Updates for Tuesday 24 November
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Wednesday
Sarah Falkland
BBC Midlands Today
This lunchtime we're live at i54 with the news that JLR are doubling the size of the engine plant there, despite falling sales in China.
Plus we’re meeting the Wolverhampton teacher who’s invented a cardboard bed for homeless people.
Police are hunting a murderer with links to Wolverhampton and Birmingham, external who has gone missing from an open prison.
Image source, Express and StarJohn Clancy will be the new Labour leader of Birmingham City Council, following a vote by councillors last night.
He said in a statement he was looking at the Kerslake report, which was commissioned after a series of reports focussed on the council during an inquiry into the so-called Trojan Horse letter.
Mr Clancy says there are "challenging times ahead for Birmingham" but said the Labour group will "swiftly address the concerns of the Kerslake report".
Quote MessageI will also ensure the good work already underway on the improvement agendas for safeguarding and education continues, alongside our commitment to improved partnership working and a more open and transparent council
John Clancy, Labour leader of Birmingham City Council
Two people who were arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man in Tipton have been released on bail, police say. , external
The body of Indiga Daniel Wallace was found in a flat on Fisher Street nearly two weeks ago.
A 21-year-old man and 19-year-old woman were released today pending further inquiries, West Midlands Police say.
One of the tops guns at the Tamworth SnowDome has defended the venue's Winter Wonderland attraction after it came under fire, external from an animal rights group.
Image source, Tamworth Herald
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM
I'm going into Birmingham city centre shortly to speak to people to get their reaction after the council voted in a new Labour leader last night.
I'm hoping to get the views of the public about what they think of John Clancy taking over from Sir Albert Bore.
I'll have more on this story later.
As hundreds more jobs are to be created at Jaguar Land Rover's engine plant near Wolverhampton, the chief executive, Mike Wright, explains the process.
Hundreds more jobs are to be created following a £0.5bn expansion at Jaguar Land Rover
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM
Birmingham City Council says the number of fines handed out for littering has gone up massively.
Nearly 5,000 fines, costing £80 a time, were dished out by enforcement officers last year. In 2004 the council says only 382 fixed-penalty notices were issued.
I spoke Mark Croxford, an Environmental Health Officer at the Council, to find out why there’s been such an increase.
Almost 5,000 fines for littering were handed out Birmingham City Council last year
Rare statues worth a total of £1,200 were taken during a raid, external on a family-run garden centre in Aldridge.
Image source, Express and Star
BBC Travel
One lane is closed on the M42 southbound between J6, A45 (Birmingham Airport) and J5, A41 (Solihull), because of an accident and recovery work.
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Birmingham City Council elects a new leader - with the winning contender clinching the position by a single vote.
John Clancy, Labour councillor for Quinton, beat closest rival Penny Holbrook in Monday night's ballot.
Ahead of the vote, he said providing new homes and improving existing social housing should be the authority's "top priority".
A caricature of Liam and Noel Gallagher, from rock band Oasis, has been stolen from a Birmingham pub.
Image source, The Lord ClifdenThe picture, valued at £1,500, was taken from the wall of the Lord Clifden in Hockley on Saturday evening.
Chris Blakemore
BBC WM
Ten years ago today the 24-hour licence allowing pubs and clubs to serve people round the clock was introduced.
It meant places that were used to giving last orders at 11 could apply to serve alcohol through the whole day and night.
Our reporter, Richie Anderson, found a pub in Birmingham open at the crack of dawn today, so we went in to speak.
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Good morning from the BBC WM newsroom - the top stories we're looking at right now include:
- Jaguar Land Rover is set to hire hundreds of new workers as the car manufacturer announces plans to double the size of its Wolverhampton factory
- Birmingham City Council has elected John Clancy as its a new leader
- The number of fines for littering being handed out in Birmingham has gone up massively in the last 10 years
Hundreds more jobs are to be created following a £0.5bn expansion at Jaguar Land Rover's engine plant near Wolverhampton.
It's the second time the factory has been expanded. The site, on the i54 business site, already employs around 700 workers.
John Clancy (pictured) has narrowly won the vote to become the leader of Birmingham City Council replacing Sir Albert Bore.
It was the former teacher and lecturer's fifth attempt at trying to win the top job.
He will now be formally ushered in as leader of Europe's largest local authority next Tuesday.
Some blustery showers may develop today, and these could be fairly heavy at times.
There will be plenty of bright or sunny spells around for most of the day though - feeling warmer than yesterday with highs of 10C (50F).
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
I'll be bringing you the very latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country.
If you spot something happening in your local area which you think we should know about - email, tweet @BBCWM, external or get in touch via Facebook, external.
