0:00:07 > 0:00:10Good evening.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12It's been an emotional day for workers at the Aga factory
0:00:12 > 0:00:14in Coalbrookdale in Shropshire.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Production of the cast iron ovens is coming to an end at the site,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21ending more than 300 years of manufacturing in the area.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Aga itself has been there for more than 70 years,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26but its American owners say it's no longer cost effective.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Joanne Writtle reports.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Some of the final workers leave Aga's foundry
0:00:32 > 0:00:35in Coalbrookdale signalling an end to 300 years
0:00:35 > 0:00:41of cast-iron production here.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44They hang up their boots to mark the end of their working days here.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47I have been here 31 years, end of an era.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50I thought I would go out of here on the day that I retired.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55Unfortunately, I'm not.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Glyn Baker had clocked up 40 years and was greeted by his parents Irene
0:00:58 > 0:01:00and Dennis who once also worked at the foundry.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Like so many families once did in Coalbrookdale.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05After emotional goodbyes, they reminisced over a cup of tea.
0:01:05 > 0:01:06Very emotional.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10It's got a lot of history, personal history there.
0:01:10 > 0:01:20It was quite upsetting coming out of the gates for the last time.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25His father, Dennis, and mother, Irene, worked for years
0:01:25 > 0:01:28at the factory, too, but today with there for their son.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29Very, very touching really.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33I mean, he put his heart and soul into his job.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36I can't ever remember him losing any time from work
0:01:36 > 0:01:45there and the atmosphere in the founding was tremendous.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47On our estate alone, I reckoned up last night that 18
0:01:47 > 0:01:49families on that estate worked at the foundry.
0:01:49 > 0:01:58Until today, around 40 people worked here,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00but decades ago there were 600.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02AGA Range Master declined our repeated requests for an interview,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05that told us that the decision to close the foundry here had
0:02:05 > 0:02:06been a difficult one.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09The company said it would also like to thank the remaining workers
0:02:09 > 0:02:10for helping to wind things down.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Later this afternoon, members of the community came
0:02:12 > 0:02:13out to say farewell.
0:02:13 > 0:02:23The end of a foundry first used by Abraham Darby in 1709.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25A toddler has died after being injured
0:02:25 > 0:02:26at a house in Birmingham.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Emergency services were called to an address in Northfield
0:02:29 > 0:02:30on Sunday afternoon, following reports that
0:02:30 > 0:02:32a 21-month-old girl was unconscious.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35She was taken to hospital but later died.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37A police investigation is underway and a 28-year-old man
0:02:37 > 0:02:39and a 30-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion
0:02:39 > 0:02:47of causing or allowing serious injury to a child.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Staffordshire Police say officers have seen a three-fold
0:02:49 > 0:02:51increase in the number of rapes and serious sexual offences being
0:02:51 > 0:02:54reported in the past five years.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Charities offering support in this area say they're also experiencing
0:02:57 > 0:03:00a rise in demand for their services, with some of the complaints
0:03:00 > 0:03:02they're hearing about now dating back several years.
0:03:02 > 0:03:12More now from our Staffordshire reporter Liz Copper.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Michel Joy is a survivor.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19She's experienced more than 40 years of sexual violence.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21She's waived her right to anonymity to speak about
0:03:22 > 0:03:23the effects.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25The most amazing experience for me was to learn that
0:03:25 > 0:03:27I wasn't guilty.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30It wasn't a dirty secret.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34I was allowed to speak about it.
0:03:34 > 0:03:40I'm learning that I'm a human being and I have rights.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43This helpline is run by the charity Savana in Stoke on Trent.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47It's seen a significant rise in referrals.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49We offer emotional support in the form of one-to-one counselling
0:03:49 > 0:03:54and we also offer practical support.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56It's an advocacy role, independent sexual violence advisors, we have
0:03:56 > 0:04:00three of those here.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05They support anybody that wishes to report to the police.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Staffordshire police now deal with an average of seven reports of
0:04:08 > 0:04:15rape and serious sexual offences every day.
0:04:15 > 0:04:1880% of complainants are female and 80% are under 30 years old.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20These are cases that may date back and these
0:04:20 > 0:04:23often will be people who have not felt confident to come
0:04:23 > 0:04:29forward previously.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Perhaps they have not had the trust in the criminal
0:04:31 > 0:04:34justice system or the police to come forward and take that step.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37The statistics have gone through the ceiling, I really understand that.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41It is because people can now voice an opinion and say this is what has
0:04:41 > 0:04:47happened to me and not hide so much from everybody.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Charities and other organisations offering counselling
0:04:49 > 0:04:50services are reporting growing numbers of
0:04:50 > 0:04:53complainants coming forward.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55The effects will be felt across the whole
0:04:55 > 0:05:03criminal justice system.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Birmingham City Council is advising drivers to avoid
0:05:05 > 0:05:07using their cars to get into the city centre
0:05:07 > 0:05:09until roadworks at several key junctions are completed.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11At present, lane closures mean some areas are becoming
0:05:11 > 0:05:14gridlocked at peak times, and, with Christmas approaching,
0:05:15 > 0:05:20congestion is expected to get worse.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Our reporter Kevin Reide is close to one of the pinch points
0:05:23 > 0:05:25at the Holloway roundabout for us now.
0:05:25 > 0:05:26So how bad's it getting, Kevin?
0:05:26 > 0:05:32You can see the A38, won the main routes in and out of Birmingham is
0:05:32 > 0:05:37flowing. You can see either side here, queueing traffic is still here
0:05:37 > 0:05:41even at this time of night. But the Christmas murky coming and that kind
0:05:41 > 0:05:48of thing, it is only going to get worse. -- Christmas market.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49First come the cones, then the congestion.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52These roadworks ironically designed to ease the jams appear to be
0:05:52 > 0:06:02doing the exact opposite.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10This is the sort of gridlock that many drivers have been complaining
0:06:10 > 0:06:12about when this roundabout fills up with traffic, congestion,
0:06:12 > 0:06:13spreads out around the city centre.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15More roadworks nearby, this time part of the continuing
0:06:15 > 0:06:16development of the city.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Here, they're making space with a new Metro tram line.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22In the city's traffic control centre, they have a bird's eye view
0:06:22 > 0:06:25of what is going on and the message from here is do not
0:06:25 > 0:06:26drive into Birmingham.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Yes, works are taking place and while they are,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30everybody's key priority should be trying to find other forms
0:06:30 > 0:06:33of transport other than private cars to get in and around Birmingham.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Today wasn't a good day for public transport either.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38A signal failure at New Street Station meant three platforms
0:06:38 > 0:06:40couldn't be used during this morning's rush hour.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43The congestion on the roads means bus companies are struggling to keep
0:06:43 > 0:06:47to their timetables.
0:06:47 > 0:06:48Services are having to start earlier.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51We are having to get more buses on the road and our team
0:06:51 > 0:06:54of controllers are having to constantly be looking at the GPS
0:06:54 > 0:06:57to make sure our services are running more less to schedule.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58The good news is that some roadworks including
0:06:58 > 0:07:01here at Birmingham's Holloway Circus will be lifted from mid-December
0:07:01 > 0:07:03to help keep the traffic moving over Christmas.
0:07:03 > 0:07:12Be warned, they'll be back in the New Year.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15So Kevin, a bit of a break from the misery on the way,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17but what does the man responsible for the region's transport
0:07:17 > 0:07:19network, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street have to say
0:07:19 > 0:07:21about the problems?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24He did pledge to improve congestion in the West Midlands when he was
0:07:24 > 0:07:27elected and he said that there is no point hanging around with major
0:07:27 > 0:07:30improvement schemes, you have got to get on with them and spend the money
0:07:30 > 0:07:35while you have got it. He also says that the long-term aim is to get
0:07:35 > 0:07:43more people out of their cars.
0:07:43 > 0:07:49In the short time, we've got to get priority -- real long-term, it is
0:07:49 > 0:07:53about investing in the Metro and trains that is actually one of the
0:07:53 > 0:07:59reasons why using the roadworks is for that matter extension.In the
0:07:59 > 0:08:03long term, he is looking at recruiting network resilience
0:08:03 > 0:08:07manager to oversee traffic across the whole region, it will include
0:08:07 > 0:08:13monitoring the building of HS2, that will create many more pinch points.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16A major headache for anyone managing the traffic here in the Midlands.
0:08:16 > 0:08:22Plans for the West Midlands Mayor to take on responsibility
0:08:22 > 0:08:27for policing in 2020 have been announced as part of
0:08:27 > 0:08:29a second devolution deal in yesterday's budget.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31The move would see the role of Police and Crime
0:08:31 > 0:08:32Commissioner scrapped.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34The current Commissioner David Jamieson
0:08:34 > 0:08:36and Midlands Metro Mayor Andy Street are both due to complete
0:08:36 > 0:08:40their respective terms in 2020.
0:08:40 > 0:08:47Doctors have raised serious concerns about the takeover of two
0:08:47 > 0:08:49mental health organisations across the Black Country.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52If planned changes were to go ahead they'd be run by the Birmingham
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Community Healthcare Trust which is not a dedicated
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Mental Health Trust.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Doctors from across Dudley and Walsall have written a letter
0:09:01 > 0:09:04saying they are worried it would have an "impact on the safe
0:09:04 > 0:09:07delivery and quality of services."
0:09:07 > 0:09:12A permanent exhibition celebrating the life of a leading
0:09:12 > 0:09:16British automobile designer has opened at Coventry University.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Frederick Lanchester was responsible for more than 400
0:09:18 > 0:09:20patents and invented both the first hybrid petrol/electric vehicle
0:09:20 > 0:09:22and the first all British four wheel drive car.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25He originally founded the company which bore his name
0:09:25 > 0:09:34in Birmingham before moving production to Coventry.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38He filed over 400 patents in his life and people call him the UK
0:09:38 > 0:09:39Leonardo da Vinci.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42My aim in all this is to make people aware of this British genius.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44His name should be up there in lights
0:09:44 > 0:09:46with Stephenson and Brunel and Watts.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47And that's almost all from us.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49I'll leave you now with the weather from Beccy.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54From me, goodnight.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55Good evening.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Yesterday was certainly a lively day of weather.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59We saw gusts of wind up to 55 mph.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Today by comparison was a little calmer than that.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03We saw some brighter breaks here and there, but
0:10:03 > 0:10:06also some heavy downpours and through the rest of the day we've
0:10:06 > 0:10:08started to see that cloud tearaway.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Tonight, under clearer skies, it is going to get a touch chilly.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Particularly for the north midlands.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Across the south Midlands, we have got cloud pushing in which might
0:10:16 > 0:10:18push its way across a little further north.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22If it does, that will help to hold temperatures, but where we see
0:10:22 > 0:10:24those clearer spells longer, we are likely to see those
0:10:24 > 0:10:30temperatures touching freezing.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32And in sheltered spots, particularly in the north
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Midlands, we could get a touch of frost.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37For tomorrow, it will be a chilly start to the day, the winds
0:10:37 > 0:10:39are dropping off much lighter than we've seen
0:10:39 > 0:10:40for the last few days.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42A calmer day, and a clearer day.
0:10:42 > 0:10:43Plenty of sunshine through the morning,
0:10:43 > 0:10:44a chilly start, some frost patches remaining.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Across the north Midlands, we are likely to see
0:10:50 > 0:10:53a few showers filtering their way in through the day and over the tops
0:10:53 > 0:10:55of the Staffordshire Moorlands, it could be a touch wintry.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Some sleet, maybe even some snow.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Temperatures 5-7dC, feeling much cooler, but with
0:10:59 > 0:11:01lighter winds and sunshine, it won't be too bad at all.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03On Saturday, it is staying chilly.