Summary

  • Updates from 26 April - 3 May

  1. Six schools closed after recycling plant firepublished at 13:18 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Firefighters expect to be at the scene of the blaze for more than a week.

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  2. Wasps appoint Fowkes as scrum coachpublished at 12:33 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Wasps appoint Nottingham head coach Neil Fowkes as their full-time scrum coach, after eight months in a part-time role.

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  3. Your photos: Nice weather for duckspublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The sunshine we saw over the weekend has gone and been replaced by light rain across the West Midlands.

    But the BBC Weather Watchers seem to be making the most of it as you can see from the photo below, taken by a dog walker in Lea Marston.

    And these plastic ducks in Penkridge look happy too.

    A duck in PenhridgeImage source, Hazlenut
    A dog in Lea MarstonImage source, Harry the Springer
  4. Six schools closed after Telford firepublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    A total of six schools have now been closed following a fire at a recycling plant.

    It comes two days after a fire at the Greenway Polymers sent smoke into the air.

    Telford & Wrekin Council said remote learning is being provided for pupils at Shortwood Primary School, The Linden Centre, Meadows Primary School, Newdale Primary School, Lawley Primary School and Lawley Village Academy.

    Puddleducks nursery is also closed.

    The fire at Greenway PolymersImage source, Sam Bagnall

    Public Health England has advised people in the area to contact NHS 111 if they suffer any symptoms caused by the smoke, which can irritate airways, skin and eyes and cause coughing, wheezing breathlessness and chest pain.

    Chemicals in smoke can also worsen health problems like asthma and heart conditions so people should carry their medication, it said.

  5. Stab victim 'was bubbly and warm-hearted'published at 11:31 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    A second man is charged with murdering Bashir Mohamed who was "a strong pillar of the community".

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  6. Adviser appointed over council childcare failingspublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Herefordshire Council pledges to make changes after a judge said it "utterly failed" three children.

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  7. Election 2021: What about parish councils?published at 10:35 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Jackie Weaver put them in the international spotlight, but what do parish councils actually do?

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  8. Council urges people aged 42 and over to get Covid jabpublished at 10:22 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    BBC Midlands Today

    Wolverhampton City Council is urging everyone in the city over the age of 42 to book an appointment to have their Covid-19 vaccine.

    Latest figures show, as of 18 April, more than 120,000 doses have been administered in the city and tens of thousands of people have returned for their second jab.

    Wolverhampton

    The local authority says it is essential people in this age group take up the vaccine now it is being offered.

  9. Man arrested over death of on-duty canal workerpublished at 10:08 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    The Canal and River Trust says the man who died after being assaulted was a member of its team.

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  10. Cheadle fire was arson, say firefighterspublished at 09:50 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    BBC Radio Stoke

    A fire in the open that broke out on Monday was arson, firefighters say.

    Crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service had to bring the fire on land off Park Lane in Cheadle under control and stop it spreading to homes.

    Police are now investigating the blaze.

    Cheadle FireImage source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
  11. Around the web: Arrest after loaded revolver thrown from Audipublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Birmingham Live

    Here are some of the headlines on the Birmingham Live website this morning:

  12. Schools remain closed after recycling plant firepublished at 09:11 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Four schools in Telford remain closed today following a fire at the Greenway Polymers.

    The fire, which broke out at midday on Monday, sent plumes of black smoke into the air.

    Meadows Primary, Newdale Primary, Lawley Primary and The Linden Centre in the town have all remained closed to pupils today, due to ongoing concerns about the smoke.

    A lane of the M54 eastbound will also remain closed.

    Greenway fireImage source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service

    Residents are still being asked to keep windows and doors closed.

  13. Fundraising PC dies after cancer battlepublished at 08:49 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    The death of Karen Bloor is described as a "devastating loss" by chief constable Gareth Morgan.

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  14. Man dies after crashpublished at 08:39 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    A 25-year-old man has died following a crash on Lansdowne Road in Worcester yesterday afternoon.

    West Mercia Police said only one vehicle was involved, a black Vauxhall Astra, and the man died at the scene.

    The force said the crash happened at around 16:00 and it has thanked people who stopped to help.

  15. Saving cash: A customer said we'd changed her lifepublished at 08:24 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Eight locations across the UK are testing ideas aimed at ensuring future access to cash for those who need it.

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  16. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 08:07 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

    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, external and Facebook., external

  17. Family fights on after failed US cancer drug trialpublished at 06:40 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Megan Smith's family is fundraising to support the 26-year-old's cancer treatment in America.

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  18. The twins who lost jobs and started businessespublished at 06:24 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    The sisters want West Midlands mayoral hopefuls to give practical business help to young people.

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  19. Schools closed after recycling plant firepublished at 19:12 British Summer Time 27 April 2021

    Firefighters say they expect to be at the scene for the next seven to 10 days.

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  20. Amphetamine lab discovered in raid on outbuildingpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 27 April 2021

    The large-scale operation was found by police, firefighters and a chemicals expert.

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