Summary

  • Boy sentenced for stabbings near school

  • Birmingham bin dispute 'nearing an end'

  • Best friends killed in pub bombings found 'side by side'

  • Funeral date set for four children killed in fire

  • Attempted murder charge after man hit by van

  • School protests 'helping spread messages of division'

  • Updates from Friday 8 March 2019

  • Click Related Stories for updates from your area

  1. 'Famous people contact me for STI drugs'published at 18:35 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Illegal antibiotics advertised on social media are being sold at the wrong dose to people too embarrassed to visit a sexual health clinic.

    A BBC reporter was sold unlicensed STI drugs by a man who claimed he was getting them from his uncle's pharmacy in another country.

    The man, who fled when confronted, said he had several celebrity clients.

    Media caption,

    Unlicensed STI drugs sold illegally

    You can see more on this story on Inside Out West Midlands on BBC One at 19:30 today in the region, and via iPlayer for seven days afterwards.

  2. Woman denies murdering daughterspublished at 18:25 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    A mother has denied murdering her two young daughters within weeks of each other.

    Birmingham Crown CourtImage source, Google

    Louise Porton, 23, is accused of killing 16-month-old Scarlett Vaughan and three-year-old Lexi Draper in 2018.

    Both children died in hospital after paramedics were called to reports they had been found ill at their home in Rugby, Warwickshire.

    Ms Porton, of Skiddaw, Rugby, will stand trial on 24 June at Birmingham Crown Court.

  3. Video: What's the weather got in store?published at 18:21 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Rich Davis
    BBC Weather presenter

    After some scattered showers it should be a largely dry night with lows of 4C (39F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  4. Stronger Towns Fund 'extraordinarily pathetic'published at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    A £1.6bn fund is being launched by the government to boost less well-off towns after Brexit.

    The West Midlands has been allocated £212m to bring jobs and stimulate growth.

    Stronger Towns graph

    Labour's Ruth Smeeth, the MP for Leave-supporting Stoke-on-Trent, described the amount of money as "extraordinarily pathetic".

    Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour programme, she said: "If you're talking about national renewal, this is less money than is being taken out of my economy by the introduction of [new welfare system] universal credit over the next four years."

    But the prime minister insisted: "Communities across the country voted for Brexit as an expression of their desire to see change - that must be a change for the better, with more opportunity and greater control."

  5. Our Gordon Banks coverage across the daypublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Thanks for following our coverage of the Gordon Banks funeral this afternoon. And thanks especially to those who contributed their own memories.

    A reminder that you can read more about the day and how fans and players came together to give the World Cup winner a "fitting send-off" on the BBC News article.

    Fans line the streetsImage source, Reuters
  6. 'A fitting send-off'published at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Stoke City's described the funeral today for former player Gordon Banks as a "fitting send-off for one of our club's greatest ever servants, external".

    Hundreds of fans and mourners turned out to remember the goalkeeper while his daughter, Wendy, gave a tribute at the service at Stoke Minster.

    Mourners inside Stoke MinsterImage source, Stoke City FC
    Wendy Banks at the serviceImage source, Stoke City FC
  7. Funeral crowds cheer World Cup winner Bankspublished at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    A chant of "England's number one" breaks out as the cortege passes through Stoke City's stadium.

    Read More
  8. In the papers: Thousands crowd the streetspublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    This was the Daily Mail's view as the cortege passed through the streets of Stoke-on-Trent on the way to the funeral earlier.

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  9. 'I had to say my last goodbye'published at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Respects are being paid on Twitter by people in Stoke-on-Trent to Gordon Banks.

    The goalkeeper's funeral took place this afternoon, with thousands turning out on the streets or at the Bet365 stadium to say a final farewell.

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  10. 'The kind of person we'd all aspire to be'published at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    One listener to BBC Radio Stoke called the station to say he'd been following the funeral of Gordon Banks from Huston Texas.

    Gordon Banks funeralImage source, PA

    Mike, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, said he'd grown up in Gordon's era, "so I guess his history and my history are intertwined," he said.

    "I was fortunate enough to meet Gordon a couple of times over the last few years.

    "Terry Conroy arranged for me to have supper with him and the rest of the Old Boys Association a few years ago.

    "He was a world class athlete but a very, very humble man, and that came through at the time I met him at the dinner when I was sitting next to him.

    "He must have been to dinners like that thousands of times, but he answered the same old questions with a grace and humility that was quite incredible I thought.

    "He's the kind of person we'd all aspire to be if we really thought about it."

  11. Commemorative strip used in Banks tributepublished at 16:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    BBC Sport

    Following Banks's death, Stoke City's current goalkeeper Jack Butland, one of four keepers to carry in the coffin today, wore a special plain green jersey in their game against Aston Villa.

    The shirtImage source, Stoke City FC

    The strip had no badge, sponsor or name.

    It recreated the one that Banks wore as Stoke beat Chelsea in the 1972 League Cup final, their only major trophy.

    Banks won 73 England caps and was a vital part of the side that won the 1966 World Cup. He played for Stoke for six years from 1967.

    The special shirtImage source, Stoke City FC
  12. Banks 'would have been embarrassed' at knighthoodpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    BBC Radio Stoke

    After the death of Gordon Banks last month, there were calls for him to be given a posthumous knighthood as a member of England's World Cup-winning side.

    The call was even raised in Parliament last week.

    But even during his life, it didn't appear to be an honour the goalkeeper was interested in - one man who fought to get him knighted told the BBC he would have been "very embarrassed" if he'd known about it.

    Gordon BanksImage source, Reuters

    David MacDonald, from Uttoxeter Racecourse, was part of the unsuccessful effort.

    "He would have been very embarrassed if he had known what we were doing behind the scenes with regard to the knighthood... I don't think he'd have approved because of the humble man that he was."

  13. That wonder save from Pelepublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    BBC Sport

    Gordon Banks is probably best-known for that save during the 1970 World Cup against Brazil.

    What is less known is the huge friendship that Banks and Pele struck up afterwards.

    Speaking in March 2018, Banks relives the wonder save:

    Media caption,

    Archive: Banks describes wonder save from Pele

    This is how the commentary of that save sounded.

  14. Rainbow breaks through clouds for Gordon Bankspublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Phil Bowers
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    While Gordon Banks' funeral service was being broadcast at the Bet365 Stadium, a rainbow appeared overhead as it drew to a close:

    Rainbow over Bet365 Stadium
  15. In photos: Fans turn out for Gordon Bankspublished at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    It wasn't just the stadium, people turned out all over Stoke-on-Trent today to pay tribute to Gordon Banks.

    Before the service at Stoke Minster, his cortege headed around the city, with the route shared by Stoke City.

    The funeral cortege of footballer Gordon Banks makes it"s way past the bet365 StadiumImage source, Getty Images
    People gather outside the church for the funeral of former England World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon BanksImage source, Reuters
    Dog in Stoke City colours
  16. In photos: Gordon Banks's wife says goodbyepublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    His wife Ursula was among the mourners at Stoke Minster for the service while fans gathered at the Bet365 Stadium to say goodbye.

    Gordon Banks" wife Ursula attends the funeralImage source, Getty Images

    Gordon and his family have called Stoke-on-Trent home ever since he joined the club in 1967.

    A person holds an order of service for former Stoke City and England goalkeeping legend Gordon Banks at the bet365 StadiumImage source, Getty Images
    Fans at the Bet365 StadiumImage source, Reuters
    An order of service for the funeral serviceImage source, PA
  17. In photos: Stadium hosts fans for funeral servicepublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Stoke City's been broadcasting the funeral service from Stoke Minster at its stadium to hundreds of fans this afternoon.

    Chants of "England's number one" broke out when all the legendary goalkeeper's achievements were displayed on the big screen.

    Fans at stadiumImage source, Getty Images
    FanImage source, Reuters
    Fans at stadiumImage source, Getty Images
  18. 'My Way' ends funeral service of Gordon Bankspublished at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    The funeral service of Gordon Banks has ended this afternoon at Stoke Minster with a rendition of My Way by Frank Sinatra.

    Those in the audience heard tributes from the goalkeeper's family and his former teammates.

    Gordon Banks' coffin being taken outImage source, Reuters