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.

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.

Express and Star

Almost 200 new homes are being created for families, external 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.

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.

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.

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

Kevin Pashby
BBC WM

I'm Danny Kelly's producer and I've been giving a bit of an online guided tour around the BBC WM studios during Access All Areas day.

You can watch a live stream of what's happening behind the scenes here.

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

Image source, NAthan cleary

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

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

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Police are reassuring members of the public and say there is "no immediate threat to public safety" and was a pre-planned and intelligence led investigation., external

You can also read more on this story on BBC News.

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.

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

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, external on suspicion of preparing for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

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, external the man is suspected of preparing to join Islamic State.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

What do you think of BBC Local Live? We'd like your feedback about this service, external.

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

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.

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.

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

An estimated 60,000 people lined the streets of Birmingham yesterday for the annual St Patrick's Day parade.

The parade, which centres around the city's "Irish Quarter" in Digbeth, began with a confetti blast.

See the photos from the day on BBC News.

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

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.

Birmingham Mail

The cuts-hit Library of Birmingham is the only venue outside London to be included in a top 10 of UK most-visited tourist attractions, external compiled by a national organisation.

The £189m library welcomed almost 2,500,000 visitors last year, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA).

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.

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.

Image source, Thinkstock

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.

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.

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