:00:00. > :00:07.A murder investigation is launched tonight after a shooting
:00:08. > :00:16.We'll be live with the latest from the scene, also tonight:
:00:17. > :00:18.After a five`year lull, a surge in revenue for tourism businesses
:00:19. > :00:25.in the Midlands as the warm weather persuades people to holiday at home.
:00:26. > :00:28.They are coming back lots and lots of times and spending the day with
:00:29. > :00:32.us. Fighting for harmony `
:00:33. > :00:34.the humanitarian worker from Stafford heading to war`torn Gaza to
:00:35. > :00:36.support local peace activists. The amazing starling formations,
:00:37. > :00:39.but why do they do it? Going for gold ` the Midlands
:00:40. > :00:42.athletes hoping to pick up And we've had plenty of glorious
:00:43. > :00:47.sunshine for the last few days ` it's not over just yet, but things
:00:48. > :00:51.starting to cool down a little. I'll have
:00:52. > :01:03.the full forecast later on. Good evening and welcome to BBC
:01:04. > :01:06.Midlands Today ` first tonight, to Police are dealing with
:01:07. > :01:10.a fatal shooting near Rugby. Emergency services were called
:01:11. > :01:13.earlier today to an incident on Newton Road,
:01:14. > :01:15.near the village of Newton. Our reporter Nadine Towell is there
:01:16. > :01:29.now, so Nadine, what has happened? What we know is what has been
:01:30. > :01:35.confirmed by Warwickshire Police, in a statement they issued in the past
:01:36. > :01:40.hour. You can see the scene behind me, a fair deal of police activity
:01:41. > :01:46.going on, and they have confirmed a man's body was found in an abandoned
:01:47. > :01:51.car a short way at Newton Road close to the village of Newton on the
:01:52. > :01:55.outskirts of rugby. The man was found with gunshot wounds and
:01:56. > :02:02.pronounced dead at the scene. Release and the emergency were
:02:03. > :02:10.called at about 12:45pm. `` police. What more police saying?
:02:11. > :02:14.They are appealing for weakness `` witnesses, specifically two vehicles
:02:15. > :02:19.were seen leaving the area at around the same time. A silver hatchback
:02:20. > :02:26.and a maroon metallic coloured car that they are anxious to trace. They
:02:27. > :02:29.have made two arrests, they have two people in custody, but their
:02:30. > :02:34.enquiries are continuing. There is no indication as to who the dead
:02:35. > :02:38.person is, where they might be from, there is speculation in the local
:02:39. > :02:41.pub about the person being from the local area, but at this stage police
:02:42. > :02:44.are not confirming that. Well,
:02:45. > :02:46.that incident means that currently Newton Road is closed between Newton
:02:47. > :02:49.and the crossroads with Newton Manor Tourist venues across the Midlands
:02:50. > :02:55.are already reporting a surge in business,
:02:56. > :02:58.as the warm weather is encouraging More than 100,000 people are
:02:59. > :03:02.employed full time in It brings around ?8 billion to
:03:03. > :03:06.the local economy, and some B and attractions are
:03:07. > :03:09.saying so far it's been the busiest Cath Mackie is at New Road cricket
:03:10. > :03:15.ground in Worcester tonight, where Cath, the cricket is major draw
:03:16. > :03:33.for Worcestershire as well, so have Yes, the crowds here are bigger and
:03:34. > :03:40.noisier than last season. Tonight's game is a sell`out. I'm going to
:03:41. > :03:45.step out of the way, because look at that year, it is stunning. It is not
:03:46. > :03:48.just here they are benefiting from the good weather.
:03:49. > :03:51.Life doesn't get much better than this when you're a kid.
:03:52. > :03:53.It's the summer holidays, the sun is shining,
:03:54. > :04:00.What's more, parents and grandparents are also
:04:01. > :04:02.enjoying themselves at Little Owl Farm Park at Dunhampton near
:04:03. > :04:06.Worcester, the great weather giving them the perfect chance to get out
:04:07. > :04:22.Getting out most days all around Worcestershire. This is a lovely
:04:23. > :04:26.environment for the children to play. But it is so much easier to
:04:27. > :04:31.find things to do when the weather's nice.
:04:32. > :04:34.This former pig farm was converted to a farm park less than a year ago.
:04:35. > :04:37.For the owners it's a great first summer in business.
:04:38. > :04:44.People have been so lovely, so kind, they are coming back lots and lots
:04:45. > :04:46.of times, and spending the day with us.
:04:47. > :04:48.Further north, business at Stourport Marina is well
:04:49. > :04:56.up on the same time last year; while in the town itself an advertising
:04:57. > :05:03.campaign plus the sunshine is reaping rewards for traders.
:05:04. > :05:11.We put an advertising campaign on local radio, that was exercise `` a
:05:12. > :05:14.success in 2013 so we're running it again. You can see the number of
:05:15. > :05:18.people who are here enjoying themselves.
:05:19. > :05:22.My accountant is here this morning, and last year was the first year we
:05:23. > :05:32.made a substantial profit. This year I think is going to be better.
:05:33. > :05:36.Places like bed and breakfasts who are also feeling the benefit."
:05:37. > :05:38.Steve and Caroline Curtis have been running their B at Fladbury
:05:39. > :05:45.Looking at the number of heads on beds, we are seeing about 30%
:05:46. > :05:49.improvement on last year. The weather and the tourism industry
:05:50. > :05:53.here have been up and down in recent years ` and they're enjoying
:05:54. > :06:04.the good times while they last. With me now is Mike Ashton, from
:06:05. > :06:10.visit Worcestershire. It is too early for a definitive and visitor
:06:11. > :06:16.numbers, but anecdotally, what are you hearing? Definitive visitor
:06:17. > :06:21.numbers. We are getting good figures from everyone. It is great news.
:06:22. > :06:28.Is it down to the sunshine or has there been lots of investment going
:06:29. > :06:36.on? We have a cricket ground, millions of pounds, and that is
:06:37. > :06:41.reaping rewards for the cricket. And there is investment elsewhere. But I
:06:42. > :06:47.think the weather will always help, but there is a lot of hard work
:06:48. > :06:53.going on in promoting the country. A lot of competition out there, not
:06:54. > :06:56.just in the Midlands. But if you get sunshine, people had to the coast.
:06:57. > :07:03.Can you compete with that? I think we have unique attractions keeping
:07:04. > :07:10.people in the county. The West Midlands Safari Park, the Malvern
:07:11. > :07:16.Hills... And all of these are worth a lot of money to the area.
:07:17. > :07:21.Absolutely. We have had a survey that value risen to ?538 million per
:07:22. > :07:26.year. The third August industry in the country.
:07:27. > :07:31.We can expect a lot more visitors in the next few days. `` biggest
:07:32. > :07:34.industry is my third biggest industry.
:07:35. > :07:38.Many didn't know him, but they came today to pay
:07:39. > :07:45.A humanitarian worker from Stafford is about to leave for the West Bank
:07:46. > :07:48.to spend three months as an international observer.
:07:49. > :07:50.Chris Venables is travelling to Gaza to work in the heart
:07:51. > :07:54.He'll be supporting local peace activists,
:07:55. > :08:00.He's been speaking to our Staffordshire reporter Liz Copper.
:08:01. > :08:02.This film shows the daily routine of human rights observers
:08:03. > :08:09.Visiting refugees forms part of their work, as does reporting
:08:10. > :08:19.Chris Venables is about to leave from his home in
:08:20. > :08:27.Stafford to join the humanitarian effort in the West Bank.
:08:28. > :08:33.I walked through Stafford to school every day without thinking much
:08:34. > :08:37.about violence in the Middle East, but Palestinian children every day
:08:38. > :08:43.have to walk past the Israeli army and face intimidation and violence.
:08:44. > :08:44.My role whilst I am there is to help them and make them feel they are not
:08:45. > :08:46.alone. Chris will be working amongst
:08:47. > :08:49.a group of impartial human rights observers, monitoring events
:08:50. > :08:51.in the heart of Gaza. Part of the role involves
:08:52. > :09:01.helping children as they cross There are children as young as five
:09:02. > :09:08.who are walking on their own through these IM girders with guns either
:09:09. > :09:12.side. `` I run girders. `` I run girders.
:09:13. > :09:14.Back home in Stafford, Chris will be leaving
:09:15. > :09:20.behind friends and family, who'll be following his work closely.
:09:21. > :09:29.It is a mix of emotions, but it will be an amazing time out there. And we
:09:30. > :09:36.will be in contact with him. It was scary when he said, but of all the
:09:37. > :09:41.friend group who was going to do it, it would be Chris. At feel proud to
:09:42. > :09:41.know him that he is going out there to do this.
:09:42. > :09:44.`` I feel proud. Despite the ongoing diplomatic
:09:45. > :09:46.efforts, fighting's continued It'll be
:09:47. > :09:49.against this background that the teams of human rights observers will
:09:50. > :09:55.be working over the coming months. A report for the Labour Party has
:09:56. > :09:59.found nearly a third of children in The research also reveals that more
:10:00. > :10:02.young people The report, commissioned
:10:03. > :10:05.by Birmingham MP Liam Byrne, is calling for a new Child Poverty
:10:06. > :10:08.Commission to support parents. Nicola Beckford has been taking
:10:09. > :10:16.a closer look at the figures. The Birmingham Child Poverty Review,
:10:17. > :10:19.led by MP Liam Byrne, has been gathering evidence on children who
:10:20. > :10:23.self`harm, and child poverty. The report's authors describe their
:10:24. > :10:27.findings as "profoundly shocking". Five years ago 289 under`18s were
:10:28. > :10:29.admitted to A That number increased
:10:30. > :10:49.to 404 last year. The young people we see, up to
:10:50. > :10:53.16`year`old people, they may have taken overdose and they may self
:10:54. > :10:56.harm, they might have burned themselves, or taken other poisonous
:10:57. > :11:00.substances. The report describes how families
:11:01. > :11:02.face "scrounge week" at the end of every month, as they are forced to
:11:03. > :11:06.beg from friends to make ends meet. It says that a third of the city's
:11:07. > :11:09.children lived in poverty last year. Some experts say there could be
:11:10. > :11:12.a link between the rise in self`harm and children living
:11:13. > :11:23.in desperate circumstances. We do think there is a link between
:11:24. > :11:29.child poverty and self harm, we think that link is a combination of
:11:30. > :11:32.complex difficulties, in terms of poverty relating to homelessness,
:11:33. > :11:36.families being in crisis around debt...
:11:37. > :11:38.The review says the reasons for child poverty are complex `
:11:39. > :11:41.and the rising cost of childcare, the lack of affordable housing and
:11:42. > :11:45.Birmingham City Council says they plan to set up a
:11:46. > :11:50.Child Poverty Commission to drive forward their work.
:11:51. > :11:53.More of the day?s news now, and a 34`year`old man has been
:11:54. > :11:57.charged with the murder of a woman whose body was found
:11:58. > :12:01.Damian Dinobewei was arrested after police made the discovery
:12:02. > :12:06.Detectives want witnesses who may have seen a pink convertible Audi A3
:12:07. > :12:11.in the Rubery area earlier that day to contact them.
:12:12. > :12:13.The Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police is leaving after being
:12:14. > :12:18.appointed to a new job overseeing police forces in England and Wales.
:12:19. > :12:21.Mike Cunningham was today announced as Her Majesty's Inspector
:12:22. > :12:25.The appointment is initially for a five`year period, and commands
:12:26. > :12:31.An improvement notice served on Walsall council's children's
:12:32. > :12:34.safeguarding services two years ago has been lifted.
:12:35. > :12:38.The Department for Education has taken the decision after an Ofsted
:12:39. > :12:42.inspection revealed "significant improvements" in social work
:12:43. > :12:48.It's one of nature's most amazing sights ` a giant flock
:12:49. > :12:53.And now a physicist at the University of Warwick has come up
:12:54. > :12:57.with a new computer model to explain how the birds manage to do it.
:12:58. > :13:00.It's research that could one day be used to guide swarms
:13:01. > :13:11.Thousands of birds flocking in the sky.
:13:12. > :13:22.Often seen in autumn just before sunset.
:13:23. > :13:30.You see it for about an hour a day, and it is really impressive, and you
:13:31. > :13:37.get thousands of people, tourists, joining you and looking at them as
:13:38. > :13:41.well. They are interested when I say I am doing research.
:13:42. > :13:44.And this is the starling research Dan has been working on.
:13:45. > :13:50.A computer model attempting to replicate starling behaviour.
:13:51. > :13:52.Each "bird" in the model is thinking for itself.
:13:53. > :13:55.And the key to this model is the birds are all trying to preserve
:13:56. > :13:58.the opacity of the flock; in other words, making sure the gaps
:13:59. > :14:01.between birds are large enough so they can see other birds and the sky
:14:02. > :14:16.So if there is a predator on the far side you might see the predator
:14:17. > :14:17.itself through the flock, and that is how you introduce this idea into
:14:18. > :14:19.the model. And this is one situation
:14:20. > :14:29.the new model might be very useful. If we can takes on thing that we
:14:30. > :14:35.learn from birds who have developed this kind of trade over thousands of
:14:36. > :14:38.years, and apply it to drones, it may be more efficient than coming up
:14:39. > :14:41.with our own system. A murder investigation is launched
:14:42. > :14:46.tonight after a fatal shooting Rebecca will have
:14:47. > :14:51.your detailed weekend weather Tens of thousands of revellers
:14:52. > :14:57.are heading to Warwickshire this weekend for one of the country's
:14:58. > :15:00.biggest dance festivals. Gold or silver, he's guaranteed one
:15:01. > :15:10.medal ` but what colour will it be? War hero George Dexter survived
:15:11. > :15:14.the sinking of not one, but two ships and he came to be known as
:15:15. > :15:17."Uncle Albert" after the character The truth is he had only two
:15:18. > :15:22.relatives in the world, and when he died this month,
:15:23. > :15:25.it was feared his funeral would be Nearly 50 mourners turned up to
:15:26. > :15:31.honour a man whom most It was George Dexter's last journey
:15:32. > :15:39.` but he didn't make it alone. And the fact that most
:15:40. > :15:42.of the mourners had never even met him mattered not
:15:43. > :15:59.at all It have been a small Guys like him gave us our freedom
:16:00. > :16:02.today. That is why we are here. I wouldn't like any veteran to go away
:16:03. > :16:19.from this world to the next world without anybody being here.
:16:20. > :16:25.One of his last living relatives was very grateful. Really glad to see a
:16:26. > :16:29.fine turnout. In Greek `` in the Greek
:16:30. > :16:34.Mediterranean `` in the Greek Mediterranean he was upon Dutch
:16:35. > :16:39.troops system `` troopship when it was sunk by the Germans. Then he was
:16:40. > :16:45.on a second and third ship which were also sunk. George was one of a
:16:46. > :16:51.handful to survive, and his nephew heard the story often. He was
:16:52. > :16:55.grateful that he had survived, and wanted to make sure that the memory
:16:56. > :17:01.of his comrades who were lost really stayed in people's minds.
:17:02. > :17:10.There was one of a mourner who knew George, 77 `` a 77`year`old who flew
:17:11. > :17:15.over from his home in Holland. His father was the captain of the ship,
:17:16. > :17:26.and he died that day. He told me the story and what was going on during
:17:27. > :17:31.the bombing and the sinking, and it is important for me and the
:17:32. > :17:38.families. He outlived two wives, he was 97
:17:39. > :17:46.when he died. George Dexter may now be gone, but most ethnically he is
:17:47. > :17:48.not forgotten. Tens of thousands people are descending on
:17:49. > :17:49.Warwickshire this weekend for one of the country's biggest dance
:17:50. > :17:52.festivals. Global Gathering has been held
:17:53. > :17:54.on the site at But while all eyes are
:17:55. > :17:57.on the performers, behind the scenes local charities
:17:58. > :18:08.are benefiting from the event, as Mention Global Gathering and you
:18:09. > :18:16.probably think of something like this.
:18:17. > :18:25.But it is unlikely you ever think of this, two community first
:18:26. > :18:30.responders. They `` their equipment and ongoing costs are all financed
:18:31. > :18:34.by a ?5,000 donation from Global Gathering last year. With heart
:18:35. > :18:39.attacks, minutes make such a difference, and if we are next door,
:18:40. > :18:46.in the next village, it can be the difference between life and death.
:18:47. > :18:57.Long Marston has also had donations for the church, local shop, village
:18:58. > :18:59.hall and a permanent defibrillator. Seeing it on television makes people
:19:00. > :19:04.realise that Global Gathering do great things.
:19:05. > :19:10.On the other side of Stratford`upon`Avon, the Shakespeare
:19:11. > :19:14.Hospice. Many people just take the money and run, so the fact they do
:19:15. > :19:21.try and support ourselves, the guide dogs, local churches etc, I think at
:19:22. > :19:26.least it is showing they are trying to help. This is my first festival,
:19:27. > :19:31.so I wanted to do one that was crying `` out there. Everyone always
:19:32. > :19:38.talks about going to Global Gathering. It is a good buzz.
:19:39. > :19:43.Around 50,000 people attend Global Gathering each day, and since it
:19:44. > :19:48.started in 2001, they have given over ?300,000 to worthy causes. The
:19:49. > :19:54.festival's been based here for a reason, and a lot of the people who
:19:55. > :19:57.founded the festival are from the area, so it is important to give
:19:58. > :20:02.back and make sure we are a strong member of the community.
:20:03. > :20:05.For some locals, Global Gathering means a weekend of misery with
:20:06. > :20:07.traffic jams and I use it late into the night.
:20:08. > :20:12.But with its origins right here in the town, this is one festival
:20:13. > :20:17.determined to give something back as a thank you to the community.
:20:18. > :20:20.And for regular travel updates on the roads around Long Marston
:20:21. > :20:22.and those affected by Global Gathering, you can listen to
:20:23. > :20:29.After eight Midlands medals at the Commonwealth Games yesterday,
:20:30. > :20:31.we haven't had quite the same drama today.
:20:32. > :20:46.Our sports editor Nick Clitheroe joins me now.
:20:47. > :20:53.I am thrilled to say a gold medal has been won by Danny Williams from
:20:54. > :21:00.Shrewsbury in the judo. He beat the New Zealander to get `` take the
:21:01. > :21:04.gold in the last few minutes. He was not in the original team, he was
:21:05. > :21:09.only called up but the last minute echoes of an injury to somebody
:21:10. > :21:13.else. He was sat there with a bowl of spaghetti and garlic bread when
:21:14. > :21:20.he took the call, and he had to put them aside because he did not want
:21:21. > :21:22.to put anywhere it on. What have been the other Midlands
:21:23. > :21:26.highlights today? Well, there's no doubt
:21:27. > :21:28.the other big highlight has been the performance of the swimmer
:21:29. > :21:30.Adam Peaty from Uttoxeter. He was disappointed to finish
:21:31. > :21:33.just outside the medals in the 200 But he bounced straight back
:21:34. > :21:37.in the heats of the 100 metre breaststroke this morning, flying
:21:38. > :21:40.away from the field to win his race He's currently ranked second
:21:41. > :21:47.in the world at the event so there are high hopes
:21:48. > :22:00.of a medal in tomorrow's final. I'm not looking at medals at the
:22:01. > :22:08.moment. I just want to put on a good show for the crowd.
:22:09. > :22:15.There is plenty more action in the swimming pool tonight.
:22:16. > :22:17.As well as Peaty in the semi`final of his event,
:22:18. > :22:20.we'll also get another chance to see Kidderminster's Amy Smith
:22:21. > :22:24.And Rachael Kelly from Staffordshire will go in the final of
:22:25. > :22:27.the 100 metres butterfly ` although she was the slowest qualifier, so
:22:28. > :22:44.But you never know, if she did that it would be a fantastic end to the
:22:45. > :22:45.day. But the main news, that gold`medal for Danny Williams in the
:22:46. > :22:50.judo. And there's
:22:51. > :22:52.a special photo gallery on our Facebook page of all the Midlands
:22:53. > :22:55.medal winners so far, and we'll be It's been another warm and sunny
:22:56. > :22:59.day, and Rebecca is on the balcony for us ` so is it flip`flop weather
:23:00. > :23:10.or welly weather this weekend? Don't put those flip`flops away yet,
:23:11. > :23:16.because it is still gloriously sunny, and it will stay that way as
:23:17. > :23:20.we have through the weekend. You might need sunglasses this evening,
:23:21. > :23:26.certainly here in the centre of Birmingham plenty of people are
:23:27. > :23:32.sucking up the sunshine. Today our temperatures managed to make it up
:23:33. > :23:38.to 27 Celsius, we got 26 and 25 elsewhere, and it will continue to
:23:39. > :23:42.stay that way, we could even reach that tomorrow. But if you are
:23:43. > :23:46.looking for change, things will start a head that way over the next
:23:47. > :23:51.few days. Plenty more sunshine to come in the forecast, but our
:23:52. > :23:55.temperatures are going to take a little bit of a tumble during the
:23:56. > :23:59.next few days. Overhead at the moment we do have clear that arise,
:24:00. > :24:05.but we have a little bit of cloud working its way across the South
:24:06. > :24:11.Midlands, even as a few showers. But overnight tonight, calm and clear.
:24:12. > :24:17.It has been a hot day, so it will be a muggy night. We start off tomorrow
:24:18. > :24:23.with low cloud and missed having worked its way in from East, that
:24:24. > :24:32.will burn of rather rapidly. Anti`of cloud and run, so that hums ``
:24:33. > :24:39.sunshine will be quite hazy. `` plenty of cloud and rain. We have a
:24:40. > :24:42.cold front working its way through, which will bring some showers
:24:43. > :24:46.overnight, and the air behind that is going to be a little cooler. Good
:24:47. > :24:56.news for God is waiting for a shower, 's by a nose. `` gardeners.
:24:57. > :25:02.It will still be a muggy night on Sunday night, `` on Saturday night,
:25:03. > :25:12.but Sunday is not looking too bad. Showers wrapping up at times through
:25:13. > :25:17.the day, `` popping up. As we head into the start of the working week,
:25:18. > :25:21.we will get sunny spells and showers, but our temperatures are
:25:22. > :25:23.back to where we would expect them to be, between 21 and 22 Celsius.
:25:24. > :25:29.Keep those flip`flops to hand. Back on track ` the UK economy has
:25:30. > :25:35.now grown bigger than it was And a murder investigation has been
:25:36. > :25:39.launched tonight after a fatal Let's go back to our top story,
:25:40. > :25:43.and Nadine Towell is in Newton near Rugby, the police have launched
:25:44. > :25:55.a murder investigation, The village of Newton is behind the
:25:56. > :26:01.roadblock, so we are unable to access the village. The only
:26:02. > :26:04.building in the vicinity is the pub, the St Thomas Cross Inn, which was
:26:05. > :26:09.open at the time the emergency services arrived this lunch time.
:26:10. > :26:13.But the lady running the pub has told me she heard absolutely
:26:14. > :26:17.nothing. She was as surprised as everybody else when the police
:26:18. > :26:21.turned up, and she has been unable to really help them with their
:26:22. > :26:24.investigation. There is speculation going on inside at about the cause
:26:25. > :26:29.for the shooting and who the dead person might be. Police forensics
:26:30. > :26:36.officers are still at the scene, and I believe the car and the man's body
:26:37. > :26:39.are still at the scene. Police are holding a briefing later, so I am
:26:40. > :26:43.hoping we will be able to bring you the very latest at our 10:25pm over
:26:44. > :26:50.ten. A man has been arrested of reaching
:26:51. > :26:56.Birmingham Airport security. `` suspicion of reaching. The
:26:57. > :27:02.22`year`old from Redditch is accused of entering an aerodrome without
:27:03. > :27:07.permission and boarding an aircraft without permission.
:27:08. > :27:12.I will be back at 10:25pm with the latest on the fatal shooting in
:27:13. > :27:19.Warwickshire. Remember you can get in touch with us.
:27:20. > :27:24.I will see you later on.