A boy who took a shotgun and 200 rounds of ammunition into a Nuneaton school had been "seconds away" from opening fire, a court heard today.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said: "A moment in time separated the pupils and staff of this school from being the subject of a terrible event."

A 999 call handler "averted disaster" by questioning the boy about his mental state and instructing him to dis-assemble the double-barrelled gun, and place it outside the room he was in.

Image source, Google

Passing sentence, the judge told the teenager: "In interview, you were frank and told the police that you took the gun to school that day intending to harm people.

"At that time you were in a room, angry to the point of being prepared to use serious and lethal force, armed with a loaded shotgun and 200 cartridges.

"Had you begun to shoot I have no doubt serious injury and death would have resulted and it is impossible for me to predict how many might have been hit."

Filming is set to begin next week in Stratford-upon-Avon on a new 10-part detective drama for BBC One.

Mark Benton and Jo Joyner are to take centre stage in Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators, which will see them unearth the secrets behind the seemingly quiet lives of rural Warwickshire's residents.

Will Trotter, head of BBC Daytime Drama, BBC Studios said: “Shakespeare & Hathaway is a modern private eye crime drama set in iconic Stratford-upon-Avon and leafy Warwickshire, playing upon Shakespearean themes with warm witty characters and compelling plot lines".

Somerset complete an important 169-run victory over fellow Division One strugglers Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Drug paraphernalia and mobile phones have been seized at a house in Stratford-upon-Avon by officers carrying out a warrant.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

A 22-year-old man was arrested at the property, on Childs Close, on suspicion of assault following a separate incident on the street on 30 August.

The warrant was carried out following concerns raised by members of the community, the force said.

Earlier we brought you the news a teenage boy has been locked up after taking a loaded gun, knife and ammunition to Higham Lane School in Nuneaton.

Crown prosecutor David Elliott described the teenager as "irresponsible" at Warwick Crown Court today.

He "not only put himself in danger, but also put his fellow students and teachers in fear of harm", he said.

“At a time when the country was on high alert, the teenager managed to get hold of his father’s key to a cabinet where his guns were kept, armed himself with a loaded shotgun and a knife and walked into his school."

A driver has died after his car collided with a bin lorry in Coventry this morning, police say.

He died at the scene on Brinklow Road, police said, with the lorry driver and two passengers taken to hospital for treatment.

The road between Combe Fields Road and the Valencia Road junction remains closed while officers carry out their investigations.

A teacher and 999 call operator have been praised for "calming" a teenager who'd taken a loaded gun to school, intent on harming fellow pupils.

"Thankfully he contacted the police", said prosecutor David Elliott, who thanked the control operator and the teacher.

The judge presiding over the sentencing of the 15-year-old, at Warwick Crown Court today said a "truly horrific" crime had been averted.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said that if the gun had been used, the crime "would have taken its place in the history of truly horrific crimes carried out in this country".

Batsman Ed Pollock and left-arm spinner Sunny Singh both sign one-year contract extensions with Warwickshire.

A teenager sentenced to six years detention for taking a loaded shotgun to school told police he'd been having "suicidal thoughts" at the time.

The gun had been used by him and his father for clay pigeon shooting, and was correctly stored under lock and key.

At Warwick Crown Court today Judge Andrew Lockhart QC, praised the police call handler who took the boy's call, saying he averted disaster and should be publicly commended.

A teenage boy who took a loaded shotgun, 200 rounds of ammunition and a mask into a school has been sentenced to a six-year youth detention order after admitting possessing the weapon with intent to endanger life.

The 15-year-old told a 999 call handler he had "a change of heart" and had been thinking of harming others after taking the weapon to Higham Lane School in Nuneaton in June.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, also took ear plugs and a lock-knife with him after removing the shotgun from a secure cabinet belonging to his father.

Some slightly better news coming out of Edgbaston where I'm sure Somerset are keen to get out there and try and wrap up a win against Warwickshire.

Lunch has also been brought forward, so we may yet see some play today.

Money was stolen from a cash security van during a robbery on Cubbington Road, Lillington yesterday, police say., external

Image source, Google

The van was targeted by a gang believed to be driving a black Citroen at around 11:17.

The thieves fled the scene, driving along Cubbington Road towards the roundabout which leads towards Leamington Spa or Ryton.

The driver, a man in his 60s, was uninjured in the incident.

Leamington Observer

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of criminal damage , externalafter a bus window was smashed on The Parade.

It's not looking very bright at Edgbaston for the final day of Warwickshire v Somerset.

The forecast isn't looking great either, but we'll keep you updated.

Coventry Telegraph

In the space of 14 months there were 12 incidents of items being thrown at firefighters, there were 16 incidents of shouted abuse and one incident of harassment. , external

Listen to live BBC local radio coverage of Warwickshire v Essex in County Championship Division One.

Warwickshire's cricketers will be relying on their batsmen, or the weather, to help them get something out of their relegation scrap with Somerset at Edgbaston.

The Bears will resume the final day on 172 for six in their second innings needing 230 more runs for an unlikely victory.

Somerset need just four wickets to claim a second Division One victory of the season.

Yesterday Marcus Trescothick hit an unbeaten 119, giving Somerset hope of avoiding the drop this season.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Coventry Blaze supporters have helped the club secure the services of Latvian forward Edgars Bebris on a full contract.

Image source, Scott Wiggins

The 26-year-old has played in Blaze pre-season games.

The club has now signed Bebris for the season which starts this weekend and says they wouldn't have been able to do it without the support of the Blaze Booster Club.

BBC News Travel

A fault with the signalling system between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby is causing rail delays, National Rail says.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

After a cloudy start, with some rain there's the risk of heavy and thundery showers this afternoon with highs of 18C (64F).