01/04/2014 Midlands Today

pollution levels will be that little bit lower. Thank you.

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight: The lother of

murdered teenager, Georgia Williams, calls for an investigation hnto why

her killer was only cautiondd for a previous attack.

It has made me really angry thinking that Georgia's death could have been

avoided if people had just done their jobs properly.

We'll be finding out what the police have to say. Also tonight: Chemists

at the University of Warwick develop a ground breaking new drug hn the

fight against cancer. A taxi driver's sacked after he

refused to take a guide dog in his cab. He said the dog is not coming

in the car and drove off and left me on the pavement.

at Albion after this mistakd that at Albion after this mistakd that

cost the Baggies two vital points. And only day two of a week hn which

it's warm and wet ` so alre`dy you should be getting idea of how things

are unfolding. But the finer details coming up later.

Good evening. The mother of Georgia Willi`ms

believes her daughter might still be alive if police had properlx

investigated an earlier att`ck by her killer. Lynnette Willials wants

a review by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. It w`s in

2008 that Jamie Reynolds attacked an un`named schoolgirl in Wellhngton in

Shropshire. He escaped with just a caution. Last May, Georgia Williams

was murdered after going to his home. Her body was dumped in

woodland near Wrexham. Reynolds was sentenced to life in Decembdr and

told he'll never be released. Here's Joanne Writtle.

Georgia Williams was just 17 when she was murdered but now her mother

has revealed more details of striking similarities with `n attack

on a 16`year`old. He lured the girl round on the pretext of helping him

out with a project. And then there was a violent attack where he

attempted to strangle her. Thankfully she managed to escape,

but it has traumatised her. It has totally changed her life. B`ck then,

Reynolds was arrested on suspicion of assault and given a final warning

by police ` a step before prosecution. As parents, we feel if

it had been investigated properly, we wouldn't be in this situ`tion.

Obviously, the young girl that was attacked has put in a compl`int

because she feels she wasn't dealt with properly at that time. Reynolds

had horrifying images of other local girls. They've got superimposed

nooses around their necks. @s I have said, you know, I seem to bd on a

mission because it has made me really angry thinking that Georgia's

death could have been avoiddd if people had just done their jobs

properly. This is Georgia's older sister, Scarlet, seen with her

parents after Reynolds was jailed for life. Along with nearly 17, 00

images and 72 videos of extreme pornography, Reynolds also had a

picture of Scarlet. She lost a lot of trust in people. Especially men.

So that will take a while I think, to get back. How do you trust

somebody when, like she said, Georgia thought he was her late

This is Reynolds' home wherd he killed Georgia. Her friends

sometimes walked him back hdre after outings. They thought he wotld be

more the type to be beaten tp walking back by himself. Thdy're

quite scared in that they wdre taken in by him as well and thinkhng they

were looking after him and Georgia did exactly the same. She would

include him, even though people thought he was a bit strangd but

didn't know why. Lynette's husband struggled last year. He recdntly

returned to work as a detective with West Mercia Police. It is dhfficult.

Because Stephen loves his job. He has always been proud of thd West

Mercia Police. We've always said, "oh no, they always do everxthing

properly by the book". And xou do feel like dying. As Lynette pushes

for an enquiry, she still grieving over Georgia. I've still got

Scarlet, I've still got a d`ughter. So you have to... Keep going.

And Joanne Writtle is with le now. Have we had any word from the police

and IPCC about their previots contact with Jamie Reynolds?

West Mercia Police told us that in January they referred the m`tter to

the Independent Police Complaints Commission, with the strong

recommendation that an investigation be carried out. But the IPCC has

referred it back to the force. They told told us:

The IPCC say after that there'll be a right to appeal. Is anythhng else

being done? There is a revidw going on.

Of course every day the famhly think about Georgia.

Would a greater Birmingham taking in the black country and Coventry give

more boost to our economy? If you're a businessman selling in

China, frankly, you don't know what the West Midlands is.

Chemists at the University of Warwick have come up with a

completely new type of cancdr drug completely new type of cancdr drug

designed to overcome drug rdsistance in some forms of the diseasd. ZL105

has so far only killed cancdr cells in the lab, but scientists hope it

could lead to a breakthrough in new types of drug therapy in thd future.

Here's our Science Correspondent David Gregory`Kumar.

Slowly coming into focus under a microscope. These are ovari`n cancer

cells. Ovarian cancer has a particularly nasty trick, which

chemists at the University of Warwick are trying to overcome. So

these are ovarian cancer cells, this is what they have been using in the

lab. They're really interested in these because there is such a

problem with resistance in ovarian cancer. If you have ovarian cancer

and you relapsed, when you go back to hospital 80% of patients will

have developed a resistance to the chemotherapy drugs. Half of all

cancer treatments use Cispl`tin and resistance is a real problel. But is

ZL105 is a new drug designed to work in a new way and avoid the problems

of drug resistance. We are `iming to attack the cancer cell in m`ny

the cancer cell different w`ys, it the cancer cell different w`ys, it

will not have enough time to learn when it's happening to it and it

won't react. It's more diffhcult for the cancer cell to develop

resistance to that particul`r drug. ZL105 has only been tested hn the

laboratory, but we know it kills cancer cells. In this tray, cancer

cells have been dyed purple. The lighter the colour, the fewdr cancer

cells remain after treatment with various strengths of the new drug.

But getting a drug from lab to hospital bed is expensive and does

take time. I am excited, I have developed and my team has ddveloped

a totally new chemistry for attacking cancer cells. It hs

cancer cell. We need new methods and cancer cell. We need new methods and

new techniques for studying these drugs inside cancer cells. But we

must be optimistic. There is a need for new drugs in the clinic and we

are excited about that. It hs a totally new approach and so far

it's looking very promising. And for more on this discovdry,

including a link to the resdarch itself, David has a new blog post at

bbc.co.uk/davidgregorykumar. A businessman who was travelling on

a plane which was struck by lightning as it approached

Birmingham Airport says he thought the engine had blown up. Thd KLM

flight from Amsterdam was struck three times during a violent storm

last Friday afternoon. Passdngers were told after the plane h`d

landed. All of a sudden there was a terrific bang and a flash of light.

My immediate thought was thd engine has exploded. For a fraction of a

second you are waiting for the plane to drop. It happened so quickly and

because nothing happened, it turns into almost exhilaration.

A taxi driver's been sacked after he refused to take a blind wom`n's

guide dog in his cab. She w`s left stranded in Birmingham city centre

and says she's now frightendd of going out, in case she can't get a

taxi back home. Kevin Reide's been to meet her.

Sue Smith from Birmingham h`s been blind since suffering a brahn tumour

at the age of 17. She needs the help of her four`year`old guide dog Sonny

to get around. But last Thursday whilst out in Birmingham city centre

she called a cab to take her home, only for the driver to refuse

claiming there wasn't enough room in the back of his cab. That is when I

said it is illegal to refusd a guide dog in a taxi. He said, yes I do. He

said there was no room in the front. Then he said the dog is not coming

in the car, drove off and ldft me on the pavement. Sue booked her taxi

from TC Cabs here in Chemsldy Wood. Managers were horrified when they

heard what happened and havd taken decisive action against the driver.

It is diabolical. His equiplent has been taken off him and he is no

longer with us. The council had been informed and hopefully they can take

the necessary action becausd he is self`employed who can go to any

company and we want to read the industry of drivers like thhs. The

Royal National Institute of Blind People say incidents like this do

still happen and can lead to a feeling of isolation. It is the

lasting effect, it can knock their confidence and make them hesitant

about using taxis again. And Sue confirms she's now far more wary

about going out. I had lost my confidence after my last dog died. I

had been building it back up again, but this has knocked it. I won't

want to get a taxi in the ndar future. Solihull Borough Cotncil,

who licence drivers in Chemsley Wood, have confirmed they'rd

investigating. This is the top story tonight: The

mother of murdered teenager, Georgia Williams has called for an

investigation into why her killer was only cautioned for a prdvious

attack. The weather forecast is looking

good. Putting a face to a name of a

gallant soldier as a school marks the centenary of the war th`t cost

so many peoples the lines. And the owl that survived a

terrifying journey clinging to the front of a freight train. Wd will be

setting her free. Does the Midlands miss out because

of London's dominance and constant talk of the divide. Business leaders

are backing calls for the hdart of the region to read brand thd area,

greater Birmingham. It would take in the Black Country and Coventry and

give this region much more dconomic boosts.

Birmingham and the West Midlands, a world`class city but some s`y has an

image problem which has left the economy suffering. This man wants to

change that. The boss of John Lewis and chair of the local enterprise

heart the ship says branding is important `` important. I wrote a

piece in the Sunday Telegraph a few weeks ago which reignited this

debate. I was talking about Birmingham as an idea. It does not

have to be a restructure of local authorities, but in the

international promotion, I `m all in favour of it. The debate has been

fuelled by this book, whose author says the Midlands is unloved and

undervalued. I have friends who pass through the region and they said

they stopped off at a service station, maybe they changed a train.

Alas, did you look around? @nd they say no, why would I stop thdre? I

think branding it greater in that way and then getting hold of the

heritage makes people think there is something here. Rebranding some

parts of the West Midlands with the a bold and controversial stdp. But

as as happened in Greater M`nchester it would help raise the profile of

the area and bring in inward investment for an area that has been

badly affect did by the recdssion. Despite that, shopping at Dtdley

market, they did not think luch of the idea. Note, it is essential

Black Country. It is known for being the Black Country. I think Dudley is

very individual and the people are very individual. Individual or not,

this backcountry council le`der favours closer cooperation `nd the

formation of a regional authority. What a powerful voice it wotld be

for the region. It does not matter about the name, what is important is

this region and its leaders speak as one voice to the government. One

voice, one region, but what will it called? Watch this space.

With us now, positively simlering in opposing camp, are two guests. A

good idea? Not really. I agree the two halves could come together, but

I would not support anything, and I know a lot of the Black Country

residents would not support anything that created a greater Birmhngham

and took away the identity of the Black Country. Would it? I believe

they would in time. Before xou know it, it would be a single authority

and that would mean my council tax money would go into supporthng

Birmingham. I don't think it is a good idea. I don't mind being part

of a wider trade set up to bring more trade and business into the

Black Country, but anything that threatens the identity of the Black

Country, which is the strongest identity, in my opinion, in the

country. There has been quite a lot of activity on Twitter and Facebook

this afternoon. Everyone sedms to be against the idea, is it

understandable? Not if you look at what we are trying to do with the

economy in this part of the world. We are trying to compete globally.

The world is moving toward city regions. 60% of those globally live

in city regions. What we ard saying is, if you look at greater

Birmingham in the round and make the most of the black country assets,

the Worcestershire assets and the Coventry assets. Package thdm up and

go out to the world and say, look what greater Birmingham has got to

offer, you stand a chance of getting their interest. When you ard in

China and you are looking to the UK, and you see greater Birlingham,

together we are stronger. Isn't it time to stop being tribal? @SCII

Brummie. I don't think Birmhngham wants to be... Birmingham w`nts to

stay Birmingham, the Black Country wants to stay Black Country. Tell a

Brummie that they come from the Black Country, you had bettdr run.

The world outside does not understand that? The world outside

does not necessarily understand Birmingham. When I talk to

Americans, they don't know the Black Country. Fair enough, I don't expect

them to. I say we are near Birmingham. They think that is in

Alabama. I have dementia in Stratford`upon`Avon. It is products

that sells. Lynchburg in Tennessee, $120 million. Why, because ht makes

Jack Daniels. We are running out of time, will we see it happen? We

will, it is happening in Grdater Manchester, greater Sheffield, we

cannot afford to be left behind and together we can make this work.

Let's keep the identity of the Black Country strong.

For almost 100 years, Eric was just a name on war memorial. He was

killed during World War I aged just killed during World War I aged just

20. Details about Eric were scanned and there was no known picttres of

him. But now some descendants have come forward to meet pupils at his

old school in Worcestershird and share the story of his life.

In the old Hall of this school in Kidderminster, the school Eric

attended, the relatives heard present`day pupils reading from some

of his letters home from thd front. Dearest mother, it is your birthday

and I have been thinking about you and I have been thinking about you

all day. He was a special character who wrote all those letters which

gave a deep understanding to the students about what it was like

Normally history is about looking at a textbook. But then you'd can see

part of peoples lives. A tednager, Eric left his home and saildd to

Australia to become a farmer. When war broke out he joined the

Australian Army. In order to do so, ye had to give an address in

Australia. When he died two years later, nobody notified his parents

back home here in Stourport. Among the letters, there is one from his

mother a month after his de`th, asking the War office for ndws of

him. Eric's is another heart`rending story but won the older gendration

is pleased to pass on to thd younger. It is up to us to help them

learn from the past. It is ` war that we want to remember, so that it

never happens as badly again. His name remains one among millhons but

a century on, for a while at least, he is among those again.

West Bromwich Albion's troubled season has taken another twhst with

players fighting to stay in the Premier League and fighting each

other. Today, the club confhrmed reports that tensions ran hhgh in

the dressing room on Saturd`y following a last`minute mistake

The game was deep into stoppage time and Albion were leading thrde Bash

two. Then Saido Berahino made a mistake. It led to the killdr goal

that denied Albion three pohnts and sparked the dressing room row that

led to this: It left Saido Berahino nursing a head injury.

Albion did not what the fans care about is further

evidence of the club in turloil The manager was sacked, Nicolas Anelka,

sacked and now team`mates fhghting. So much depends upon Premiership

survival to salvage this miserable season. It definitely shows there is

pressure and it shows to me these players care for the club. Sometimes

a bit of a rumble after a g`me isn't a bad thing. After the game, Saido

Berahino tweeted: But Albion fans recall he scored their match winner

at United. Where better to lake amends than doing the same `t

Norwich on Saturday. You may remember a couple of weeks

ago, we brought you the story of an owl but survived a journey of more

than 300 miles from Scotland clinging to the front of a freight

train. He locally ended up `t a wildlife park in Nuneaton. He has

fully recovered and now he will return to the wild. Is he all set

for the release? He is raring to go, wide awake and looking `round.

We are in woodlands near Nuneaton. Let me tell you a little bit about

Lucky. He is a tawny owl, one of the most common in this country. 40

centimetres long and a wingspan of about a metre. They are the only

owls that make the noise th`t we are all used to. His journey, you may

remember has been a remarkable one. Lucky was perched on the tr`in in

next 300 miles he clung on. He was next 300 miles he clung on. He was

found at a depot in Northampton and was handed over here. How h`s he

done? He is perfect, his wing has recovered and he is 100% fit. We

will let him go, but there hs a small chance he may not fly and drop

play dead, but that is a sign of play dead, but that is a sign of

defence, so don't worry if that happens. Time to let him go. Off he

goes, why here and not Scotland He has everything he needs herd. There

are female tawny owl 's and he will are female tawny owl 's and he will

be 100% perfect here. What they are saying is, there is probablx a 5%

chance now that Lucky will be safe. We cannot keep tabs on him, he is a

wild bird but we are hoping this will be his home for many ydars to

come and he will be very happy here in Warwickshire. Quite a pohgnant

moment. It has been another beautiftl day.

How is it looking? It does coincide with the sdason

that we have the temperaturds will do well. The temperatures are good

this week, but we have rain always lurking in the background. But it

comes in the form of showers, so we will always get some sunshine in

between. It is quite warm, temperatures are rising. Whdther we

get days like today depends on the timing of the showers and today we

were fortunate in that showdrs held off until now. This is what is

heading our way. His warm sdctor heading up from the south and it

will clip the western part of the country. It is always benefhcial to

temperatures tonight and tolorrow. We also have the South East wind

doing most of the work on that front. It is clouding over now and

we will start to see showers bubbling up all over the pl`ce. They

will last for much of the nhght In between there will be cloud and

missed developing into the darly hours. Look at those temper`tures,

just into double figures. Nhne Celsius perhaps in Hereford. For the

morning, showers confine thdmselves to the western half of the region,

so still wet here. For the rest of the region it should be dry, a good

deal of sunshine. Highs of 06. The headlines: A botched

privatisation that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds, a

critical report into the sell`off of Royal Mail. Relatives of thd 96

Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough here the first half of

a million pieces of evidencd as the inquests begin.

The mother of murdered teen`ger Georgia Williams has called for an

investigation. And chemists at the University of Warwick develop a

ground`breaking new drug in the fight against cancer. That was the

news here. I will be back

All across the country, millions of families are waking up to a Britain

in which they find it harder to get on. Whilst the Government keeps

telling people everything is fixed, many are finding that hard work no

longer stops the pound in their pocket getting smaller, or the bills

getting harder to afford. Under David Cameron, gas and electricity

bills have increased by more than ?300 for an average family, whilst

the energy companies are making huge profits. Meanwhile, childcare, not a

luxury but an essential for millions of working families, gets harder to

find and