Goldfield Court
Goldfield Court: 16 residents and staff were taken ill with food poisoning Housing & Care21

A care worker has been charged with attempted murder after 16 people, including staff and residents, at a home in West Bromwich fell ill with food poisoning.

Melissa Swift, 23, of Hambletts Road, will appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court later and will face further charges of threats to kill.

She was arrested on August 4 after staff and residents at Goldfield Court in West Bromwich in the Midlands, complained of symptoms including severe headaches, intense nausea and diarrhoea related to food poisoning while others needed hospital treatment.

West Midlands Police said the victims had since made a good recovery and no further cases had been reported since they began their investigation.

Swift was later transferred to a secure unit for psychiatric assessment before being returned to custody this week for further questioning.

A police spokesman said: "She was charged last night (4 September) and will appear in court this morning."

Goldfield Court is run by Housing & Care 21, in partnership with Sandwell Council and the Homes and Communities Agency.