Summary

  • Updates from Monday 15 February to Sunday 21 February

  1. Man pleads guilty to woman's murderpublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Amy Griffiths was found with head and throat injuries at her Droitwich flat.

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  2. Today's weather: Showers moving inpublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Now last night's rain is out of the way, it will be dry initially with some breaks in the clouds and sunny spells.

    However we've got another band of rain moving in later this afternoon, possibly with some thunder and lightning in some areas, and even more rain expected tomorrow.

    Top temperatures today of around 12C.

    Tuesday's weather
  3. 'Serious collision' closes lane on M42published at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    BBC News Travel

    One lane on the M42 northbound is closed due to a serious collision, Highways England said.

    The affected lane is at Junction 2 for Alvechurch and emergency services are in attendance.

    Earlier, all three lanes had to be closed, but two have since reopened.

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  4. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Welcome to our live service for Tuesday.

    We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

    We love to hear from you, so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook., external

  5. Plans to turn Ikea store into arts centrepublished at 00:33 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Ikea closed its Coventry store last year creating "once in a lifetime opportunity" for city council.

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  6. End of live updates for Mondaypublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    We will be back with the latest for the West Midlands from 08:00 on Tuesday.

  7. Petrol station gets borough's first bleed kitpublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    A petrol station in Solihull has been given the borough's first bleed control kit, designed to help victims of serious violence or trauma.

    The equipment, which can be used by bystanders as well as police officers, is similar to kit found on ambulances, West Midlands Police said.

    The idea to introduce bleed kits into public places was started by the the family of Daniel Baird who was fatally stabbed outside a pub in Digbeth in 2017.

    Dawn Lewis, Lynne Baird and PCSO Mason MongerImage source, West Midlands Police

    The kit installed at the BP Service Station on Chester Road in Castle Bromwich on Monday was donated by Dawn Lewis who's husband Giovanni was killed in Kingshurst in 2016.

    Insp Wallace, from Solihull Police, said: “We believe having kits in such locations like this available in those vital early minutes will help prevent more tragic and unnecessary deaths."

  8. In the papers: Colleagues pay tribute to hospital workerpublished at 18:23 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Express and Star

    Some of today's top stories from the Express and Star include:

  9. Funeral held for 'lovely' identical twin, 96published at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Surviving sister Lilian Cox said her twin would "always be in my heart and in my mind".

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  10. Police appeal over Wellington rapepublished at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Detectives investigating a report of a rape in Shropshire are appealing for witnesses.

    The attack took place in an alley between High Street and Wellington Medical Practice in Wellington between 18:00 GMT 19:30 on 28 January, West Mercia Police said.

    Wellington Medical PracticeImage source, Google

    Det Sgt Andy Dawson, said: “Due to the nature of the car park nearby and High Street we know there may have been people visiting or passing through and I would ask any motorists who were in the area in the evening of Thursday 28 January and have dash cam footage to get in contact with us.”

  11. Home testing to start over South African Covid-19 variantpublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Home testing will launch in another area of Walsall, after the discovery of another case of the South African variant of coronavirus.

    Enhanced testing had already started in the WS2 postcode two weeks ago after a case was discovered. Walsall Council said no further cases have been discovered.

    But enhanced testing has started in the Pleck area, after someone tested positive for the variant there.

    Stock image of Covid testingImage source, Getty Images

    The council said people in Pleck will be contacted in order to be tested at home.

    Councillor Stephen Craddock, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Walsall Council said: "We've got a website, so you put your postcode in there and it will tell you if you are in this surge testing area.

    "But actually, if you don't do anything, someone will knock your door if we need to do the test."

  12. 'My twin is always in my heart' after Covid deathpublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    The funeral has taken place of Doris Hobday, one half of the "Tipton Twins", who died aged 96.

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  13. 'Love trolley' treats for hospital patientspublished at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Hopefully many of you received a little something special yesterday to mark Valentines Day, and staff at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust were also trying to spread some love.

    Patients on Ward Two were visited by staff pushing a special trolley carrying some sweets and a glass of bubbly or shandy.

    Staff with the trolleyImage source, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

    In a post shared on Facebook, external, ward Sister Katie said: "We may still be in difficult times but we wanted our patients to remember they are loved. And what better day to remember this than on Valentine's Day.

    "It's fair to say our love trolley, as we called it, made everyone smile and that's the important thing."

    Treats on the trolleyImage source, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
  14. Plans afoot for new Tettenhall railway stationpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    West Midlands mayor Andy Street says he wants a new railway station for Tettenhall in Wolverhampton.

    The move is part of a huge transport plan for the region., external

    Mr Street says he is currently working with local MPs Stuart Anderson and Jane Stevenson to hopefully win government backing for a new station to serve Pendeford and Tettenhall.

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  15. Beauty spots to benefit from grantspublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Beauty spots around Solihull are set to benefit from £705,000 worth of grants.

    The Love Your River Cole project, led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, is among the first schemes nationwide to secure a share of the government's £80million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

    Other areas set to benefit are Chelmsley Wood’s Meriden Park and parkland near Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.

    Stock photo of the Cole Valley, which passes through Solihull, Birmingham and North Warwickshire.Image source, LDRS

    The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Solihull Council officer Liz Grove told a cabinet meeting the scheme would mean “investment and environmental improvements”.

    While Ian Wykes, the wildlife trust’s programme manager, said: “The Covid crisis has demonstrated how valuable local green spaces are and this funding will go along away to improve these for people and wildlife.”

  16. Man in his 20s dies in house firepublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    An investigation is ongoing but fire fighters say there are no suspicious circumstances.

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  17. Passports to spread kindness across citypublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Children in part of Coventry are being encouraged to use their half-term break to spread kindness across the city.

    Coventry City of Culture Trust said it has launched the Passports of Kindness initiative to challenge youngsters between seven and 11 from schools in Foleshill to complete ten acts of kindness "to help bring happiness and joy to those around them".

    They have been given a passport and sticker set to record their acts.

    The passportsImage source, Coventry UK City of Culture 2021

    “I hope it will inspire and bring joy to the children and their families during lockdown. I can’t wait to read their poems, see their drawings and all the creative ways they find to be kind," said the trust’s Collaborative City Producer, Navkiran Mann, who is behind the initiative.

  18. 'My disabled daughter never had a chance'published at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Rachel's mother says 'justice has been done' after inquest finds neglect contributed to her death.

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  19. Disabled woman 'was a fighter all her life'published at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Diana Johnston told the BBC her daughter Rachel had been "a fighter all her life".

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  20. Brothers deny Birmingham street stabbingpublished at 13:28 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2021

    Thomas Rogers was found stabbed to death on Bristol Road in Birmingham in August.

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