Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 29 July to Sunday 4 August

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

  1. Road reopens after recycling centre firepublished at 13:16 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    Stourbridge Road in Lye has reopened after an earlier fire at a recycling centre.

    Scene of fireImage source, West Midlands Fire Service

    At its height, more than 50 firefighters were called to the scene on Rufford Street after fire broke out at about 07:30.

    Fire crews are expected to remain on site throughout the day.

  2. Extremist groups ‘exploiting LGBT teaching row’published at 13:04 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    Both Islamist and far-right activists are seeking to divide communities, a Prevent officer says.

    Read More
  3. Promotion the only aim for Stoke new-boy Powellpublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    BBC Radio Stoke Sport

    Stoke City's new signing Nick Powell says it's one of the biggest clubs in the Championship and "if you're not thinking about promotion, then there's no point in being here".

    The attacking player, who signed from Wigan Athletic, added: "I've been here five weeks, the club's massive, even the training ground, everything about it."

    Nick PowellImage source, Getty Images
  4. Warning of thunderstorms and heavy rainpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    The Met Office is warning there could be more heavy rain and thunderstorms in north Staffordshire this afternoon.

    It says the wet weather could bring flooding and travel disruption.

    Met Office mapImage source, Met Office
  5. Final council grant to visitor attractionpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    David Irwin

    Council funding for one of Solihull’s most historic sites is set to come to an end in 2022.

    Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

    It was agreed this week that Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens would be handed “a final grant” of £75,000, to cover the next three years.

    But beyond that it is hoped that the visitor attraction, which has previously relied on help from the local authority, will be financially independent.

    The trust recently received a separate £70,000 grant from the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund to pay for a business development manager at the 350-year-old attraction.

    The council has not totally ruled out providing further support in future, but the latest payment will bring a long-standing arrangement to an end.

  6. Beryl Bike found parked up a treepublished at 12:08 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    Just four days after the Beryl Bikes were introduced in Hereford, external one has been spotted wedged in the boughs of a tree.

    There are currently about 70 of them available to hire in the city and you're supposed to pick them up and drop them off at marked "Beryl bays".

    Beryl BikeImage source, Your Herefordshire

    The scheme aims to get more people cycling, instead of using the car.

  7. Bell can't resist Edgbaston needlepublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    BBC Sport

    Warwickshire's Ian Bell is enjoying the start to the Ashes series and is poking fun at comments made by Australia captain Tim Paine yesterday.

    The Aussie wicketkeeper was asked if Edgbaston was the most intimidating ground in the world and he replied to say he could name 15 others.

    Now, his side are two wickets down after 11 overs, with the BBC's Tom Fordyce reporting the noise from the crowd could be heard "inside the Bullring"

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  8. Woman arrested after car overturns with toddler insidepublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    The driver of a car that hit two parked vehicles before overturning has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

    Overturned carImage source, West Midlands Police

    The woman was rescued from the car along with a toddler, a female passenger and a dog after the crash on Tessell Lane, Northfield at about 22:00.

    The passenger was treated for multiple injuries, not thought to be serious, and taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

    The boy was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital "as a precaution," said the ambulance service.

    The 33-year-old driver remains in police custody.

  9. Your photos: Cloudy skies over farmlandpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The BBC Weather Watchers have been taking advantage of the dry weather to go for a walk across the fields today.

    They've shared these photos, taken near Bromsgrove, Lower Broadheath and Lydbury North.

    Bromsgrove fieldImage source, Sayers
    Lower BroadheathImage source, Mikesnapper
    Lydbury NorthImage source, Ken M
  10. LDRS: Breastfeeding cuts to be debated after petitionpublished at 11:14 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Here are three of the stories from the Local Democracy Reporting Service today:

    • Councillors have been forced to debate cuts to breast feeding support services after more than 5,000 mums signed a petition.
    • Plans to introduce a time limit at a Telford supermarket car park have passed their final hurdle. They've been opposed by people in Lawley who say they use it to access other shops and businesses.
    • Outline permission has been given to clear the Friarsgate site in Lichfield and create a temporary car park.
  11. Two arrested in suspected hit-and-run crashpublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    Two people have been arrested after a man was killed when his motorbike was involved in a collision with a car in Warwickshire.

    Thomas RadbourneImage source, Warwickshire Police

    Thomas Radbourne, 26, died on Monday at the scene of the crash on Banbury Road in Bishops Tachbrook.

    A 39-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless and inconsiderate driving, said Warwickshire Police.

    "We have also located and recovered a black car believed to be involved in the collision," the force added.

    The two have been released under investigation.

  12. 'Jimmy the Mower' off to Wembleypublished at 10:50 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    A groundsman is at Wembley today, after becoming a social media star for his Wembley-style stripes at a council playing field in Bilbrook.

    Jimmy Broadhouse, who is known as Jimmy the Mower, has been deluged with offers of work after a photo of a community pitch attracted millions of views online.

    Media caption,

    Jimmy the Mower creates 'Wembley' council pitch in West Midlands

    The 42-year-old from Ditton Priors has been invited by Wembley's head groundsman to cut the grass at the national stadium.

  13. Pool demolition to go ahead after asbestos funding agreedpublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    The demolition of the former Sansome Walk swimming pool in Worcester will begin in February after city councillors approved funding last night.

    They voted to spend an extra £800,000 to knock the building down, to make way for housing.

    Sansome Walk poolImage source, Google

    Planning approval had already been granted, but the process was halted after contractors found higher than expected amounts of asbestos buried in the ground.

    The extra funding will be used to dispose of it safely, with workers using an adhesive to enclose any asbestos fibres they find.

  14. Ferguson warns fellow Aussies to fear Moeenpublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    BBC Sport

    Moeen Ali is in the England team to play Australia in the first Ashes test today and despite his lack of form for his country, Worcestershire teammate Callum Ferguson believes he could be a threat.

    Ferguson said: "He's going to be a real X-factor for England and someone that Australia will certainly want to be aware of."

    Moeen AliImage source, Getty Images

    The Australian overseas player also warned his batting could be a factor in the match, not just his bowling.

    Moeen has scored 2778 runs for England in 59 tests and averages 29.6.

  15. Recycling fire 'contained and put out'published at 09:59 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    The fire at a recycling centre in Stourbridge has been put out, said the fire service.

    Incident commander Lee Baker said crews had done a "remarkable job" in containing the fire.

    Initially about 50 firefighters were called to the scene on Rufford Street, in Lye at about 07:30.

    Firefighters were expected to remain on site throughout the day, he said.

    Roads in the area remain closed.

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  16. Blaze involves recycled fridgespublished at 09:41 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    A severe fire at a recycling centre in Stourbridge involves a building containing fridges and other recycled items, said the fire service.

    It has sent about 50 firefighters to the scene on Rufford Street in Lye, after the fire broke out shortly after 07:30.

    The building is approximately 90m x 60m, it said.

    Ten appliances and a hydraulic platform are at the scene.

    Drivers are being warned to avoid the area around Stourbridge Road, with long queues building.

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  17. M6 Toll services ranked England's bestpublished at 09:30 British Summer Time 1 August 2019

    Motorists have rated a service station in Staffordshire as the best in the country.

    Norton CanesImage source, Google

    It's the third year, travel watchdog Transport Focus has asked customers for their views., external

    Top of the list is Norton Canes on the M6 toll road, with a 99% satisfaction rating.

    It's the second year in a row that the site has won the title.

    The lowest ranked service area was Severn View services on the M48 in Gloucestershire, with Frankley southbound on the M5 in Worcestershire fourth lowest.