Summary

  • Updates from 21-25 September

Live Reporting

  1. PC 'won't be held back' by hit-and-run injuries

    Chris Burnham, who was left in a coma after trying to stop a car in Coventry, has returned to policing.

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  2. Plans for £85m city centre development

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    An £85m plan to transform Lowesmoor Wharf in Worcester has been revealed.

    It is currently a small industrial park, but if the plans are approved it would include 271 apartments, as well as shops, restaurants and office space - all based around the outline of the canal basin.

    Lowesmoor planGodwin Developments

    The tallest building would be 12 storeys high and contain more than 50 apartments.

    Lowesmoor planGodwin Developments

  3. Villa's Samatta joins Fenerbahce on loan

    Aston Villa forward Mbwana Samatta joins Turkish side Fenerbahce on an initial loan until the end of the season.

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  4. Ebanks-Blake hopeful of playing against Plymouth

    BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

    Shrewsbury Town's Ethan Ebanks-Landell could make the squad to play against Plymouth tomorrow.

    He had to be taken off against Northampton last week after a knock on the head.

    Ethan Ebanks-LandellGetty Images

    Shrewsbury Manager Sam Ricketts said he had a couple of black eyes and the swelling still needed to come down before he was passed fit.

  6. Operations cancelled due to ICU bed shortage

    A lack of staff is thought to be one of the main reasons intensive care is running at full capacity.

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  7. More than 80 caught in driving crackdown

    Police caught 88 people during an operation to stop dangerous driving on the Birmingham ring road last week.

    West Midlands Police said it was in response to figures revealing more than 40 serious or fatal collisions took place on the route in 12 months.

    Police carGetty Images

    The offences included going through a red light, speeding, using a mobile phone at the wheel, not wearing a seat belt and having no insurance.

  8. Road closed because of falling glass

    Raven Meadows in Shrewsbury is temporarily closed to traffic and pedestrians because of glass falling from the shopping centre.

    West Mercia Police said it would remain shut until the area could be made safe.

    Raven MeadowsWest Mercia Police

    Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was using a ladder to make the window on the Darwin Centre safe.

  9. Police still searching for four men after flat fall

    Police are still trying to identify four men in connection with a fall from a flat balcony in Coventry last month and have released CCTV images.

    Officers were called to Bath Street on 17 August and the 31-year-old man who fell is still in a critical condition in hospital.

    CCTVWest Midlands Police

    CCTV cameras recorded the four leaving the flats straight after the incident.

    Two men, aged 25 and 33, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and have both since been released without charge.

    Two menWest Midlands Police

  10. Man suffers life-threatening stab wounds

    A man in his 20s is in hospital with life-threatening stab wounds after an attack in the Aston area of Birmingham this morning.

    West Midlands Police said a 21-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause GBH after the incident on Trinity Road at 02:30.

    A 20-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and both are in custody.

    The scene has been cordoned off while examinations are carried out.

  11. Officer with MND retires with 'sadness and pride'

    Chris Johnson was diagnosed a few months after being promoted to assistant chief constable.

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  12. Police contact parents over men-in-car reports

    The West Mercia force is distributing letters via schools to soothe concerns about pupils' safety.

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  13. Police officers who stopped man with knife up for award

    Two Staffordshire police officers who stopped a man armed with a knife who was threatening to kill his partner, have been nominated for a bravery award.

    PC Kristian Avons (below, right) and Sgt Amos Durose (below, left) were called to a house in Stoke-on-Trent in August 2018 and forced their way in when they heard screaming.

    Staffordshire Police said the man threatened to kill the woman and when their PAVA spray failed to stop him, he rushed at them with his knife.

    Two policemenStaffordshire Police

    The two officers were eventually able to subdue him and their stab vests prevented them from being seriously injured.

    The man was eventually jailed for threats to kill and actual bodily harm.

    PC Kristian Avons and Sgt Amos Durose are total heroes. They saved a person’s life at no small risk to themselves, sadly receiving injuries in the incident. But without them and their brave actions, who knows how this could have ended. We are very proud of them."

    John Apter, National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales

  15. Fire at derelict building treated as arson

    People had to be evacuated from their homes after the blaze in Walsall on Thursday night.

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  16. People advised not to pay for private tests

    Private coronavirus tests are being offered in Stoke-on-Trent for as much as £250, but the city council is advising people not to use them.

    Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones from the local authority said the quality of private tests were unknown, the results won’t feed back into the national system and they won’t be picked up for test and trace.

    Coronavirus test sampleGetty Images

    The rise in the price of private tests comes as some people have been struggling to book slots at testing sites at Stoke City's ground, Fenton Manor and Ryecroft, in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

  17. Hospitals move out of special measures

    The NHS trust that runs Worcestershire's main hospitals has been taken out of special measures after five years.

    NHS England and NHS Improvement have recognised a much improved report from the Care Quality Commission last year and said they were impressed with the way Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust coped during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Worcester Royal HospitalPA Media

    The trust's chief executive, Matthew Hopkins, praised staff for providing the "safest and highest quality care".

    The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust runs the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital.

  18. O'Neill may give chance to impressive youngsters

    BBC Radio Stoke Sport

    Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill has hinted he may give chances to some of the younger players who have impressed in the League Cup.

    He said: "What we want is competition and the two games in the cup have given us that."

    Michael O'NeillGetty Images

    Stoke play Preston this weekend and O'Neill says it's important that if younger players do come in, they have to be able to handle games in the Championship too.

  19. Investigation into fire is under way

    An investigation is under way into the cause of a fire at a derelict building in Walsall last night.

    Walsall building fire: Footage shows extent of flames

    Firefighters were called to Marsh Lane at about 20:40 and the nearby Crown Lofts apartments were evacuated as a precaution.

    Residents returned to their flats after the fire was extinguished.

  20. Vigil to be held for legendary drummer

    A socially-distanced, candlelight vigil will be held this evening to mark the 40th anniversary of the death of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.

    It's going to take place at his statue in his home town of Redditch.

    John BonhamGetty Images

    Bonham was just 32 years old when he died and is seen by some as the best drummer of all time.