Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Live updates for Birmingham and the Black Country have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 on Monday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Friday 18 December 2015
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Monday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Watch: Weekend weather look aheadpublished at 17:58
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today WeatherMainly dry overnight with winds gradually strengthening. Cloud will also thicken with some patchy light rain possible by morning. Feeling mild again with lows of 10C (50F).
Coming up on BBC MIdlands Today at 18:30published at 17:55
Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayHere's a look ahead to what's coming up on Midlands Today this evening on BBC One from 18:30.
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End of twitter postImprovements at former Park View Academypublished at 17:53
Improvements have been made at the former Park View Academy, according to Ofsted inspectors.
The secondary - named in the supposed Trojan Horse plot, which alleged a takeover of schools in Birmingham by a group of conservative Muslims - was put in special measures last year.
Image source, PANow named Rockwood Academy, a report released today by Ofsted, external said the school was "taking effective action towards the removal of special measures".
The monitoring report, the fifth of its kind, said the school could now appoint newly qualified teachers if it wishesd, although would remain in special measures for the time being.
Man jailed after armed siege in Birminghampublished at 17:50
A man who locked himself into a mental health charity in Digbeth and assaulted staff before keeping two women hostage has been jailed for four years.
West Midlands Police says specialist negotiators, external spent four hours negotiating their release and Michal Malecki's surrender.
The 31-year-old, entered the Pathways centre on Alcester Street on 19 August.
Image source, BBC / West Midlands PoliceWeekend match previews: Commentary on BBC WMpublished at 17:42
Mike Taylor
BBC WMOn Saturday, West Bromwich Albion are at home to Bournemouth at 15:00, before at 17:30 Aston Villa visit Newcastle for a game they surely cannot afford to lose, being already eight points adrift of safety in the Premier League.
Coming up on Sunday, Sean O'Driscoll takes charge of Walsall for the first time in their midday kick-off against Port Vale at Bescot, before at 14:00 Wolves hope to get last night's bad defeat by Leeds out of their system when they visit Sheffield Wednesday.
All five games can be heard live on BBC WM 95.6FM, DAB digital radio and Freeview channel 722.
PCSOs 'won't be cut' in the West Midlandspublished at 17:32
The 500 under-threat police community support officers (PCSOs) in the West Midlands won't be facing compulsory redundancies.
Last month the force announced it was proposing to cut the roles but now it's been decided that cuts will be made elsewhere - such as reducing the number of police buildings., external
Couple's house burgled while wife attended to her dying husbandpublished at 17:20
Police in Stourbridge are appealing for information after a woman's house was burgled, external while she was in hospital at her dying husband's bedside.
It happened in Avon Road in Oldswinford between 10:00 on Wednesday and 01:15 on Thursday.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceAmongst the things taken were an iPad, a digital camera, an iphone, jewellery and piggybanks containing cash. The 63-year-old woman was at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley where her husband passed away on Wednesday night.
Latest headlines: Hundreds of PCSO roles 'will be saved' and teenager critical after Dudley hit-and-runpublished at 17:08
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe top stories in the newsroom at 17:00 include:
- The 500 under-threat PCSOs in the West Midlands won't be facing compulsory redundancy, the force says
- A schoolgirl is critically ill in hospital following a hit-and-run in the Black Country last night
- Three thousand motorists a day are driving illegally down a West Bromwich street
Well-loved local pulls first pint at Great Barr pub unveilingpublished at 16:52
Great Barr ObserverSpecial guest was the first to pull a pint at the newly refurbished, external Cat and Fiddle pub in Great Barr recently.
Image source, Great Barr ObserverM6 northbound delayspublished at 16:35
BBC TravelOne lane is blocked on the M6 northbound before J7, A34 (Great Barr), because of a broken down vehicle.
West Midlands transport plans revealedpublished at 16:24
Yesterday transport bosses revealed its strategy for the next 20 years.
- New train stations in Moseley, Castle Vale and Castle Bromwich
- Changes to the M5/ M6 motorway junctions
- Special bus-like trams in Coventry and Wolverhampton
- The extension of the Midland metro tram system from Birmingham city centre, through Solihull to the airport.
Read the full details from the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority here., external
Person taken to hospital after three vehicle crash in Hednesfordpublished at 16:00
A busy main road between Cannock and Hednesford was closed, external for over two hours on Thursday evening after a three car smash, which also led to one person being taken to hospital.
Image source, Cannock MercuryBooze calculator: What's your drinking nationality?published at 15:39
In the month of December alcohol consumption increases as many people celebrate the festive season.
In particular, the last Friday before Christmas - popularly known as "Mad Friday" in the UK - can be the moment when many drink to excess. But how does your drinking measure up to the average in countries around the world?
Find out below if you are similar to a boozy Belarusian or a teetotal Kuwaiti.
Appeal to find car after hit-and-run in Dudleypublished at 15:19
Police are appealing for information, external after a girl was left for dead when she was hit by a car in Dudley.
West Midlands Police believe a light grey or light blue coloured vehicle was involved and want anyone who witnessed the crash to call police.
Quote MessageThe collision is believed to have happened just before 10pm in Grange Lane near Pedmore Technology College. If anyone saw what happened, was driving in the area at the time, or has any suspicions over who may have been involved, then please call me.
Sergeant Steve Newbury, West Midlands Police’s Collision Investigation Unit
The 15-year-old suffered extensive injuries and is in a critical condition in hospital.
Sean O'Drisoll profilepublished at 15:04
FacebookWalsall FC posts a profile about its new manager on Facebook., external
Image source, Walsall FCGoodyear redundancies: 'It leaves a lump in your throat', says workerpublished at 14:48
BBC WMThe first of the 330 Goodyear workers in Wolverhampton being made redundant have left their jobs.
The first redundancies officially happen on New Year's Eve but BBC WM understands some have finished up early for Christmas.
The company announced earlier this year that it it's shutting the factory in 2017.
Wayne Devaney who work at the plant and finishes next month says: "It's a sad time. It leaves a lump in your throat."
Wilnecote High School hope to move out of Ofsted special measurespublished at 14:35
Wilnecote High School could move out of special measures, external after a positive Ofsted inspection.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldVideo: 'Don't label everything as extremism' says departing police chiefpublished at 14:20
The retiring Chief Constable of West Midlands Police has warned of the danger of mixing up religious conservatism and terrorism, in the fight against extremism.
Chris Sims retires as Chief Constable today after six years in the job.
He says the damaging views affected investigations into the so-called Trojan Horse plot about an alleged takeover of Birmingham schools by a group of conservative Muslims.
Latest headlines: O'Driscoll announced as the new Walsall manager and teenager critical in hospital after hit-and-run in Dudleypublished at 14:05
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe top stories in the newsroom this lunchtime:
- Sean O'Driscoll is officially unveiled as Walsall's new head coach
- A teenage girl is in a critical condition in hospital after a hit-and-run in Dudley last night
- Some 3,000 motorists a day are driving down a street in West Bromwich where cars are supposed to be banned
