Meerkat dies in wildlife sanctuary firepublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Giant tortoises, a meerkat named Basil and a bat colony have died at a sanctuary for exotic animals.
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Meerkat dies in wildlife sanctuary firepublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Severn Trent fined after raw sewage leak in parkpublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
A water company has been fined £500,000 after raw sewage was leaked on to a popular park in the West Midlands.
Image source, Environment AgencyThe sewage affected an area roughly the size of a rugby pitch at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, after spewing from a manhole cover after a sewer blockage.
Sewage also entered a nearby ditch and travelled 700 metres into the Longmoor Brook to the Longmoor Pool within the park, which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Severn Trent was fined at Birmingham Crown Court on 22 March, and also ordered to pay £50,693 costs.
The company said it was "truly sorry" for the impact the spillage had on the park.
Quote MessageSince this event in 2013 we’ve worked hard to improve our environmental performance across the whole of our region, and have significantly reduced the number of pollution incidents we’ve had.
Severn Trent statement
Mother's bid to fund 'cuddle cots'published at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Sharon Luca-Catha has been fundraising to try to provide all maternity units a cot for parents to have more time with their child.
Image source, Sharon Luca-ChathaMs Luca-Chatha, from Rugby, told how she stayed with her son Luca overnight when he was stillborn in 2012, but said had she had "a cold cuddle cot" she could have been with him for up to two more days.
She formed a charity in November which also aims to raise money for training midwives.
Each of the cots costs £1,500.
Animals killed in fire at wildlife centrepublished at 08:55 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Three tortoises and a meerkat died in a fire at a wildlife centre in Staffordshire.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceThe fire broke out at Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre, in Eccleshall.
Crews were called to the scene shortly before 05:40 and found one animal enclosure well alight.
The fire has affected power lines in the area with Western Power Distribution working to reconnect properties.
Anti-social behaviour zones consultation launchedpublished at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Special zones could be set up in parts of Birmingham city centre to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Image source, Birmingham City CouncilThe city council has launched a public consultation into plans for Public Space Prevention Orders covering the area from Five Ways and Broad Street to Snow Hill and Digbeth.
Behaviours complained about include urination, defecation, verbal abuse, groups and gangs displaying intimidating behaviour and begging.
Residents are being asked for their opinions in an online questionnaire., external
Motorcyclists killed in tractor crashpublished at 08:36 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
A man and a woman died after their motorcycle collided with a tractor in Market Drayton.
Read MoreTwo dead after motorbike crashes with tractorpublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Two people have died after a motorbike collided with a tractor in Shropshire.
Both victims, a man and a woman, were on the motorbike, police said.
The crash happened just after 11:00 on Sunday on the A41 Crickmerry near Market Drayton.
The road was closed for a time for an accident investigation.
Five injured in crashpublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Five people are still being treated for serious injuries after a car crash in Birmingham on Saturday.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceTwo children, aged five and three, were among the eight people involved in the collision between a car and a people carrier.
Two adults suffered "possible life-changing injuries" in the crash in Summer Road, Erdington, just before 23:00.
The five-year-old child suffered a broken leg and the three-year-old has suspected internal injuries.
In the papers: Knife criminals spared jailpublished at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Some of the early headlines on the Express and Star website today are:
- Tougher sentences demanded as knife criminals spared jail, external
- Hundreds join campaign against return of cows grazing on Cannock Chase, external
- David Jamieson: Mayor's office not up to task of police governance, external
Port Vale owner to put club in administration if new owner not foundpublished at 07:39 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Owner Norman Smurthwaite says he will put Port Vale in administration if a buyer for the club is not found by 5 May.
Image source, Getty ImagesSmurthwaite told BBC Radio Stoke he will only fund Vale up to that point, as a result of supporter protests about his running of the League Two club.
He claims that as much as £600,000 will be needed to keep the club going until the start of next season.
Third murder charge after fatal stabbingpublished at 07:23 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
A third person has been charged with murder after a 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceAbdullah Muhammad died in Sara Park in Small Heath, Birmingham, on 20 February.
A 17-year-old from Birmingham was arrested on Friday at an address in Rugby and has been charged with murder and two counts of robbery.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due at Birmingham Magistrates Court later.
Video: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 07:06 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Alex Hamilton
BBC WeatherIt will be a dry day with sunny spells and highs of 12C (54F).
Media caption, Latest weather for the West Midlands
Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019
Vanessa Pearce
BBC NewsWelcome to our live service for Monday.
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
