Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

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Live updates from Monday 20 May to Sunday 26 May
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Live Reporting

LGBT teaching row: Police arrive ahead of latest protestpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Police officers have arrived outside a Birmingham primary school ahead of another protest this afternoon over LGBT relationship education.
There have been numerous demonstrations over the past seven weeks at Anderton Park Primary School.
Those protesting claim pupils aren't old enough to understand the lessons. In turn, the protesters have been described by some as homophobic.
The arrival of police officers comes as the school closes early today because of the latest planned demonstration in a series the head teacher has described as aggressive.
Motorcyclist seriously hurt in crashpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
A motorcyclist has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a crash with a car today.
Image source, Google
Staffordshire Police said the collision happened on the A449 in Wombourne,, external near Wolverhampton, at about 09:15.
The force has closed the route northbound at the roundabout with Wodehouse Lane and Billy Buns Lane.
They've also tweeted that there had then been a minor collision on the southbound side , externalas motorists were slowing down to look at the scene.
In the papers: Woman hurt in fence crashpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Shropshire Star
The Shropshire Star's headlines today include:
Three arrests in Birmingham modern slavery probepublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Three people have been arrested in an anti-modern slavery operation in Birmingham.
Officers from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), supported by West Midlands Police, searched an address in Tyseley on Wednesday. , external
They said they were investigating allegations people were found work at a logistics company through a recruitment agency before their finances were controlled.
Two workers were safeguarded before the raid and the GLAA said it checked on other's welfare at the address.
The arrested trio - a woman and two Romanian men - have been released under investigation.
'It could change everything' - how are Villa & Derby fans feeling?published at 11:40 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Derby County and Aston Villa are two clubs with proud histories. One will return to the Premier League on Monday, but how are fans faring?
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Theresa May resignation: 'Nobody worked harder'published at 11:25 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Conservative MPs in the West Midlands have praised Theresa May after she said she would quit as Conservative leader on 7 June.
Image source, Getty Images
The move paves the way for a contest to decide a new prime minister although she will continue in the role while the Tories decide who that is.
One of the potential contenders in that leadership contest, Home Secretary and Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid, tweeted , externalthat "nobody could have worked harder" as PM.
Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch, said that while she was sad to see Mrs May go, she saw it as a "good opportunity" to deliver Brexit. , external
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson's reaction to the resignation was: "Good, we can now get on with choosing a new leader.”
New mayor elected for Telfordpublished at 11:09 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Telford has a new mayor, after members of the authority voted to hand the role to councillor Steve Reynolds.
His deputy will be fellow Labour councillor Amrik Jhawar.
Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council
It will be the second time Mr Reynolds has held the role and he's made the YMCA his chosen charity.
Fire at Birmingham monkey house 'was arson'published at 10:54 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Sophie Madden
BBC News
A fire at a nature reserve in Birmingham is being treated as arson, police have confirmed.
Image source, West Midlands Fire Service
Crews were called to a fire in the monkey house at Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park late last night.
They said they managed to save two spider monkeys but their enclosure was damaged.
Aston Villa v Derby County: Pick your combined XIpublished at 10:46 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Aston Villa play Derby County in the Championship play-off final on Monday. Who would make your combined XI?
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In the papers: Men hurt in shop crashpublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Stoke-on-Trent Live
The Stoke-on-Trent Live website's covering these stories today:
Owner 'tried to finish off' dumped dogpublished at 10:39 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Odie was found starved and beaten so badly on Worcestershire farmland he had to be put down.
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Ex-Stoke City midfielder thinks Butland is leavingpublished at 10:18 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Former Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence thinks their pursuit of Barnsley keeper Adam Davies is a sign that they expect Jack Butland to leave this summer.
Stoke are expected to confirm the signing of Davies shortly, and Lawrence says they were always going to struggle to keep Butland.
Image source, Getty Images
But Lawrence also says his departure would be "a huge miss", adding "if you're serious about wanting to get promoted you need big players like Jack in your team".
Attraction welcomes baby Barbary Macaquespublished at 09:59 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Visitors to the Monkey Forest at Trentham might be able to get a glimpse of the first Barbary Macaques born there since 2017.
They were born earlier this week but because the mothers gave birth up in the trees it wasn't until they came down that staff could get a look at them.
Image source, Trentham Monkey Forest
It took even longer to discover the sex of the baby monkeys but they now know there are two males and one female.
Barbary Macaques are an endangered species with only an estimated 8,000 surviving in the wild.
Walking Dead co-creator to launch new zombie exhibitionpublished at 09:45 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Andy Giddings
Zombie
Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard is opening a new zombie exhibition in his home-town of Shrewsbury.
He is one of the co-creators of the comic book series, which has been turned into a successful TV series, and a collection of his drawings will be on display at the town's museum and art gallery from 1 June.
Image source, Charlie Adlard
Mr Adlard will also be giving zombie-drawing lessons to visitors on the opening day and displaying artwork created for other comic series,
In the papers: Shop robbers jailedpublished at 09:19 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Express and Star
The Express and Star's top stories today include:
Watch: Warehouse devastated in blazepublished at 09:08 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
A warehouse has been badly damaged in a fire in Birmingham.
West Midlands Fire Service still has firefighters at the scene of the blaze at the Bodyart Warehouse, Sparkbrook, after being first called at about 04:00.
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Probe into cause of monkey house firepublished at 08:56 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Investigations are continuing into the cause of a fire at a nature reserve.
Image source, West Midlands Fire Service
Image source, West Midlands Fire Service
Two spider monkeys were saved by West Midlands Fire Service as the blaze broke out in the monkey house at Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park overnight., external
Cannock crash: Roads 'heavily congested' with A5 shutpublished at 08:43 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Roads around Cannock are heavily congested, external this morning, Highways England says, as part of the A5's still shut after two men were seriously hurt in a crash.
Image source, Google
Staffordshire Police said a white Volkswagen Scirocco left the road at Longford Island roundabout in Cannock and hit the front of a DFS Store.
It said prior to the collision, at about 03:45 BST, the car was being followed by a police vehicle.
Highways England says the A5 remains closed between J12 of the M6 at Gailey and Churchbridge.
Stagecoach takes legal action over West Coast franchisepublished at 08:26 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
BBC Business News
UK rail operator Stagecoach is to take the government to court over its disqualification from running the West Coast Partnership franchise from 2020.
Image source, Getty Images
Stagecoach and its partners were barred from running three franchises by the Department for Transport (DfT) last month.
The West Coast Mainline's route includes Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Coventry and Rugby.
The DfT disallowed the bids because they did not meet pensions rules.
The claim alleges that the DfT breached its statutory duties, which include a "fair" tendering process.
The DfT has previously said it had "total confidence" in its bidding processes.
Company 'to closely reflect' on seat crush death inquestpublished at 08:12 British Summer Time 24 May 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
A seating manufacturer says it will 'closely reflect' on the findings of an inquest into the death of a man who became trapped under a cinema seat's footrest.
Image source, Google
Ateeq Rafiq, 24, died a week after he got stuck under the seat at Vue Cinema in Birmingham's Star City. He had been searching for some possessions.
The inquest, which concluded he died accidentally, heard the Gold Class seat was missing a bar that would have allowed him to be released by hand.
Vue Cinema said it not received part of footrest motor replacement kits which manufacturer Figueras International said it sent out.
Figueras International said it would take time to consider the jury's findings.