Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

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
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Live Reporting

'An original Banksy - priceless'published at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Twitter users have been paying their own tributes to Gordon Banks this afternoon.
Poplar Tales, external described him as "an original Banksy - priceless".
Stoke-on-Trent seemed to come together as one, with thousands lining the route of the funeral cortege and paying their own respects.
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'Like being granted an audience with God'published at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Author Don Mullan has told Gordon Banks's funeral service that meeting his hero, the legendary goalkeeper, was "like being granted an audience with God".
Image source, EPA
Mr Mullan idolised the England World Cup winner and wrote a charity book about him and ensured a £90,000 statue was erected to the legendary goalkeeper in 2008.
But he told the service at Stoke Minster this afternoon how it all started, with a meeting in 1970 when Banks saw the then 14-year-old's 500-page scrapbook.
Quote Message
I followed him into the hotel foyer and immediately spotted my scrapbook with a tall man leafing through it. Then my father spoke the magic words, 'Here he is, Mr Banks' and, with that, Gordon Banks turned around. Words can't adequately describe that moment, it was quite honestly like being granted an audience with God."
Don Mullan, Author
Stoke City remembers 'a true gentleman'published at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
"A true gentleman and legend of the game" - Stoke City have been sharing memories of Gordon Banks throughout today.
Image source, Stoke City
The club's described it as a poignant day, remembering their legendary goalkeeper while at the same time celebrating 47 years since, external "our greatest ever achievement" of winning the League Cup.
'A world-class man' - daughter's tributepublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Gordon Banks's daughter says her father was the "best dad in the whole world" and made their family's life "a brighter, better place".
Image source, Reuters
Wendy Banks (pictured, centre) read her tribute at his funeral service at Stoke Minster this afternoon, saying he always had time for his children.
She added that she would keep him updated on Stoke City.
Quote Message
The world has lost one of its greats and St Peter has gained a world-class goalkeeper and a world-class man. As one satirical news website recently put it, Jesus is on the bench now, Banks is here to make the saves."
Wendy Banks, Daughter
'An extraordinary job by an ordinary person'published at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Stoke-on-Trent Live
This is the view of Stoke-on-Trent Live's sport editor Keith Wales:
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'Off the field he was an ordinary guy'published at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke
Gordon Banks's funeral started with a rendition of Abide with Me - a hymn synonymous with the FA Cup final.
Image source, EPA
It was followed by a eulogy from his World Cup-winning teammate Sir Geoff Hurst.
He said Banks was "a superstar on the field, [but] off the field he was an ordinary guy with no airs or graces".
He added: "He was a joker, a funny man, for over 50 years and every time we met during our careers or years after he would come up and joke."
'A superstar and a normal guy'published at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Dan Roan
BBC Sports editor
World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst gave this touching tribute to his former teammate on the way in to Stoke Minster
Media caption,
Sir Geoff Hurst pays tribute to Gordon Banks ahead of his funeral in Stoke-on-Trent
'Our adopted, famous son'published at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
The Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has described Gordon Banks as Stoke-on-Trent's adopted son, at his funeral service this afternoon.
Image source, EPA
The World Cup winner, who also won the League Cup with the Potters, died last month at the age of 81.
Quote Message
We regard him as our adopted, famous son. He was fully integrated into the community at all levels and he was at home with us and we were at home with him."
Peter Coates, Stoke City chairman
Goalkeepers carry in Banks's coffinpublished at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
BBC Midlands Today
Fittingly four goalkeepers carried Gordon Banks's coffin into the Stoke Minster.
Stoke City number one Jack Butland was joined by Joe Anyon of Chesterfield, Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel and England stalwart Joe Hart.
The first three represented Banks's former clubs.
Media caption,
Goalkeepers Jack Butland, Joe Anyon, Kasper Schmeichel and Joe Hart acted as pallbearers
World watching Stoke-on-Trent for Gordon Banks's funeralpublished at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Dan Pallett
BBC Midlands Today Sport
The city of Stoke-on-Trent's given adopted son Gordon Banks a fitting send-off today with a whole-hearted tribute to the World Cup-winning goalkeeper.
Image source, Getty Images
The world is watching as his funeral takes place this afternoon and huge crowds turned out ahead of the service as his cortege was taken around the area.
In places, people were five or six-deep on the pavements of Stoke-on-Trent as the mood was celebratory and one of thanksgiving to this football great.
In photos: Bus and shop tributes to Gordon Bankspublished at 13:41 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Shops and buses across Stoke-on-Trent have been paying tribute to Gordon Banks as the funeral cortege headed past this afternoon:
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Getty Images
Goalkeepers carry Gordon Banks's coffinpublished at 13:33 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Gordon Banks' coffin has now been carried into Stoke Minster as his funeral service gets under way.
Four current goalkeepers, Jack Butland, Joe Anyon, Kapser Schmeichel and Joe Hart acted as pallbearers:
Funeral cortege arrives at Stoke Minsterpublished at 13:29 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
The funeral cortege has arrived now at Stoke Minster, ahead of the service.
Current goalkeepers Jack Butland of Stoke City, Joe Anyon of Chesterfield, Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel and England stalwart Joe Hart waited outside as they will carry his coffin:
Image source, Reuters
Funeral cortege goes past old Stoke City groundpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
The funeral cortege of Gordon Banks headed past the site of Stoke City's old Victoria Ground this afternoon, as it headed to Stoke Minster:
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Goodbye Gordon: Thousands bid farewellpublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Nick Clitheroe
BBC Midlands Today
Crowds packed the Bet365 and lined the streets of Stoke-on-Trent as the cortege passed through.
Media caption,
Stoke City fans salute Gordon Banks as his funeral cortege arrives at the Bet 365 Stadium
Guard of honour for Gordon Bankspublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Dan Pallett
BBC Midlands Today Sport
Hundreds of people are gathered outside Stoke Minster this afternoon ahead of the funeral service for Stoke City's legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks.
Before the cortege arrived, local regiments formed a guard of honour at Stoke Minster.
World Cup winners and goalkeeping greats at funeralpublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
England and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton has arrived for the funeral service at Stoke Minster, Stoke-on-Trent:
Image source, Reuters
Brother of Sir Bobby, Jack Charlton's also arrived:
Image source, Reuters
While several goalkeeping stars have also come for the funeral service - Peter Shilton, Pat Jennings, Ray Clemence and David Seaman:
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
'Thousands line the streets' - Funeral makes the headlinespublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
The funeral of England World Cup winner Gordon Banks is being covered by media organisations from across the country:
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'A smashing fella' - Tony Pulis's tribute to Gordon Bankspublished at 13:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Lamont Howie
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City's former manager Tony Pulis has told BBC Radio Stoke that he cherished every moment that he spent with Gordon Banks.
Image source, PA
He's described him as "a smashing fella" and "a wonderful person" as he arrived for the funeral service at Stoke Minster this afternoon.
Mr Pulis says no-one had a bad word to say about him.
In photos: Footballing figures arrive for funeralpublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Famous names from the world of football have started arriving in Stoke-on-Trent for the funeral of Gordon Banks.
They included Roger Hunt, a member of England's 1966 World Cup winning side.
Image source, PA
Also arriving at Stoke Minster for the service were former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis and former Potters' striker Ricardo Fuller:
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters