Matthew O’Hara

West Midlands Police released CCTV images of three men wanted in connection with a robbery at a service station on Kidderminster Road in Kingswinford. A man was reportedly punched in the head and fuel was taken without payment. Police are asking anyone who can identify the men or provide information to contact them via 101, Live Chat or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

Matthew Marsh, 33, was jailed after being charged with 48 shop thefts in Sandwell. He stole goods worth nearly £2,740 from three shops in the Rowley Regis area between February 19 and August 3, including a bag of food shortly before his arrest in Blackheath. West Midlands Police said the thefts placed a burden on local staff and businesses and emphasized its continued enforcement against retail crime.

West Midlands Fire Service crews tackled a grassland fire covering about 1,000 square metres near Blackbrook Road and Lodge Crescent in Netherton. Four fire engines attended after the incident was reported at 9:11 p.m., finding three separate areas of fire and wild horses nearby. Two smaller crews equipped with a drone were scheduled to return the following morning to check for hotspots and dampen the area.

Police are appealing for information after a man was assaulted and robbed on Crankhall Lane in Wednesbury. Two individuals reportedly followed the victim and attacked his vehicle with weapons. Authorities have released CCTV images of two men they want to identify and are urging anyone with information to contact them quoting the provided crime number.

Jude Bellingham scored twice, including an extra‑time winner set up by Morgan Rogers, to give England a 2–1 victory over Norway in the World Cup quarter‑final in Miami. The match featured an early Norwegian lead from Andreas Schjelderup before England’s second‑half and extra‑time response. A local mural celebrating Bellingham and Rogers drew strong community praise as England prepared to face Argentina in the semi‑final.

Police and Dudley Council officers seized a car and an illegal e‑bike during a joint operation targeting antisocial behaviour around Merry Hill. High‑visibility patrols, drone support and security staff were used to address reports of dangerous off‑road bike use and vehicle offences. Officials highlighted partnership working and urged residents to report concerns to support ongoing efforts to improve safety.

West Midlands Safari Park has moved Lestari, its first Sumatran tiger cub, to Twycross Zoo as part of the European Endangered Species Programme to support future breeding efforts. Born in 2023 and treated early for limb weakness through a specialised physiotherapy plan, Lestari recovered fully and became a healthy young tiger. With fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, staff described her departure as bittersweet but emphasised pride in her progress and hope for her contribution to the species’ future.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man in his 40s was stabbed on Clancey Way in Cradley. The victim was taken to hospital with potentially serious injuries. Police believe the incident was isolated and that those involved knew each other. Officers remained in the area for reassurance as the investigation continued. Ambulance crews treated the victim before transporting him to hospital, and authorities urged anyone with information to come forward.

A man suffered potentially serious injuries in a stabbing on Clancey Way in Halesowen and was treated by emergency services before being taken to hospital. West Midlands Ambulance Service responded with multiple units, and police have been contacted for further information.

A fire at Dudley Council’s Blowers Green Waste Depot was detected late on July 3, prompting evacuation and a response from five West Midlands Fire Service crews. No injuries were reported, and the site was fully cleared and restored to normal operation the following day. The council thanked its waste team for their work and confirmed waste services were unaffected after assessing the situation.

A woman was taken to Worcester Royal Hospital with non‑serious injuries after being struck by a car at the junction of High Street and Bridge Street in Stourport. Emergency crews, including an ambulance and critical care car, attended and assessed her before transport. Police managed a road closure while responding to the collision.

A government minister visited the Black Country Skills Shop in Brierley Hill to highlight efforts to improve employability and confidence among jobseekers. The centre, run by Dudley College of Technology, provides careers advice, training and CV support, with more than 2,000 learners completing programmes in the past five years. The visit aligns with government plans to expand youth work experience and training through the Youth Guarantee. It also follows a report showing high NEET levels among young people in Dudley, underscoring the area’s need for targeted support.

Emergency services responded to a road traffic collision involving a car and a pedestrian on High Street in Stourport around 5:30pm. Police managed a road closure while attending the scene, and the ambulance service was contacted for further information.

Arrow Valley Visitor Centre issued a safety warning urging visitors and their dogs to stay out of the lake after a fishing line became caught on a powerline. All water activities and fishing have been suspended while the issue is addressed, with staff promising updates and apologising for the disruption.

A BMW crashed into the central reservation of the M5 between junctions 1 and 2 around 2:20am, leaving a woman in her 20s with potentially serious injuries. Emergency responders treated her at the scene before taking her to Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. The motorway was closed for about three hours, reopening by 6am. Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

British Transport Police released a CCTV image of a woman sought after allegedly shouting at a man and spitting in his face on a train departing Birmingham New Street on April 8. The incident occurred around 7.30am, and officers believe the woman pictured may hold information relevant to the ongoing investigation.

A serious collision closed the southbound M5 between Junctions 1 and 2 early in the morning, causing delays of about 20 minutes and two miles of congestion. Emergency services attended, and traffic was temporarily released via the hard shoulder. All lanes reopened at 5.48am, though delays continued for some time.

West Midlands Police are seeking public assistance to identify a man linked to multiple thefts of electrical goods, food and cleaning products at shops across Dudley, Wolverhampton and Sandwell on June 4. CCTV images have been released, and witnesses are urged to contact authorities quoting the relevant crime reference number.

A new historical novel titled 27 Church Street: The Gathering Storm by A J Hobart will launch at Kidderminster Town Hall, the same setting where its story begins. Set in 1910, the novel follows the Stretton medical family amid industrial unrest, class tensions and political awakening in Edwardian Kidderminster. Inspired by local archives and heritage, the book includes characters such as Calvin Whitmore, a forceful American carpet magnate whose arrival disrupts the town’s balance. Commissioned by the John Weston Stretton Trust, the launch will feature a talk by Chris Stretton on the real family history behind the narrative, and requires advance booking.

A woman from Kidderminster is seeking an end to repeated legal threat letters from Euro Car Parks and DCBL regarding a parking charge she disputes, stating she has provided proof of payment multiple times. The ongoing demands, warning of potential legal action and a County Court Judgment, have caused her significant stress and health concerns. Euro Car Parks has been asked for comment.