Summary

  • Updates from 21 - 27 June

  1. Missing woman found dead was 'treasured daughter'published at 22:40 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    A 29-year-old man is held on suspicion of the murder and rape of Megan Newborough, police say.

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  2. PC travelling at over 100mph before fatal crashpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    Jamie Holloway was responding to an emergency call from colleagues, a court hears.

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  3. How many medals did your region win in Tokyo?published at 17:46 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    London had the most individual medallists, but the North West claimed the most medals.

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  4. Bid to find city's next poet laureatepublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    A new poet laureate is being sought to champion poetry in Wolverhampton.

    City of Wolverhampton Council said the person who takes up the honorary position, lasting two years, will continue the work of outgoing poet laureate Emma Purshouse to encourage and raise the profile of poetry and the city.

    They will write poems to commission during their tenure, as well as work on poetry events during the city's literature festival and throughout their time in the role, it said.

    Wolverhampton’s first poet laureate, Emma Purshouse, presents at this year’s young poet laureate competitionImage source, City of Wolverhampton Council

    Councillor Stephen Simkins, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Last year’s festival was a great success and Emma did us proud as poet laureate.

    "I wish all applicants for the poet laureate role the best of luck and look forward to seeing them at next year’s festival.”

    Emma said: "It is a real pleasure and a privilege to be the poet laureate for your home city, and a role I've very much loved doing for the past two years."

    Poets aged 18 and over can apply to become Wolverhampton’s second poet laureate by sending in a short description detailing how they meet the criteria for the post, along with a sample poem, to Wolverhampton Art Gallery by 30 September.

  5. Gold medal winner Galal Yafai returns from Tokyopublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    Galal Yafai was met with cheers and chanting as he arrived at London Heathrow Airport from Tokyo.

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  6. Six held after off-road biker dies in crashpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    A 24-year-old man dies after being hurt in a crash in Runcorn, prompting a police investigation.

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  7. Appeal after teenager punched at railway stationpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    CCTV images have been released by police investigating an assault at a railway station.

    British Transport Police said at about 10:45 BST on 30 June a man began arguing with a teenage girl who was among a group of people around the Moor Street Link area of Birmingham New Street station.

    Another member of the group tried to intervene, and the man punched the girl in the face, the force said.

    The CCTV imagesImage source, British Transport Police

    She suffered a fractured cheek bone and serious facial injuries which required stitches.

    Officers believe the man in the CCTV images may have information which could help their investigation and have urged anyone who can help identify him to come forward.

  8. In pictures: Team GB boxers arrive at Heathrowpublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    More Team GB athletes have been arriving back in the UK, with Birmingham boxing flyweight champion Galal Yafai among them.

    Yafai, 28, beat Carlo Paalam of the Philippines on Saturday.

    Galal YafaiImage source, PA Media
    Galal YafaiImage source, PA Media

    Crowds gathered to welcome the athletes to Heathrow, with Staffordshire boxer Frazer Clarke being met by his partner and children.

    Frazer ClarkImage source, PA Media
  9. Huge bridge beams lifted into place over M6published at 16:03 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    Timelapse footage captures the moment the steel beams are installed over the motorway.

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  10. The Selecter announced as latest Godiva Festival bandpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    Two Tone band The Selecter will play on the main stage at this year's Godiva Festival, it's been announced.

    The SelecterImage source, Coventry City of Culture Trust

    The thee-day event held in Coventry's War Memorial Park will return later this year after being cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.

    Supergrass will headline the festival on Friday 3 September, with other acts including Craig David, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Sister Sledge and Panjabi MC.

    The city council said it would be "the largest single event in our year as UK City of Culture".

  11. Murder inquiry after body found in lay-bypublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    Police say the body, "believed to be that of a woman", was found in Perton on Monday.

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  12. Rail services cancelled due to crew shortagepublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    BBC News Travel

    Some rail services between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton have been cancelled due to a shortage of crew, West Midlands Railway said.

    The company said disruption was expected until the end of the day.

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  13. Fan suffers heart attack ahead of Coventry City matchpublished at 13:36 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    A football fan suffered a heart attack ahead of a game at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry City Football Club has confirmed.

    It happened before the team's tie against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, which they won 2-1.

    The club, said the supporter is now recovering following hospital treatment.

    View of the stadium taken on 8 August.Image source, Getty Images

    In a statement,, external the club said: "We would like to pay tribute to the quick actions of our stewards and the ShowMed paramedics, which proved life saving in this incident, and the family of the supporter have also expressed their huge thanks to them.

    "This highlights again the importance to us all of having defibrillators at major events and in the community.

    "The club are in contact with the supporter's family, and would like to publicly wish the gentleman and his family all the best at this time.

    "We look forward to welcoming them back to a game in due course."

  14. 'Ten years on and I still don't have justice'published at 13:09 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    Tariq Jahan says he forgives the men who killed his son during the 2011 riots in Birmingham.

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  15. Man in court over Yordanos Brhane murderpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Yordanos Brhane.

    Officers were called to property on Unett Street in Hockley, Birmingham on 31 July where the 19-year-old (pictured) was found with fatal stab wounds.

    Halefom Weldeyohannes, 25, from Sheffield, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday for a preliminary hearing.

    He was remanded in custody to return to the court on 9 September.

    Yordanos BrhaneImage source, West Midlands Police
  16. Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy highest in London and Midlandspublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    A new study by the Office for national Statistics shows a fall in the numbers of people who are unwilling or unsure about having a vaccine to protect them from Covid-19.

    The ONS analysis compares hesitancy towards the jab in two separate periods - firstly between 7 January to 28 March and secondly from 28 April to 18 July 2021.

    The findings suggest the most hesitant groups are in London and the Midlands.

    Covid-19 vaccineImage source, PA Media

    Some 15% of young adults aged between 16 and 29 in the West Midlands reported vaccine hesitancy in the latest survey period.

    The rates for adults generally in the region were particularly high among those living in deprived areas - 12%.

    Overall across the UK, more than nine in 10 adults (96%) reported positive sentiment towards coronavirus vaccines while 4% reported hesitancy.

  17. Tokyo Olympics: Chelsie Giles returns to 'amazing' supportpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    An athlete who claimed Great Britain's first medal of the Tokyo Olympics said she has received "amazing" support from people in her home city.

    Chelsie GilesImage source, PA Media

    Chelsie Giles, 24, from Coventry picked up bronze in the women's -52kg judo event.

    She said of winning the first Team GB medal of the games: "I didn't know how much attention it would get, but it's been amazing to see the support, especially when I got home."

    She added that competing again at Paris Olympics in 2024 was "definitely a possibility".

    "I think I've proved to myself that with the bronze medal that I can definitely compete with the best."

  18. Firefighters sent to Greece to tackle wildfirespublished at 09:16 British Summer Time 9 August 2021

    Firefighters from the West Midlands have joined others in Athens to help fight wildfires in Greece.

    Media caption,

    Greece wildfires: 'It's like a horror movie but it's real life'

    More than 2,000 people have already been evacuated from the island of Evia many of those by ferry.

    Greece is experiencing its most severe heatwave in 30 years in which temperatures have spiked at 45C (113F).

    The team from the West Midlands consists of two watch commanders, who between them have a "fantastic amount of expertise," said Rob Norman from the service.