Summary

  • Updates from Monday 30 December to Sunday 5 January

Live Reporting

  1. Six miles of M6 congestion due to debris

    BBC News Travel

    There's six miles of congestion on the M6 southbound near Walsall after debris was spread across the motorway.

    Debris on the M6Highways England

    Highways England had shut the entire carriageway between J10 and J9 and the slip road at J10 but two lanes have since reopened.

    As well as congestion on the M6 southbound, traffic's also slowed down on the M54 eastbound between J1 and the M6.

  2. Unit receives £3.4m to tackle 'roots' of violent crime

    Clare Lissaman
    BBC News

    A unit set up to tackle rising levels of violent crime is to get nearly £3.4m to fund it for another year.

    The West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was set up in October when police said violent attacks in the region had increased by 32% in a year.

    The unit brings together organisations including police, community leaders and councils to address the "root causes" of violence.

    James BrindleyBrindley family

    Ammar Kahrod, 17, was jailed for murdering James Brindley (pictured)

    Mark Brindley, whose son James [pictured] was murdered near his parents' Aldridge home in 2017, previously said he believed the VRU could make a difference.

    David Jamieson, the West Midlands police and crime commissioner, said the government money meant the unit was funded until April 2021.

  3. Cat dies in Christmas decoration blaze

    Vicky Norton
    BBC Radio Stoke

    A cat's died in a fire in a bungalow this morning.

    Firefighters were called to Shut Lane Head, Whitmore, Staffordshire, and found the blaze had spread across the ground floor and a first floor extension.

    A man and a woman who were inside woke up to the smell of smoke and escaped unhurt, but their pet died.

    Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had been caused by a faulty Christmas decoration which was near a curtain.

  6. Warning of fog affecting travel this evening

    The Met Office is warning that fog could be a danger in parts of Herefordshire and Worcestershire this evening.

    It says visibility could be down to about 100m from 17:00 and it is likely to mean some travel disruption.

    Weather warningMet Office

    The good news is the fog is expected to lift by tomorrow morning.

  7. Freeview blames weather for TV problems

    BBC Technology

    Digital TV platform Freeview says if people in the West Midlands are experiencing reception problems it's due to high pressure weather conditions.

    RainGetty Images

    Freeview's free-to-air channels include those from the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV.

    The website Downdetector has nearly 5,000 comments from viewers reporting they can't access channels at all, or the picture is distorting.

    Freeview says those affected should not re-tune their TV sets or boxes.

    A spokeswoman told the BBC it was unclear how many people were likely to be affected, but the high pressure was over parts of the Midlands as well as Wales, south-west England, south-east England, East Anglia and Yorkshire.

  8. Watkins proud of team effort after slip-up to Lightning

    BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

    Telford Tigers head coach Tom Watkins says he's proud of his team's effort and desire, despite their 6-3 home defeat to Milton Keynes Lightning last night.

    The defeat was their first in seven games and cuts their lead at the top of the table to six points.

    Telford TigersSteve Brodie

    Watkins said their opponents, who also beat them on 7 December, were simply better in front of the net and added: "That's hockey, it happens."

    Milton Keynes have become a problem team for Telford - of their seven losses so far this season, three have been at the hands of the Lightning.

  9. Trains disrupted after person hit on rail line

    BBC News Travel

    Trains are being delayed and cancelled between Worcester and London, because a person was hit on the line between Shrub Hill and Oxford earlier today.

    National Rail says the disruption is likely to last until 15:00 and it will also affect passenger travelling to Malvern and Hereford.

  10. Congestion warning on M6 due to debris

    BBC News Travel

    Drivers are being warned of delays on the M6 southbound near Walsall due to debris spread across the motorway.

    Highways England said it was across all lanes between J10 and J9 and they'd stopped traffic while it was cleared.

    They added there was about four-and-a-half miles of congestion.

  11. Your photos: A hazy start to the day

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The sun struggled to break through the hazy cloud this morning and the BBC Weather Watchers have shared these photos from Bidford-on-Avon, Bransford and West Hagley this morning.

    If you want to sign up to share your weather photos, then you can follow this link.

    Bidford-on-AvonMaidMarion
    BransfordMikesnapper
    West HagleyStormchaser Al

  12. Attempted murder arrests after three shootings

    Officers bring in Section 60 "stop and search" powers overnight to combat violent crime in Coventry.

    Read More

  13. Council set to raise tax to cope with care pressures

    Sophie Calvert
    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Council tax is set to rise by 3.95% in Staffordshire as the county council looks to save £10m in the next financial year.

    Sign for Staffordshire County Council

    The authority's revealed its budget proposals which include spending an extra £8.1m trying to keep children out of care.

    The council's leader Philip Atkins said 65% of its budget, more than £320m in 2020-21, will pay for care and he wants more help from the government in the future.

    "Our call now is for the new government to back the ambitions of well-run councils like Staffordshire by securing a long-term national solution to how we fund care," he added.

    Ministers have said they recognise the pressure councils are facing and next year's settlement includes a £1bn grant for adults and children's social care.

  15. Your comments: Honours recipients are 'an inspiration'

    Facebook

    Two people described as "an inspiration" have been getting praise on the BBC Midlands Facebook page, after being recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours.

    Nurse Paulette Bolton, from Sutton Coldfield, left school at nine to care for her dying grandmother and went on to get three degrees.

    She has been appointed an MBE for services to patient care.

    Reena Gupta wrote: "you are amazing the most caring understanding person i have ever met."

    And Danny Ellender commented: "Congratulations, this is exactly the type of person that deserves an honour."

    Paulette Bolton and David PhillipsBolton family/David Phillips

    Fundraiser David Phillips, from Claverdon, in Warwickshire, was made an MBE after running 500 marathons and 360 half marathons since 1982.

    Sue Dowdall commented: "You are an inspiration to everyone. Happy new year and congratulations, very well deserved."

  16. Blues boss hails 'fighting spirit' despite losing thriller

    BBC WM Sport

    Birmingham City head coach Pep Clotet says he saw plenty of good things from his side despite losing a nine-goal thriller against Leeds United.

    Birmingham City"s Ivan Sunjic (left) is consoled by Leeds United"s Ben White after the final whistlePA Media

    The Blues came from behind three times to level at 4-4 before Wes Harding's injury-time own goal secured the win for the visitors.

    We're missing a few players still and we look a bit vulnerable at the back. But it's about us showing this fighting spirit, resilience and good quality football, going toe-to-toe with the team that at the minute is on top of the league

    Pep Clotet, Birmingham City head coach

  17. Walking the line: Millennium highwire feat relived

    A documentary is being shown of the moment Ramon Kelvink walked a highwire 150ft above ground.

    Read More

  18. Teenage girl hit with metal bar during attack

    A teenage girl suffered head, face and leg injuries after being attacked with a metal bar in Nuneaton.

    Warwickshire Police said officers had arrested a 34-year-old man, 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old girl, all from the town, on suspicion of assault.

    The DinglesGoogle

    Officers were called to The Dingles at 18:20 yesterday after reports of an attack involving a group of people.

    The victim was checked over by paramedics but didn't need hospital treatment.

    Warwickshire Police said it believed the victim and suspects were known to each other and the attack "was part of an ongoing dispute”.

  19. 'We are tired' West Brom boss admits after defeat

    BBC WM Sport

    West Bromwich Albion boss Slaven Bilic has urged his side to rediscover their "freshness" after losing top spot in the Championship.

    West Bromwich Albion"s Manager Slaven BilicPA Media

    Bilic's men ended 2019 in disappointing fashion as their 14-match unbeaten run was ended by a revitalised Boro side in a 2-0 defeat.

    It meant Albion dropped to second on goal difference as rivals Leeds United won 5-4 in a thrilling contest just five miles away at Birmingham City.

    The Baggies will face Leeds in their next match on New Year's Day.

    Are we a little bit tired? Yes, we are. But the whole league is a little bit tired. We have to get that freshness back. A few of the games recently we haven't started well enough. The good news is that we have a big game, massive game [against Leeds] in a couple of days' time

    Slaven Bilic, West Bromwich Albion manager

  20. Woman rescued from kitchen fire

    Firefighters rescued an elderly woman in Wellington after her kitchen caught fire yesterday afternoon.

    They were called to Hiatt Avenue at 13:58 GMT and she was given treatment at the scene by ambulance paramedics, but didn't need to go to hospital.

    Fire engine

    Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had been caused by cooking.