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. Goal-scoring target for Port Vale defender

    Lee Blakeman
    Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Port Vale defender Leon Legge says he wants to score more goals for the team next season.

    Leon LeggeGetty Images

    As the side head to Scotland this week as part of their pre-season, the 34-year-old is aiming to meet several targets.

    Clean sheets are definitely the main target and hopefully chipping in with a few more goals because I felt last year I got one, a crucial one against Crewe, but normally for me I'm hitting the five mark and I'm hoping to go past that."

    Leon Legge, Port Vale defender

  3. Sixth arrest following town centre violence

    A sixth person has been arrested after "appalling" scenes of violence across Nuneaton last week.

    Nuneaton town centreGoogle

    Three people were stabbed during the incidents in the town centre on the evening of Monday 15 July.

    Supt Mike Smith said it was believed those involved in the violence were "known to each other" and other members of the public were not targeted.

    In the latest arrest a 15-year-old boy from the town was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

    He's been released on police bail while inquiries continue, said Warwickshire Police.

  4. M6 crash: Repair work before carriageway reopens

    BBC News Travel

    The M6 southbound in Staffordshire's going to stay shut for essential repair works, police say, after a fatal crash this afternoon.

    The ambulance service said the driver of a lorry died after it came off the carriageway between J13 and J12, south of Stafford, just after 13:00.

    The Central Motorway Police Group said Highways England needed to carry out work before it could reopen at J13.

    They added that the lorry itself would be recovered later this evening, from 20:30, with the motorway shut again for around five hours.

  5. Schools to get specialist mental health teams

    BBC Shropshire

    Dozens of schools in Staffordshire and Shropshire are set to get specialist help from mental health experts under a new scheme.

    Schoolchildren whispering in playground about another childGetty Images

    The Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is among several across the country selected by the government for the new programme.

    It said the scheme would see new teams set up, supporting about 20 schools and colleges each with the aim of speeding up access to specialists.

    The trust aims to launch the teams by December 2020 with two in Shropshire and two in east Staffordshire.

  6. Funding to be withdrawn from breastfeeding service

    BBC Radio Stoke

    Mums in Stoke-on-Trent have told BBC Radio Stoke they're concerned about cuts to breastfeeding services.

    Baby

    From 31 August, the city council won't be funding the community breastfeeding support service.

    It said the levels of women breastfeeding hadn't improved but it was committed to supporting mums and was looking at expanding peer support across the city.

    It's quite upsetting to feel that we haven't even been consulted on it, we haven't been given any sort of idea of what's going to be left for our mums. We see 30 or 40 mums on a Monday, all sitting there, supporting each other and it's nice to know you've got the backup of the health professionals if you need."

    Kayleigh Wakelin, Mother

  7. Lorry driver dies in M6 crash

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A lorry driver's died after his vehicle came off the M6 this afternoon, the ambulance service's said.

    It happened just after 13:00 on the southbound motorway between J13 and J12, south of Stafford.

    Paramedics said the lorry was on its side, down an embankment, and the man driving it was confirmed dead at the scene shortly after they arrived.

    Traffic queuing just before J13 southboundHighways England

    Staffordshire Police has kept the carriageway shut at J13, diverting traffic along the A449 and A5.

  9. Armed officers and drones to patrol city after shooting

    Armed officers and even drones will be patrolling Coventry city centre after the shooting of a boy at the weekend.

    Scene of shooting

    The 15-year-old is being treated for potentially life-changing injuries after he was shot on Cross Cheaping at about 23:10 on Saturday.

    A more "visible" police presence in the city will include "firearms resources, police dogs, helicopter and drones" said Supt Phil Healy.

    "That will be sporadic, we're not going to be tell people when we're going to do it," he said.

    A dedicated team is working on "gang issues" in the city he added.

    "These are urban street gangs - quite chaotic individuals, we're aware of that."

  10. M6 crash: Long queues with motorway shut

    BBC News Travel

    There are long delays now on the M6 southbound in Staffordshire after a fatal crash closed the motorway.

    Queuing traffic southbound on M6 before J13Highways England

    Staffordshire Police said it was shut southbound at J13, near Stafford, after a collision involving a lorry just after 13:00.

    Congestion on the M6 is now back past J14 and on the A440 south into Penkridge as traffic is diverted.

  11. Theme park death charge decision 'yet to be made'

    The Health and Safety Executive has been probing the death of Evha Jannath at Drayton Manor since March.

    Read More

  12. M6 lorry crash 'fatal'

    A person has died in a lorry crash on the M6 in Staffordshire, say motorway police.

    The lorry left the carriageway close to J12 on the southbound carriageway.

    The southbound carriageway is expected to remain closed for some time.

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  13. M6 crash: Lorry left the carriageway

    A lorry involved in a crash on the M6 left the carriageway close to J12, police say.

    The southbound carriageway remains closed from J12 to J13 including the southbound entry slip road, following the crash at about 13:00.

    Traffic data firm Inrix is reporting the lorry left the carriageway and rolled down the embankment.

    Fire crews are at the scene along with police and paramedics.

    Trapped traffic is currently being released.

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  14. Paramedics at scene of serious lorry crash

    Paramedics have been called to the scene of a serious lorry crash on the M6 in Staffordshire.

    Traffic stuck on the motorway, is now being released past the scene, said Highways England.

    The ambulance service said it was called shortly after 13:15 to reports of a lorry crash between J13 and 12.

    Crash siteCMPG
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  15. Man charged with raping girl, 14

    A 28-year-old man has appeared in court over an attack in Rugby.

    Read More

  16. Baggies' 'keenness' proved decisive for new signing

    BBC WM Sport

    New West Bromwich Albion defender Semi Ajayi says the club's keenness to sign him proved a major factor in his move to The Hawthorns.

    Semi AjayiGetty Images

    The 25-year-old was confirmed as the Baggies' third new player of the summer over the weekend, joining from Rotherham United.

    As soon as I heard West Brom were interested, I was always keen to come here. I did have other options but this was a club that really stood out to me and the fact that the club tried so hard to get me was also another thing that persuaded me."

    Semi Ajayi, Defender

  17. Rail delays due to train fault

    A fault on a train between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton is delaying rail services.

    Tickets are being accepted on local bus services.

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  19. Drayton Manor death: No decision yet on park prosecution

    No decision has yet been made over whether to prosecute a theme park, more than two years after the death of an 11-year-old girl, a coroner's been told.

    Evha JannathFamily handout

    Evha Jannath, from Leicester, fell from the Splash Canyon ride at Drayton Manor, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, on 9 May 2017.

    A week-long jury inquest is due to be held in Stafford on 4 November, after Staffordshire Police decided the death didn't meet the threshold for gross negligence or corporate manslaughter.

    They handed the investigation over to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

    Today, at a pre-inquest review hearing, the HSE said it had yet to decide whether or not to bring criminal charges over the case, but the court heard any decision would not affect the inquest.

  20. Flower festival ends after 31 years

    BBC Shropshire

    A flower festival's drawn to a close for the last time after 31 years but organisers say they're still open to reviving it, with the right people involved.

    Sweet Pea flowers

    The annual two-day Wem Sweet Pea festival ended last night in Shropshire because of a lack of volunteers to run it.

    Those behind it say they've been unable to attract new help as they themselves grow older

    I think we'll feel 'oh dear, what a shame', it's gone on for so many years. We have had several organisations interested [in bringing it back] but, when we look at what they've got to offer, we're not sure but we're willing to talk about it."

    Willis Turner, Chairperson, Sweet Pea Festival