Summary

  • Updates from Monday 16 August to Sunday 22 August

  1. Daughter in court to deny murdering motherpublished at 19:07 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Jessica Crane enters her plea following the death of Janet Mason whose body was discovered in March.

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  2. Tykes face tricky chase to beat Bearspublished at 18:54 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Yorkshire lose England's Dawid Malan late on as their low-scoring contest with Warwickshire swings the Bears' way at Headingley.

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  3. Man trains as lifesaver after bystanders' CPRpublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Peter Corr says he was saved by "guardian angels" after suffering a cardiac arrest while running.

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  4. Lane closure plans postponedpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A trial lane closure planned for next month outside Shrewsbury railway station has been postponed.

    Shropshire Council had intended to bring in the temporary measure in a bid to combat pollution. The authority now says it needs more time to weigh up the benefits and potential impacts of the scheme.

    The right-hand lane closure was designed to reduce the amount of traffic pollution reaching nearby properties and was set to be the first intervention trialled as part of a plan in the Shrewsbury Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) to cut overall nitrogen dioxide levels to below legal limits.

    Shrewsbury railway stationImage source, Google

    Councillor Dean Carroll, board chairman and cabinet member for public health, said he wanted to see more work done to investigate the proposed measures.

    He said: "There are some suggested proposals made in the report that we feel actually need further consultation and engagement with stakeholders and with internal colleagues as to how they have a knock-on impact on other plans and policies of the council.

    "I think it's right that we take all of that on board first before we ask health and wellbeing board to endorse that as an approach."

    Members agreed to defer consideration of the report to a future meeting.

  5. Historic landmark pub recreated at museumpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Wolverhampton's old Elephant and Castle pub will form part of a £23m museum expansion.

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  6. Volunteers begin cancer blood test trialpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Stuart Devereux says he was keen to take part after losing family members to the disease.

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  7. HS2: 'More than 20,000 jobs created'published at 16:32 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    More than 20,000 jobs have so far been created as part of the HS2 high speed rail link project, the company behind it says.

    Tunnelling machineImage source, HS2 Ltd

    It is 12 months since the Prime Minister announced the formal start of construction on phase one between London and Birmingham, through Warwickshire.

    Work in the county includes a giant boring machine being used to create a tunnel under Long Itchington Woods.

    HS2 site BirminghamImage source, HS2 Ltd

    Contracts have been awarded to more than 2,200 businesses, with further opportunities worth a total of £25bn expected over the coming years, says HS2 Ltd.

    But the project has not been without criticism, including complaints on environmental grounds.

    Quote Message

    While there have been some issues with the project in the past, hitting the landmark of 20,000 jobs underlines the unstoppable momentum HS2 now has. It’s been an incredible year of progress as work continues across the country to deliver a new backbone of Britain’s transport network, fit for the 21st century and beyond."

    Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary

  8. Workers at closing car plant set to strikepublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Their roles at GKN in Erdington are due to be carried out in Poland and France when the site shuts.

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  9. Man in court charged with manslaughterpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Ashley Sumner, 31, is accused of killing an 80-year-old man in St Martins, near Oswestry.

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  10. 'Machete attacker' leaves man in comapublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Police are appealing for help to find a "machete attacker" who left a man critically ill in August.

    The 31-year-old was hurt in East Park Way near to the junction of Willenhall Road in Wolverhampton at about 11:45 on 20 August. He's currently in a coma, West Midlands Police says., external

    "At this stage we don’t know why the man was attacked but we’re doing everything we can to find the person responsible," a statement said.

  11. Hundreds of flames light up city's faith celebrationpublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Members of the public joined in a Ceremony of Lights procession at the end of a 24-hour programme of theatre, music and art celebrating faith in Coventry.

    Members of the public take part in the Ceremony of Light procession at Millennium Place in CoventryImage source, PA
    The Very Rev Theo Polyviou of the Greek Orthodox Church of the holy Transfiguration in Coventry takes part in the Ceremony of Light processionImage source, PA Media

    Hundreds of flames were lit on Saturday evening as part of Faith which included four plays performed in the streets and faith groups opening their doors as part of City of Culture events.

    Chenine Bhathena, creative director of Coventry 2021, said the collaboration, which included the Royal Shakespeare Company and artists, was "more poignant taking place on 9/11, when the world is reflecting on faith, understanding and unity".

    She added it was "something so special for the city, a one-off event that will live in all of our memories for a long time and help us all to be even better friends and neighbours with each other".

    The plays and procession can be viewed on the event's YouTube channel., external

  12. More on-street charging points to be consideredpublished at 12:08 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Plans to install more on-street charging points for electric vehicles across Worcestershire will be explored by the county council.

    Worcester currently has 20 public electric vehicle charging points to serve its population, which is below the UK average of about 30 per 100,000 people.

    Councillor Lynn Denham said the number of electric vehicles licensed in Worcester had trebled in the last two years but many people were put off by a lack of charging facilities.

    She said the council had an "opportunity to take the lead on practical change".

    A charging pointImage source, Getty Images

    "More electric vehicles on our roads means less carbon and better air quality," Ms Denham said.

    "At our last meeting we declared a climate emergency and that means we want to take action. Air pollution is a serious health risk."

    Councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member for highways, said the council "actively supported" the installation of electric vehicle charging points across the county, but on-street facilities came with several issues especially in areas with a lack of off-street parking.

  13. Cancer blood test to be trialled in regionpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    People living in the West Midlands will be among those invited to take part in an NHS trial to detect cancer.

    Galleri Trial signImage source, PA Media

    The Galleri test will use a simple blood test to detect cancers that are not routinely screened for.

    It can detect more than 50 types of the illness and can pinpoint where in the body the disease is coming from with a high degree of accuracy.

    The first results from the study are expected by 2023. If successful, the NHS in England plans to extend the rollout to a further one million people in 2024 and 2025.

  14. Rain weather warning comes into force Tuesdaypublished at 10:56 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    A yellow weather warning for rain will be in place for large areas of the West Midlands tomorrow.

    The Met Office warning , externalcovers the period between 06:00 and midnight.

    While many will see a wet day on Tuesday, there is the chance of very heavy rainfall for some, leading to disruption.

    The mapImage source, Met Office
  15. Cars welded together to make 'death trap' fake BMWpublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    The M3 estate looks flashy - but is a model that has never been made by the car giant, say police.

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  16. Man critical after assaultpublished at 09:38 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    An assault has left a man in a critical condition.

    Officers were called to Market Place in Uttoxeter at about 01:50 on Saturday.

    Staffordshire Police said on arrival one man needed emergency medical treatment and was taken to hospital where he remains.

    An 18-year-old male suspect from Birmingham was arrested and remains in custody for questioning.

  17. Conference centre gutted in blaze, fire service sayspublished at 09:04 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    BBC Radio WM

    About 50 firefighters tackled a blaze at a conference centre and banqueting hall in Wolverhampton.

    The fire service was called out yesterday morning after reports the inside of the empty building on Foxes Lane was ablaze.

    The aftermathImage source, West Midlands Fire Service

    It took more than three hours and 10 appliances to bring the fire under control.

    West Midlands Fire Service said the inside of the building was completely destroyed.

  18. Search for stabbing and car-jacking suspect continuespublished at 08:34 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    The search for a man wanted on suspicion of kidnapping, beating and stabbing a woman is continuing.

    West Midlands Police says it also suspects Lee Martin, 41, of stealing a car, committing burglary and carrying out two knifepoint car-jackings across Birmingham.

    "All police forces in the country have been told that Lee Martin is wanted but we strongly suspect that he is still hiding out somewhere in Birmingham," Supt Darren Walsh said.

    CCTVImage source, West Midlands Police

    Last Wednesday, police said they suspected Mr Martin stole a BMW from a woman in Kings Heath Park. The car was found two days later on nearby Branscombe Close.

    CCTV from Asda in Barnes Hill, Birmingham, shows a man whom police believe to be Mr Martin stealing a woman’s Nissan Qashiqa on Friday afternoon.

    The woman was threatened with a knife and attacked before her car was stolen. The car has since been found and police forensic teams are examining it.

    Four hours later, a house was broken into on Stonebrook Way, Harborne, Birmingham. The householder disturbed the burglar who had a knife and West Midlands Police said it believed the offender to be Mr Martin.

    A Corsa was then stolen from a woman who had just dropped off her daughter at university. It happened on Lionel Street in Birmingham city centre just before 19:45 on Saturday.

    Charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £3,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of Mr Martin.