16/02/2017 Midlands Today


16/02/2017

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The headlines tonight: 37 dogs kept in filthy

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conditions: a puppy farmer's jailed for cruelty to animals.

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This is why is extremely important for the public to be vigilant about

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The judge described Sean Kerr as devious,

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Hundreds of Birmingham taxi drivers fear they could be forced off

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All systems go in the most popular women's participation sport,

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as the new superleague netball season gets under way.

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Love letters between the two mike gay soldiers in the Second World War

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when they risked jail and persecution for being together.

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And it's been much milder today - temperatures climbing a little

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I'll have a full forecast a little later.

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Devious and guilty of being involved in a horrible trade.

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The words used by a judge to describe a puppy farmer

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from Solihull who's been jailed for six months after being convicted

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The RSPCA and the police seized 37 dogs from Sean Kerr,

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during an operation in December 2015.

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The animals had been kept in filthy conditions and some were diseased.

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A warning: you may find some of the pictures in Bob Hockenhull's

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Kept in the darkness - undernourished, covered

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37 puppies - many cross bred so called designer dogs -

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seized by horrified RSPCA inspectors at Pastures Farm.

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One puppy was found dead in a plastic bag kept in a van.

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Customer Anita D'Souza paid ?350 for her West Highland

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It turned from a joyous moment and being all excited to a bit of a

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Her last moments, she was looking at me and it was sad.

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Sean Kerr was also banned from keeping dogs for life.

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Many, like Riley, had contracted parvovirus -

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The district judge told him it was sad to say

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someone who had once cared for horses and been a jockey had now

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He said he believed Kerr had made a substantial fortune dealing in

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He ordered him to pay ?30,000 towards prosecution costs.

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The puppies were many different breeds, some

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If you look on the internet, you will see

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thousands and thousands of dogs for sale.

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This is why it is extremely important for

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the public to be vigilant about where they purchase a puppy from.

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Most of the seized dogs have been fostered.

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Veterinary nurse Jemma Jennings is looking after Roger -

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a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and now hopes to keep him for good.

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He was subdued, quiet, not really interacting

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From when he came, he's a lot more outgoing, he's

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Nine of the seized animals were pregnant.

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27 puppies have since been born leaving the RSPCA with 64 dogs

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brought one unscrupulous dealer to justice.

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Earlier I spoke to Charlotte Parsons of the Dogs Trust who was

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I think for Dogs Trust, the big concern of the case is

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Six months for the cement of cruelty is

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We would like to see sentencing increased so that the

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punishments are fitting the crime is committed.

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What essentially is the issue with puppy farms?

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The big concern is that the welfare of the

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The main concern for the breeders is the

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As a result, the puppies suffer, not only while

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they are with the breeder but in their later life

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because they have not been well socialised when they

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One of the issue seems to be poppies are taken away from

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It is a concern if they are taken away from

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their mums too early because they're not getting the socialisation may

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It is really important they are with mum until eight weeks

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because they are learning how to interact with other dogs which is

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really crucial for them to grow into healthy adult dogs.

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More than 500 black cabs and nearly 1,500 private hire taxis could be

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forced off Birmingham's roads by the end of the year.

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It's because they're old and breach EU emissions standards.

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The city council says it has to clean up the air or it could face

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Sarah Bishop is in Birmingham city centre for us.

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The council is saying this is a serious matter?

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Deadly serious - it says we're facing major public health crisis,

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in Birmingham because the air is so bad.

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900 deaths per year attributable to poor air

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quality and pointing finger at old polluting cabs.

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Many of them have very old cars and that is why they want this cull. Cab

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drivers say they cannot afford the cost of an equal card. ?45,000 for a

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new electric cab, I can't afford that. Nobody can. It is just like

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having a mortgage. The work situation is very tight.

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Birmingham's cabbies are under pressure to go

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Almost 2,000 old black cabs and private hires could be forced

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off the roads by Christmas because of their emissions.

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Mohammed Mumtaz, father of four - been a cabby

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The lorries are causing more congestion than we are. We are being

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His diesel cab is 15 years old and under council

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A bit disappointed. They have not proposed anything apart from taking

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the old scabs off the road and bringing new ones.

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They have now said they want a 12 week public consultation.

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But what do the public think of the council's plan?

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After all it's air everyone breathes?

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As you walk past them, you get the smell of the fumes. I do believe

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they have a point in what they are trying to do. It is sad for the

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people who only taxes. If they were to provide them with replacement

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vehicles, that would be a decent solution. Why should they lose their

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livelihood replace their vehicles unless they get help to do so. I am

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joined with someone from the union. Clearly your members are unhappy,

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what will you do as a union? We are sad about the proposals and we are

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considering with the executive counterproposal and how to get a

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better solution to the scheme. Clearly the council have been forced

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to do this, they are under a lot of pressure from Europe. There are

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grants of the ?7,500 to buy a new cab. It is not a lot? It is just a

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pebble in the ocean. They will be fined every year if they do not

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match the criteria. If they can just have a grant for these drivers, they

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could slowly pay it back instead of paying fines per year. What about

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the idea of the Council leasing cabs to drivers? Now, Alyce ties the

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driver to it. If you give them a grant like they did back in the

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1970s renegade Krantz regarding houses, surely they can do the same

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to the taxi drivers? To remind you, the council are under massive

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pressure from Europe, only yesterday the commission issued a final

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warning to clean up our era. Two West Midlands Police officers

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have been charged with drug offences, conspiracy to steal

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and misconduct in public office. The constables, who are based

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at Perry Barr, were immediately Six other people arrested

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in early morning raids across the West Midlands on Tuesday

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morning have also been charged. Patients were turned away

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from Worcestershire Royal this morning because there

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weren't enough beds. Instead they were taken to

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the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. The shortage of space

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didn't affect the cardiac, The Trust which runs

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Worcestershire's hospitals says difficulties in recruiting front

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line staff have contributed Plans for a Legoland Discovery

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Centre in Birmingham, like the one in Manchester,

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have been approved. It will be the second

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one in the country. It'll be aimed at children under

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eight and as many as two and half thousand people a day are expected

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to visit in peak season. We're exactly a week away

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from the most eagerly-awaited Midlands by-election for many years

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- its political significance extending far beyond the boundaries

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of the Stoke Central constituency But what are the leading contenders

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promising for people who live there? Our Political Editor Patrick Burns

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has been talking to some of the main Stoke Central's been a Labour

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stronghold for 66 years. But it's not exactly

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clickety-click for them this time. Twenty years ago their

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majority was 20,000. And that was before

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Jeremy Corbyn and Brexit. Stoke recorded one of the biggest

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Leave votes, in defiance of Labour. Above-average unemployment shows it

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still struggles to make good the damage from the loss

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of its mining industry. Its last steelworks, at Shelton,

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was also in Stoke Central. The Emma Bridgewater Pottery

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is in the constituency so don't let anyone dismiss this as just

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another museum piece. The museum really is quite

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something, by the way. Also in the constituency,

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the Royal Stoke Hospital which recorded some of the longest

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trolley waits anywhere Defending the seat,

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Labour's Gareth Snell says it's 'NHS His chequered Twitter history

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includes strong language denunciations of Brexit,

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attacks on Jeremy Corbyn and derogatory Tweets

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about women, eleven years ago, He's doing his best

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to focus on the issues. We have a great hospital

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in the ROyal Stoke but it is underfunded

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and We have a plan to deliver

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what's needed in UKIP's new leader Paul Nuttall's

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campaign has had its hiccups too: first over that local address

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where he initially registered himself, and then those claims that

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he'd lost 'close friends' at Hillsborough, made on his website

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which he's now taken down. Of course the NHS is

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a big issue in this Many of people in this

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constituency voted to leave the European union

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and they need an MP At 25 the Conservative Jack Brereton

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is by far the youngest candidate. He's the Cabinet member for

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regeneration on the city council. We need to create more jobs,

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better jobs, better skilled jobs and better paid

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jobs for local people. Obviously Brexit is a big issue

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and it is important we respect the vote which was voted

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on overwhelming way by Dr Zuilfiqar Ali stood

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here for the Liberal Democrats A consultant cardiologist,

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he combines the NHS with a strongly anti-Brexit message,

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even in this Vote Leave 'hotspot'. In the NHS, 5% of the workforce

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is from the European The NHS is struggling

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with this staffing level. When this 5% is leaving

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and no more coming, we The Green Party's Adam Colclough

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is Stoke born and bred, and has stood in council elections

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too, billing himself We're willing to

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protect NHS services, community beds and

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community hospitals. Cuts will have a devastating

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impact but also better quality jobs to the city,

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revitalising the transport It's the air war which fascinates

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the political community with so much But it's on the ground

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that the candidates face the biggest challenge,

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persuading more than half the electorate who didn't vote

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in the general election, Patrick Burns, BBC Midlands

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Today Stoke Central. We'll be hearing from more

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of the candidates on tomorrow's Tonight, BBC Radio Stoke's live

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debate gets under way immediately after Midlands Today

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at seven o'clock. You can find a full list of all ten

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candidates on Patrick's blog. Don't you hate the queues at a

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filling station? Today the luxury Land Rover Jaguar and Shell have

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launched the first in payment system.

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Well today, the luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover and fuel firm

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Shell have launched the world's first in-car payment system.

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Rather than using a card at the pump or going into the kiosk,

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you can now pay in the comfort of your car with a special app.

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Here's our transport correspondent, Peter Plisner.

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What could be simpler - paying for your petrol

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Of course you do have get out to fill up -

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but with the in-car app you won't have to queue.

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And if you've got kids - there's no worry about leaving them

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The setup is fantastic, it makes life easier for

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You click on the dashboard and fill up and get back in the car

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But drivers we spoke to today appears to have mixed views

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I think there's too much technology and too much

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communication without involving the human being.

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I would probably go to the kiosk because I usually what a

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sandwich and drink and what have you.

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The app being unveiled by Jaguar Land Rover and Shell today

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is part of the revolution in motoring but

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also paid in part by the technology on smartphones.

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It is all designed to make driving much easier.

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If you have lost your wallet and you get in

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And how about this - another in-car app that helps

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you find things like your keys or your wallet.

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Is there not a worry that drivers will take their eyes

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We have chosen these apps because they

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But hang on - if the technology is linked to mobile phones.

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Should we be really using it in places like petrol stations.

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The phone is connected to the touch screen in the

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car with the car parked so you're doing it in a safe environment.

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And more cashless payment opportunities are on the way -

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deals with the growing number of drive through outlets mean

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in the future you won't even need you wallet.

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A 100 metre section of medieval wall recently uncovered by archaeologists

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in Coventry is to be covered over again.

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The council says it would be too costly to keep it exposed.

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Built in the 14th century, it once encircled the city

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Under a car park in the centre of Coventry a fascinating

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These sections of the city's medieval wall were recently

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uncovered by archaeologists after being under tarmac

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and concrete for as long as anybody can remember.

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One part is completely intact, has been badly damaged.

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They began building the wall around 1370 and it took

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180 years to complete, but when it was finished

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It is about the same as the ring road. This map shows the map. Bits

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are still dotted around the city today, like you are under part of

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the ring road. These relics from the medieval city which survive so close

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to the surface. We have the tarmac a few inches on top of the wall. It is

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probably true across the whole city, it went from the medieval city which

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survived into the 20th century, the concrete city we have today. There

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was no Georgian and Victorian architecture in the middle.

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But the newly found section will be covered over again.

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Keeping it open to the elements would mean astronomical costs. It

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would start to deteriorate and in 30 years' time, it would no longer be

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years' time, it would no longer be there.

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Once covered, there will be signs indicating

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the walls existence, but for now this insight

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into Coventry's past will once again succumb to concrete.

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Kevin Reide, BBC Midlands Today, Coventry.

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Netball is currently enjoying a surge in popularity.

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It's the biggest female participation sport.

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And it's just been awarded ?17 million from Sport England

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This weekend, the Superleague season gets under way

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and there are two new teams from the Midlands taking part.

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the Wasps are buzzing, and we're not talking rugby.

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they've created a brand new netball club to join

:19:32.:19:36.

And they're determined to be competitive.

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This team, if they get it together, will be difficult to beat.

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We have an under 17s, under 19s, 21s Academy.

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I have a mission that in four years' time

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this team will be West Midlands -based players.

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It was 32 degrees when South Africa's netball

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And freezing cold when she arrived in Coventry.

:19:59.:20:02.

But she has had a very warm welcome from wasps.

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Coming from South Africa netball is different than in

:20:09.:20:11.

I am excited for the games coming up.

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you will find the seven stars, a joint enterprise

:20:22.:20:34.

by the universities of Worcester and Gloucestershire.

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this is no surprise to two bronze medal

:20:44.:20:45.

Her job is to grow the game and make seven stars are forced to be

:20:46.:20:56.

We want to start the season with a bang, we want to step

:20:57.:21:00.

Our goal is to finish in the top four.

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young star who was so keen to play for Seven Stars that she chose

:21:07.:21:11.

to study at the University of Worcester.

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Hopefully get local talent and bring them in.

:21:13.:21:14.

Hopefully get more girls signing from the local area,

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And you can see all ten teams in action at Birmingham's Genting Arena

:21:17.:21:26.

From netball to crickets. The Worcestershire batsmen says it is a

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huge honour to be elected chairman of the professional cricket players

:21:39.:21:47.

union. Mitchell says one of the big issues for players is a new city

:21:48.:21:52.

We can get a good idea of what our views are and get them across to

:21:53.:21:57.

influence the ECB and get a great deal from the players.

:21:58.:22:00.

Obviously it's not an easy task, there are so

:22:01.:22:02.

many stakeholders in cricket with the media, county clubs and

:22:03.:22:04.

supporters and members but I do believe the players have a very

:22:05.:22:07.

have been uncovered and they're to be made into a book.

:22:08.:22:22.

It's half a century since gay relationships ceased to be a crime.

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The letters were sent by Infantryman Gordon Bowsher

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to his lover Gunner Gilbert Bradley, who was stationed at a training

:22:28.:22:30.

Joanne Writtle's been delving into their then risky past.

:22:31.:22:46.

Illicit letters between the two mike meant when the love would've been

:22:47.:22:53.

illegal. Gilbert Bradley, a former member of the BBC was stationed at

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Park or camp in 1939. Darling, I love you for ever and ever. The

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letters from an infantryman but no pictures of him have yet been of

:23:08.:23:13.

Gordon Bowsher. Most letters would have been banned but they were found

:23:14.:23:17.

in a house clearance and bought by the town museum. It stunned us

:23:18.:23:24.

because we assumed the letters were from a girl to a boy because of what

:23:25.:23:28.

they talked about and then it was the realisation we had uncovered a

:23:29.:23:31.

gold mine of correspondence between the two men. By contrast this couple

:23:32.:23:38.

hit headlines 11 years ago for being the first to have a civil

:23:39.:23:44.

partnership. Helping to organise the LGB TV history Festival this weekend

:23:45.:23:49.

where the letters will be read. Who would've thought from 1939, despite

:23:50.:23:56.

Gordon saying, darling, do one thing for me, destroy these letters. Good

:23:57.:24:04.

old Gilbert kept all these letters and took no notice. We are looking

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at something so personal and loving and caring between two men in the

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Second World War. Jeff and Peter's relationship was formed in tricky

:24:16.:24:20.

times. We have been together for 38 years. It is very difficult... Even

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for us back in the late 1970s, a very different world. It was very

:24:32.:24:36.

restricted. It was very hard to find a partner for life. 1940s Britain

:24:37.:24:41.

was a different time to live, Gilbert and Gordon did not stay

:24:42.:24:50.

together. This couple think their letters are timeless. One of the

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letter says we will live in different times, we will not have to

:24:53.:24:57.

keep hiding. It took a long time but here we are, in a way we are the

:24:58.:25:04.

It's time for the weather and, hopefully, this

:25:05.:25:11.

It was a stunning day today. This was the sunrise. It did not end

:25:12.:25:23.

there. We got plenty of blue sky. This did help boost temperatures,

:25:24.:25:30.

reaching 12 Celsius today. This time last week we were struggling to get

:25:31.:25:36.

above 2 degrees. Every single lining has a cloud, and we are plenty of

:25:37.:25:42.

close out there. We did say some showers to this afternoon. This is

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what they look like. They were quite lively over the centre of

:25:49.:25:52.

Birmingham. It is associated with this weather system which will drape

:25:53.:26:00.

itself across us. Overnight, it will bring some cloud and drove us all.

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We will say at cloud and drizzle sitting over the top of us tonight,

:26:07.:26:11.

steadily we will start to state clear away. At improvement is going

:26:12.:26:17.

to be across parts of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. We could get

:26:18.:26:21.

improvement. Hill fog developing as well. It is not a cold night, I'll

:26:22.:26:29.

start to the day tomorrow. We have that cloud sitting across does but

:26:30.:26:34.

we say an improvement from the West. The sun comes out with lighter

:26:35.:26:40.

winds. It will feel pleasant in the sunshine. Temperatures are around 11

:26:41.:26:45.

Celsius. Still double figures and the cloud continues in from the West

:26:46.:26:51.

with the next weather system, bringing drizzle overnight. That

:26:52.:26:53.

should clear away on Saturday morning. For a weekend, plenty of

:26:54.:27:02.

usable weather to come. Temperatures back up into double figures. They

:27:03.:27:07.

might reach the teams for next week. Thank you, Rebecca. -- the teens.

:27:08.:27:31.

A seven year old girl from Hereford who wrote to Google asking

:27:32.:27:34.

for a job, was stunned to receive a personal reply

:27:35.:27:36.

Chloe Bridgewater decided she'd like to work for the technology

:27:37.:27:40.

giant after finding out employees had bean bags and ride on go karts.

:27:41.:27:43.

Sundar Pichai told Chloe to keep working hard and said he looked

:27:44.:27:46.

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