BBC Midlands Today

An investigation by BBC Midlands Today has revealed thousands of suspects in Staffordshire have been released without bail conditions.

Image source, Getty Images

Two years ago, a 28-day limit on police bail came into force in England and Wales to stop police bailing suspects for extended periods of time without resolution, following a series of high-profile cases.

In Staffordshire, the BBC's found 7,732 have instead been “released under investigation” between April 2017 and December 2018, with no conditions imposed.

The Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, Gareth Morgan, is critical of the changes, saying overall they haven’t delivered confidence in the system for victims.

The Home Office says it's working with the National Police Chief’s Council to make sure bail conditions are used "where appropriate".

BBC Sport

Warwickshire were "outbatted, outbowled and outfielded" in their return to Division One of the County Championship, their first-team coach's admitted.

Image source, Getty Images

The Bears lost by eight wickets to Kent at Edgbaston despite wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose (pictured) making 107 in their second innings.

Australia batsman Matt Renshaw then guided the visitors to their victory target on 124-2.

BBC News Travel

Drivers are being delayed on the M6 southbound near Cannock, Staffordshire, after a lorry and a car were involved in a collision on the exit slip road at J10., external

West Midlands Fire Service said 14 firefighters had been called to the crash to help cut a man free who's being checked over by paramedics.

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star's covering these stories today:

• Cash stolen in Telford knifepoint robbery, external
• Huge rise in stalking and harassment cases in Shropshire and Mid Wales, external
• Shrewsbury's Pride Hill revamp nears completion, external

A woman was threatened by three masked men who demanded she handed over her car keys in Coventry on Saturday.

Image source, Google

The three then made off with her car, police said.

The white Seat Leon was taken from Earlsdon Avenue South just before 16:00, said West Midlands Police.

The force has recently warned city residents to be vigilant after a "significant rise" in the number of carjackings in the city.

Large funding shortfalls for special educational needs in schools are causing "untold misery" for thousands of families, a teaching union says.

National Education Union analysis found spending was not keeping pace with rapidly increasing demand in nearly all (93%) of England's local councils.

Image source, Getty Images

Families in Birmingham, North Yorkshire and East Sussex are taking central government to court over the way it provides funding to local authorities for special needs.

The case is due to be heard in the High Court in June.

Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi said it was not right to imply that funding had been cut, adding that his department had increased spending this year on the high needs budgets for those with severe and complex needs.

About 40 firefighters have been tackling the blaze at the derelict site overnight.

A pedestrian has been killed after being hit by a car in Birmingham.

It's believed the 59-year-old was struck as he was crossing Middlemore Road, Handsworth at about 08:43 on Friday morning, police said.

He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries.

Officers are appealing for anyone with dash-cam footage or witnessed the incident to come forward.

The driver of the blue Toyota Aygo stopped and is assisting police with enquiries.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman's been airlifted to hospital after falling in a rocky area of the Peak District.

Image source, Buxton Mountain Rescue Team

Ambulance crews, firefighters and a mountain rescue team were all sent to Lud's Church, Staffordshire, north of Leek, on Sunday.

An all-terrain vehicle was used to reach her, and she was flown to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.

Wales winger Josh Adams says Worcester Warriors are more than capable of winning all their remaining Premiership games.

Firefighters are still at the scene of a blaze at derelict former golf club in Birmingham.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

At its height 40 firefighters tackled the blaze at the North Worcestershire Golf Club in Northfield.

It's believed the fire broke out shortly after 20:40, said the fire service.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website's covering these stories today:

• Teenage girls attacked in Stoke-on-Trent by man in 'dark hoodie', external
• DWP says sorry to man after stripping him of £500-a-month benefits 15 months ago, external
• Police board up house as neighbours speak out about issues plaguing their street, external

BBC WM

Parents of pupils at a special needs school in Dudley, say they're worried about their children's safety after concerns were raised by Ofsted.

Image source, Google

Inspectors found locked fire doors, external, evidence of uncontrolled rodent infestation, exposed wires and potentially hazardous chemicals within reach of young children at the Rowan School in Coseley.

The independently run school is on the site of the old Coseley School which is owned and rented out by Dudley Council, which said it had ordered the school to find new premises.

The school's owners say all the health and safety issues were rectified on the day of the inspection.

The Department for Education said it was working with the school to ensure "swift and impactful" improvements are made.

One parent described the report to BBC WM as "shocking".

BBC Shropshire

The site of an engineering firm in Shrewsbury has been put up for sale this morning for £8.6m.

Stadco - the Shrewsbury Tool and Die Company - was established in 1971 but traces its roots back more than 200 years.

It was sold to Canadian-based Magna in 2015.

Last summer, it said it was looking to close the Battlefield Way site and move the 190 workers to other plants in Telford, Castle Bromwich and Powys by mid-2019.

The plant is still operating, but has gone on the market this morning.

Plans for the second phase of the regeneration of Birmingham's Perry Barr area have been formally submitted, the city council says.

The site will form part of the Athletes' Village before being converted into new homes after the city hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Proposals for the 12.27-hectare site could see about 400-500 new homes, more green spaces and a new secondary school.

The news was announced on the 12-month anniversary of the city taking part in the Commonwealth Games handover ceremony.

Coventry City manager Mark Robins said some fans had "let the club down" after pockets of trouble were reported during their 5-4 win over Sunderland.

Image source, Getty Images

Eight people were arrested and three charged after missiles were thrown from the upper tier of the north stand at the Stadium of Light into home fans seated below.

The behaviour of some fans was "absolutely disappointing," he said.

"I saw nothing while we were there," he added, "I thought everybody had behaved themselves really well, so it's disappointing to hear."

BBC Sport

Olympic champion Adam Peaty has ruled out a bid for two individual gold medals at Tokyo 2020 and will focus on defending his 100m breaststroke title., external

Image source, Getty Images

As the 50m event is not in the Olympic programme, the Uttoxeter-born 24-year-old had suggested he could boost his medal prospects by adding the 200m to his schedule.

But he has now decided against that and will not race the event at this week's British Championships.

"I want to focus on pushing the boundaries in the 100m," Peaty said.

Coventry Live

Some of the Coventry Live headlines today are:

• Hit-and-run driver knocked down and killed OAP, external
• Family's desperate appeal for bone marrow transplant, external
• Thousands gather for Coventry's Vaisakhi parade, external

Josh Adams' hat-trick of tries gives Worcester's hopes of Premiership survival a boost with a bonus point win versus Sale.

A West Midlands MEP has resigned from UKIP to join the Brexit Party.

Image source, Brexit Party

Jill Seymour, who's been with the party for 18 years, said the current UKIP had "abandoned its centre ground and chosen to instead occupy'the extreme right of politics'".

Ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage launched his new Brexit Party in Coventry on Friday, saying he wants a "democratic revolution" in UK politics.

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, UKIP leader Gerard Batten said the party had always been, and would remain, a "non-racist" organisation.