Summary

  • Updates from Monday 2 December to Sunday 8 December

  1. Port Vale away to Manchester City in FA Cuppublished at 07:55 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    The FA Cup third round draw last night pitted Wolves against Manchester United at Molineux - a repeat of the quarter-final that Wolves won on their way to Wembley last season.

    FA Cup footballImage source, Getty

    Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion will both have to travel to London - Villa to face Fulham, and the Baggies to play Charlton at The Valley.

    Birmingham City have a home draw against fellow Championship side Blackburn.

    Holders Manchester City welcome League Two side Port Vale.

    Shrewsbury Town will travel to Bristol City and Coventry City will face either Bristol Rovers or Plymouth Argyle if they beat Ipswich Town.

    The ties will be played on the first weekend of the New Year.

  2. London Bridge attack: Property searches completepublished at 07:43 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    Searches of properties in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent as part of the investigation into Friday's terror attack in London Bridge have been completed, police said.

    Property in Stoke-on-TrentImage source, PA Media

    "Both of these searches are now complete and officers would like to thank the local community for their support whilst these enquiries were carried out," the Met Police said.

    Forensic officers are continuing with their work at the scene of the attack, although the bridge was reopened to the public on Monday.

  3. Saskia Jones: 'Church open for all'published at 07:31 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    The Vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon says the doors to his church are open for people affected by the death of Saskia Jones.

    Saskia JonesImage source, Handout

    The 23-year-old was stabbed and killed in Friday's terror attack in London Bridge.

    A service was held at Holy Trinity Church on Monday.

    Rev Patrick Taylor said: "We're open and here for anybody, whether they knew Saskia or not, anyone who's been affected by this, to come and find some space."

    Holy Trinity Church
    Rev
  4. Video: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 07:21 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    Rich Davis
    BBC Weather presenter

    After a misty start in some areas it will be a dry day with bright spells and highs of 7C (45F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  5. Safety inspection blocking rail linespublished at 07:06 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC News Travel

    A safety inspection of the railway track at Coleshill Parkway is blocking all rail lines between Birmingham and Leicester.

    Disruption is expected until 09:30.

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  6. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:01 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    Vanessa Pearce
    BBC News

    Welcome to our live service for Tuesday.

    We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

    You can get in touch via email,Twitter , externaland Facebook., external

  7. Musical farewell for cooling towerspublished at 04:08 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    A violinist performs a serenade for a skyline that demolition will change forever.

    Read More
  8. West Brom go top with late win at Prestonpublished at 22:55 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    Charlie Austin's 90th-minute penalty sends West Bromwich Albion back top of the Championship as the Baggies win 1-0 at Preston.

    Read More
  9. Rotherham fight back to knock out Solihullpublished at 22:46 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    Rotherham United stage a stunning fightback to come from 3-0 down to beat non-league Solihull Moors and reach the FA Cup third round.

    Read More
  10. I saw things I can't unsee - London Bridge witnesspublished at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    The first eyewitness from inside Fishmongers' Hall recounts the attack that claimed two lives.

    Read More
  11. Breast op victims 'disappointed' at inquiry delaypublished at 20:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    The independent inquiry into breast surgeon Ian Paterson delays its report due to the general election.

    Read More
  12. London Bridge attack victim 'was perfect soul'published at 20:03 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    Friends of Saskia Jones say she was a "lovely woman" whose death "doesn't make sense".

    Read More
  13. Abused girl 'passed around like meat'published at 19:42 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    Five men are on trial accused of sexually abusing a young girl in Telford.

    Read More
  14. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

  15. Call to get all rough sleepers off the street this winterpublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    Local councils in the West Midlands are to work with the combined authority and charities in a bid to try and get the most vulnerable rough sleepers off the streets this winter.

    With temperatures already plunging below zero, the seven councils - covering Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton - said there was a commitment that no one needs to sleep rough in the region.

    Rough sleeperImage source, Getty

    They said the homelessness winter plan, external covered couples, people who may have previously been banned from support services, those with no local connection, and people with complex needs.

    For those who need to travel to get to accommodation free bus tickets will be available thanks to a collaboration with National Express West Midlands.

    People in the West Midlands will be able to alert local authorities to rough sleepers by contacting StreetLink, external.

    Quote Message

    This plan sets out our joint commitment to keep the most vulnerable people safe during the winter and to make every effort to engage individuals with appropriate services to help them move away from sleeping on the streets for good."

    Deborah Cadman, Chief executive, West Midlands Combined Authority

  16. Car driver dies in transporter crashpublished at 18:50 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    A car driver's died in a crash with a car transporter this lunchtime in Wolverhampton.

    Staffordshire Police said his Peugeot was in collision with the lorry on Cannock Road, just off J11 of the M6.

    Paramedics said, external the 28-year-old man, from Wolverhampton, was quickly cut free from his car, but died at the scene.

    The car transporter's driver wasn't hurt.

  17. 'No conversation' with Stoke City over Aberdeen strikerpublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    BBC Sport

    Derek McInnes admits Aberdeen's players may be sold for "the right offer", but says there have been no discussions with Stoke City over Sam Cosgrove.

    Sam CosgroveImage source, SNS

    Reports indicated the English Championship club had been given a £4m valuation for the striker, 23.

    The Pittodrie boss insists his club are in a "strong position to say yes or no" to offers for any players in January.

    The English striker - who celebrated his birthday on Monday - struck his 18th goal of the season in Saturday's 2-1 win over St Mirren.

  18. 'Disappointing and difficult' delay to surgeon inquirypublished at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    A delayed inquiry into the actions of disgraced breast surgeon, Ian Paterson, risks being buried or further delayed by the upheaval of Brexit, said a former patient.

    Ian PatersonImage source, PA Media

    The inquiry team said the independent report was due to be published before the end of this year, but has been delayed by the general election.

    Sarah Jane Dowling, from Solihull, who had healthy breast tissue unnecessarily removed by Paterson called the delay "a great shame".

    "When you consider that the first survivors reported what Paterson had done to them in 2012, we have been living with this for a horrifically long time and to have to wait longer still is disappointing and difficult."

  19. Ex Warriors centre to swim channel for Acorns hospicepublished at 18:35 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    BBC News England

    A retired rugby player is training to swim the English Channel to fundraise for an under-threat children's hospice.

    Alex GroveImage source, Getty Images

    Alex Grove, who played for Worcester Warriors and Scotland, will swim across the 21-mile stretch of water from Dover to Cap Gris Nez in France next summer.

    The money he raises will be donated to Acorns Children's Hospice, which has a centre near Mr Grove's Worcester home.

    The hospice cares for children across the West Midlands and is fundraising £2m to keep its Walsall branch open.

  20. General election 2019: Terror survivors want more supportpublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2019

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    More than 70 terror attack survivors have demanded that all political parties agree a "charter" protecting their wellbeing after the election.

    London Bridge cordoned offImage source, Getty Images

    They include Maggie Stephens, whose son Neil Bowler from Ombersley, Worcestershire, was killed in the 2002 Bali bombing.

    The group wants quicker access to mental health support and faster compensation.

    In a letter, it also says all venues must set up anti-terror security plans.

    Its demands follow Friday's London Bridge attack, in which two people were stabbed to death.