Rough sleeper dies as temperatures plunge

A man who was sleeping rough in Birmingham has died after being found on the steps of a churchyard.

West Midlands Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious after a section of the Jewellery Quarter's St Paul's Square was sealed off.

The discovery was made at about 08:50 GMT.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it responded to calls of a medical emergency but nothing could be done to save the patient.

Rev David Tomlinson said the man, whose identity has not been released, had slept near the square's church on and off for many years.

"When I arrived, the police had cordoned off the site," the vicar said.

"I led some prayers commending him to God before the undertakers took his body away.

"Over many years, the square is one of the places where he has slept for a while before moving on again. His death is desperately sad."

Officers added a file would prepared for the coroner.

Temperatures across the UK have plunged in recent days.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk