Summary

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Monday

  • Updates on Friday 12 August 2016

  1. Woman, 88, in back of stolen getaway carpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 5 September 2016

    Armed raiders raiders steal a family car with an 88-year-old woman in the rear passenger seat.

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  2. Charge after restaurant 'racial crime'published at 15:32 British Summer Time 5 September 2016

    A man is charged with several offences after an alleged racially-motivated incident at an Indian restaurant in Powys.

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  3. Dogs kill more than 30 lambs in attackpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 4 September 2016

    A Herefordshire farmer has spoken of his shock and devastation after two dogs killed more than 30 of his 56 sheep in an ferocious attack.

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  4. Essex beat Worcs by innings to stay toppublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 2 September 2016

    Essex maintain their Division Two promotion push with a big win over Worcestershire inside three days at Chelmsford.

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  5. Relive day two of County Championshippublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 2 September 2016

    Relive text commentary of the latest round of Championships games, including Sussex's win in two days over Leicestershire.

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  6. Amelia and Muhammad are the most popular baby names in the West Midlandspublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 2 September 2016

    Daniel Wainwright
    Data unit - English regions

    Amelia is the most popular girls name in the West Midlands while Muhammad is the most popular for boys, according to the Office for National Statistics. 

    Only London had Muhammad as the most popular choice in 2014 but the new figures show the West Midlands has joined the capital in 2015 for having the most babies with that name. Oliver was most popular overall across England and Wales.

    There were 649 Muhammads born in the West Midlands in 2015 compared with 622 Olivers. An alternative spelling - Mohammed - is also in the top 10.

    chart showing most popular boys' names

    For girls regionally, the top choice, Amelia, was the same as the overall favourite in England and Wales.

    The data also shows the West Midlands to have a higher proportion of girls named Jessica than anywhere else. It ranks third for popularity in the region.

    Chart showing most popular girl's names
  7. Westley stars as Essex dominate Worcspublished at 18:33 British Summer Time 1 September 2016

    Tom Westley's career-best unbeaten 238 puts Division Two leaders Essex in total control against Worcestershire.

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  8. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 1 September 2016

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

  9. Ball takes hat-trick as it happenedpublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 1 September 2016

    Relive text commentary of the latest round of County Championship games, including a hat-trick from Notts' Jake Ball.

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  10. On Midlands Today from 18:30: Disappeared hotelier case and a new harvest croppublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 1 September 2016

    Nick Owen
    Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

    On Midlands Today this evening we'll hear about developments in the case of a missing hotelier from the region and his family's search for answers.

    Harvesting

    We'll also hear about one of the last crops to be gathered in this summer's farming harvest is also one of the newest. 

    Those stories and much more, include the latest sports news and weather forecast, all on BBC Midlands Today from 18:30 on BBC One.

  11. Man in wrong care home for 11 monthspublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 1 September 2016

    A man with special needs was left in an unsuitable care home for almost a year after social workers delayed arranging appropriate care.

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  12. Masters claims 7-52 as Essex dominatepublished at 18:42 British Summer Time 31 August 2016

    David Masters claims 7-52 to put Essex in a strong position against Worcestershire on the opening day at Chelmsford.

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  13. Bridge collapse: New crossing could be built, says councilpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 31 August 2016

    The collapse of an 18th Century bridge near Tenbury Wells in May has caused a lot of problems - and a solution may still be some way off.

    Worcestershire County Council said it's investigating to see if building a new permanent crossing to replace Eastham Bridge would be cheaper and quicker than a temporary replacement.

    Plans for a stop-gap have been delayed by the need for an environmental impact assessment into how it would affect the surrounding Site of Special Scientific Interest.

    While a way of fixing the road is found, here's what a bus driver who just avoided driving over the bridge before it collapsed had to say at the time:

    Media caption,

    'I couldn't believe what I was seeing'

  14. Bridge collapse 'caused by fast water'published at 14:33 British Summer Time 31 August 2016

    The collapse of a Grade II-listed bridge in front of a bus carrying schoolchildren was caused by "fast-flowing water", a council investigation suggests.

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  15. 'Weeks-old' dead kittens dumped in lanepublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 31 August 2016

    Seven dead kittens, thought to be only a couple of weeks old, have been found dumped in a lane in Bromsgrove, the RSPCA says.

    The kittens were found in Pumphouse Lane, Hanbury on Saturday - the charity says two boxes found nearby suggest they were "deliberately dumped in the layby".

    BoxesImage source, RSPCA
    Quote Message

    This is a terribly sad situation for these poor young kittens. It is possible a mother cat was dumped in one of these boxes and she could be straying now."

    Thea Kerrison, RSPCA

    The kittens had only just opened their eyes. Inspectors say they are keen to hear from anyone who might have more information.

  16. Relive Saturday's County Championship actionpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 31 August 2016

    Relive live text commentary of Saturday's County Championship action, as title rivals Middlesex and Yorkshire both draw.

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  17. County Championship - Essex boost promotion hopespublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 31 August 2016

    Re-live the third day's play in the County Championship with wins for Essex, Kent and Northants and a sixth century of the season for Keaton Jennings.

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  18. County Championship - Westley hits 238 not outpublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 31 August 2016

    Re-live day two of the latest County Championship matches as Tom Westley scores an unbeaten double century for Division Two leaders Essex.

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  19. County Championship - Tough day for Middlesexpublished at 10:09 British Summer Time 31 August 2016

    Follow our live text commentary and BBC radio coverage of the latest round of Championships games, as leaders Middlesex face Warwickshire.

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  20. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 30 August 2016

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.