Summary

  • Updates from Monday 13 September to Sunday 19 September

  1. 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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  2. '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.

  3. Two charged over Uttoxeter attackpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Two men have been charged over an attack that left a man in a critical condition in hospital.

    It happened on Saturday morning in Market Place, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Police said. , external

    The victim was given emergency treatment at the scene. He remains under hospital care.

    The accused, aged 18 and 42, both from Birmingham, have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and possession of cannabis.

    They are due to appear before magistrates in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

    Three other men, aged 16,21 and 22, all from the West Midlands, have been released on bail.

  4. 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

  5. Galleri cancer test: What is it and who can get it?published at 13:37 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Tens of thousands of volunteers are being recruited in a trial of a potentially "game-changing" blood test for cancer.

    It's hoped the Galleri test, which will be conducted in nine parts of the country, including the West Midlands, can detect more than 50 types of the disease before symptoms appear.

    Patient and nurseImage source, Getty Images

    Participants will be asked to give a blood sample at a locally based mobile clinic.

    They will then be invited back twice - after 12 months and two years - to give further samples.

    You can find out more here.

  6. Pedestrian hit by car diespublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    A 92-year-old woman has died after being hit by a car in Shropshire.

    The pedestrian was struck by a silver Land Rover Defender on Old Smithfield, Bridgnorth, shortly after 11:00 on Friday, said West Mercia Police.

    Officers are asking for any witnesses to come forward.

  7. More on-street charging points to be consideredpublished at 12:07 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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
  10. 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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  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. Weather: Mostly cloudy with chance of rainpublished at 08:15 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    BBC Weather

    Today will remain mostly cloudy with the odd brighter or sunny spell likely between any breaks in cloud.

    It should continue to be largely dry for most, but the odd spot of rain may drift in at times. Highs of 19C (66F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  15. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Welcome to our live service for Monday.

    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

  16. Ashley Cain opens up about his daughter's deathpublished at 06:59 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Ashley Cain urges men dealing with bereavement to "talk about it" after the loss of his eight-month-old daughter to leukaemia.

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  17. Hunt for man suspected of stabbing and kidnappublished at 06:28 British Summer Time 13 September 2021

    Lee Martin is also suspected of being involved in the theft of three cars and a burglary.

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