Summary

  • Updates from Monday 22 July to Sunday 28 July

  • Click Related Stories to read updates from your part of the Midlands

Live Reporting

  1. Stranded lamb rescued from pool

    This looks like a scene from the swamps of Louisiana, but this photo was taken at Thornbury in Worcestershire, where firefighters have been rescuing a lamb.

    It became stranded on an island in the middle of a pool at a farm and a team was sent out with a boat to save it.

    Sheep rescueHereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

    Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said the lamb had now been returned to its flock and is "none the worse for its ordeal".

  2. Theresa May praises West Midlands economy at final PMQs

    Conservative MP for Lichfield Michael Fabricant has used Theresa May's final Prime Minister's Questions to thank her for the "£2bn" invested in the West Midlands region by her government through "grants and guarantees".

    He said much of that had been spent on transport and infrastructure.

    Michael FabricantUK Parliament TV

    Mr Fabricant also called on Mrs May to remain "a strong advocate for local devolution" as she moved to the back benches.

    The outgoing PM praised the region's economy, saying it had seen a 27% increase in output in the last five years and that productivity last year had been "twice the national rate".

  4. Three jailed for life for dumb-bell murder

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Three men who beat a 39-year-old to death with a dumb-bell have been jailed for life.

    Kevin SheppersonWest Midlands Police

    Kevin Shepperson (pictured), was killed at his flat on Bloxwich Road South, Willenhall, Walsall, on 21 August.

    Camerron Mackenzie, 21, and cousins Wayne and Nazeem Kendall, both 22, viciously attacked him before stealing his PlayStation, television and bank card, West Midlands Police said.

    Mackenzie had pleaded guilty to murder, while the Kendalls were found guilty of the same charge by a jury last month.

    Wayne Kendall, Bloxwich Road South, Walsall, was told he'd serve at least 23 years behind bars while his cousin, of no fixed abode, was given a minimum term of 21 years.

    MacKenzie, of Richmond Street, Walsall,was told he'd serve a minimum term of 19 years and four months.

  5. City council deputy 'taking early retirement'

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    The deputy chief executive of Coventry City Council is taking early retirement.

    The local authority said Martin Yardley oversaw its Place Directorate, the department running most of its front-line services.

    His exact leaving date has not been revealed, but the council says he'll still be looking after major developments "over the coming months".

    It adds that the focus on Coventry being UK City of Culture in 2021 won't change.

  6. People left mid-air as Alton Towers ride stops

    The Smiler ride, which crashed in 2015, left riders stuck for about 20 minutes on Tuesday.

    Read More

  7. Second man jailed after knife held to baby's throat

    A man who admitted carrying out a robbery in which a knife was held to a baby's throat has been jailed for 10 years.

    Malik Ragnatt, who is 22 and from Bensham Lane in Croydon was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court today.

    His co-defendant,Joshua Juggan, 25, of Alvey Street, Southwark previously pleaded guilty to the robbery at the house in Cheswick Close in the Stoke area of Coventry on 18 June 2018 and was jailed for 10 years earlier this month.

  8. Assistant to Mother Teresa dies after attack

    Mark Bloomfield's family say the charity worker has "built a legacy".

    Read More

  9. Holloway joins WSL side Birmingham City

    Versatile Northern Ireland international Rebecca Holloway joins Women's Super League side Birmingham City.

    Read More

  10. Worcestershire look to complete win at Cheltenham

    BBC Sport

    Worcestershire need another 166 runs if they're going to beat Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

    They bowled the home side out for 184 in their second innings and went in to lunch at 73-2, with openers Daryl Mitchell and Riki Wessels the men out.

    CheltenhamGetty Images

    They are now 80-2, with Callum Ferguson unbeaten on 21.

  11. Adam Peaty wins 50m breaststroke for seventh world title

    BBC Sport

    Great Britain's Adam Peaty clinched his seventh World Championship gold medal as he retained his men's 50m breaststroke title in South Korea.

    Adam PeatyEPA

    The 24-year-old, from Uttoxeter, who also won the event in 2015 and 2017, finished first in a time of 26.06 seconds.

    It is his second gold medal in Gwangju after he won the100m breaststroke final on Monday.

  12. Wet weather blamed for Marston's poor beer sales

    BBC Business News

    Pub giant Marston's warned of weaker sales in the past four months and blamed the wet weather in May and June.

    A pint of beerGetty Images

    The Wolverhampton-based company said it failed to match strong sales from the same time in 2018, which were boosted by England men's side's World Cup run.

    It said it's postponing investment plans and instead accelerating a plan to reduce its £200m of debt.

  13. Swimming: Adam Peaty targets second gold medal

    BBC Midlands Today

    Staffordshire swimmer Adam Peaty is aiming for another gold medal this evening at the World Championships in South Korea.

    Adam Peaty in actionGetty Images

    Earlier this week, the 24-year-old from Uttoxeter won gold in the 100m breaststroke.

    He cruised into the final of the 50m breaststroke yesterday as the fastest qualifier and will go for victory later today.

  14. Trapped gull released after five days in supermarket roof

    A gull trapped in netting on the roof of a Hereford supermarket for five days has now been rescued.

    Morrisons said the netting had been damaged by building work, and it was looking to fix the problem as soon as possible.

    MorrisonsGoogle

    The supermarket added: "There were two separate incidents of seagulls unfortunately becoming trapped in our store roof netting. Both birds were retrieved and the second released."

  15. Lightning strikes at two homes within minutes

    Residents in Nuneaton and Bedworth experience fire and flooding after homes are hit overnight.

    Read More

  16. Drive starts to recruit 200 new police officers

    BBC Midlands Today

    Recruitment is under way to bring in 200 new officers to the West Midlands Police force over the next two years.

    Police recruit being trained in handcuffing offender

    By 2021, the force's said it would have more than 6,500 officers - although that will still be 1,800 fewer than a decade ago.

    For the first time,new recruits will also gain a degree from Staffordshire University.

    The force adds that recruitment is rolling throughout the year and it's worked hard to be more efficient.

    We've given officers hand-held technology, we've got super custody blocks now, so we've become more efficient in the way that we deal with people in custody, we've got police staff into posts that have historically [been] held by police officers."

    Sue Southern, Asst Chief Constable, West Midlands Police

  17. Aston Martin slashes sales forecasts

    BBC Business News

    Luxury car maker Aston Martin has admitted it is not selling as many vehicles as it expected, blaming economic uncertainty in the UK and Europe.

    An Aston Martin carGetty Images

    The company, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire, said sales to dealers in Europe fell by almost a fifth in the first half of the year.

    The announcement sent shares down 23.5% in early trading.

    It now expects to sell 6,300-6,500 cars to dealers this year - down from an earlier forecast of 7,100 to 7,300.

    The firm said sales in the Americas were strong, but it would now take "decisive action to manage inventory", with reports suggesting it was likely to scale back production.

  18. Man arrested as woman and child left 'critical'

    Armed police were called to a property in Hereford after a woman and child were attacked.

    Read More