Summary

  • Updates from Monday 1 March to Sunday 7 March

  1. 'Much loved' teenager killed in stabbing is namedpublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    Jack Barry, 19, was found seriously injured on Sunday night and pronounced dead at the scene.

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  2. More than 100 die from hospital-acquired Covidpublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is to review 107 deaths linked to hospital stays.

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  3. Sleepy badger rescued from construction machinerypublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    A sleepy badger has been rescued by the RSPCA after getting stuck in machinery at a building site in Dudley.

    RSPCA officer Cara Gibbon said it was found "curled up sleeping underneath a power float machine.

    "He’d climbed through a gap at the top of the machine and fallen into it before curling up and enjoying a little nap."

    She added: "It was probably nice and warm and cosy in there.”

    Trapped badgerImage source, RSPCA

    The machine, also know as a power trowel, is used by contractors to apply a smooth finish to concrete slabs.

    The workmen helped her lift up the machinery and the badger "scurried off in a bit of a hurry."

  4. Minorities recruitment under the spotlightpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    BBC Midlands Today

    West Midlands Police still has a lot of work to do to create more trust in black communities, according to its chief constable.

    Police recruitsImage source, Getty Images

    Sir David Thompson told the BBC the "seismic events" of last summer's Black Lives Matter protests, in the wake of George Floyd's death, have not been lost on the force.

    He said it had been working to recruit a more diverse workforce with 17% of current recruits from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

    The chief constable said officers had also been examining how they use stop-and-search powers in communities.

    "There has been a lot of work going on around that, but certainly how we use our powers, how we demonstrate legitimacy and how we recruit our staff are the big focus," he said.

  5. Court backlog 'challenging' for domestic abuse victimspublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    BBC Midlands Today

    The length of time taken to get domestic abuse cases to court due to the Covid-19 backlog is "tremendously challenging" for victims, the chief constable of West Midlands Police said.

    Sir David Thompson

    The backlog in the country's Crown Courts hit a record of 56,000 cases in February - meaning some cases are now being timetabled for 2023.

    The wait comes as cases of domestic abuse have risen by 38% in the last year in the West Midlands and chief constable Sir David Thompson said they account for about a fifth of all the work his force does.

    He told BBC Midlands Today: "For normal crimes, that [backlog] is very difficult - if it is crimes involving relationships, that is tremendously challenging and so we have got to make sure victims are supported."

    The government has promised a court recovery plan including the current temporary Nightingale courts to tackle the backlog.

  6. Man pleads guilty to woman's murderpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

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

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  7. Sheeting caused overhead line faultpublished at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    BBC News Travel

    Network Rail says it appears the earlier fault with overhead lines near Gravelly Hill was caused by sheeting blown on to the line.

    West Midlands Railway trains were disrupted and Network Rail has asked people to make sure anything near the line is properly secured.

    But the good news is the fault with the overhead lines has now been fixed.

  8. Two arrested after 16-year-old stabbedpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    BBC CWR

    A teenager is being treated for stab wounds after an incident on Broad lane in Coventry.

    West Midlands Ambulance Service said it happened just after 10:00 and that the 16-year-old victim was in a stable condition in hospital, but had suffered serious injuries.

    Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the attack and one has been taken to hospital to be checked over for minor injuries.

    West Midlands Police said it did not appear he was stabbed.

    The other boy is currently in custody where he will be questioned.

  9. Eighth man charged over fatal street shootingpublished at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    Mohammed Haroon Zeb died in hospital after being found with bullet wounds on 31 January.

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  10. Ricoh return welcomedpublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The news that Coventry City will return to the Ricoh Arena next season has been welcomed by the leader of the city council.

    Councillor George Duggins said it was "good news at a time when we desperately need it".

    George Duggins

    Mr Duggins added: “We are now going to be City of Culture, have the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby League World Cup so there is lots to look forward to and Coventry is clearly on the map."

  11. 'Rotten egg' landfill site to be partly coveredpublished at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    The Royal Stoke Hospital and hundreds of people complain about the Newcastle-under-Lyme smell.

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  12. Rail services delayed by overhead lines issuepublished at 12:31 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    BBC News Travel

    Rail services between Aston and Gravelly Hill in Birmingham are being delayed because of an issue with the overhead lines.

    Network Rail said it is working to fix the fault and that an object has been caught in the overhead electric wires at Gravelly Hill.

    Consequently, trains are currently unable to run between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley / Four Oaks.

    Disruption is expected until 14:00.

  13. Worcestershire sign seamer Dwarshuispublished at 11:47 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    Worcestershire sign Australian fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis for this summer's T20 Blast.

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  14. Motorcyclist critical after hitting treepublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    A motorcyclist is in a critical condition in hospital after his bike hit a tree in Birmingham this morning.

    West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to Aldridge Road in Perry Barr at 00:27 and he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

  15. Coventry confirm return to Ricoh Arenapublished at 11:17 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    Championship side Coventry City sign a 10-year contract to return to the Ricoh Arena from next season.

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  16. New stations 'could be ready in four years'published at 10:41 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    BBC CWR

    Three new railway stations could open in Coventry within four years, the Mayor of the West Midlands has said.

    Bids have been put in to the government, asking them to look at the case for building new stations in Foleshill, Coundon and Willenhall and Andy Street said all three areas need better public transport.

    Based on experiences of bidding for stations elsewhere, Mr Street said: "It takes about three years for the full process to make the case, get the agreements from network rail, get the funding in place."

    He said building the station could take another year and he hoped the whole process might be quicker, but four years was a "realistic target".

  17. Second phase of cycleway plannedpublished at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The second phase of multimillion-pound plans for a new cycleway to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire have been revealed.

    A CGI of phase two of the Binley cyclewayImage source, Coventry City Council

    Coventry City Council has laid out its plans for the final section of the route, which runs along Clifford Bridge Road to the hospital in Walsgrave.

    The two-way cycleway will be 3.75 miles (6km) long and link the hospital to the city centre via the Binley Business Park on Harry Weston Road.

    A consultation on the first phase to the business park opened in October and thoughts are now sought for the second phase, external.

    Cyclists will have priority over traffic entering and leaving side roads and also bypass traffic-light junctions or have their own set of traffic lights.

    The Binley scheme is backed by £5m of West Midlands Combined Authority funding and work on the first phase could start in the summer.

  18. Road due to open after year-long closurepublished at 09:33 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March 2021

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    A Herefordshire road which has been closed since last February is due to reopen within the next four weeks.

    The B4224 between Fownhope and Hereford collapsed in two places 12 months ago and is costing £2.5m to repair.

    Road closed sign

    Herefordshire Council said it didn't have a precise date for the work to be completed, but it would definitely be before Easter.