West Midlands Police has helped put a group of car thieves behind bars after detectives linked them to a string of nasty car-jackings plus thefts in which vehicles were towed away using a pick-up truck. Sarweeth Rehman and Hussun Ashraf − both aged 22 − assaulted motorists with golf clubs, baseball bats or metal bars…

Broadcasting trucks have set up shop in Solihull – to film a new BBC drama series with a sordid financial twist. Crew and support vehicles are in a car park on Monkspath Hall Road to facilitate filming in the local neighbourhood. They include a bus with the logo BTFS, short for Bristol Television and Film…

The Jaguar Land Rover two-week production shutdown commenced on Monday (22nd October). Hundreds of agency staff have been stood down during this period while some JLR-contracted employees have time off with full pay, it was reported. The luxury car giant announced the sudden fortnight closure of its Lode Lane plant in Solihull earlier this month….

Bus passengers regularly complain of “dreadfully poor” services in Solihull, a councillor has said. Cllr Ken Hawkins (Con, Blythe) highlighted the number of gripes he received about the network in his response to a public consultation on proposed changes to almost a dozen routes in the borough. Bus users and other interested parties were asked…

Organisers of the showpiece Solihull BID Excellence Awards have revealed the creative companies and talented trainees shortlisted for this year’s honours. More than 100 entries were received for the annual celebration and judges are now going through the process of interviewing each shortlisted candidate or business. The awards ceremony aims to recognise the outstanding businesses…

Popular baked potato lady Lesley Powell has returned to work at Mr Brumbles on Cherry Street – four months after having a titanium plate inserted into her skull in June. Now 52, Lesley was put into an induced coma for ten days after being hit by a car on Warwick Road near to Olton Railway…

Birmingham Airport police confiscated £30,000 of cash from a passenger – hidden in nappies. The seizure came during a week-long blitz on crime at the bustling terminal, where officers also seized more than £20,000 found hidden in two separate suitcases. Cash totalling £73,000 was confiscated from people travelling abroad between October 15- 19. No arrests…

Almost 800 residents in Castle Bromwich have backed calls for the council to “rethink” the road layout at the centre of the suburb, amid concerns about queueing and road safety. Work on the £1.3 million Hurst Lane Place Project was completed in 2015, but complaints were made that the new system was “causing chaos” at…

A killer driver is facing jail after a young woman died in a horror car crash following a police chase in Kingstanding. Brandon Daniels pleaded guilty to causing the death of Sarah Giles, 20, from Solihull, by driving dangerously when he appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday. He also pleaded guilty to two counts…

A community crime-fighting scheme gives residents the chance to be the police’s “eyes and ears” in their local area, a former officer has said. Councillor James Butler (Con, Blythe), who previously served in Warwickshire Police, has given his wholehearted backing to the Street Watch scheme. The initiative, encouraging small groups of volunteers to conduct regular…