Updates on Tuesday 12 January 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Wednesday
BBC Sport
Wolves have signed teenage Swindon Town winger Will Randall for an undisclosed fee.
Image source, EmpicsThe 18-year-old, who has made three starts in his 11 first-team appearances for Swindon, will go straight into the Under-21 squad at Molineux.
Randall, who signed for Swindon as an academy scholar, made his debut on the final day of the 2013-14 season - the day after his 17th birthday.
BBC WM
Figures show 50,000 more people visited the Black Country Living Museum last year.
Film productions such as the BBC's Peaky Blinders, which was partially shot at the site in Dudley, have helped to raise the attraction's profile (pictured).
The increased revenue means about £500,000 can be reinvested back into the museum.
Sarah Portlock
BBC News Online
A&E trainee at City Hospital, Birmingham, Shella Kwol, (pictured second left) says she is concerned working possible longer hours will put people off entering the medical profession.
"We keep hearing there is a shortage of doctors - this new contract will push more doctors away," she said.
Image source, bbcJunior doctors picket outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham as they and other doctors stage a 24-hour strike across the NHS.
Photo agency Getty Images captured this.
Image source, Getty ImagesHave you been affected by the strike? Send us your comments and photos on email and Twitter @BBCWM., external
Police say they are searching a number of addresses in Walsall after two men were arrested this morning on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences.
West Midlands Police says the arrests are part of an on-going investigation, external and are "intelligence led" - there is no immediate threat to public safety, a spokesman added.
Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online
The BBC has seen a letter sent to doctors in training from Dr Stedman, dated 11 January, which said: "Over the past few days there has been a surge in activity which has continued today… I have reviewed the situation this afternoon and I believe that given the situation and staffing levels, it would be unsafe to deliver care to all our in-patients with a reduced workforce tomorrow."
Sandwell Hospital picket line
A junior doctor who received the letter told the BBC: "If this was a major incident the trust has been facing, as per the letter, 'over the past few days', why wait until now?"
The doctor added: “As far as we are concerned, all patients who are fit for discharge have had all their discharge papers prepped in advance since yesterday in anticipation of the strike.”
BBC Midlands Today
Anthony Bartram, Producer
If you want to know how the junior doctor’s strike is taking effect where you live then our health correspondent Michele Paduano will explaining what it’s all about.
We’re out gathering and analysing views from the picket lines, affected patients and the wider public reaction to the walk out.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe’ve also got West Midlands Police’s new Chief Constable, David Thompson, in the studio tonight and would very much like to hear what you would want to ask him. Send us your questions.
Plus, the BBC’s new Victorian Baker series is hot at the moment and tonight’s episode is from the Black Country Museum - we’re breaking bread with Shropshire contestant John Swift.
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
The top news stories for Birmingham and the Black Country include:
- Junior doctors out on strike from Sandwell Hospital have been ordered back to work after a level 4 incident was declared on the wards
- Two men have been arrested in Walsall on suspicion of terrorism offences related to Syria
- The new chief constable of West Midlands Police says there will be more armed officers following the Paris attacks last year
Chris Blakemore
BBC WM
Our reporter Daz Hale has been on a picket line at Solihull Hospital where junior doctors started their 24-hour strike at 08:00 this morning.
David Price (pictured right), a passer-by, took issue with those on strike telling them "the strike is unnecessary and is hurting patients".
NHS chiefs said plans were in place to protect patients, despite David Cameron warning they could be put at risk.
The Prime Minister said the walkout would cause "real difficulties for patients and potentially worse".
A father of two from Cannock due to take his family on a £3,000 holiday to the Egyptian resort, external targeted last Friday by terrorists is angry after being told he cannot change the booking without a financial penalty.
Image source, Express and Star
Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today
It's all getting a bit heated as Aston Villa fans say they will protest against the club's owner, Randy Lerner, before and after tonight's home match with Crystal Palace.
Image source, Getty ImagesThey say they're unhappy with the way the American is running the club. Villa face a tough struggle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The fans will also refuse to enter the ground until 15 minutes after kick-off.
BBC WM Sport
Walsall have been given another away tie at Championship opposition in the 4th round of the FA Cup - they'll meet the winner of Huddersfield v Reading.
Albion will host Peterborough if they get past Bristol City in a replay, but Villa will get Man City at home if they beat Wycombe.
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Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
This is the picket line outside Sandwell General - a level 4 incident has been declared and they've been asked to come in.
Picketers tell me they will go back in if it's a level 5 incident
Two men have been arrested in Walsall on suspicion of Syria-related terror offences.
West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit says, external two men, aged 25 and 32, were arrested this morning on suspicion of the preparation, commission or instigation of terrorist-related offences.
Read more on BBC News as Sandwell Hospital declares a major incident and orders its junior doctors to work as thousands more strike across England.
Image source, Getty ImagesSarah Portlock
BBC News Online
Junior doctors are gathered outside City Hospital in Birmingham for a strike over new contracts.
Christian Labib, 26, an A&E trainee (pictured left), said for him it was about patient safety in the future:
"In A&E terms in the future I could be doing, potentially, dangerous hours," he said.
Image source, bbc"If I'm tired after a 90-hour week it is not safe for me or for patients.
"Pay is not a big issue for me, it is about safety."
Hugh Pym
BBC News Health Editor
The British Medical Association says junior docs at Sandwell should not return to work, external unless NHS England confirms the level of the major incident at the hospital.
A BMA Spokesman said: "Junior doctors should continue with industrial action until NHS England has confirmed and the BMA has agreed - via the agreed escalation process - that a major unpredictable incident is taking place for a specific trust.
"The BMA will notify members as soon as such an incident is in place."
More than 350 police officers in the West Midlands have lost their jobs in the past 12 months, according to new figures. , external
Dr Roger Stedman, medical director at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, explained why it needed its trainee doctors not to strike.
He said: "Over the last two days we have had very high numbers of patients come to hospital, and fewer than usual discharged.
"Because of that, we decided to require trainee doctors allocated to ward work to attend Sandwell during today's strike."
It comes as the first strike by junior doctors in 40 years is under way in a row over a new contract.
Sandwell Hospital in West Bromwich has declared a so-called level four incident and has told its junior doctors they must attend work, a statement from Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust says.
