Summary

  • Updates from 4 - 10 October

  1. Children targeted by anti-vax protesters at schoolpublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Lichfield's MP Michael Fabricant describes the demonstrators' action as "irresponsible".

    Read More
  2. Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    That's it for our live coverage today.

    We'll be back at 08:00 on Monday with the latest news, weather, sport and travel.

    Any updates over the weekend will appear here.

  3. Murder-accused 'threatened to take son's jaw off'published at 17:59 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    A court hears of WhatsApp threats made by the father of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

    Read More
  4. Man injured in hit and run after exiting broken-down carpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    A man suffered arm injuries and cuts to his face when he was struck by a vehicle in Shrewsbury, West Mercia Police said.

    It happened on Churncote at 19:30 BST on Monday.

    According to the force, the victim was hit after getting out of his broken-down car, with the passing vehicle failing to stop after the crash.

    Investigating officer PC Craig Byle said: “I’d like to appeal to anyone who may have been driving in the area at the time and saw the collision, or captured the broken-down vehicle on dash cam, to please contact us.”

  5. 'CSI-style' tape rolled out to tackle flytippingpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    "CSI-style" hi-vis tape is being rolled out in a bid to tackle flytipping.

    The anti-flytipping tapeImage source, Newham Council

    The tape, with the message 'Rubbish Under Investigation' will be stuck to flytipping for a fixed period in a bid to "counter the expectation that fly-tips will be collected quickly and without repercussion", Birmingham City Council said.

    It's part of a new partnership with Keep Britain Tidy which will also see stencilled messages painted on hot-spots to raise awareness of the cost of clearing the dumped waste to the community.

    The ischeme has previously been rolled out in parts of London where the council reported a drop in flytipping of 73% in pilot areas.

    Quote Message

    We are open to innovation, bold ideas and learning from best practice elsewhere. We are committed to doing everything possible to deliver cleaner, greener, streets.

    Councillor John O'Shea, Birmingham City Council

  6. Tributes paid to former deputy council leaderpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Mark Cardwell

    The former deputy leader of Birmingham City Council has died after a short illness.

    Andy HowellImage source, Carl Hopley

    Andy Howell was a former Labour councillor for Moseley and was deputy leader of the council between 1999 and 2003.

    His wife Kate Foley said he was "Birmingham to his core" but had a range of other passions including "the great outdoors" as well as arts and charity work.

    The current leader of the council, Ian Ward, said he was "shocked and saddened" to hear of Mr Howell's death, remembering him as "a good Labour man who was committed to the people of Birmingham".

    Tributes also flooded in from fellow councillors and the city's MPs.

  7. Tributes to teacher who died from cancerpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    A school has paid tribute to its head teacher after she died with cancer.

    Jayne Gray, who died on 6 October had been the head of St Michael's CofE Church of England High School in Rowley Regis since September 2016.

    Previously she worked at Lode Heath School in Solihull and Grace Academy in Darlaston.

    Jayne GrayImage source, St Michael's CofE Church of England High School

    Senior Deputy Head Teacher, Christina Handy-Rivett, said: “Mrs Gray dealt with her illness with a tenacious, optimistic and practical attitude throughout her treatment.

    "In living with her diagnosis, she continued to successfully lead St Michael’s, always putting the students and school community before her own needs.

    "As a leadership team, we are privileged to have worked with her and she will be greatly missed; she was an aspirational leader and mentor and we will continue to uphold everything she stood for.”

  8. Road closed amid reports of sewage leakpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    The Shrewsbury street is shut as engineers respond to a blocked sewer.

    Read More
  9. Taste-test time for cucumbers grown under plasticpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Researchers in Wellesborne are growing the vegetable under glass-free panels.

    Read More
  10. Man denies murder of man found in housepublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Mark Richmond died in hospital last month after he was found with multiple, serious injuries.

    Read More
  11. Police force offers checks after Sarah Everard murderpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Staffordshire Police is now offering what it calls an "officer verification" check so people can ensure they are speaking to a genuine police officer going about their duty.

    Measures are being introduced following nationwide concern over the murder of Sarah Everard.

    Sarah EverardImage source, PA Media

    From today, officers working alone will proactively offer to carry out a verification check via the force's control room.

    Members of the public can also request for the verification check to be carried out, the force said.

    A statement from Staffordshire Police said: "As part of the check, officers will put their personal radio on loudspeaker to allow the officer or member of police staff working in the control room to confirm that the officer is who they say they are, that they are on duty and the reason the officer is speaking to the member of the public."

    Staffordshire Police crestImage source, Staffordshire Police

    Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Jennie Mattinson said: "The appalling circumstances of Sarah Everard’s murder have understandably generated concerns from members of the public about verifying the identify of police officers.

    "The onus is on us, as a police force, to reassure the public of our commitment to, and ability in, keeping people in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent safe.

    She added: "By offering this additional verification check through our control room, we hope to be able to provide immediate reassurance to anyone who might be concerned if they find themselves being approached by a lone police officer."

    Read more: What should you do if you are stopped by police?

  12. Lorry caught on CCTV reversing into level crossingpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Repairs to the barrier led to major disruption to rail services between Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent.

    Read More
  13. England's biggest NHS trust 'requires improvement'published at 15:55 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Inspectors downgrade University Hospitals Birmingham Trust's overall rating amid safety concerns.

    Read More
  14. Historic stained-glass windows restoredpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    A restoration expert describes the windows at Alton Towers as some of the finest in Europe.

    Read More
  15. Micro art masterpieces on show in Wolverhamptonpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    A micro artist's tiny versions of six famous works of art have sold for more than £90,000

    Micro artImage source, David A Lindon

    David A Lindon has recreated works including Munch's The Scream, Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and van Gogh's The Starry Night and Sunflowers.

    His versions are small enough to fit into the eye of a needle.

    The six masterpieces and a further six pieces of art can been seen at A New Beginning, an exhibition at the Lighthouse Media Centre in Wolverhampton, until 29 October.

  16. Car park refused for too many parking spacespublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Council officials object to the plans saying they would encourage car use and increase congestion.

    Read More
  17. Fines for non-payment on Metro to increase to £100published at 14:43 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The fine for fare-dodging on the West Midlands Metro could increase from £10 to £100.

    The proposal is to help deter people from skipping payment, with a cut to £50 if the fine is paid within fourteen days.

    “Whilst the vast majority of our customers travel with a valid ticket, from time-to-time they tell us how unfair it is that some people try to avoid paying the correct fare,” a spokesperson said.

    “In response we are increasing the existing £10 penalty, which has been in place since 1999, and may no longer be a suitable deterrent.

    A West Midlands metroImage source, WMCA

    The announcement comes shortly after it was revealed that the region would be bidding for £2 billion worth of funding to further extend the metro system, with proposed extensions including from Wednesbury to Walsall along the old railway line; Wolverhampton city centre to New Cross Hospital; Hagley Road, Birmingham and Sandwell; and Brierley Hill to Stourbridge.

    Transport for West Midlands has asked anyone with comments about the fare rise to contact it by 19 November 2021.

  18. Disappointment over City of Culture decisionpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Earlier, we told you how Wolverhampton had missed out on a place on the long list of locations set to become City of Culture in 2025.

    The city put in a bid for the title but its been announced it hasn't made it to the final shortlist of eight.

    Sham Sharma, Chair of the Wolverhampton Business Forum, said the news is disappointing.

    Wolverhampton

    "We have great great assets in Wolverhampton, I always think we need to shout about them in the wider world," he said.

    More places than ever before put in bids to become the next UK City of Culture. An initial list of 20 places was whittled down to eight potential winners by an independent advisory panel.

  19. 'Groundhog day' as SEND concerns persistpublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Mark Cardwell

    A group of parents of children with special educational needs have said it "feels like Groundhog Day" as concerns are raised about a Birmingham council's new education chief.

    Sue Harrison was appointed last month , externalafter leaving a similar role in Central Bedfordshire council, where parents have criticised the SEND provision.

    Birmingham City CouncilImage source, Birmingham City Council

    Birmingham has faced many complaints regarding its own services, including a recent "second warning" from Ofsted about improvements, leading some parents to question the new appointment.

    “I have been around the SEND system in Birmingham for a long time and it does feel like Groundhog Day," said Jo Bussey, whose son has cerebral palsy.

    “It’s clearly a really complicated machine to administer. I really want to believe that they will be able to deliver.”

    The local authority said it carried out "due dilligence" before appointing Ms Harrison.

    "We are confident that Sue has the skillset and background that is needed to take services forward in this city," a spokesperson said.

    Central Bedfordshire Council also said that Ms Harrison had developed "a comprehensive improvement plan" for educational services during her time there.