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Investigation into sexual assault at nursery
West Mercia Police has launched an investigation after a young child told their family they had been sexually assaulted while at a children’s nursery in Worcestershire.
Last week, a mother contacted police after her child disclosed they had been assaulted by someone while at one of the three branches of Bright Eyes Nurseries, which are in Bromsgrove, Redditch and Droitwich.
An investigation was launched and this morning five men were arrested and six properties were searched, including the three nurseries.
They are currently in custody at Worcester and Kidderminster Police Stations.
Man charged with sending racist tweets to footballers
A man has been charged with sending racist tweets to two Northampton Town football players.
Ben Townsend, 25, from Cheltenham, allegedly sent the messages to Adebayo Akinfenwa and Clarke Carlisle, who is also chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association.
He will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court next month.
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New 'Smiler' ride at Alton Towers has teething problems
Alton Towers have revealed that their new ride, The Smiler, will not be open today, as anticipated.
Visitors who have already booked tickets for the park today have been told:
"Guests who have booked tickets for 23rd May to specifically ride The Smiler can have them revalidated for another visit during the season."
The theme park has not yet said when the ride will be due to open.
Council: We need families to understand the basics
– DAVID CLARK, EAST LINCOLNSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCILWith the alarming rise in childhood obesity, not just in Lincolnshire, but also across the UK, it is more important than ever that we help families to better understand real basics when it comes to exercise and nutrition, and also the reasons why everyone needs to stay active and eat fruit and vegetables.
Firefighters travel to Romania to deliver fire engines
Firefighters from Shropshire are going to travel nearly 2000 miles to deliver two fire engines to Romania.
The redundant English engines will replace out dated Romanian kit.
The team of ten will leave next month. On board will be 500 firefighting uniforms donated by Lion Apparel Systems.
50% of primary school children cannot swim
Nearly half of all primary school children in the Central region can't swim 25 metres on their own.
Mobile swimming pools are being taken into schools today to help youngsters develop their confidence in the water.
Drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death of children in England.
David Walker at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said:
“RoSPA is astounded at how bad some of these figures are. Having the swimming and water safety skills to save yourself or others doesn’t come instinctively, it has to be taught.”
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Scarratt named Women's Rugby Player of the Year
Emily Scarratt was last night named England Women's Rugby Player of the Year.
The 23-year-old PE teacher from Lichfield says she is absolutely delighted by the prestigious award, as it was voted for by her teammates.
You can see an interview with Emily after last night's ceremony here.
Mother: David McGreavy should never be released
A ban on naming one of the UK's most notorious prisoners who killed three children in 1973 was lifted yesterday.
David McGreavy lived with the Ralph family at their home in Worcester for two years, he was left to babysit when he killed four-year-old Paul, and sisters Dawn, two and Samantha who was only nine months old.
In 2009, he was granted anonymity but the ruling has now been lifted by the High Court.
Speaking to Daybreak, mother Dorothy Urry said the killer of her children should "never, ever be released".
She said she was never allowed to go back into her home after the death of her children, and people who lived nearer her blamed her for leaving them with David, she added, "it's just heartbreaking and I have a job to go back up there to the children's grave even".
NHS team to visit Burton as part of Keogh review
A team of doctors, nurses and patient representatives will visit Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust today, as part of their review into death rates.
They have been called in by the medical director of the health service, Sir Bruce Keogh. 14 hospital trusts are to have visits in the wake of the scandal at Stafford, where hundreds of people were said to have died needlessly.
Man wanted on suspicion of kidnapping pensioner
West Midlands Police have released a picture of a man wanted on suspicion of kidnapping a pensioner in Birmingham.
Detectives want to question 50-year-old Roy Alethan Powell.
Two offenders targeted the 70-year-old victim on 14 December. He was threatened with a knife in his own home and then forced to drive his kidnappers around Birmingham for several hours, before stopping at a cash machine.
Once there, he withdrew a large amount of cash, which he handed to the thieves, who then let him go.
Powell is described as black and around six feet tall. The suspect was wearing dark clothing, black trainers and light blue jeans at the time of the attack.
