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Live Reporting

Alex Homer

All times stated are UK

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  1. Good evening

    Alex Homer

    BBC Local Live

    Thanks for following our updates on Access All Areas day at BBC Birmingham. The newsroom's looking a lot quieter now.

    Empty Mailbox office

    Join us from 08:00 on Tuesday when we're back with the usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather.

  2. Tomorrow's forecast

    BBC Weather

    Latest

    It should be a brighter day across the region on Tuesday and feeling warmer, with more in the way of sunshine particularly later in the day. Clearing skies will lead to a patchy frost overnight. Highs of 8C (46F).

  3. Access All Areas: Our engineers

    The Broadcast Support Centre is based at The Mailbox here in Birmingham. Watch Laura explain how it is developing new ways of working across the BBC and ensuring our audiences see and hear our radio and television output.

    Laura, a graduate trainee broadcast engineer
  4. Round-up of the day

    John Bray

    Access All Areas

    I've pulled together a round-up of our behind-the-scenes day at BBC Birmingham on Storify.

  5. Impact of abusive teacher

    A man who was abused by a paedophile teacher has told the BBC he struggled to maintain relationships and even attempted to take his own life.

    John Patton, 75, admitted indecent assault against three boys under 16 earlier in the year.

    The offences, dating back 25 years, were committed while he was teaching at Kingshurst Comprehensive in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull.

  6. How Albion got over Villa losses

    Birmingham Mail

    Darren Fletcher has revealed Albion put their foot down to get their season back on track.

    The club skipper says a spot of go karting helped Albion recover from back-to-back defeats to Villa.

  7. Access All Areas: Making programmes

    David Jennings

    Head of BBC West Midlands

    Every year BBC Tours give thousands of people the chance to look behind the scenes of our studios at the Mailbox in Birmingham.

    Access all areas at BBC Birmingham

    It's striking just how much interest there is in how our programmes, from Midlands Today to The Archers, are made.

    But we know that for everyone able to join an in-person BBC Tour, there are many more who would love to know more about how their favourite programmes are brought to air. About The BBC can tell you more.

  8. Coming up on TV

    Nick Owen

    Presenter, Midlands Today

    Police are tonight appealing for witnesses after a one-year-old boy was killed when a truck crashed into his Birmingham home. The boy was at the front of the house when a wall collapsed on top of him.

    The recovery truck being taken away from the scene

    Our reporter Amy Cole will be there for Midlands Today at 22:25.

  9. Access All Areas: Asian Network

    Cath Mackie

    BBC Midlands Today

    BBC Asian Network presenter Noreen Khan is always posting questions and pictures on social media and looking for guests who have a big following. Watch what it is like working on her show behind the scenes.

    Noreen Khan
  10. Old Midlands Today films

    John Bray

    Access All Areas

    This is where our history lives... Our films at BBC Midlands Today are transferred to tapes after transmission and stored in our media library.

    BBC Birmingham library

    If we want old footage, we put the tape in a flexi-cart machine and restore to our digital server.

    Our library isn't as big as the one in London, so if we need any other archive we go on the BBC's internal website and order it and it's sent down the line to us.

  11. Access All Areas: Home Front

    Cath Mackie

    BBC Midlands Today

    Watch Home Front writer Richard Monks explain what it is like working on the Radio 4 Drama reliving World War One.

    Home Front actors
  12. Access All Areas: Nick Owen's about

    Alex Homer

    BBC Local Live

    If you ever wonder who is presenting the next Midlands Today programme and happen to see these two items on the production desk, you can be pretty sure it's Nick Owen, who is Luton Town's club chairman.

    Nick Owen's Luton Town mug and mobile phone cover
  13. Prime Minister: "Oh Christian Benteke"

    David Cameron has revealed Christian Benteke is his favourite current Aston Villa player.

    Christian Benteke

    The prime minister, whose uncle Sir William Dugdale was Villa's chairman from the mid 70s to the early 80s, told the social media website BuzzFeed that the striker, who scored twice in the 4-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday "has been so valuable the last few years".

  14. BBC Blue Room

    Stephanie Barnard

    BBC Local Live

    This afternoon I went to meet some of the team from BBC Blue Room.

    BBC Blue Room at BBC Birmingham

    They were talking about technology which could soon be in our homes - from 4k TVs to TV headsets.

    I had a demo and watched Cirque du Soleil and Paul McCartney perform in full 360-degree vision (pictured middle). Find out more.

  15. News on the hour

    Gareth Ford-Lloyd

    BBC WM

    A one-year-old boy died in Birmingham in the afternoon when a wall that was hit by a lorry collapsed on to him in Stechford.

    We will hear more from West Midlands Ambulance Service, that attended the scene, in our 21:00 bulletin.

  16. Scene of fatal crash

    Amy Cole

    Reporter, Midlands Today

    This is the scene in Stechford tonight - a cordon is in place after a toddler died when a wall that was reportedly struck by a lorry fell on to him.

    The scene in Stechford
  17. Saddlers' attendances rising

    Nick Clitheroe

    Sports editor, BBC Midlands Today

    Last year attendances at Walsall FC were up by more than 13,000 and broke the 100,000 barrier for the first time in five seasons.

    This year is already looking good, with the financial boost from more than 27,000 tickets sold for Wembley.

    Then there's the prize money and TV payments their run in the competition has earned. Walsall are never going to be a club which starts paying big transfer fees or wages, but at least the fans know they're unlikely to join the long list of teams who've spent more than they can afford and paid an appalling financial price.

  18. Your questions for Nick Owen

    via Facebook

    There's been a great response on the Midlands Today Facebook page where dozens of people have been asking presenter Nick Owen questions this evening.

    Nick Owen interviewing David Cameron
  19. Blaze 'not linked' to school fire

    Alex Homer

    BBC Local Live

    Officers believe a blaze at a garage in Wednesfield may be linked to a fire at Kenyons the previous Sunday, 8 March, during which offenders attempted to set fire to the garage but it failed to ignite.

    Fire at St Alban's School

    At this stage of the inquiry, the fires at Kenyons are not considered to be linked to previous arson attacks at St Alban's Primary School (pictured) and Charter Care, in Wednesfield, last month, say police.

  20. Birmingham Digital Week

    Stephanie Barnard

    BBC Local Live

    Our Access All Areas day at #BBCBrum is part of Birmingham Digital Week.

    Birmingham Digital Week

    Events are taking place across the city aimed at developing digital skills, sharing knowledge and creating networking opportunities.

    You can find out more information and book tickets to sessions via the BBC Academy.

  21. Toddler died at scene

    Alex Homer

    BBC Local Live

    The boy, whose name has not yet been released, suffered a serious head injury and died at the scene, West Midlands Police says.

    The road is likely to be closed for some considerable time between Sedgemere and Broadstone Roads, police say, while investigators work to find out what happened.

    Insp Paul Bennett said: "This is a very tragic set of circumstances - words cannot describe what his family are going through and our thoughts are with them at this time."

  22. News on the hour

    Gareth Ford-Lloyd

    BBC WM

    We will have more on the death of a toddler in Stechford in our 19:00 bulletin.

    Officers were called to Queens Road at about 5pm today following a report a recovery truck had hit a wall, which had then fallen on the child.

  23. BreakingPost update

    BREAKING NEWS

    A one-year-old boy has died after a recovery truck crashed into a wall, which fell on to the toddler in Stechford.

  24. M42 pile-up warning

    BBC Travel

    One lane is closed and there is queuing traffic on the M42 southbound between J5 for the A41 at Solihull and J4 for the A34 at Shirley because of a crash involving three cars and a lorry, drivers are warned.

  25. How do the Saddlers do it?

    Nick Clitheroe

    Sports editor, BBC Midlands Today

    How do Walsall FC manage to turn a profit so often? Well the reality is the club's income is split down the middle between the football side and commercial deals.

    The biggest source of revenue is the Bescot Sunday market, which they've been hosting for 20 years. Walsall's location right next to the M6/M5 junction means the stadium is a popular venue for companies to host conferences and training sessions.

    They also generate income from the massive electronic advertising hoardings which dominate one of the club car parks.

  26. Access All Areas: Midlands Today live

    Alex Homer

    BBC Local Live

    If you're watching the production gallery live during Midlands Today you will hear people talking about "Astons".

    These are the words in the red and white banner along the bottom of the screen - a picture caption explaining who is speaking.

    Screengrab of the Midlands Today live stream showing the production gallery as the programme airs

    You can also hear the producers counting down the seconds as they switch between the packages for the various stories, so viewers at home see the programme transition seamlessly.

  27. On tonight's programme

    Nick Owen

    Presenter, Midlands Today

    Police are treating the daubing of anti-Islamic graffiti at the University of Birmingham as a hate crime. Staff found the slogan over the weekend and an investigation is under way.

    And organisers of Birmingham's St Patrick's Day celebrations say they are confident the parade will take place next year despite funding cuts. An estimated 90,000 people turned out yesterday and you will find dozens of images on our Facebook page.

  28. Access All Areas: Midlands Today live

    John Bray

    Access All Areas

    You can watch Midlands Today's "mission control", its production gallery, live as the programme goes out tonight, if you visit this link and click the watch/listen button.

    The image fronting the lvie stream for Access All Areas at BBC Birmingham
  29. Accident on Dudley southern bypass

    BBC Travel

    There's slow traffic on the A461 Dudley southern bypass between Cinder Bank island and the Blackacre Road junction because of an accident.

  30. News on the hour

    Gareth Ford-Lloyd

    BBC WM

    At 18:00 we hear from one of the victims of a teacher who abused teenage boys at school in Chelmsley Wood, who says people will believe him now that the paedophile has been jailed.

    Listen live here.

  31. Walsall one of the best run clubs?

    Nick Clitheroe

    Sports editor, BBC Midlands Today

    All week long we're previewing Walsall's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley.

    Today we are looking at just how well run the Saddlers are - they must be one of the best in English football.

    They've made a profit in each of the past nine years and 23 out of the past 26.

  32. View from mission control

    David Jennings

    Head of BBC West Midlands

    From 18:25, for the first time ever, watch Midlands Today as it's seen from our mission control - the production gallery.

    It's a director's-eye view of the programme. You'll even hear what Nick and Mary are told in their earpieces while on air.

  33. 'Inconceivable' poison eaten at Crufts

    Caroline Kisko, from the Kennel Club, said: "There has been a lot of concern about whether the poisoning happened at Crufts and we are now able to reassure all dog lovers who came to Crufts that this could not have been possible."

    Jagger

    "We have had confirmation, including from independent toxicologists, that the poisons identified in the toxicology report - carbofuran and aldicarb - are fast acting. Severe clinical symptoms would usually occur within half an hour to three hours."

  34. News on the hour

    Gareth Ford-Lloyd

    BBC WM

    Police in Birmingham have arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of preparing to travel to Syria to join Islamic State. At 17:00 we hear from Rafaello Pantucci, an international security expert and who has written a book on Jihadis.

    He thinks that police would have been monitoring the man in Birmingham for some time.

  35. BreakingPost update

    BREAKING NEWS

    The dog that died after competing at Crufts appeared to have ingested poison in Belgium, the Kennel Club says.

  36. Longer hours for council tip

    Halesowen News

    Recycling has never been easier in Sandwell after the council extended the opening hours of Oldbury's Shidas Lane waste disposal facility.

    Until the end of October the centre will be open from 8am until 8pm during the week and between 7am and 6pm during the weekend.

  37. Drivetime on BBC WM

    Chris Blakemore

    News editor, BBC WM

    The news team at BBC WM are busy working on our Drivetime show with Paul Franks.

    Stories are coming in all the time and we are reacting to those to make sure the show is an accurate representation of today's events, locally, nationally and internationally.

  38. News on the hour

    Gareth Ford-Lloyd

    BBC WM

    In the 16:00 news bulletin: An investigation has begun after anti-Islamic graffiti was found on campus at the University of Birmingham.

    West Midlands Police is classing it as a hate crime.

  39. Garage fire 'started deliberately'

    Alex Homer

    BBC Local Live

    A blaze at Wednesfield garage, Kenyons, is "believed to have been started deliberately" according to Det Con Andrew Higgins.

    A 200m cordon was put in place as the flames burned after it was confirmed gas canisters were stores inside. Restaurants, the cinema and other entertainment venues on Bentley Bridge Retail Park were evacuated while visitors to and from New Cross Hospital were diverted away from the main entrance on Wednesfield Road.

    Customers were allowed to return to Bentley Bridge shortly before 22:00, according to police.

  40. More on teacher sentencing

    Gareth Ford-Lloyd

    BBC WM

    John Patton, 75, from Coventry, had admitted four indecent assaults on three 15-year-old boys and was sentenced today at the Warwickshire Justice Centre.

    It happened when he taught at Kingshurst Comprehensive in the 1980s.

  41. Access All Areas: Sunny and Shay

    Sunny and Shay's programme on BBC WM is being streamed while they broadcast live as part our digital open house at BBC Birmingham. In case you missed it, Shay was playing a bit of "air trumpet" during the music earlier.

    Shay plays air trumpet
  42. News on the hour

    Gareth Ford-Lloyd

    BBC WM

    A teacher has been jailed for three years and 11 months after indecently assaulting three 15-year-old boys while at a Chelmsley Wood school.

    More on this in our 15:00 bulletin.

  43. Poyet sacked after Villa defeat

    BBC Sport

    Defeat by Aston Villa 0-4 proved the final nail in the coffin of Gus Poyet's time as Sunderland manager.

    Gus Poyet

    Defeat left the Black Cats one point above the relegation zone following a run of just one victory in 12 Premier League games and Poyet was sacked today.

  44. Access All Areas: BBC Local Live

    Jay Vydelingum

    BBC Local Live

    The aim of BBC Local Live is to bring you the latest news, sport, travel and weather all in one place.

    BBC LOCAL LIVE

    Here is the handover between our early writer Stephanie Barnard and Alex Homer who'll be writing updates through this afternoon and this evening for Birmingham and the Black Country.

    Tell us what you think about BBC Local Live.

  45. Access All Areas: The Archers

    Stephanie Barnard

    BBC Local Live

    Since 1950 BBC Birmingham has been home to The Archers - the world's longest running radio drama.

    One of the staircases at The Mailbox is dedicated to a timeline of Ambridge history.

    History wall of The Archers

    If you ever come on a tour of BBC Birmingham - it's one of the places you can see it up close. A must for any fan!

    As part of Access All Areas we've got a behind the scenes tour. Take a look now.

  46. Sunny periods

    Charlie Slater

    Weather Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

    Often cloudy but generally dry once again today, although still bright with some sunny periods.

    Charlie Slater

    Feeling cool under cloudier skies, with a few showers likely. High of 8C (46F).

  47. News on the hour

    BBC WM

    A teacher's been jailed for almost four years after indecently assaulting three 15-year-old boys while at a Chelmsley Wood school in the 1980s.

    Listen live for more details in the news at 14:00.

  48. Teacher jailed

    Chris Blakemore

    News editor, BBC WM

    A teacher's been jailed for three years 11 months after indecently assaulting three 15-year-old boys while at a Chelmsley Wood school.

    John Patton, 75, was sentenced today at the Warwickshire Justice Centre.

    The offences happened when he taught at Kingshurst School in the 1980s.

  49. Coming up on Midlands Today

    Jo Tidman

    Midlands Today

    An 18-year-old man from Birmingham's been arrested on suspicion of preparing to travel to Syria to join the Islamic state.

    Join me for more details on Midlands Today at 13:40 on BBC One.

  50. Access All Areas: A newsreader's view

    Joanne Malin

    Presenter, Midlands Today

    Access All Areas day is showing a different side to what happens here at BBC Birmingham. This is my view of the autocue when I read the news on Midlands Today.

    JOANNE MALIN

    Watch to find out how Midlands Today is put together.

  51. News on the hour

    BBC WM

    A man from Birmingham has been arrested on suspicion of preparing to travel to Syria to join IS. More details in the news at 13:00

  52. Stab arrests

    Three men have been arrested in Birmingham after a teeenager was stabbed to death outside a nightclub in Coventry.

    18 year old Daniel Kirkwood was attacked at the Society club in the city centre in the early hours of Sunday morning - he'd been stabbed in the neck.

    Four other men, arrested shortly after the attack are also still being questioned.

  53. Watch: How Ambridge is created for The Archers

    Cath Mackie

    BBC Midlands Today

    The world's longest running radio drama is recorded here at BBC Birmingham.

    We had an empty studio, and as I was racking my brain wondering how to make it interesting, the producer Julie Beckett (pictured) turned up and it was completely brilliant.

    The Archers producer Julie Beckett

    Julie gave us a tour, explaining what they use for sound effects (who knew an ironing board sounds just like a farm gate?). What really brings the film to life is her enthusiasm… It's really clear she's a big fan of the show that she works on.

    "If you don't want to spoil the illusion of the village in your head - Look away now!" she announces.

    Watch the film here.

  54. 200 homes plan for families in West Bromwich

    Express and Star

    Almost 200 new homes are being created for families at a multi-million pound estate in West Bromwich.

    Work is progressing well at the lynchpin site in Greets Green.

    Officials say the new Golden Park estate is crucial in boosting the number of affordable homes for sale and rent for families across Sandwell.

  55. Access All Areas: BBC News online

    Stephanie Barnard

    BBC Local Live

    BBC Birmingham is the home of BBC News online for England.

    People here decide which stories will run, they also check and publish articles and features and liaise with teams across English Regions.

    BBC England online team

    There's a team which not only writes news stories but a wealth of local features, such as this one, which is leading the index on former prisoner of war camps.

    Editor Eileen Murphy explains a little bit about what we do 24-hours a day online.

  56. News on the hour

    Michelle Dawes

    Journalist, BBC WM

    A man from Hodge Hill in Birmingham has been arrested on suspicion of preparing to travel to Syria.

    Listen live for more details in the news at 12:00

  57. 'Suspected arson'

    About 30 firefighters have tackled a blaze at a garage in Wednesfield.

    Kenyons fire

    The fire at Kenyons on Wolverhampton Road was brought under control within about three hours on Sunday evening.

    West Midlands Fire Service says the blaze is being treated as suspected arson.

  58. Watch: Inside Midlands Today

    John Bray

    Access All Areas

    Today is Access All Areas day at BBC Birmingham, with a series of behind the scenes films.

    From breakfast to bedtime, a team of journalists keeps the Midlands Today show on the road.

    Midlands Today delivering the news from breakfast until bedtime

    Here's one of the films Cath Mackie filmed taking a look behind the scenes in our newsroom.

  59. BreakingMore on 18-year-old arrested

    West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit says it arrested an 18-year-old from Hodge Hill at 07:00.

    The 18-year-old was arrested at his home on suspicion of preparing for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

  60. BreakingPost update

    BREAKING NEWS

    An 18-year-old man from Birmingham has been arrested by counter terrorism police on suspicion of planning to travel to Syria.

    West Midlands Police says the man is suspected of preparing to join Islamic State.

  61. News on the hour

    Michelle Dawes

    Journalist, BBC WM

    BBC WM has found out there's a postcode lottery across Birmingham and the Black Country when it comes to parents asking for help for children with special educational needs.

    Listen live for more details in the news at 11:00

  62. BBC Birmingham's morning meeting

    Dave Hart

    Editor

    It's your chance to see what BBC Birmingham does today.

    There are more than a dozen films on the Midlands Today website giving a behind-the-scenes look at what happens here at The Mailbox.

    A particular favourite is behind the scenes at The Archers - radio's favourite soap opera made in Birmingham. How do they get those sound effects? You may be surprised.

    Midlands Today mornin meeting

    Here at the morning meeting we talk about which stories we'll be covering, and at 18:30 in Midlands Today, see Nick Owen experience virtual reality. You may be surprised. He will be!

    Our science correspondent David Gregory Kumar will be live at Birmingham's Innovation Campus looking at the city's efforts this week to promote Digital Birmingham.

  63. Villa wins

    BBC Sport

    Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor says their battle for survival is far from over despite picking up back-to-back Premier League wins.

    Gabby Agbonlahor

    Tim Sherwood's side thumped fellow strugglers Sunderland 4-nil on Saturday with all the goals coming in the first half.

    Agbonlahor got two of them and he says they fully deserved their win.

  64. Watch: Delivering news digitally

    BBC Birmingham is home to the BBC News website for England.

    BBC NEWS ONLINE

    Every hour of every day, news stories and features are posted - with a weekly audience topping 12 million.

    Find out how the stories are put together here.

  65. News on the hour

    Steve Hermon

    Journalist, BBC WM

    In the news at 10:00:

    BBC WM has found out there's a postcode lottery across Birmingham and the Black Country when it comes to parents asking for help for children with special educational needs.

  66. Parents face special needs 'lottery'

    BBC WM

    Families of children with special educational needs are facing a postcode lottery to get extra help at schools according to a BBC investigation.

    child in class

    There were nearly 2,000 requests for an assessment across the West Midlands region during 2013/14 - in Dudley and Walsall more than 86% of requests made by parents were refused.

    But in Wolverhampton - every parent who suspected their child needed help was given an assessment.

  67. Watch: Live stream of Danny Kelly on BBC WM

    Liz Gameson

    Journalist, BBC WM

    I'm in the BBC WM 'Ops Room' with the rest of the production team putting the Danny Kelly show on air on BBC WM.

    BBC WM ops room

    Watch the live stream as part of Access All Areas day here at BBC Birmingham.

  68. Calls for speed-cutting measures on busy route

    Express and Star

    People living along a busy road through Wednesbury have called for measures to cut speeding.

    Motorists have been hitting double the 30mph speed limit along Myvod Road near two schools. Residents also claim to have seen other problems such drivers using mobile phones at the wheel.

    They have now asked for better enforcement by police.

  69. Weather snapshot

    Charlie Slater

    Weather Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

    A rather grey and grizzly start to this week unfortunately. That's not to say that we won't see some brightness this morning though.

    Charlie Slater

    There's a lot of cloud around today though.

    For the latest forecast visit BBC Weather or follow the team on Twitter.

  70. News on the hour

    Michelle Dawes

    Journalist, BBC WM

    Coming up in the news at 09:00 on BBC WM: We can reveal that there's a postcode lottery in the West Midlands when it comes to support for children with special needs.

    Hear more on this story in the bulletin shortly.

  71. Tattoos 'Despite appearance'

    Adrian Goldberg

    Presenter, BBC WM

    We're asking you about tattoos - have you got one somewhere that's not visible?

    It's after a Villa fan announced she wants a tattoo of Gaby Agbonlahor on her backside to celebrate his 300th Premier League match.

    Tattoo

    Jack Sparrow emails: "Despite my appearance I am a really nice, kind, caring, intelligent and articulate bloke, my tattoos keep the weirdos of this world at a distance which suits me fine.

    I was in the prison service for almost a decade and on occasion inmates would comment saying "Boss, you look like you should be our side of the bars".

  72. Watch: In the gallery at Midlands Today

    Cath Mackie

    BBC Midlands Today

    What's going to be really fascinating later is that we are live streaming the gallery while Midlands Today is on air at 18:30.

    Midlands Today gallery

    As Nick Owen talks to camera, viewers will be able to log on and see just what the director and rest of the gallery team gets up to, and what they're really saying through the earpiece.

    Watch what it's like working in the gallery here.

  73. Hit and run man charged

    A 22-year-old man has been charged over a hit-and-run outside The Hawthorns football ground that left a female pedestrian with multiple fractures.

    Tomasz Kolakowski, from Trinity Road, Aston, is set to appear before Sandwell magistrates on suspicion of hitting the 20-year-old at about 15:00 on Friday in Birmingham Road and driving off from the scene.

    He has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at scene of collision, and driving without insurance or a valid licence.

  74. Access All Areas: The work we do

    David Jennings

    Head of BBC West Midlands

    Today is BBC Birmingham Access All Areas day. You're very welcome!

    On this page, see films about the work we do at BBC Birmingham - from the making of the Archers to the technology that makes us the broadcast nerve-centre for BBC English Regions.

    Birmingham Digital Week 2015

    Why are we doing this?

    It's all part of Birmingham Digital Week. Read more about it and how you can be part of some of the sessions we're running online. We've got everything from a Games to Business Days.

  75. News on the hour

    BBC WM

    Families of children with special educational needs are facing a postcode lottery to get extra help at schools, according to a BBC investigation.

    In the West Midlands there were nearly 2,000 requests from parents for an assessment during 2013/14.

    In Dudley and Walsall the vast majority of parents were refused one. And nearly a third of schools who asked were rejected too.

    But in Wolverhampton every parent who suspected their child needed help was given one.

  76. Behind the scenes at Midlands Today

    John Bray

    Access All Areas

    Joanne Malin is presenting the regional Midlands Today news programme on BBC One this morning.

    Behind the scenes at BBC Midlands Today

    Our breakfast bulletins are directed from a smaller gallery than the main programme. We call it the Pres Gallery.

    Today our breakfast director is Alison Roscoe. It's her job to "opt" when BBC Breakfast's presenters say: "Now for the news where you are."

    Alison has to keep presenter Joanne Malin on track with the duration of the bulletin, make sure cameras and lighting are spot on, and ensure a smooth handback to BBC Breakfast at Salford.

  77. Access All Areas - Welcome

    David Jennings

    Head of BBC West Midlands

    Welcome to our day of exclusive behind-the-scenes access to BBC Birmingham.

    BBC BIRMINGHAM

    In Local Live, there're be regular updates on what's going on here at your BBC in Brum.

  78. Garage fire

    Firefighters from nine fire stations across the West Midlands have been tackling a "severe blaze" at a garage in Wolverhampton overnight.

    Garage fire in Wolverhampton

    The blaze broke out late last night at Kenyons servicing garage on Wolverhampton Rd in Wednesfield.

    Officers were concerned about acetylene cylinders in the building and put a 200m cordon in place but firefighters are now scaling down.

    Read about closures on the surrounding roads on BBC Travel.

  79. News on the hour

    Michelle Dawes

    Journalist, BBC WM

    The former Birmingham Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg has denied training the British man known as 'Jihadi John'.

    Listen live for more details in the news at 07:00

  80. In the newsroom

    Stephanie Barnard

    BBC Local Live

    Upstairs things are quite different... Joanne Malin has just gone on air with her first Midlands Today bulletin on BBC One - the studio is the black screen at the end of the room.

    BBC WM breakfast team getting ready for the show

    Over on the other side of the newsroom Adrian Goldberg, producer James Bovill, Daz Hale and newsreader Michelle Dawes are discussing what will be on this morning's breakfast show.

    Subjects to be covered include why children with special needs are struggling to be assessed, and a look back at yesterday's St Patrick's Day parade in Birmingham.

    They'll be live between 07:00 and 09:00, listen live here

  81. M6 delays

    BBC Travel

    There is heavy traffic on the M6 this morning between junction 10a for the M54 and junction 11 for Cannock because of an accident and recovery work.

    One lane northbound is closed but there is severe congestion.

    Stay up to date on the BBC Travel page.

  82. Looking chirpy

    Stephanie Barnard

    BBC Local Live

    Downstairs in the studio there are two chirpy looking people here at BBC WM. You can tell they're used to waking up at such an early part of the day. They're both smiling!

    Pete Morgan and Steve Hermon

    Pete Morgan (pictured left) has been on air since 05:00 with music and chat.

    And Steve Hermon looking rather chipper writing the sports news for BBC WM.

  83. Behind the scenes

    Cath Mackie

    BBC Midlands Today

    I've spent weeks talking to people who work in the same building as me - many of whom I've never met before!

    Midlands Today newsroom

    I've found it fascinating and have made 15 behind-the-scenes films showing everything from a day in the life of Midlands Today to the secrets of The Archers studio.

    In the films we'll hear from producers, make-up artists, engineers and apprentices, among others, about what they do each day and how programmes get on air.

  84. Good morning

    Stephanie Barnard

    BBC Local Live

    There's extended running time for Local Live today as we kick off from 06:00 and bring you live updates until 23:00.

    As well as the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates that we bring you every day, we'll also be giving you a digital tour of BBC Birmingham.

    Photos of BBC Birmingham

    As part of Birmingham Digital Week today we're giving you a sneak peek behind the scenes for Access All Areas day.

    If you want to get in touch - email and tweet your questions and comments.

  85. Post update