Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Updates from Monday 23 April to Sunday 28 April
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Live Reporting

Family appeal to solve Crete death mysterypublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Sarah Robertson
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
The brother of a man whose body was found in a well on the island of Crete says his family still believes there are witnesses to the death who are yet to come forward.
Image source, WWW.FINDSTEVENCOOK.CO.UK
Holidaymaker Steven Cook, 20, from Sandbach, Cheshire, was last seen alive outside a pub in Malia in 2005.
His remains were discovered 12 years later after several police and family appeals were issued in an attempt to trace him.
Earlier this month, an inquest recorded an open verdict.
Quote Message
We still had witnesses coming forward when the news came out about the find and it was reported on, so we believe there are still people out there who may have seen or heard something."
Chris Cook, Brother
Boy returns to US to confirm cancer all-clearpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
BBC Shropshire
A five-year-old boy who had pioneering treatment in the United States for a rare strain of leukaemia is returning to America to check whether his cancer has returned.
Image source, Hannah Oliver-Willets
Zac Oliver and his family, from Broseley, Shropshire, travelled to Philadelphia after raising £500,000 for travel and treatment.
In February, it was revealed on his Facebook page that he was cancer free.
In a new post, , externalZac's mother Hannah Oliver-Willetts says he'll have a series of tests to check for cancer and it'll take up to two weeks to get back all the results.
She says waiting to see whether the cancer has returned "is terrifying" and "never gets easier".
Worcester hooker Annett signs new dealpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Worcester Warriors hooker Niall Annett signs a one-year contract extension with the Premiership club.
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Appeal over Worcester winger's suspensionpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Worcester Warriors winger Bryce Heem is due to have an appeal heard this evening over his suspension for a tip tackle on Sale's Paolo Odogwu.
Image source, Getty Images
Heem, 30, was banned for four weeks earlier this month after contesting the charge at an RFU disciplinary panel hearing.
He was sin-binned for the tackle in the second half of Warriors' 39-17 Premiership win against Sale.
The appeal's due to take place in Bristol and, if his ban isn't overturned, Heem will effectively have played his last match for Worcester after revealing in February he will not be renewing his contract.
Murder investigation: Megan Newton 'had everything to live for'published at 13:39 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
A teenager found dead at a flat has been described as "a beautiful young woman who had everything to live for".
Megan Newton, 18, was discovered at property on Fletcher Road, Stoke-on-Trent, on Saturday. A man appeared at magistrates court on Tuesday accused of her murder.
Image source, Staffordshire Police
In a statement, her family said , externalshe was "into sport in a big way", coached a local junior football team, loved working with children and was studying sports at college.
The accused is Joseph Trevor, 18, from Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent.
Restoring the Roaches eight months onpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
How are the Staffordshire Roaches recovering eight months after a devastating fire?
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Police sent to sunken boat amid 'trapped person' fearspublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Police have been examining a sunken boat amid reports someone was inside.
Officers from West Midlands Police Operational Support Unit were called to Walsall Town Wharf at about 11:00 BST on Monday. There they retrieved a boat from the canal basin near to The New Art Gallery.
Officers confirmed that following a search, no-one was trapped in the vessel which was brought back to the surface.
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In the papers: Man dies from crash injuriespublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Kidderminster Shuttle
The Kidderminster Shuttle has these headlines today:
Your photos: Flowering bluebellspublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
BBC Weather Watchers
There are plenty of bluebells out across the West Midlands from the look of the photos we're getting from our local BBC Weather Watchers.
These three are from J at Severn Ridge at Severn Stoke, Worcestershire; Mrs M Penberthy Photos in Oakamoor, Staffordshire; and Mrs Baggins of the Shire in Bromyard, Herefordshire:
Image source, J at Severn Ridge
Image source, Mrs M Penberthy Photos
Image source, Mrs Baggins of the Shire
Frustration over summer pupil requestspublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Requests in Warwickshire have been rejected for the first time in four years, parents say.
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Murder investigation: Dead woman namedpublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
A woman whose death is being treated as murder has been named as Megan Newton by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Her body was found at flats in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday afternoon.
Joseph Trevor, 18, from the city, appeared before magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre earlier, accused of her murder.
He was told he was due to appear at crown court on Thursday.
Queen honours plastic trombone firmpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
A firm which makes plastic trombones has won a Queen's Award for enterprise.
Image source, pBone
Warwick Music Limited, based in Tamworth, Staffordshire, was praised by organisers who said it had "saved the trombone from extinction" with its pBone instrument.
Other winners of the award in the West Midlands included child car seat manufacturer JMDA in Pershore, Worcestershire, and pen nibs firm C Brandauer & Co Ltd, Birmingham, external.
Fatal house fire treated as 'accidental' by fire servicepublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
A house fire in Wolverhampton which killed two people is being treated as accidental, the fire service has said.
Firefighters were called to the "severe" first-floor blaze on Deans Road in Wolverhampton at about 03:00 BST on Sunday.
A man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene and a second man who was rescued from the house received treatment for smoke inhalation.
West Midlands Fire Service said: "Our investigators are treating the cause of Sunday's tragic fire in Wolverhampton as accidental and an inquest will be held in due course."
'Ghost Runner' statue to be unveiledpublished at 11:25 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
A statue to honour Hereford's former world record-breaking runner John Tarrant is being unveiled at the city's skate park today.
Known as the Ghost Runner, Mr Tarrant got his nickname as he had to gatecrash amateur races after being stripped of the status in the 1950s because he'd won some cash prizes, albeit as a young boxer.
Chris Jones, chief executive of England Athletics, will unveil the sculpture which has been made by young people.
Mr Tarrant was raised in care. It's hoped the statue will inspire young people to find opportunities through sport.
Image source, Tarrant family
Harlequins lock South to join Coventrypublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Harlequins announce lock Stan South is leaving the club at the end of the season to join Championship side Coventry.
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In the papers: Action wanted over 'howling dog'published at 11:06 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Stoke-on-Trent Live
From Stoke-on-Trent Live today:
UB40 star positive after brain surgerypublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Brian Travers has said he will "carry on living life to the full" after an operation last month.
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Petition to stop shoppers parking outside homespublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Residents around Ball Hill in Coventry have started a petition to stop people parking outside their homes.
They say shoppers are using the on-street parking and leaving no space for anyone else.
Image source, Getty Images
The petition hasn't gone down well with shop owners in the area.
David Oaks, who runs Ball Hill Cobblers, said: "I do understand but if people can't park here they won't come up the road and that'll affect not just my shop but others as well."
Ducklings rescued from drainpublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Seven ducklings have been rescued after getting stuck in a drain.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service
Staffordshire Fire Service said it was called to Barton Business Park in Barton-under-Needwood near Burton-upon-Trent yesterday afternoon. , external
After rescuing the ducklings, they were handed over to the RSPCA.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service
In the papers: Worcester crews 'still covering Malvern'published at 10:05 British Summer Time 23 April 2019
Worcester News
The Worcester News is covering these stories today: