Summary

  • Updates from Monday 25 to Sunday 31 March

  • Click Related Stories for updates from your area

  1. Appeal finds donors for boy with cancerpublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Thousands of people had joined the stem cell register in a bid to help Oscar Saxelby-Lee, 5

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  2. Finding match 'better than lottery win'published at 19:59 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Three stem cell matches have been found for Oscar Saxelby-Lee after an appeal for donors.

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  3. Our live coverage across the weekpublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Andy Giddings
    BBC News

    We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 on Monday.

  4. Tougher stance on roadside memorialspublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Tributes left at roadside memorials across Solihull risk being thrown away, because the borough council isn't prepared to continue storing them.

    It says that in future it will leave the lanterns, soft toys, or other mementos at the scene of the crash for up to six weeks after a death, or two weeks after a funeral and then take them for temporary storage.

    flowersImage source, Getty Images

    But tributes which are placed after this first occasion will be removed and then disposed of.

    Solihull had first adopted a policy on roadside memorials in 2012, amid concerns that the scenes of certain collisions were becoming permanent shrines and that this was causing friction or upset among some residents.

  5. College to close arts centrepublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke-on-Trent College says it will be closing its performing arts centre at its Burslem campus and moving classes to its main site.

    It says its creative and performing arts courses will be based at the Cauldon campus with new facilities due to be complete in September.

    Arts centreImage source, Google

    The college says the move is costing £1.4m, with £1m of it coming from the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

  6. Hog pursuit as police chase loose pigspublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    A mother and five piglets cause traffic delays when they wander on to a main road in Staffordshire.

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  7. Conservative MPs at odds over Brexitpublished at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    This afternoon's vote on the Brexit withdrawal agreement has set Conservative MPs at odds with each other.

    The MP for the Wrekin, Mark Pritchard, decided to vote for the deal, after opposing it when it first appeared and tweeted, external to say: "All those who voted against it are inadvertently, or purposely, frustrating Brexit."

    Owen Paterson

    But the MP for North Shropshire, Owen Paterson, who has always opposed the prime minister's deal told Parliament before the vote he would maintain his "integrity and reputation" and not change his mind now.

  8. Motorway reopens after three-vehicle crashpublished at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    BBC News Travel

    Traffic is now running normally again on the M5 northbound, between the junctions for Worcester South and Worcester North.

    Earlier a man and a woman were taken to hospital when their cars were involved in a collision with a van.

  9. The weather to start your weekendpublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    John Hammond
    Weather forecaster

    Tonight is set to start clear but it won't stay that way in the West Midlands - here's the rest of the full forecast:

    Media caption,

    John Hammond

    If you want an update on your local forecast at any other time, head to the BBC Weather website.

  10. 'Grindr car-jacking' suspects arrestedpublished at 18:02 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Victims have been attacked after arranging dates on Grindr in a spate of incidents in Birmingham.

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  11. Cannock Chase: 'Increase' in bad biker behaviourpublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    More police are going to be patrolling around a beauty spot to try and stop off-road motorbikes causing a nuisance., external

    Part of Cannock ChaseImage source, Google

    Staffordshire Police has seen an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour involving the bikes in Cannock Chase and Rugeley.

    Officers are going to specifically target areas of private land where they say riders are known to gather, as well as public places and forestry commission areas.

  12. McDonald's stabbing 'shocking and vicious'published at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Police have spoken out over , externala "shocking and vicious attack" which saw a delivery driver stabbed on a car park when he challenged a group of teenagers.

    McDonalds in Yardley WoodImage source, Google

    West Midlands Police said the stabbing happened on 27 January at the McDonald's in Yardley Wood, Birmingham after the man confronted the gang for messing about and kicking his car.

    They say when he tried to run to safety, he was stabbed in the arm, narrowly missing a major blood vessel.

    Last week, a 17-year-old man from Rubery was jailed for four and a half years after pleading guilty to wounding with intent at Birmingham Crown Court.

    Det Con Matt Standen said after the sentencing: "The level of violence used is as extreme as it is worrying, in my mind the offender had no regard for the victim’s life."

  13. Velo Birmingham: Criticism of new route changespublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Carl Jackson

    Organisers of this year's Velo bike ride throughout the West Midlands have been criticised for making "unforgivable" route changes just weeks before the event.

    About 17,000 riders are set to take on the 100-mile route on 12 May, which starts and finishes in Birmingham city centre.

    Riders in last year's eventImage source, John Bray

    The route takes in parts of Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Warwickshire, Dudley and Sandwell.

    This week, organisers CSM Active sent out thousands of letters including the amended route, adding that they "significantly improve access across the West Midlands".

    It said the whole route would see road closures "to facilitate the safe passage of the participants".

    As well as local businesses, people travelling to work, events, shopping or even carers visiting elderly residents could all be affected.

    Councillor Debbie Clancy, said some residents could be left feeling "trapped".

  14. Parking machine dispute costs authority £160Kpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A dispute with a parking machine supplier cost Coventry City Council £160,000, according to a report.

    The parking charges at Coombe Country Park were expected to bring in £530,000 in this financial year, but when the payment machine was vandalised, it took six months to agree a deal to bring in a replacement.

    Coombe Country ParkImage source, Google

    Negotiations to sort a security issue with the old machine are expected to be finalised next week.

    Andrew Walster, the council’s director of streetscene and regulatory services, said the inability to collect parking fees was especially an issue in the busy summer months.

    It comes on the back of another heavy council loss on the Godiva Festival.

  15. The piglets having a stroll on main roadpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Police have been working to get the animals back into a field after their excursion blocked traffic.

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  16. Town manager 'confident and relaxed'published at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

    Shrewsbury Town travel to relegation rivals Southend United tomorrow, and manager Sam RIcketts says he is "confident and relaxed", while "trying to make sure that we're doing everything we can".

    They're also due to play another of the League One strugglers, Scunthorpe, next weekend - and they are sides that have recently sacked their managers in the hope of an upturn in form.

    Sam RickettsImage source, Getty Images

    Ricketts also praised the attitude of this players, saying, "the atmosphere at the training ground, the player's attitude every day is very, very good."

  17. Traffic starting to flow again after M5 crashpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    BBC News Travel

    Highways England says the hard shoulder has opened on the M5 at Worcester to take traffic past a crash between junctions seven and six.

    A man and a woman were taken to hospital at 13:48 after their cars and a van collided.

    Their injuries are not thought to be serious.

    No-one else was hurt, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

  18. Woman posed as doctor to dupe elderlypublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 29 March 2019

    Kamlesh Bassi has also pretended to be a nurse, physiotherapist and chiropractor.

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