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Summary

  • Updates for 14-20 December

  1. Man hospitalised after flat firepublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2020

    The occupant of an eighth floor flat had to be taken to hospital yesterday after a fire broke out.

    Derwent House in KidderminsterImage source, Google

    Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service sent six crews to the fire in Derwent House, on Champions Way in Kidderminster, which broke out at about 00:40.

    The man had to be rescued and was taken to hospital after suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.

    The fire service said the blaze was accidental, caused by combustibles too close to the cooker hob.

  2. No demand for flood barriers despite rainpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2020

    There is currently no concern for the flooding of properties across Shropshire, the Environment Agency says.

    Heavy rainfall in the last few days has meant flood alerts are in place for the rivers Severn and Teme and flood barriers are up in Frankwell.

    However there is no cause for concern in Ironbridge, which was badly hit during Storm Dennis earlier this year, and flood barriers remain down.

    Flood barriers in Ironbridge in FebruaryImage source, Getty Images
    Quote Message

    There is rain forecast, but we’re not concerned at the levels currently so it’s only prudent we keep a careful eye on it. There’s no plans for the flood barriers to go up at Ironbridge but if there is a need, if there is a change in the circumstances, we will be ready to respond.

    Matt Lawrence, Environment Agency

  3. Unsettled weather to start the weekpublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2020

    Alex Hamilton
    ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Weather

    Get ready for some wet and blustery conditions across the region this morning.

    It’s going to feel quite mild for this time of year and expect some showers across the day.

    Media caption,

    West Midlands weather 21 December

  4. Midlands Live: Breaking news and local storiespublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2020

    The latest news, sport, travel and weather across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

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  5. Villa ensure miserable start for Allardycepublished at 22:10 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2020

    Sam Allardyce's reign as West Bromwich Albion manager gets off to a miserable start as Aston Villa outclass the 10-man Baggies.

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  6. Police fears over festive Covid-19 rule-breakingpublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2020

    David Jamieson said the change of Christmas restrictions is likely to heap pressure on police.

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  7. Birmingham-Man City falls victim to weatherpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2020

    Sunday's WSL game between Birmingham City and Manchester City is postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

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  8. Boro come from behind to crush Bluespublished at 17:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020

    Neil Warnock's men come from behind to move into the Championship play-off places with an emphatic victory over Birmingham.

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  9. First win for Pulis as Wednesday beat Coventrypublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020

    Tony Pulis gets his first win as Sheffield Wednesday manager as the Owls beat Coventry to end a nine-game winless run.

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  10. Centre 'could carry out 370,000 tests in 10 weeks'published at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020

    Birmingham's new test centre has been set up in the Ultima Arena.

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  11. People asked to limit trips to tier 1 countypublished at 13:41 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020

    Herefordshire has had its coronavirus restrictions downgraded to tier 1 - medium alert.

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  12. Man rescued from floodwater as barriers go uppublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020

    The Environment Agency is prepared for more flooding with heavy rain forecast over the coming days.

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  13. Wasps 33-14 Montpellierpublished at 22:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2020

    Wasps take a big step towards the Champions Cup quarter-finals as they beat 14-man Montpellier at the Ricoh Arena.

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  14. Jimenez progressing very well - Nunopublished at 22:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2020

    Wolves striker Raul Jimenez is "progressing and improving very well" but there is no timescale for his return from a head injury.

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  15. My Money: 'I'm a 33-weeks' pregnant doctor'published at 22:04 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2020

    Helen Edwards, an NHS doctor from the West Midlands in the UK takes us through her week's spending.

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  16. Popstar Becky Hill sings at old primary schoolpublished at 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2020

    The singer returned to her hometown of Bewdley, Worcestershire to perform Forever Young.

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  17. Man dies after choking on meat in pubpublished at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2020

    An inquest concludes Yukio Nishigaki died accidentally after the meal.

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  18. Our updates across the weekpublished at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2020

    Live updates have now finished for the West Midlands this week.

    We'll be back with you on Monday with the usual mix of news, weather, travel and sport.

  19. 'Liver branding' surgeon suspendedpublished at 19:03 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2020

    Simon Bramhall branded his initials on two patients' livers during operations in Birmingham.

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  20. 'Urgent answers' sought over school Covid test planpublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 December 2020

    Allen Cook
    ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News

    "Urgent clarity" is being sought by Birmingham City Council over the government's plan for Covid testing schemes in secondary schools in England.

    With term ending before Christmas, head teachers have been told they have to set up testing for pupils next term, meaning staff working through Christmas to be ready.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the idea was to get pupils back safely when they returned to school.

    Birmingham City Council Leader Ian Ward said he was disappointed the news was announced just before schools broke up.

    "This is a significant task to do safety and requires plans to be put in place over the holiday period," he said.

    He told a regional briefing that he had asked the government for clarity on several areas including if it would include special schools, private and academy schools as well as the financial support available to them.