Summary

  • Rugby-born actor Tim Pigott-Smith dies

  • Jaguar Land Rover posts record sales

  • Updates from Friday 7 April 2017

  1. Can Coventry City stay in the city? The EFL hope sopublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 4 April 2017

    The chief executive of the English Football League says they want answers about where the Sky Blues will play after this season. 

    The club's deal is due to run out at the end of 2018.

    Wasps, who own the Ricoh, say they're unwilling to talk to the club - while SISU are undertaking legal action. Sean harvey's the Chief Executive of the EFL.

    Quote Message

    We have to look at all the facts that are presented to us by the club at that particular time. We would look to try and ensure that the club stay inside the city boundaries and if that can't be possible we have to weigh up the balance in relation to the continuance of the club in league football or not but we are aiming to achieve a situation were nobody has to even consider that.

    Sean Harvey , Chief executive, English Football League

    Coventry RFC's Butts Park ArenaImage source, Coventry Bears

    Last month the club said it was looking to share Coventry Rugby's Butts Park Arena. 

  2. Man stabbed in head during caravan site disturbancepublished at 10:32 British Summer Time 4 April 2017

    A man has been stabbed in the head in a disturbance at a caravan site

    The man, in his 50s, is in a serious but stable condition in hospital. Another man was also treated for cuts to his arm.

    Police were called to the site on Alvecote Lane, Alvecote, Warwickshire, on Monday afternoon after reports of a disturbance involving a number of people. 

    A 35-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of wounding.

  3. West Midlands Mayor nominations close at 4pmpublished at 09:39 British Summer Time 4 April 2017

    Nominations for those wanting to be the first elected mayor in charge of the new West Midlands Combined Authority close at 16:00 this afternoon.  , external

    Anyone who wants to stand will need a submit a £5,000 deposit - and 100 people prepared to back them,

    Birmingham skylineImage source, PA

    Candidates the BBC is aware of so far include:

    • James Burn - Green Party
    • Pete Durnell - UKIP
    • Muhammad Nadeem - Independent
    • Beverley Nielsen - Liberal Democrat
    • Sion Simon - Labour
    • Graham Stevenson - Communist
    • Andy Street - Conservative

    Local authorities included in the mayoral region are: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall.

    There's 29 days until people cast their vote to decide who will the the region's first mayor.

  4. Sport headlines: Where will Sky Blues play next season? Nuneaton go 12th in the table if they win published at 09:26 British Summer Time 4 April 2017

    Alec Blackman
    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Our top sport stories that we're looking at this morning:

    • The chief executive of the EFL says they'll want answers about where the Sky Blues will play after next season
    • Nuneaton Town can go 12th in National League North, if they beat Gloucester City at Liberty Way tonight
    • Wasps skipper Joe Launchbury says the side'll learn lessons from their Champions Cup loss to Leinster in Dublin as they take on Northampton at the Ricoh this weekend
  5. Slave speaks out about 12 hour days for £65 a weekpublished at 08:42 British Summer Time 4 April 2017

    Elizabeth Glinka
    BBC Midlands Today

    A Polish man, trafficked to the West Midlands in 2008, is among 300 modern day slaves identified by the police in the past year. , external

    Janusz , not his real name was beaten and made to work for 12 hours a day, for just £65 a week.

    He was freed in 2016 and has been talking about his experiences as part of a BBC investigation. 

    Man behind barsImage source, Getty Images
    Quote Message

    Every day was a 9am start and 9pm finish. It was work work work, with no money. No money.

    'Janusz'

    His identification and driving licence were taken from him and never returned. Any money he did earn, he says was taken away from him to pay bills and was sometimes left with only £10.

  6. Weather: A cloudy and dry day aheadpublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 4 April 2017

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    After a mostly cloudy start with some rain, brighter spells will gradually develop through the morning. 

    The rest of the afternoon will stay dry with good sunny spells and light winds - highs of 15C (59F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands

  7. Tuesday: Live updates for Coventry and Warwickshirepublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 4 April 2017

    Good morning.

    We'll be bringing you the latest news,sport, travel and weather updates for Coventry and Warwickshire today between now and 18:00.

    If you'd like to get in touch with us you can do so by  emailing ustweeting, external , or visiting our  Facebook page, external  .  

  8. Veterans mark Falklands 35th anniversarypublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Servicemen meet at National Memorial Arboretum to remember those lost in the conflict.

    Read More
  9. Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    That's all from Monday's live team.

    We'll be back from 08:00 on Tuesday with more news, sport, travel and weather updates.

    Keep an eye out here for breaking news before then.

    Have a great evening.

  10. Sky Blues fans continue to celebrate Checkatrade trophy winpublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Coventry City fans are continuing to celebrate their side's Checkatrade trophy final win

    Sky Blues win the cupImage source, Getty Images

    About 43,000 made the trip to Wembley to see their team triumph over Oxford United. 

    Long-time supporter Jonathan Strange told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire he still couldn't believe the result.

    Quote Message

    What a wonderful, wonderful day it was for the football club. The team gave so much...for the city of Coventry. I think it's a great, great weekend."

    Jonathan Strange, Coventry City supporter

  11. The financial reality of leaving carepublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    English local authorities are trying to help people who've grown up in care with the transition to tax-paying adulthood.

    Seven councils - including Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton - have told care leavers this month they do not have to pay council tax until they are 22 or, in some cases, 25.  

    Four authorities already had a similar policy in place.  

    But will it make a difference?  

    People who grew up in care share their thoughts here.

    Jodie Leigh
    Image caption,

    Jodie Leigh was taken into care when she was eight and says at 20 she had no idea how to go about paying council tax, bills or rent.

  12. Seeds planted in first 'sunflower spectacular' competitionpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    A nine-year-old leukaemia patient from Coventry has joined forces with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham to literally plant the first seeds of a new charity fundraising initiative.

    Nancy with the Lord Mayor Councillor Carl RiceImage source, Bloodwise
    Image caption,

    Nancy, her younger sister Edith and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham planting the first seeds of a new fundraising campaign.

    Nancy Harvey-Noble, who has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, was joined by Councillor Carl Rice to launch 'Nancy's Sunflowers' in the grounds of Birmingham's Botanical Gardens. 

    The scheme encourages people to plant a sunflower while raising money for blood cancer research.  

  13. Man stabbed in the headpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    A man has been left in a serious condition in hospital after being stabbed in the head, Warwickshire Police says.

    According to the force, it happened at a "caravan site" on Alvecote Lane, Alvecote, this afternoon, with police receiving a call shortly before 13:45 about a "disturbance" that "involved a number of people".

    The injured man is thought to be in his 50s, police say.

    Another man is receiving hospital treatment for cuts to his arm.  

    DI Neil Reader said: "Local people will see an increased policing presence in the area while we continue to investigate this incident and identity those responsible.

    "I would like to reassure people that we believe that all those involved were known to each other and there is no wider threat to the community."

    Robey's Lane and Alvecote Lane will remain closed while investigations are ongoing.

  14. Watch: Your weather forecast for tonight and tomorrowpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    After a dry and warm day for most of us, here's how tomorrow is looking across the West Midlands.

    If you want to get the latest forecasts at any time, head to the BBC Weather website .

    Media caption,

    Sara Blizzard

  15. Couple jailed after stepfather makes 12 year-old pregnantpublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Leamington Observer

    A couple have been jailed, external for cold-heartedly using the woman’s 12-year-old daughter as an unwilling ‘surrogate mother’ because she was unable to have any more children of her own.  

  16. Stratford Foodbank appeals for help following busiest winter on record published at 16:47 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Stratford Herald

    The number of Foodbank clients, external from December to February was up 22 per cent on last year leaving stocks at the charity’s warehouse at an all-time low.  

  17. Park could get Jaguar Landrover power cablespublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Underground power cables could be laid across part of War Memorial Park in Coventry to help provide extra electricity for Jaguar Landrover's plant in Whitley.

    War Memorial Park

    It's all part of a move to link the plant to an electricity substation in Hearsall Common.

    It's thought laying 3km of cable underground would cause less disruption than following main routes.

  18. Motorbike crash kills twopublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    A crash between two motorbikes killed two men, Warwickshire Police says.

    The collision happened on the A444 Bedworth Bypass shortly after 19:00 on Saturday. According to the force, a Triumph bike collided with another motorcycle and left the carriageway.

    Its driver - a man in his 50s - and a passenger - a man in his 40s - were both pronounced deceased at the scene.

    Officers are appealing for witnesses.