14/04/2017 Midlands Today

Good evening. for the late news at 10pm.

British Transport Police are targetting so-called "trespass

hot spots" in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire to try

to prevent people coming to harm on the railways.

Last year there were more than 140 recorded incidents of trespass -

but police believe that's just a fraction of the real number.

There has been plenty of research into why people

Almost a quarter of offenders say it is just for the kicks.

This young person on the Midlands network is seemingly oblivious

I've seen several incidences which defy belief -

running across tracks in front of trains, playing chicken

with trains and even laying down in front of trains and taking

Operation Distrupt is about to enter its second and final week.

British Transport Police are making spot checks on dens and hiding

places where youths might congregate and get into trouble.

They are getting bored and smashing bottles and it

leads to other things, like throwing ballast on the tracks,

placing items on the tracks to see what happens when a train hits it,

which is obviously causing us disruption.

Incidents railway trespass are currently at an all-time high,

and what is interesting is that nearly a half of all offenders say

One of the most awful incidents I dealt with was on a level

crossing with a young man using the crossing

He didn't hear the train approaching, the train

couldn't stop in time, and it did strike him,

At this railway station, only last week a group of youths

threw stones at a train here, smashing a window.

A train running at 125 mph takes over a mile to stop.

They can't see you and they and can't stop.

Extra patrols are also taking place in Birmingham, Coventry,

The hope is that any Easter holiday spike in crime or disruption

Holiday-makers trying to get away for the Easter weekend have

There were tailbacks on the southbound carriageway

of the M5 between junctions seven and eight for a time this morning

And the A50 near Stoke on Trent was closed following an accident.

Highways England says Good Friday is the worst day to travel.

More than 17 million motorists are expected to take to the roads

over the weekend with many passing through the Midlands.

And if you're travelling by rail, the train operator London Midland

says services between Wolverhampton Telford are suspended

The Grade II listed bridge at Albrighton station

The station itself will also be closed until April 23rd.

Special events have been taking place across the Midlands

to mark Good Friday - one of the most important days

in the Christian calendar, marking the crucifixion of Jesus

Amid the shops and offices - a procession of nearly 300 people

Bringing an air of calm to the familiar streets of Birmingham.

When you think of it all the unrest in the world,

I think the turnout today has been very good compared to last year.

The Easter message has been in the news after Bournville based

chocolate maker Cadbury dropped the word Easter from its annual

It's commercialisation will be addressed by the Bishop

We mustn't allow marketing at Christmas or Easter to mislead as

Back in Birmingham, those joining the Walk of Witness,

including other faiths, were keen to reflect on two bomb

attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt last weekend.

The city has three coptic christian churches.

freedom. against them about attacks against

We are grateful for God's gift of freedom.

We want to seek to promote that within a city.

We just have this fellowship today, and in anticipation

of resurrection day on

Sunday when Jesus rises from the tomb.

A traditional message in a turbulent world -

those who took part today hope they brought a sense

Birmingham City Council is to consult on whether to introduce

The proposal follows increased concern over child

At the moment, there's no legal age for a child to travel

The council says the installation of cameras would also protect taxi

Plans have been drawn-up to protect the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage

They will have to be approved by the United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization, which granted

Let's have a look at today's football results now, and

Birmingham City fans had little to smile about after their one

Wolves had a five o'clock kick off - the score there a few moments ago

In League One, Coventry City drew one all against Charlton Athletic,

which means Coventry are relegated to the fourth tier of English

football for the first time in 58 years.

Port Vale fans also had a miserable time of it -

losing 3-0 to Sheffield United, while Shrewsbury Town held

In League Two, Cheltenham's game ended in a goaless

And in the National League, Solihull Moors lost 2-1 to York.

A decision about whether Tewkesbury Town council should evict a cat

Missy has been visiting staff there since last summer and even

appears on its website as "morale officer".

But concerns have been raised about her on health

A panel of three councillors will now meet next week to decide

Let's have a look at the weather forecast for the rest of the holiday

weekend now from John Hammond, and is there much to

It is going to be at the Easter. Rain clouds on the horizon Elliott

on here in Worcestershire. We are going to get a little sprat that

will last all night long, two straps and drugs. Most of us will be dry by

drum but it would be a telly star to start the morning. It never gets

terribly wanted tomorrow despite the fact that we will see a lot more

sunshine. That is good news. Bar the odd shower, most of this will stay

bright and breezy. The catch is that bright and breezy. The catch is that

it will be chilly. An Easter date, there is a waving weather front

coming down. The timing on that is a bit uncertain but we

rain at some stage probably heaviest rain at some stage probably heaviest

used towards the north and the north-east. Patchy in the size.

Expect some rain during the course of the day. It will be a bit chilly.

There is a glimmer of hope that it will brighten up by lunchtime. It

will be called with some frost around.

And tha around. t's all for now.

I'm back with our next bulletin which is at 22:20pm.

To think that this time last weekend, temperatures were in the

20s. They got up to 25.5. Much cooler across the country this

weekend. And this headline is true for the weather next week. That cool

air stream from the north will persist. The mild air tries to get

in, but never really wins. What have we got for the rest of today? The

rain we had across Wales earlier will move southwards, but once the

rain reaches you, it will be much lighter. Across many northern areas,

the skies will clear up altogether. It will be a nippy night. Certainly

a touch of frost northern areas, but not in the south. There will be

wintry