Summary

  • Updates from Monday 26 May to Sunday 31 May

  1. Staffordshire fire chief to retirepublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Staffordshire Fire and Rescue's chief officer is to retire in the autumn, she has announced.

    Rebecca Bryant said she felt "very privileged" to have been part of the changes that have happened within the service during her 29 years there.

    Staffordshire Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, said: "Becci has dedicated nearly three decades of her life to the fire and rescue service and keeping people safe.

    "I know she has always strived to make a real difference and is driven by the need to protect and improve lives – a duty she takes very seriously."

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  2. Police 'pin' wrong-way driver's car against treepublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Atif Ayub, 25, is jailed for 12 months after driving the wrong way on a dual carriageway.

    Read More
  3. Boy, 15, and two adults charged after dog theftpublished at 09:59 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Three people, including a 15-year-old boy, are due to appear before magistrates later charged with the theft of two dogs from outside a shop.

    The dogs reunited with their ownersImage source, Cheshire Police
    Image caption,

    The dogs reunited with their owners

    The black Labradors were taken from the street outside a Marks & Spencer store on Beam Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, on Saturday.

    Police said, external the dogs were found in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, and reunited with their owners.

    A 37-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman and the 15-year-old, all from Stoke-on-Trent, have been charged with theft.

  4. Durham sign all-rounder Thomson on loanpublished at 09:54 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Durham sign all-rounder Alex Thomson on a two-month loan from Warwickshire to play in the County Championship.

    Read More
  5. More sunshine on the way for Wednesdaypublished at 08:26 British Summer Time 31 March 2021

    Tuesday saw the warmest March day for 50 years and we can expect another sunny day today.

    It will be warm and dry, with temperatures reaching up to 21C (69F).

    Get the latest forecast for where you are from BBC Weather.

    West Midlands outlook
  6. 'I weighed six stone on the streets'published at 20:14 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    Marie Frayne was homeless for five years before The Shrewsbury Ark and other agencies stepped in.

    Read More
  7. Couple to spend £1m win on bigger family homepublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    The Smarts said they would be able to better support their nine-year-old who has a spinal condition.

    Read More
  8. Police break up illegal rave under motorway bridgepublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    Police used thermal imaging cameras to spot dozens of people partying under an M6 bridge.

    Read More
  9. Illegal rave held under motorway bridgepublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    Police issued 22 fines after discovering about 30 people at the event near Coleshill.

    Read More
  10. Inmates sentenced after seven-hour prison disorderpublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    Prisoners threw furniture, smashed cameras and barricaded themselves in a cell at HMP Featherstone.

    Read More
  11. Museum gears up for May reopeningpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    The British Motoring Museum is set to host 14 shows and rallies over the summer following its reopening on 17 May.

    Former Land Rover show at the siteImage source, British Motoring Museum
    Image caption,

    Land Rovers are among vehicles which appear in shows and exhibitions at the site

    The site at Gaydon, Warwickshire, which has been closed during the lockdown, is to hold events including the Metro and Mini show on 6 June and Old Ford Rally in July.

    Meanwhile, the Gaydon Land Rover Show on 31 July and 1 August will bring "the finest vehicles, owners and historians together for a weekend dedicated to this iconic marque", organisers said.

    They advised all visitors to pre-book their tickets for the venue and events which will observe government guidelines.

  12. Pub bombings campaigner denies lockdown breachpublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    Fines were issued after a memorial event marking the anniversary of the 1974 attacks in Birmingham.

    Read More
  13. PC faces investigation over 'disturbing' arrestpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    The incident involving an officer in Wolverhampton was widely shared on social media.

    Read More
  14. Mother speaks of pain over son's deathpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    Bartlomiej (Bartek) SobonImage source, Staffordshire Police

    The mother of man who died suddenly at property in Stoke-on-Trent said her heart had been "shattered into a million pieces" by his loss.

    Bartlomiej (Bartek) Sobon, 34, died at a house in Lime Street on 20 February.

    Four people arrested on suspicion of his murder were released as inquiries continue.

    Bartek's mother, who paid tribute after an inquest into his death was opened and adjourned, said the pain she felt "could not be compared to anything".

    "Only a mother can understand what I am feeling," she said.

    “I will love you till the end of my life dearest son, until we meet again.”

    A woman, 30, and two men aged 35 and 42 have been released under investigation, police said. A man, 32, was released on conditional bail.

  15. 'We See You' campaign calls for workplace diversitypublished at 13:41 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    A charity which helps people find employment has begun a campaign to increase diversity in workplaces.

    Sonia RobertsImage source, Landau
    Image caption,

    Sonia Roberts (pictured) says Landau matches people’s experience and skills to the right training or jobs

    Landau's We See You campaign will tell the stories of some of the 3,000 people it has helped into work or training.

    Landau, which recently marked its 25th anniversary,says organisations also benefit from having a "more inclusive culture".

    Chief executive Sonia Roberts said it would help "shine a spotlight on those people with hidden disabilities and challenges who with the right help and training can be supported into the workforce".

    The initiative's start coincides with Autism Awareness Week but it will continue throughout 2021.

  16. Review of brain surgery at Birmingham hospitalpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    Independent experts are looking at 23 cases of a specific procedure between 2017 and 2019.

    Read More
  17. Memorial plaque for drowned student vandalisedpublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    Thomas Jones died after a night out in Worcester in September 2018.

    Read More
  18. Two injured in gas explosion at housepublished at 10:36 British Summer Time 30 March 2021

    The explosion in Walsall caused significant damage to the property and a passing car.

    Read More