Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Updates from Monday 30 December to Sunday 5 January

Live Reporting

Clock ticking on young striker's contractpublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill says striker Tyrese Campbell's contract renewal is a situation that's ongoing.
Image source, Getty Images
The 20-year-old scored twice at Huddersfield on New Year's Day but is out of contract in the summer.
Quote Message
He's a young player with loads of potential, he just wants to play. I want to play him, it's taken him a wee bit longer maybe to get closer to the team than what we'd have liked but, equally, he's taken the opportunity."
Michael O'Neill, Stoke City manager
'Risk of more deaths' coroner warns after boy's murderpublished at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
BBC Shropshire
A coroner's raised concerns that further deaths will occur unless action is taken following the death of a seven-year-old boy who was murdered by his mother.
Image source, Family handout
Archie Spriggs was strangled by his mother Lesley Speed at their home near Church Stretton, Shropshire, in September 2017.
She was jailed in March 2018 for at least 18 years for his murder.
An inquest in November concluded he was unlawfully killed and coroner John Ellery said authorities involved with the family couldn't have foreseen the death.
But he's now sent a report to local safeguarding groups with eight recommendations as he's said there's "a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken".
They include making sure staff know how to refer urgent concerns over open cases and more training.
His report says the authorities have until 27 January to respond.
Around the web: Homes Under The Hammer house transformedpublished at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Birmingham Live
Some of the stories on Birmingham Live today include:
- Homes Under The Hammer house near Birmingham transformed by teacher in radical £36,000 makeover, external
- Bullring's flagship toy store says everything must go as it closes for three months, external
- The Birmingham kids disappearing from care and foster homes, external
Industrial fire extinguishedpublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
The industrial fire in Pendeford, Staffordshire, is now out, the fire service has said.
Crews were called just before midday to Valiant Way and said it was put out by about 13:10.
Witness appeal as tributes paid to crash victimpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Jon Paul Breakwell has been described by his family as fun-loving, hugely popular and larger than life.
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Driver unhurt despite hitting 'dangerous fly-tipping'published at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Allen Cook
BBC News
A driver's escaped serious injury after hitting "dangerous fly-tipping" on a country road in the dark, police said.
Image source, Staffordshire Police
South Staffordshire Police tweeted photos, external appearing to show chunks of chopped up tree trunks on Enville Common Road, near Kingswinford.
While the motorist wasn't hurt in the collision yesterday evening, the force said "his car [was] not so fortunate".
Image source, Staffordshire Police
Fire crews battle industrial blazepublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Allen Cook
BBC News
An industrial fire's being tackled by fire crews this lunchtime.
They were called at about 11:30 to Valiant Way, Pendeford, north of Wolverhampton, external.
People are being asked to avoid the area. It's not yet known if anyone's been hurt.
Police officer bitten during new year attackpublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
The officer was trying to restrain a woman who became aggressive as she was escorted from a bar.
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Your photos: Blue sky emergespublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
BBC Weather Watchers
There's some cloud around today but plenty of blue sky appearing from the look of our local BBC Weather Watcher photos.
Here are three from users Tragie's Town in Brierley Hill, Dudley, Step Counter in Hereford and Ken M in Lydbury North, Shropshire:
Image source, Tragie's Town
Image source, Step Counter
Image source, Ken M
Around the web: Child deaths warning from coronerpublished at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Shropshire Star
The Shropshire Star's headlines today include:
Drink driving arrest after crash leaves four in hospitalpublished at 11:48 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
A man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving after a collision involving two cars in Nuneaton on New Year's Day.
Image source, Google
The 32-year-old, who was driving a silver Vauxhall Astra, was held following the crash in Haunchwood Road at about 08:25.
He was taken to hospital for treatment to an open fracture to his ankle and subsequently arrested.
A 21-year-old woman, who suffered a number of fractures, and a 22-year-old man - both passengers in the Astra - were also taken to hospital.
The male driver of a silver Primera saloon suffered an injured shoulder and was released following treatment at hospital.
Energy firms to pay £10.5m over August power cutpublished at 11:33 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
BBC Business News
Three energy firms are to pay a total of £10.5m following August's power cut that left more than a million people, including thousands in the West Midlands, without electricity.
Image source, PA Media
RWE Generation, which runs Little Barford Power Station, and Orstead, which runs Hornsea offshore wind farm, will each pay £4.5m to the UK energy watchdog's redress fund.
Distributor company UK Power Networks has agreed to pay £1.5m.
Ofgem says it will continue to look into the role National Grid played.
The lights went out just before 17:00 on Friday 9 August, causing blackouts across the Midlands, the South East, South West, North West and North East of England, and Wales.
While the power cut lasted for less than an hour, problems on the rail network carried on over the weekend.
Mings 'really enjoyed' being backpublished at 11:15 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
BBC WM Sport
Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings says he really enjoyed being back for the Burnley win after a hamstring injury.
Mings had been a frustrated spectator since limping off during the 4-1 home defeat by Leicester in early December, but returned as part of a back three in the 2-1 win at Turf Moor.
Villa next visit Fulham in the FA Cup tomorrow afternoon.
Quote Message
Obviously it's always frustrating to be on the sidelines and watch the team, especially if we're losing. You just want to get back out there and see if you can help. Everybody knew that our performances recently haven't been good enough, even when I was playing, so really enjoyed being back out there."
Tyrone Mings, Aston Villa defender
Villa's Wesley and Heaton out for seasonpublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Aston Villa will be without striker Wesley and goalkeeper Tom Heaton for the rest of the season after both suffered knee injuries in Wednesday's 2-1 win at Burnley.
Read More
Man charged over pedestrian's deathpublished at 11:00 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
A man's been charged with causing the death of a pedestrian by dangerous driving.
Martin Povolny, 34, from Burton-upon-Trent, died at the scene of the collision on Horninglow Road on 22 January, Staffordshire Police said.
They've charged a 25-year-old man from the town, external and he's due to appear in court on Monday.
Around the web: Lottery win for neighbourspublished at 10:45 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Coventry Live
Some of the stories from Coventry Live are:
- New Year lottery win for Coventry neighbours, external
- Dangerous driver nearly hit police car head-on during overtake, external
- Roadworks warning on major Nuneaton roads, external as people head back to work
Warwickshire's Sibley falls for 34 in second Testpublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
BBC Sport
Warwickshire opener Dom Sibley's been dismissed for 34 in England's first innings of the second Test against South Africa.
Image source, Getty Images
It is the 24-year-old's top score so far in his international career.
You can follow coverage of England's first innings here on the BBC Cricket website.
Robot used to do hazardous work on motorwayspublished at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
A robot are being used to do hazardous work on the motorways in the West Midlands to keep workers safe and save time.
Highways England says the new equipment allows lines to be painted on the carriageway in a fraction of the time.
Image source, Highways England
An eight-mile stretch of the M6 in Staffordshire was recently completed in just four hours when it would've taken two engineers a whole week.
Using it on a five-mile stretch in Warwickshire also saved 77 hours' work.
The robot uses precise positioning technology to mark out where white lines need to be painted.
Highways England also claims it helps reduce the risk of an accident, as 250 vehicles a month are illegally driven into roadworks.
Calves rescued from burning barnpublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
Allen Cook
BBC News
Several calves have been rescued from a barn by firefighters after a calf knocked over a lamp and straw caught fire.
Image source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
About 13 of the animals had already been recovered by the time fire crews arrived at the farm near Adderley, close to Market Drayton, Shropshire, this morning.
However, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said , externalseveral were still trapped inside and two firefighters were sent in and rescued them.
Five adults were checked over by paramedics after breathing in smoke but didn't need further treatment.
Image source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
Prince William mental health film for FA Cup gamespublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2020
BBC WM
A short film narrated by the Duke of Cambridge will be played at FA Cup matches to encourage football fans to look after their mental health.
Image source, Getty Images
The film will be played in stadiums just before kick-off at every FA Cup third round match this weekend.
It is a collaboration between Public Health England's (PHE) Every Mind Matters and the Football Association and Heads Together's Heads Up campaign.
Prince William visited West Bromwich Albion last year as part of Heads Up (pictured).
The former Wolves winger Michael Kightly, who has struggled with depression, told BBC WM he thought the FA Cup campaign could make a difference.
Quote Message
Obviously you've got some really well-known people... saying their part about the campaign. That can only help youngsters looking on at these idols and hopefully it helps them because I think when you're young, I think mental health, you don't really understand it."
Michael Kightly, Former Wolves winger