Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
That's it for live updates today. We'll be back from 08:00 on Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Birmingham and the Black Country.
Summary
Updates on Tuesday 15 December 2015
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Wednesday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Coming up on BBC One at 18:30published at 17:56
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End of twitter postFA Cup match preview: Walsall v Chesterfieldpublished at 17:50
Ged Scott
BBC SportWalsall are likely to be without top scorer Tom Bradshaw (pictured) for their FA Cup second round replay with Chesterfield.
He remains sidelined by the ankle knock he suffered a fortnight ago in the 3-1 win at Shrewsbury.
Image source, Getty ImagesTonight's replay will be the third meeting between the two sides in two months. As well as the 1-1 draw at the Proact Stadium on 5 December, they also met at Bescot back on 17 October when Chesterfield won 2-1 to knock the Saddlers off the top of the League One table.
But the Spireites have slumped since, having lost their last five league matches.
Hear updates on BBC WM 95.6 with Rob Gurney.
Watch: How to harness the sun's energy at nightpublished at 17:46
David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, BBC Midlands TodayToday I'm looking at Cryoenergy. It’s a massive battery for solar and wind power.
It stores excess green energy in the form of liquid air and then turns it back into power when we need it.
The aim is to prove this technology works. In five years’ time you could start to see these systems appear alongside solar and wind farms across the UK.
Watch: Overnight weather for the West Midlandspublished at 17:40
Rain will quickly clear eastwards this evening, giving a brief drier interlude, before a further spell of heavy rain moves in overnight.
Winds will also increase, but it will remain very mild with lows of 9C (48F).
Media caption, Latest weather for the West Midlands
Watch: Furry Christmas as pets meet Santa in his Tamworth grottopublished at 17:35
Pet owners in Tamworth are now able to reward any pets who've been particularly good this year with a trip to Santa's grotto.
Bears being worked hard, say Dougie Brownpublished at 17:29
BBC SportWarwickshire coach Dougie Brown says his team are being worked harder in pre-season training than ever before.
Image source, Warwickshire CCCO'Driscoll favourite for Walsall manager jobpublished at 17:25
BBC WM SportSean O'Driscoll is now the bookies' favourite to become the new Saddlers boss.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Wolverhampton-born coach left his role an assistant coach at Liverpool earlier in the season.
His previous managerial roles include stints at Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City.
Watch: Sons of Pitches Christmas carol megamixpublished at 17:17
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveDo you remember the Sons of Pitches who won Gareth Malone's Naked Choir?
The six lads from Birmingham have been busy since they won and even taken a leap of faith by quitting their day jobs to pursue a career in showbusiness.
Looks like they've been busy and released this festive mix....
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End of youtube videoOn Facebook they posted, external: "See how many of them you can name?"
'Serious fire incident' at 11-storey Erdington flats avertedpublished at 17:09
Royal Sutton Coldfield ObserverDisaster at an 11-storey block of flats in Erdington, external was stopped by an occupant putting fire safety tips into practice.
Match preview: Preston v Bluespublished at 16:48
Ged Scott
BBC SportBirmingham City could have midfielder Jon Toral (pictured) back after his leg injury for the Championship trip to Preston.
Striker Clayton Donaldson (groin) and Wales international winger David Cotterill (knee) are still out. Neither is now expected to return until after Christmas.
Image source, Getty ImagesBlues could go back into the top six if they win, but would need Ipswich Town, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday all to slip up for that to happen.
North End, who have won five of the last six league meetings with Blues, are looking to win three successive league games in the second tier for the first time since April 2011.
You can hear full match commentary on BBC WM 95.6 with Richard Wilford and former Blues midfielder Darren Carter.
Drugs gang have £250,000 worth of assets seizedpublished at 16:29
Police say they've seized more than £250,000 worth of assets, external from a couple who were part of notorious criminal John Anslow’s drugs gang.
Confiscation proceedings centred on David Harrison (pictured), from Bilston, who is currently serving life in prison for the murder of Richard Deakin in Staffordshire five years ago.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceAnslow, who was once Britain's most-wanted man, was freed by a gang near HMP Hewell, Redditch, in 2012, and was caught 14 months later in Cyprus.
A Christmas Carol or Bleak House?published at 16:15
Patrick Burns
Political editor, MidlandsIs there A Christmas Carol, or is it more like Bleak House for local councils? Read my blog in full online.
Jody Craddock shows off latest artwork in Wolverhamptonpublished at 15:54
Former Wolves star Jody Craddock has had a selection , externalof his artwork exhibited at a Wolverhampton arts centre.
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End of youtube videoThe search for the missing Bullring bullspublished at 15:37
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe hunt is on for four fibreglass bulls.
The so-called Bull Forms were put on the Bullring in 1963, external but were lost in the redevelopment of the shopping centre.
We've been asking for your help on social media - here are your suggestions of where to look:
Mark Penfold Simpson posts on Facebook:, external Perhaps they're in the same warehouse that's seen at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Diane Davies adds: , external Someone must know what happened to them. Not exactly easy to overlook!
Digbeth 'one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK'published at 15:29
Digbeth named as one of the top 10 coolest neighbourhoods in the UK., external
Rapist lay in wait in victim's gardenpublished at 15:11
A man who befriended a student by carrying her shopping bags is jailed for rape after hiding in her back garden and attacking her.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceImage caption, Awais Khan admitted two counts of rape
Awais Khan, 26, of Witton Road, Aston, approached the woman after she had been shopping, and walked her home.
A week later he climbed over the fence, waited until his 20-year-old victim was alone and attacked her.
When released, Khan will be deported to Pakistan, he was told.
Santa Paws: Bring your pets to meet Santapublished at 14:21
Pet owners in Tamworth are now able to reward any pets who've been particularly good this year with a trip to Santa's grotto.
Image source, PlantersTwo sessions are already fully booked, with a rabbit and a guinea pig among those making the trip.
Latest headlines: Man questioned on suspicion of Redditch murder and police force 'judgemental' of domestic abuse victimspublished at 14:05
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe top stories in the newsroom at the moment include:
- Staffordshire Police 'judgemental' of domestic abuse victims says watchdog
- Walsall striker Tom Bradshaw is a doubt for their FA Cup second round replay against Chesterfield due to an ongoing ankle problem
FA Cup replay: Walsall v Chesterfieldpublished at 13:50
BBC WM SportManagerless Walsall face Chesterfield at the Bescott stadium this evening in their FA Cup second round replay.
The Saddlers were denied victory by an injury-time goal in the first match.
The winners of tonight's tie will face Brentford in the third round, a team now managed by ex Walsall boss, Dean Smith.
