A former MP who has refused to name living suspects accused of involvement in the Birmingham pub bombings was branded "a disgrace to the human race" by families of those who died.

Chris Mullin, ex MP for Sunderland South, whose research into the atrocities helped free six wrongly-convicted men, was confronted outside the court as he left the inquests on 27 March.

Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the 1974 attacks, asked him: "How do you sleep at night?

"You did all that for the Birmingham Six and you've done nothing for 21 victims who were slaughtered in cold blood."

During his evidence, Mr Mullin was asked whether he had reached an agreement with the IRA and those who carried out the bombings that he would not reveal their identities while they were alive.

Mr Mullin answered: "That's right, yes."

He told the court: "The only way to establish beyond doubt that the six people in jail were not responsible was to find out who was responsible and to persuade them to describe in sufficient detail what they had done so that it would not be possible for anyone to carry on pretending, as some were at the time, that the right people were in jail."

He had added: "I was never under the illusion that I could bring the perpetrators to justice."

The families of those killed in the Birmingham pub bombings have called on police to "redouble their efforts" to find those responsible.

Image source, Birmingham Inquests

At the proceedings' conclusion earlier, the jury found the IRA was behind the 21 unlawful killings, which, the coroner said, amounted to murders.

Leslie Thomas QC, representing 10 of the bereaved families, said: "We just hope, in light of the jury's unequivocal finding that the IRA murdered 21 innocent people, that the West Midlands Police will now redouble their efforts in terms of those bombers who may still be alive to bring them to justice."

In their own words, families and friends pay tribute to the 21 killed in Birmingham's pub bombings.

The jury at the inquests into the deaths of 21 people in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings had also been considering whether the police had any information about the bombs prior to an IRA warning call.

That phone call was placed to a newspaper fewer than ten minutes before the explosions at two sites. That inadequate warning probably contributed to the loss of life, the jury found.

Image source, Birmingham Inquests

But jurors did not believe police had information before the call was made - a call in which a recognised IRA code word was used, and a call to which police were alerted.

Two officers were sent to investigate, the inquest heard, but were not told about the coded warning and no cordons were put in place and there were no evacuations.

The jury was asked whether the West Midlands force could have done more to prevent the loss of life. It found there was no error in the force's response.

The jury reaches a verdict in the inquests for the Birmingham pub bombings.

The coroner at the Birmingham pub bombings inquests said emergency services and members of the public who helped in the blasts' aftermath were "the people of Birmingham shown at their best; brave, generous, selfless".

Image source, Birmingham Inquests

Sir Peter Thornton QC said of the "heartwarming" assistance: "A genuinely positive side of humanity in contrast to the devastation and destruction all around them. My heartfelt appreciation to all of them."

He also paid condolences to the people who lost loved ones.

"I wish to express my admiration and respect for the dignity in which you have conducted yourselves during the difficult time of the inquest."

Five men were named at the inquest into the Birmingham pub bombings during discussions about who was involved.

Image source, ITV/Rex/Shutterstock/BBC

Seamus McLoughlin, Mick Murray, James Gavin and Michael Hayes were named by "Witness O", a convicted IRA bomber.

The first three are dead. Mr Hayes denies direct involvement but has admitted "collective responsibility".

A lawyer for the families also named a fifth man, Michael Patrick Reilly, who has strongly denied any involvement.

A jury at the inquest into the deaths of 21 people in the Birmingham pub bombings has been sharing its conclusions: Among them, that the 21 were unlawfully killed by the IRA.

The IRA's warning call - botched, the jury has found - was placed to Birmingham Post and Mail at 20:11 on 21 November 1974.

A recognised IRA code word was used and police were alerted to the call.

The explosions were timed by the jury at 20:18 at the Mulberry Bush and 20:20 at Tavern in the Town - fewer than 10 minutes after the call was placed.

And that, the jury found, likely contributed to the loss of life.

The inquest heard the call mentioned the Rotunda building - where the Mulberry Bush was based - but did not name the pubs.

The jury also concluded there was no error in the police response to the call.

In relation to the warning call, there was no error in the police response that contributed to the 21 deaths, the jury also found.

Sons of four of the victims talk about the "major injustice" they have suffered.

The names of five men emerged at the inquests into the Birmingham pub bombings.

Young adults in Birmingham learn about the 1974 atrocities in their city which killed 21 people.

Survivors of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings share their stories.

The jury has also concluded that the IRA's warning call over the 1974 attacks on two pubs was inadequate and probably caused or contributed to the loss of 21 lives.

The IRA had telephoned the Birmingham Post and Mail.

The jury at the inquests into the deaths of 21 people in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings has concluded they were unlawfully killed.

The coroner had previously said in both "ordinary language" and law, that meant the 21 were murdered - and, the jury also concluded, it was the IRA who murdered them.

BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

Shrewsbury Town manager Sam Ricketts says something has just clicked for striker Fejiri Okenabirhie this season.

The 23-year-old has scored 15 goals since arriving from non-league Dagenham and Ricketts said: "He's playing a different position this year to what he was last year, maybe that's just suited him a little bit more at this time of his career."

Image source, Getty Images

Okenabirhie started his career as an Arsenal youth player before dropping down the leagues and said he's had to work hard to get his chance in League One.

Dudley News

From the Dudley News:

• Campaign for crossing at 'dangerous' junction, external
• Graffiti vandal goes on spree round Cradley, external
• Woman dies after being hit by car in Netherton, external

An 80k charity walk around south Shropshire this weekend will go ahead, despite the recent snow.

Last year the Shropshire Way 80k had to be called off because of the snow brought by the Beast from the East, and organiser Grant Wilson said "when we saw the snow coming down yesterday morning we went into a little bit of a panic".

But while he is expecting the conditions to be "soggy underfoot", he believes all the snow will have gone by the time the walkers and runners start at 09:00 tomorrow.

Image source, Shiver Me Timbers

The participants will start at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms and are expected to complete the route within 24 hours, with food and drink stops prepared along the way.

The event will raise money for the Discovery Centre.

A serving soldier in the British Army who nearly became a ballet dancer says he is rediscovering his passion.

For two years, Alex Smith kept his talents a secret from his fellow soldiers.

Trooper Alex, 22, is appearing in a contemporary dance production called 10 Soldiers at Birmingham Hippodrome, external, a work about all aspects of military life - the rigorous training, the friendships and the stress of going into conflict.

He's also taking part in BBC Arts DancePassion, a live-streaming day today featuring performance, rehearsals and behind-the-scenes glimpses from across the UK.

BBC Sport

Coventry Blaze go up against the Elite League champions Belfast Giants in the playoffs this weekend and are asking fans to make the home leg on Sunday a "sea of blue".

They're full of confidence after wins over Manchester Storm and title-chasing Cardiff Devils last weekend and head coach Danny Stewart says he thinks they are playing their best hockey of the season.

Image source, Scott Wiggins

The winners of the two-legged tie will win a place at the end-of-season playoff finals in Nottingham.