Summary

  • Updates from Monday 15 February to Sunday 21 February

  1. The blind fox that lives indoors with deer and dogpublished at 06:38 Greenwich Mean Time 19 February 2021

    Rescued Woody, a fan of custard creams, has been turning heads when he goes on walks with a greyhound.

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  2. Husband 'murdered ex-wife in frenzied attack'published at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    Balvinder Gahir was "belittled" for years and called a "psycho mum", jurors heard.

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  3. End of live updates for Thursdaypublished at 18:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    We will be back tomorrow from 08:00 for the latest updates for the West Midlands.

  4. 'Checkerboard' office blocks plans approvedpublished at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Plans for a distinctive "checkerboard" office block in Birmingham's Centenary Square have been approved for a second time by councillors.

    The 10-storey grade III-listed building at 5 Centenary Square will have 30 car parking spaces, 160 cycle spaces and a roof top terrace area, developers say.

    The plans were previously approved in 2019, but now include an extra storey of office space and extra space for plant machinery.

    The buildingImage source, Birmingham City Council

    The Canal and Rivers Trust had been critical of a potential impact of the views out of Gas Street Basin, "although the impact might be minimal", but councillors unanimously approved the latest plans on Thursday.

  5. Blues: Players 'must keep on working' to avoid relegationpublished at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    BBC Sport

    Birmingham City's plight towards the foot of the Championship grew even more desperate with a 2-0 defeat at Millwall.

    Blues have now won just one of their last 14 fixtures, and continued their dreadful run in front of goal.

    Head coach Aitor Karanka told BBC Radio WM he doesn't need to look at the club's position in the league to know that things aren't going well enough.

    Aitor KarankaImage source, Rex Features

    "We need to win games. I don't need to look at the table because the table is the reflection of your work on the pitch.

    "I said to the players after the game they have to keep believing. The only way to turn this around is to keep working."

  6. Barlaston residents encouraged to get a Covid-19 testpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    People living in the Barlaston area of Stafford are being encouraged to get a Covid-19 test, even if they have no symptoms.

    People who are displaying symptoms should not attend the pop-up service, rolled out locally amid a rise in cases, Staffordshire County Council says.

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  7. Deer rescued after getting stuck in railingspublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    A deer has had to be cut free from school railings after getting stuck between them.

    The deer in the railingsImage source, RSPCA

    The animal was discovered at Smestow School, Wolverhampton, on 9 February, the RSPCA said.

    Two rescuers found the roe deer, who was not hurt but unable to get free.

    After trying to bend the railings with a car jack, they and the school caretaker used a saw to ease the animal out.

    The stuck deerImage source, RSPCA
  8. Beatles-signed hotel guest book sold at auctionpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    Rolling Stones signatures also feature in the pages called a "who's who of pop music".

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  9. Your photos: Signs of springpublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    BBC Weather Watchers

    We think our BBC Weather Watchers might be telling us we're starting to see the beginning of spring, from the photos of daffodils and snowdrops which are being sent in.

    We love these three are from users Graham's Vista in Sutton Coldfield, J At Severn Ridge in Severn Stoke, Worcestershire and Colanda at Atcham, Shropshire...

    Sutton ColdfieldImage source, Graham's Vista
    Severn StokeImage source, J At Severn Ridge
    AtchamImage source, Colanda
  10. West Midlands sees biggest cuts in youth fundingpublished at 13:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    Youth services in the West Midlands have been cut by 82% over the past decade, according to research from the YMCA.

    The region has seen the biggest cuts in the country, although the national figure shows spending has been cut by an average of 73%.

    Generic image of teenagers gathering at a youth centreImage source, Getty Images

    The charity is calling for significant reinvestment from the government amid increasing demand for mental health services in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Chief executive, Denise Hatton, said without reinvestment, "we would be condemning young people to become a lonely, lost generation with nowhere to turn".

    A government spokesperson said it was providing "dedicated support" to help manage the impact of the pandemic on young people, and has provided more than £250m for youth organisations.

  11. Driver cut free after van and car collide in Uttoxeterpublished at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    Two people have been taken to hospital followig a crash involving a car and a van in Uttoxeter last night.

    Paramedics were called to Ashbourne Road just before 19:00 GMT and found four patients, two of whom were seriously injured.

    Ashbourne Road, UttoxeterImage source, Google

    "The van driver, a man, was trapped as a result of the collision and ambulance staff worked closely alongside colleagues from the fire service to cut him free," a spokesperson from West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

    He was taken to Royal Stoke Hospital for further treatment after paramedics said his injuries were potentially serious.

    The driver of the car had managed to get himself free, the ambulance service said.

    His injuries were not thought to be serious but he was also taken to the same hospital.

    Two boys, passengers in the car, were assessed and discharged at the scene.

  12. Giles storms to victory and British recordpublished at 12:33 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    BBC Sport

    Birmingham’s Elliot Giles ran the second-quickest indoor 800m in history as he set a new British record at the World Indoor Tour in Torun, Poland.

    The 26-year-old clocked one minute 43.63 seconds to beat compatriot Jamie Webb, who finished second in 1:44.54.

    The British record had been held by Sebastian Coe since March 1983.

    It is Giles' third victory of the series, following wins in the season opener in Karlsruhe and the tour's second meet in Lievin on 9 February.

  13. Ending lockdown in May 'too soon to say'published at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    It's too soon to say if leaving lockdown at the end of May is the right decision, the boss of Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust says.

    Prof David Loughton says trying to predict now when it should end was the wrong thing to do.

    "The NHS needs some respite, there's no doubt about that," he said.

    "My staff and the staff throughout the NHS have had a pretty horrific 12 months of this. I think we need to be cautious in terms of leaving lockdown to make sure this does not come back again in another wave that doesn't overwhelm the NHS."

    Woman in maskImage source, Getty Images

    He criticised people who have broken rules and attended parties or gathered in people's homes and urged people to stick to the government's message of "hands, face, space".

    "They basically don't think it's going to happen to them. But sadly in my organisation alone, 725 have lost their lives to Covid.

    "Some of the patients in intensive care, they're not in their 80s any more you know, we've got 20s, 30s and 40s in intensive care fighting for their lives..."

  14. Covid: 'We're not out of the woods yet'published at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    The chief executive of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has praised his staff and science teams in the region who've helped turn the tide of the pandemic, although he warns that "we're not out of the woods yet".

    Prof David Loughton said although the peak has passed within New Cross Hospital, the general public still had a vital part to play by sticking to the rules.

    He said the trust had 350 in-patients during last month's peak around 27 January, with 75 people in intensive care.

    David Loughton

    Mr Loughton said that number is now down to 168, but overall there have been 725 deaths.

    "It's starting to look better but we're not out of the woods yet by any stretch of the imagination," he said.

    He thanked the "unsung heroes" at the National Institute for Health Research, based at the trust, who had been involved in trials for five vaccines and developed treatments for Covid-19.

  15. Family renew plea to trace murdered woman's bodypublished at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    The family of Alethea Taylor, who was murdered by her husband in 2012, have renewed their appeal for information that will help them find her body.

    Mrs Taylor was last seen in Orleton, Herefordshire, in January 2012. Her body has never been found.

    Alethea TaylorImage source, Family handout

    Her husband, John Taylor, was handed a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering the former teacher but has never revealed what happened to her.

    "I hope that one day, either he's told somebody what happened and they come forward or he actually just decides to say, 'OK, that's where she is'," Mrs Taylor's niece, Lorraine McKillop, said.

    The family have taken part in a Channel 5 documentary, Countdown to Murder, in a bid to get the information they need.

    "If anybody knows anything at all, it's easier just to come forward," Ms McKillop said.

    "Whether it's right or wrong, police can follow it up, check it out, just so we can find her."

  16. Gritter named after Captain Sir Tom Moorepublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    A gritter has been named after Captain Sir Tom Moore.

    The gritterImage source, Shropshire Council

    Shropshire Council said, external the choice has been made by people in the county in tribute to the 100-year-old Army veteran.

    Capt Sir Tom, who raised almost £33m for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden, died in Bedford Hospital on 2 February.

    The council said the gritter would be based in Whittington and treat roads in the north west of the county.

  17. 'Forgotten villages' fear amid flood defence planspublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    Campaigners are worried over a dam that has been part of road relief proposals.

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