Football team's minibus found after mid-match theft

A non-league football team have said a minibus stolen by masked thieves during an away match has been recovered by police.

Alvechurch FC's white Ford Transit was taken midway through their Birmingham Senior Cup fixture against Tamworth on 3 February.

The team posted on X on Thursday to say West Midlands Police had found it during a raid last week in Willenhall.

They wrote: "We can't collect it until forensics have finished and we don't know exactly what state it's in yet, but it's back!"

Wolverhampton Police said officers had recovered six stolen vehicles after a missing car was traced to a unit in Willenhall on 5 February.

During their search, officers found vehicles recently taken from Tamworth, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Birmingham.

Det Insp Lee Medlam said each one was "in a different state or awaiting dismantling", but owners had been informed.

Tamworth FC posted on X that they were "pleased" to hear the minibus had been found, and they understood it would be returned to Alvechurch "next week".

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.