Summary

  • Another loan for Birmingham Airport

  • Woman critically injured in taxi crash

  • Man charged with murder after woman's body found in river

  • Fire on 14th floor of tower block

  • Updates from Friday 12 February

  1. Parish council opposes 'poor relations' mergerpublished at 10:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2021

    Handforth Parish Council, which saw a rowdy meeting go viral, votes against a merger with Wilmslow.

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  2. JCB jobs boost as equipment demand 'soars'published at 09:41 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2021

    The digger manufacturer says it will employ an extra 450 agency staff at its three UK factories.

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  3. Number of empty homes in Coventry 'doubles'published at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The number of empty homes in Coventry has doubled to more than 3,000 in 18 months, figures reveal.

    The city council, which has been taking action to address the problem, said the pandemic was partly to blame as many student properties had been “unoccupied since July last year”.

    Councillor David Welsh said it was a problem in cities “across the country”.

    Coventry city centreImage source, Getty Images

    In February, Coventry had 3,212 homes which had been empty for six months or longer, compared to 1,451 in October 2019, a Freedom of Information request to the council found.

    “We are working hard to bring unused and empty properties into use as it’s such a key priority for the council – and a home where families can move into is absolutely vital,” Me Welsh said.

  4. Thieves and burglars to be fitted with GPS tagspublished at 08:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2021

    Police will be able to cross-reference data with crime reports to see if offenders were in the area.

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  5. 'Day and night waiting game' for son's transplantpublished at 06:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2021

    Vinnie, aged four, has had three open heart surgeries but is now in heart failure, his family says.

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  6. Crawley Town 1-1 Walsallpublished at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    Tom Nichols' 97th-minute penalty earns Crawley a late equaliser to deny Walsall interim boss Brian Dutton his first win.

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  7. Luton cruise past 10-man Coventrypublished at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    James Bree and Elijah Adebayo get the goals as Luton Town ease to victory over 10-man Coventry City at Kenilworth Road.

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  8. Bowyer replaces Karanka as Blues bosspublished at 19:25 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    Lee Bowyer is appointed as Birmingham City's new boss after Aitor Karanka steps down as head coach of Championship strugglers.

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  9. Mother's anguish over parallels with Everard casepublished at 18:47 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    Bea Jones has been left "distressed" by the similarities with the murder of her daughter Moira in 2008.

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  10. Woman's body was dismembered 'neatly and cleanly'published at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    It is impossible to find out how she died, a pathologist tells the trial of her alleged murderer.

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  11. Surge testing after South African variant foundpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    People over the age of 16 are being asked to get tested even if they have no symptoms.

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  12. Birmingham man wins Indian cannabis extraditionpublished at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    A Birmingham man convicted of possessing cannabis in India more than 15 years ago has won a High Court fight against extradition.

    Ivor Fletcher, who is in his late 50s, said he should not be extradited because he had long-term, ongoing mental health issues and his health and life could be at risk if he had to go into an Indian prison.

    The court heard Fletcher was arrested in 2002 while travelling in Kullu where officials said he was in possession of 10kg of the drug.

    He was detained in custody before being acquitted the following year and returned to the UK.

    Hemp

    Indian authorities appealed and he was convicted in his absence and given a 10-year jail term.

    Fletcher was arrested in the UK in 2018, and government ministers subsequently ordered his extradition.

    James Stansfeld, representing the Indian government, told the court Fletcher was "a fugitive from proceedings in India".

    But Mr Justice Chamberlain said the Indian government had not provided information to show that there was "a credible treatment or protection regime" in Indian prisons and ruled in Fletcher's favour.

  13. Funding for new rural bus servicespublished at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    Rural bus services in the West Midlands are being given £2m by the government, to help them become more "innovative".

    The money is being split between Staffordshire County Council, which will receive £1,038,090 and Warwickshire County Council, which will get £1,020,000.

    Bus stopImage source, Getty Images

    Staffordshire plans to use the money to pay for on-demand minibus services for Leek, Ashbourne and Buxton.

    Warwickshire County Council plans to buy four vehicles to serve Kenilworth and in rural Warwick.

  14. Police chief to retire after 'amazing career'published at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    The chief constable of West Mercia Police has announced he will retire in September.

    Chief Constable Anthony BanghamImage source, West Mercia Police

    Anthony Bangham, who joined the force as a constable 30 years ago, said he had enjoyed an "amazing career with every day bringing new challenges".

    "I have served as a police officer across West Mercia in many roles and different ranks and have always done so with great pride," he said.

    Mr Bangham, who was assistant chief constable for the Avon and Somerset force, said he had been "delighted" to finish his career with West Mercia, serving the area where he had spent most of his life.

    The force's Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion praised Mr Bangham as "a determined leader in challenging times" and said he had always put the public at the heart of his work.

  15. Thousands raised to get teacher home from Chinapublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    Bob Allison had a stroke while abroad and his family set up a fundraising page to help get him home.

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  16. Three charged with modern slavery offencespublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    In total, eight people face modern slavery and theft charges following an investigation, police say.

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  17. Police chief urges change to Covid protest rulespublished at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    Police forces are challenged for being "over tolerant or cracking down too hard," Sir David says.

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  18. Charity who sent food to stranded drivers gets award nodpublished at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    Charity volunteers from Coventry who travelled to Dover to take food to lorry drivers stuck in queues at the border over Christmas have been shortlisted for an award.

    Langar Aid took about 1,000 food parcels to Kent to feed the lorry drivers who found their passage to mainland Europe blocked by the travel ban between the UK and France.

    The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has shortlisted the organisation for a Community Organisation Hero Award at this year’s Outstanding Citizens Awards, which will take place on Friday.

    Lorries in KentImage source, Getty Images

    Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Waheed Saleem, said: "Not only have they supported the people of Coventry and the West Midlands, but they also went out of their way to deliver food for the lorry drivers who were stuck in Dover over Christmas."

    Avtar Kaur Project Manager for Langar Aid said: "All of our volunteers have gone out of their way to provide food and support for the vulnerable and isolated."

  19. Patricio 'conscious' after head injurypublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2021

    Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio is "conscious" and "going to be OK" after his head injury against Liverpool, says boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

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