Summary

  • M6 closed in Staffordshire due to 'unsafe' bridge

  • Man took wedding ring off the fingers of 98-year-old bedridden woman

  • Former Bishop of Lichfield, Keith Sutton, dies

  • D-Day veteran awarded French honour

  • Updates on Friday 24 March

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. M6 closure: Drivers facing hours of delays

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    For those wondering, the M6 remains shut in both directions this afternoon between junctions 14 and 15.

    Highways England closed it at around 04:00 to make emergency bridge repairs at the A51, north of Stafford services.

    Traffic delayed along A34

    Drivers are coping with major tailbacks on the M6 and also surrounding roads such as the A34 and A500. 

    Margaret was among the people caught up in the traffic - she called BBC Radio Stoke.

    We've come off the M6 because of the problem between junctions 14 and 15 and we're on the A34 and we've been on here for two and a quarter hours and we've only travelled 10 miles."

    Margaret, Passenger caught up in M6 delays

  2. Travel: Rail services resumed through Stafford

    BBC News Travel

    All railway lines through Stafford have now reopened , National Rail say.

    It says emergency services have dealt with an incident at the town and trains are back on the move, although there are delays while services get back to normal.

    West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed a man died at Stafford Railway Station after a collision with a train.

  4. On Midlands Today from 13:30: Another 'significant' terror attack arrest in the West Midlands

    BBC Midlands Today

    On Midlands Today this lunchtime, Scotland Yard says there have been two more "significant arrests" in connection with the Westminster attack, in the West Midlands and the North West.

    Scene of Westminster attackPA

    They have revealed more about the attacker Khalid Masood, who was believed to have been living in the West Midlands. 

    We'll have the very latest from 13:30 on BBC One.

  5. Travel: Rail services through Stafford suspended

    BBC News Travel

    All railway lines through Stafford have been blocked by an incident at the railway station and the emergency services say they're expected to remain closed until at least 14:30.

    Arrangements are being made to take all affected passengers by road instead.

  6. Keeper Garratt signs new Crewe contract

    Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Ben Garratt sign a new two-year contract with the League Two club.

    Read More

  7. Three things you wanted to know

    You have been using Your Questions to ask about the West Midlands - here are some of our answers.

    Read More

  8. Will Hughes and Cauley Woodrow face Germany tonight

    BBC Derby Sport

    England's under-21s face Germany tonight. 

    Derby County's Will Hughes and Burton Albion's Cauley Woodrow are both in the England squad.  

    U21 England gameGetty Images

  9. M6 closure: Man 'misses best friend's funeral' due to delays

    Jack Dowling
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    A man from the Walsall area has  told BBC Radio Stoke he's missed a best friend's funeral due to delays caused by this morning's closure of the M6 in Staffordshire.

    Queuing traffic in Tittensor

    Highways England  said the motorway was closed between junctions 14 and 15  due to emergency repairs on an "unsafe" bridge at the A51, north of Stafford services.  

    Micheal McDonagh, from Aldridge, says he set off at 07:40 but was still in Staffordshire at 11:30 with the funeral in Manchester already underway.

    I'm still just heading towards Tittensor but it's just the frustration really because I'm missing a best friend of 30 years' funeral in Moston in Manchester."

    Micheal McDonagh , Driver stuck in traffic in Staffordshire

  10. M6 closure: Parts of motorway may not reopen 'until after the peak this evening'

    Perry Spiller
    Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

    Parts of the M6, completely closed this morning due to an "unsafe" bridge in Staffordshire, may not reopen until this evening. 

    Traffic queuing on A500 to get onto motorway

    Highways England says routine maintenance work on the A51 bridge between junctions 14 and 15 found fascia panels urgently needed removing from the underside of the bridge. 

    They stressed to BBC Radio Stoke that no panels had fallen down and they decided to remove them as staff were already onsite this morning.

    We have started the job and we've planned the work to take place. It will run through this afternoon. I would like to think we will get some lanes open but it may well be that we don't finish completely until after the peak this evening."

    Catherine Brooks, Highways England

  11. M6 closure: Drivers see journey times triple in delays

    John Acres
    Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

    I've been near Stone this morning, on the A34, with traffic on this route at times totally stationary as drivers try to avoid the closure of the M6 between junctions 14 and 15 due to an "unsafe" bridge.  

    Normally to get from the town to Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, would take about 20 minutes - this morning it's reportedly taking some drivers an hour and 10 minutes.

    Traffic queuing around Trentham roundabout on A34 on route from Stone to Stoke-on-Trent

  12. M6 closure: Bridge 'structurally sound'

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    The bridge on the M6, which has been closed due to safety issues, normally carries traffic on the main road, the A51, from Meaford, near Stone, to Nantwich, Cheshire. 

    Highways England say while the bridge is "structurally sound", they found some of the fascia panels underneath that need removing.

    A51 bridge over M6Google

    To do that, the agency say the motorway needed closing in both directions - a crane is being brought in to remove them. 

    Highways England say the panels are each around 4ft (1.2m) long and weigh around 190kg (418lbs).

  13. M6 closure: Delayed hospital patients told they 'will be seen'

    Matt Lee
    BBC Radio Stoke

    Patients heading to either the Royal Stoke University Hospital or the County Hospital this morning are being told they'll still be seen, even if they're delayed due to the M6 closure, caused by an "unsafe" bridge. 

    Roads around junctions 14 and 15 are heavily congested with traffic reportedly crawling through Stafford and parts of Stoke-on-Trent.

    Congestion on A500 heading towards M6 junction 15Jon Kelso

    A spokesman for the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust says they have "no operational issues" due to the congestion. 

    If patients are delayed for outpatient appointments "they will still be seen once they arrive," the trust say.

  14. M6 closure: Traffic gridlocked in Stafford

    Emma Thomas
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    With the M6 being shut between junction 14 and 15, due to panels needing removing from an "unsafe" bridge , Stafford is rapidly become congested this morning.

    Drivers are being diverted towards the A34, but that has quickly become bumper-to-bumper.

    Queuing traffic in Stafford

  15. M6 closure: Delays set to last into afternoon

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    The closure of the M6 in Staffordshire between junctions 14 and 15 due to an "unsafe bridge" is now set to last into the afternoon, according to Highways England.  

    It says there are currently long delays on the motorway on either side. 

    Highways England need to remove heavy panels from the A51 bridge.  

    M6 closure

  17. Football: Non-league action this weekend on DAB radio

    Steve Hermon
    Journalist, BBC WM

    Solihull Moors are aiming to secure their place in the top level of non-league football for another season. 

    They can move a step closer this weekend when they host Barrow after an injury-time defeat to league leaders Forest Green in midweek.

    Moors' boss Liam McDonald told us he expects them to bounce back and we'll be reporting from the game on DAB radio.

    We'll also have reports from Stourbridge, who hope to solidify their place in the play-offs in the Northern Premier League at home to Grantham, as well as Chasetown, who host Romulus in First Division South.  

  18. M6 closure: Lorry breaks down in delayed motorway traffic

    There are now two lanes shut on the M6 northbound between junctions 13 and 14 in the congestion heading towards the full closure between junctions 14 and 15.

    Highways England say a lorry has broken down.

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  19. M6 closure: Bus services delayed

    One of the bus companies in Staffordshire says their services are being delayed by the congestion causes by this morning's closure of the M6 between junctions 14 and 15  due to an "unsafe" bridge.

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  20. M6 closure: Stoke-on-Trent roads towards motorway 'at a standstill'

    Vicky Norton
    BBC Radio Stoke

    I've been out in Stoke-on-Trent this morning and all the roads heading out of the city towards the M6 are at a standstill after the full closure of the motorway between junctions 14 and 15. 

    Highways England say it could be shut until later today as heavy panels need removing from the A51 bridge by a crane - the bridge has been described as "unsafe" by the police.

    M6 blocked at junction 15Rich H

    I've been in the Trent Vale area, near the A34, where there are severe tailbacks with drivers trying to avoid the motorway and mothers trying to drop off children on the school run. 

    No one is very happy and, while the traffic is moving, it is at a crawl at the moment.