Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Updates from Monday 22 July to Sunday 28 July
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Live Reporting

Damage to overhead wires affecting servicespublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Virgin train says the reason services to Coventry and Birmingham are being suspended this afternoon is damage to overhead wires between Euston and Watford Junction.
A number of trains have been cancelled, external.
And New Street Station has tweeted this photo of damage to overhead wires at Handsworth, which is affecting services between Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Walsall.
Image source, Birmingham New Street
Playing it coolpublished at 16:11 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Rescue dog Casey is playing it cool while she waits to find a new home
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Another handy tip if you want to keep your dog cool:
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In the papers: Swimming pool finally set to be demolishedpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Worcester News
Here are three of the stories included in the Worcester News today:
- Swimming pool finally set to be demolished after long asbestos delay, external
- Mystery over decision to remove parent and child spaces, external
- Free water fountains to be trialled in city, external
Trains from London to West Mids suspendedpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
BBC News Travel
Rail passengers waiting at London Euston for trains to the West Midlands have been told there will be no services to Birmingham or Coventry until further notice.
And West Midlands Railway is advising passengers not to "start new journeys" because of the high temperatures affecting the rail network.
The company said it wasn't issuing the advice lightly, but "the responsible thing is to focus on people already travelling."
It said tickets dated today can be used tomorrow if you want to delay your journey.
Your photos: Brilliant blue skies as temperatures risepublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
BBC Weather Watchers
Despite the brief shower of rain in Shropshire, we're seeing brilliant blue skies in the photos from the BBC Weather Watchers.
These pictures were taken in Knowle, Bromsgrove and Birmingham city centre.
Image source, Silverlady
Image source, Margrose
Image source, Bobby
Icy treats and deckchairs for meerkats and otterspublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
The animals in this wildlife park in Staffordshire have the right idea today.
Peak Wildlife Park, near Leek, has been sharing out some icy treats - as well as the odd deckchair.
Image source, Peak Wildlife Park
Image caption,
Lorraine the meerkat
Image source, Peak Wildlife Park
Image caption,
Ziggy, a black lemur, with an iced treat
Image source, Peak Wildlife Park
Image caption,
Jude, an Asian short-clawed otter, cooling down
West Brom's Hegazi to miss start of seasonpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
West Bromwich Albion centre-back Ahmed Hegazi will miss the start of the new season after having ankle surgery.
Read More
Rail delays now expected until 18:00published at 15:36 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
BBC News Travel
There's major disruption to trains across the West Midlands this afternoon, thanks to several incidents, with services expected to be affected until 18:00.
All routes through Birmingham are being affected with customers on CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway, Transport for Wales, Virgin Trainst and West Midlands Railways facing delays.
Some of the routes include:
- Damage to overhead cables causing disruption to services between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton.
- Transport for Wales services will not run between Shrewsbury and Birmingham International.
- Virgin Trains services will not call at Sandwell and Dudley.
- A fault with the signalling system at Birmingham Snow Hill means trains have to run at reduced speed.
Damage to overhead wires between London Euston and Watford Junction is also causing delays to Birmingham to London services.
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Three hurt in pleasure boat explosionpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to reports of patients who had suffered burns.
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Hot and steamypublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
The Severn Valley Railway in Shropshire has spelled it out for us.
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Woman seriously hurt in marina firepublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Breaking
West Midlands Ambulance Service has updated us on the injuries at Upton Marina.
It says a woman in her 60s had to be flown to hospital in Birmingham in a serious condition after an explosion and fire on a pleasure boat there just after midday.
Image source, Andy Hitchings
The ambulance service said it also treated a man in his 30s for burns and he was also taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Another woman, also in her 60s, was taken to hospital in Worcester for treatment.
Villa sign £15m Luiz from Man Citypublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Aston Villa sign Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz from Manchester City for £15m - their 10th summer signing.
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Boat fire continues to burn at marinapublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Firefighters are still dealing with a fire involving a number of boats at Upton-upon-Severn.
Three people have been treated at the scene for injuries which aren't believed to be life threatening.
Image source, Andy Hitchings
Image source, Andy Hitchings
Funeral for killed student paramedicpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Tammy Minshall had "an amazing career ahead of her" West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
Read More
Forensic investigation after man stabbed 'in pub fight'published at 14:54 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Wolverhampton Street in Darlaston, Walsall remains closed in both directions after a man was stabbed outside a pub.
Officers are carrying out investigations after being called to Gabba's Bar on the corner of Forge Road at about 23:15 on Wednesday.
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The 21-year-old was found in the street on Wednesday night with serious injuries.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of affray and is in custody, said West Midlands Police.
Viktorija Sokolova's killer named after appeal rulingpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Breaking
A boy who lured a 14-year-old girl to a park and inflicted "incomprehensible" violence upon her has been named after a court ruling.
Image source, Family handout
Viktorija Sokolova's head was "smashed in" with a hammer-like object before being dumped on a bench in Wolverhampton's West Park in April 2018.
At a trial in December, Ayman Aziz, 17, was found guilty of her murder and ordered to serve at least 19 years in jail, but reporting restrictions were put in place because of his age.
A Court of Appeal ruling today dismissed a challenge by his lawyers, with full reasons for the decision expected to be given at a later date.
Anyone else getting hot rain?published at 14:43 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
It's just started pouring down with thunder and lightning in Shropshire.
Weather Watcher Peter Steggles took this picture in Longnor.
At least that'll cool the sheep down.
Image source, Peter Steggles
Rail delays expected until 16:00published at 14:38 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
BBC News Travel
Damage to overhead cables is now expected to disrupt rail services between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton until 16:00.
CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway, Transport for Wales, Virgin Trains and West Midlands Railway services are all being affected.
It involves trains to Telford, Shrewsbury and beyond into Wales.
Transport for Wales said all stations between Birmingham and Wolverhampton would face delays or be terminated/started at Wolverhampton.
A different overhead wire fault between London Euston and Watford Junction is affecting rail services from Birmingham to London.
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Public 'inadvertently consuming' illegally-caught crayfishpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Police have arrested nine people suspected of fishing illegally for crayfish in Derby city centre.
Rural crime officers went out with the Environment Agency on Tuesday night following suspicions the freshwater crustaceans were making their way into the food chain.
Image source, Derbyshire Police
Just after midnight a group of four men from Nottingham were found on St Mary's Bridge with the equipment needed to catch crayfish.
They were arrested on suspicion of taking fish without a licence.
About half an hour later, another five people from Birmingham were spotted apparently catching crayfish on Duke Street and were also arrested.
Officers posted on Facebook: "It is a crime and we believe involves innocent members of the public inadvertently consuming animals illegally caught from an inner city river."
All nine suspects have since been released under investigation.
Children cool down in fountainspublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
We reckon this will be one of the best places to keep cool today in sweltering Britain.
These children certainly seem to think so, in the fountains on Centenary Square, Birmingham.
Media caption,
Children cooling down by the Library of Birmingham in today's heatwave.