Summary

  • Girl, 11, hit by car seriously hurt

  • Shots fired on Birmingham street

  • Telford, Birmingham and Wolverhampton councils to supply free school meals over half-term

  • Covid-19: Coventry and Stoke prepare to enter tier two

  • Boy returns to school after months of pioneering cancer treatment

  • E-scooter trial 'could detect drunk riders'

  • Updates from Friday 23 October

  1. Crews tackle 'deliberate' blaze at disused schoolpublished at 20:25 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Birmingham City Council has spent thousands keeping the vacant Baverstock school safe from vandals.

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  2. West Brom & Burnley play out first 0-0published at 20:12 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    West Brom and Burnley play out the first goalless draw in the Premier League this season, with both teams still searching for a first win.

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  3. Family 'devastated' after teens die in crashpublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    An 18-year-old passenger died on Saturday, becoming the fourth to die after the Skoda hit a tree.

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  4. End of live updates for Mondaypublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with more news, sport, travel and more for the West Midlands.

  5. 'Fish pass' viewing gallery being createdpublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    BBC Midlands Today

    Work is well under way in Worcestershire to create an underwater fish viewing gallery.

    Diglis Weir

    It's being constructed in Worcester at Diglis Weir on the Severn (pictured above), where a fish pass is being built, so people can see the salmon migrating.

    It's all part of a £20m improvement scheme for the river which was announced two years ago.

    Nearby, a similar pass has been completed at Bevere weir (pictured below), to help migratory fish like salmon and shad to reach their spawning grounds.

    Fish passImage source, Skynique Film Company
  6. 'Urban explorers' fined for breaking Covid restrictionspublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Eight people who claimed to be urban explorers in an old pub have been fined by police for breaking Covid-19 restrictions.

    The Travellers Rest before it closedImage source, Google

    The group were found on Sunday night after reports of suspicious activity at the Travellers Rest site in Leekbrook, near Leek, Staffordshire Police said., external

    The Staffordshire Moorlands is currently in tier one – medium alert and the force said they had come from Macclesfield, Cheshire, which is currently in tier two – high alert.

    They were given penalty notices for breaking the "rule of six" restriction.

  7. Fire breaks out at derelict schoolpublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Dozens of firefighters are tackling a fire at a derelict school in Birmingham this evening.

    Derelict schoolImage source, Google

    Eight fire engines and 40 firefighters were called at 16:00 to the former Baverstock Academy on Baverstock Road, Druid's Heath, the fire service said. , external

    The school has been shut since 2017.

  8. Catalytic converters taken from vehicles at hospitalpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Three men have been arrested after catalytic converters were stolen from vehicles parked at a hospital.

    Worcestershire Royal Hospital - generic imageImage source, PA

    West Mercia Police said two vehicles were targeted at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester on 12 October.

    The men, all from Leicestershire, have been arrested and bailed.

    Ch Insp Gareth Morgan said: "We take the theft of catalytic convertibles very seriously and know what a devastating effect these crimes can have on individuals within our community."

  9. Lucky escape as dog rescued from dishwasher blazepublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    A dog owner says he's lucky his pet is still alive after a fire caused by his dishwasher.

    Graham and TeddyImage source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

    Graham Cooper had put the machine on at his home in Congleton before leaving for work on 24 September.

    However, 30 minutes later his neighbour called to say smoke was coming from a bedroom window.

    Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said , externala fault in the dishwasher had started the blaze which damaged much of the kitchen.

    Burnt out dishwasherImage source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

    The 34-year-old's Pomeranian, Teddy, was fine after being rescued and Graham said he had had a lucky escape.

    “It never occurred to me that such a thing could result in a fire and my dog’s life and my home being put at risk," he said.

    “I’ll never leave a domestic appliance, or any other type of electrical device, on when I go out again."

  10. Football: Baggies and Wolves in action tonightpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    BBC Sport

    Wolves and West Bromwich Albion are both in action tonight in the Premier League.

    Slaven BilicImage source, Getty Images

    The Baggies are hosting Burnley fom 17:30 and new signing Karlan Grant could make his debut for Slaven Bilic's side after his arrival from Huddersfield.

    Callum Robinson is self isolating and fellow striker Hal Robson-Kanu is out with a broken wrist.

    Wolverhampton"s Fernando Marcal (front) in actionImage source, EPA

    While from 20:00, Wolves are at Leeds United and summer signing Fernando Marcal (pictured) has recovered from a calf problem and is expected to play.

    Fellow wing-back Jonny Otto is the only definite absentee for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

    You'll be able to follow the action online via the BBC Sport website.

  11. Three more Wasps players test positivepublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Wasps' participation in Saturday's Premiership final is in doubt after three more players test positive for Covid-19.

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  12. Man, 19, charged with terror offencespublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Nuh Raheel, from the West Midlands, is accused of having "articles for terrorist purposes".

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  13. Cancer patient scales height of Everest for charitypublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Ron Morgan, from Shrewsbury, has had to resume treatment after his charity challenge.

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  14. Rail passengers face new timetablepublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Passengers on West Midlands Railway services via Birmingham Snow Hill are being warned of a new timetable being introduced next week.

    A trainImage source, West Midlands Railway

    The operator says, external Covid-19 is making it difficult to run a normal train schedule and it has had to cancel a number of services in recent weeks.

    The new timetable will have a reduced number of departures, but the firm says all trains will have as many carriages as possible with peak-time and school trains prioritised.

    As one example of the changes, the new timetable will see most trains from Snow Hill to Worcester start and end at Shrub Hill station instead of Foregate Street.

  15. Culture cash 'life-changing' for festival grouppublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    Money from the government's culture fund has been described as "life-changing" by one of the groups to get some of the cash.

    Shrewsbury Food Festival

    The Culture Recovery Fund is aimed at securing the future of museums, galleries and heritage sites.

    Shropshire Festivals has been given £100,000 for events it organises across the county and there's an extra £55,000 for the Shrewsbury Food Festival, which it runs.

    Beth Heath, from the group, said colleagues had been waiting nervously to see if they would get anything.

    "It's just been life-changing, me and the team, as soon as I knew I told the team, they'd been worried about job losses. Just suddenly, all that angst and worry, it just means we can pay our bills and get ready for next year's festivals."

  16. Masked burglars steal pies and sausage rolls from cafepublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Pies, sausage rolls and electronic items have been stolen from a volunteer-run cafe.

    CCTV imagesImage source, Staffordshire Police

    Two masked men broke into the Hilltop Community Cafe in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, on Thursday, Staffordshire Police said., external

    Most the stolen items, including computer games and DVDs, had been donated to the cafe.

    Officers have released CCTV images of two men they want to speak to in connection with the break-in.

  17. 'Constant battle' for women with endometriosispublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Women with endometriosis have told the BBC living with it is a constant battle and puts a strain on their relationships.

    Endometriosis affects one in 10 women in the UK and can cause debilitating pain, heavy periods and infertility.

    A report by MPs said care for the condition across the UK needs urgent improvement and diagnosis times need to be halved.

    Doctor with stethoscope

    It found an average wait for a diagnosis was eight years and that had not improved in more than a decade.

    Tracey Morgan, from Shrewsbury, said before she was diagnosed she was in so much pain she felt her "life was nothing".

    "Just before my last, fourth surgery I was so poorly and I was going to see a different endo specialist who is phenomenal and I said to my partner 'if he can't help me, I'm really sorry I can't live like this'."

    Helen MacLaughlin, from Worcester, said the fatigue from the condition meant she couldn't work full-time.

    "Relationships, friendships, some of them have strained, I've lost friends and it is a constant worry."

    Nadine Dorries, minister for women's health said awareness was increasing, but there was still a long way to go.

  18. Schools shut as pupils return from virus-hit Italypublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Schools in Cheshire and Middlesbrough close after pupils show "flu-like symptoms" after skiing trips.

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  19. Baby born in lorry at 26 weeks meets paramedicspublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 19 October 2020

    Gemma Greensmith gave birth to daughter Raelyn in a lorry cab outside her Staffordshire home.

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