Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Live updates for Birmingham & the Black Country have finished for the day, but we'll be back from 08:00 on Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Tuesday 29 December 2015
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Wednesday
Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Woman hit by car seriously injuredpublished at 17:59
A woman's being treated for serious injuries in hospital after a car crashed, external into her in Acocks Green this morning.
The pedestrian was hit near the junction of Gospel Lane and Olton Boulevard East at 07:15.
A West Midlands Ambulance spokeswoman says the woman was unconscious and had suffered multiple serious injuries.
Lemmy was 'a warrior and a legend,' says Ozzy Osbournepublished at 17:48
Music stars and celebrities have paid tribute to Motorhead frontman Lemmy, who has died at the age of 70.
Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, born in Birmingham, said Lemmy was "a warrior and a legend".
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End of X postWatch: Afternoon forecastpublished at 17:42
Sara Blizzard
BBC WeatherDry this evening, but turning increasingly cloudy with a strengthening southerly wind.
It will then become very windy overnight, with lows of 6C (43F).
Watch: 'Lemmy is the epitome of rock and roll'published at 17:39
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi pays tribute to Motorhead's Lemmy.
Media caption, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi pays tribute to Motorhead's Lemmy.
House explosion woman thanks rescuerspublished at 17:36
A woman whose washing machine saved her from falling rubble when a suspected gas explosion wrecked her home thanks her rescuers.
Image source, Willenhall Fire ServiceWendy Ayoub, 73, was trapped for about two hours at the house in Penn Road, Wolverhampton, on Monday and suffered minor injuries.
Watch: Mixed feelings over living wage increasepublished at 17:29
Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands TodayThere's concern the introduction of the National Living Wage in April next year could halt growth at many of the region's small manufacturing companies.
The Chancellor George Osborne announced the introduction of the new minimum wage in this year's Budget.
While some companies have welcomed the move, others have been highly critical.
Man in his 20s taken to hospital following stab wound in Perry Barrpublished at 17:22
Great Barr ObserverA man was taken to hospital after suffering a stabbing wound in Perry Barr., external
Lichfield woman is a hit with singer Jason Donovanpublished at 17:16
A Lichfield woman is feeling ready to make any, external (weight-loss) dream come true after meeting legendary soap actor and pop star Jason Donovan.
Image source, Lichfield MercuryWolverhampton house explosion: Online funding page set uppublished at 17:07
BBC WMA fundraising campaign's been launched, external in support of the victim of yesterday's house explosion in Wolverhampton.
The elderly victim, Wendy Ayoub, suffered just minor injuries but no longer has a home.
One online site has set a target of £1,000 to help her out - it's so far reached just over £100
Wolverhampton fourth best city in which to start new businesspublished at 16:58
Wolverhampton is the fourth best city in the country, external in which to start a new business, according a new study.
Image source, Express and StarDrivers 'lucky not to be badly hurt' after BMW and Porsche crashpublished at 16:43
Two men who were driving high-powered sports cars are "lucky" to be alive after a crash in Kingswinford yesterday afternoon.
The ambulance service says it attended a 999 call, external on the A449 after a crashn which left a BMW in a hedge and a Porsche damaged in the middle of the road.
Image source, West Midlands Ambulance ServiceThe 29-year-old BMW driver and Porsche driver, aged 35, walked away from the crash relatively uninjured, which the ambulance service says was down to them both wearing seatbelts.
Car and essential first aid equipment stolen from local heropublished at 16:17
Sutton Coldfield LocalA Jaguar XF with over £2,000 worth of FastAid Community First Responder equipment was stolen , externalfrom Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, on Sunday 27 December.
Image source, Sutton Coldfield LocalTravel update: A457 congestionpublished at 16:09
BBC TravelThere's congestion on A457 Dudley Road / Spring Hill outbound in Rotton Park, Birmingham at the A4040 Winson Green Road junction.
Living wage introduction 'could halt growth of small companies'published at 15:55
BBC Midlands TodaySome manufacturers in the region say they fear the introduction of the national living wage could halt the growth of some of our smaller companies.
The minimum wage will increase to £7.20 from April.
Some have welcomed the move, but others, like Birmingham-based coffee machine maker, Fracino (pictured), believe it could make them reluctant to take on staff.
Woman taken to hospital after Rugeley crashpublished at 15:45
A woman had to be cut free from her car, external before being taken to hospital following a crash in Rugeley.
Thousands dying from smoking-related lung diseasespublished at 15:20
BBC WMIt's been revealed that more than 2,500 people in the West Midlands die each year from smoking-related lung diseases.
Public Health England, which collated the figures, external, is warning people about the impact smoking can have on your health.
The body has also revealed more than 100,000 people in the region live a life blighted by smoking-related lung diseases.
Firefighters wade in to help rescue effortspublished at 14:59
Firefighters from the West Midlands and Staffordshire have been drafted in to help stricken communities, external in the north of England which are struggling to cope with flooding amid warnings of more bad weather.
Image source, Express and StarFootball: Walsall top of League Onepublished at 14:36
BBC WM SportWalsall will end the year on top of League One after beating Peterborough.
Jason Demetriou and George Evans scored late goals to ensure a 2-0 victory.
Quote MessageThat is a massive, massive plus for everybody to keep a clean sheet.
Sean O'Driscoll, Walsall manager
'Take-back Tuesday' at shopspublished at 14:19
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WMEarlier I was at the Intu shopping centre in Merry Hill. Did you know today is supposed to be the day when the most people return their unwanted Christmas presents?
