7. Work to start on memorial hall revamp

    Refurbishment work is due to start on a memorial hall in Shropshire that shut down five years ago.

    The Grade II-listed Anstice Memorial Institute in Madeley opened in 1868 as a working men's club.

    Anstice HallGoogle

    It closed because the club couldn't secure funding to repair the crumbling brickwork.

    The renovation aims to bring the building back into full use for the whole community.

  8. Murder probe continues after Birmingham's latest stabbing

    BBC Midlands Today

    Police are continuing their investigations after the death of a man found with several stab injuries.

    Police scene at Frensham Way, Harborne

    West Midlands Police was called to a block of flats at Frensham Way, in the Harborne area of Birmingham, just after 11:00 on Saturday.

    A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

    The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

  9. Weather from the West Midlands

    Alex Hamilton
    BBC Weather

    Any early mist or fog patches will lift to leave it fine and dry with plenty of sunshine and just a few patches of wispy high cloud.

    Highs of 12 to 15C (54 to 59F).

    Weather from the West Midlands with Alex Hamilton

  10. Midlands Live

    Andrew Dawkins
    BBC News

    Good morning. We'll have the latest news, sport, weather and travel news for the West Midlands during the day here.

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