BBC Local Live: Coventry and Warwickshire

Summary

Girl, 4, hurt in dog attack
Two severely injured in explosion
'Key witness' sought to machete attack
Lift shaft death fall 'misadventure'
Chip shop staff threatened with 'sword'
Updates from Friday 28 July 2017

Live Reporting

Delays at Birmingham Airport after 20 to 30 staff call in sickpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
There's severe delays at Birmingham Airport today because more than a quarter of the staff who work in baggage handling have phoned in sick.
Between 20 and 30 Swissport workers are off work - the company says it hopes it will be back to normal tomorrow.
Image source, PA
Birmingham Airport said it recognises the impact of today's absences and it's providing operational support to Swissport and any complaints should go to the airlines.
Farm vehicles fitted with trackerspublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Tracking devices are being used, external in a bid to deter rural crime and vehicle theft, police say.
Officer have deployed a number of farm vehicles fitted with trackers to rural areas of South Warwickshire to help them locate 'would-be thieves'.
It follows a number of reported thefts in the area.
Quote Message
Fitting various vehicles and items of farming equipment with modern trackers can help apprehend people attempting to steal from rural locations, and can also be invaluable in preventing and deterring crime in the first place.
PC Craig Purcell, Shipston Police Safer Neighbourhood team
Senior winner Broadhurst defends titlepublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Ged Scott
BBC Sport
Veteran Warwickshire golfer Paul Broadhurst is off to South Wales to defend his British Senior Open title at Royal Porthcawl from Thursday.
The 51-year-old from Atherstone played in the world's oldest and most famous competition last week when he missed the cut by just two shots at the 146h Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
But this weekend, with his 20-year-old son Sam again acting as his caddy, Broadhurst is taking part in an event that he has serious hopes of winning again - after capturing his first 'Senior Major' by winning on his championship debut at Carnoustie last year.
Image source, Getty Images
"Porthcawl will be tough to defend," he told BBC Sport. "There's lots of good players and it's a course I'm not that familiar with. I've had two practice rounds down there, one in a gale, one in flat calm, so I'm prepared for anything."
Former Ryder Cup player Broadhurst will be joined at Porthcawl by former British Amateur champion Warren Bladon. Now 51, the man from Four Ashes Golf Centre, Solihull came through qualifying following an 11-man play-off at Southerndown.
Travel: Kenilworth commuters warned to expect disruptionpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
People planning to travel through Kenilworth this weekend are being urged to allow extra time for their journeys due to the annual Horse Fair taking place in the town on Saturday and Sunday.
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UKIP MEP pulls out of leadership racepublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
The West Midlands Euro MP, Bill Etheridge, has announced he's withdrawing from UKIP's leadership contest.
The politician, who's seen as being a moderate within the party, says he's still to decide which of the other candidates he'll support.
Football: The Valley announce new signingpublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Geoff Foster
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport
Rugby Town have signed defender Brad Harris, external from AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
The 27-year-old - who's originally from Rugby - previously played at Butlin Road before moving to Daventry Town.
He is the fifth player born in the town to feature in the squad for the coming season.
Biker critically injured after smashpublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
A biker has been left with life-threatening injuries following a crash in Coventry, police say.
Officers were called to Radford Road at around 14:50 following reports of a crash between a motorbike and a blue Fiat Picanto at the junction of Bede Road.
The 20-year-old biker was taken to hospital where is condition is described as critical. Witnesses are being sought.
More miles added to Warwickshire sisters' running challengepublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Two sisters from Leamington Spa have added more races to a running challenge they're currently working to complete.
Image source, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
Image caption,
Lillie Bleasdale after completing the Great London Newham 10km
The 'Bleasdale Challenge' will now see 21-year-old Lillie Bleasdale and 26-year-old Victoria run a total of over 393 kilometres.
The sisters are hoping to raise a minimum of £5,000 pounds for charity.
CCTV image released following theft in Rugbypublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Police in Rugby have released an image of a man , externalthat they would like to speak to in connection with a stolen wallet.
Image source, Warwickshire Police
It was taken from a nightclub in the High Street in the early hours of 29 May.
It's thought that a debit card from the wallet was used in several stores across the town following the theft.
Rugby: Wasps announce Singha 7s squadpublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Wasps Rugby Club has announced the 12-man squad it's entering into the Singha Premierships Rugby 7s competition which is due to take place on Friday and Saturday at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton.
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Scheme launched to encourage more people to swimpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
A new project to encourage more people to start swimming has been launched in Coventry.
Image source, Advent Communications
Go Swim will see £230,000 invested in swimming activities across the city.
The initiative is funded by Sport England and is being delivered by Coventry Sports Foundation, Coventry Sports Trust and the City Council.
Football: Sky Blues chalk up win in pre-season friendlypublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Clive Eakin
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport
Coventry City beat Mickleover, external to record a victory in the club's latest pre-season friendly.
Image source, Getty Images
Jordan Ponticelli grabbed the winner in the second half.
City assistant manager Steve Taylor says the performance of the Under-23 side was something that pleased him with the new League Two campaign just days away.
Quote Message
Coming to a ground like this and playing a non-league team is a really good learning curve for the lads...they came out 1-0 winners and thoroughly deserved it.
Steve Taylor, Assistant Manager, Coventry City FC
Travel: Berkswell delays have cleared uppublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
London Midland says commuters will no longer face delays at Berkswell Station after a vehicle hit a bridge.
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Warwickshire councillor confirmed as county's Deputy Police and Crime Commissionerpublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
A Nuneaton councillor has been appointed as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire.
Image source, Warwickshire Police
Rob Tromans - who represents the St Nicholas ward - will work in the role for three days a week from August.
Quote Message
I have always taken a keen interest in the community and the concerns of residents, so I look forward to serving local people as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire.
Rob Tromans, Warwickshire Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner
Travel: Berkswell commuters told to expect delayspublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
London Midland is warning commuters to expect delays at Berkswell Station after a road vehicle collided with a bridge there.
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Football: Sphinx tease new signingspublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Coventry Sphinx Football Club has taken to Twitter to tease the announcement of 'some' new signings set to be unveiled this evening.
Manager Stuart Dutton says he's aiming to add more quality and depth to his squad.
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Peanut the abandoned puppy finds new homepublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
A ten-week-old puppy has been rehomed after it was found abandoned in a box by a roadside in Berkswell.
Image source, Dogs Trust
The Dogs Trust charity in Kenilworth was alerted to Peanut's plight by a member of the public.
A piece of wood had been placed on top of the box to stop the Terrier Cross puppy from escaping.
Quote Message
Literally [within] a couple of hours we had lots of applications...She [Peanut] is going to live with a local family with children so hopefully she'll be very happy.
Kayla Maryon, Dogs Trust Kenilworth
Quentin Willson: Car ban will cost 'two trillion' poundspublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
Trish Adudu
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
A former Top Gear presenter claims a proposed ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2040 will cost at least two trillion pounds.
The move - set to be announced by the government - is all part of a bid to tackle air pollution
But Stratford-based motoring journalist Quentin Willson says shifting the entire automotive industry towards electric vehicles will be costly.
Quote Message
We've been working hard at this for the last five to seven years, to get everybody to buy these cars and to have the technology that works...to have the infrastructure to back it up you're going to have to throw another trillion at it...this is a huge, huge bill.
Quentin Willson, Motoring Journalist
Council 'disappointed' at union ballot planspublished at 09:40 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
A consultation into changes to children's services in Coventry is "still ongoing" says the city council, and it is "disappointing" the GMB union has "not engaged fully" in the process to date.
The union said council workers are to be balloted on strike action over the changes.
John Gregg, director of Children's Services, said the plans are "part of a wider set of proposals" which have been subject to a public consultation in the past".
Quote Message
“With the consultation still ongoing, it is not possible to say what the eventual outcome will be but we remain committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for young people in our city.”
John Gregg, Coventry City Council
Cricket: Bears record second winpublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 26 July 2017
BBC Sport
The Birmingham Bears recorded their second win in three days in the T20 Blast last night, to move level with the leaders in their group.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Grace Road
They beat Leicestershire by 30 runs at Grace Road, comfortably defending their score of 187-7.
Sam Hain top-scored with 57, while Boyd Rankin and Aaron Thomason took three wickets each as the Bears limited Leicestershire to 157-8.