Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
That's it for live updates today.
We'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country.
Summary
Updates on Wednesday 13 January 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume from 08:00 on Thursday
Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Watch: Overnight forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 17:57
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayOccasionally heavy outbreaks of rain, with snow over higher ground, throughout the night.
Where skies clear and winds ease a locally sharp frost could develop with lows of 0C (32F).
Video: Three men beat worker with golf clubspublished at 17:54
Three men armed with golf clubs and a metal pole attacked and robbed a man as he left and locked up his work premises in Smethwick.
Anyone with information is urged to call police. Read the story in full on BBC News.
Professor Stephen Hawking quizzed by 'impressive' Barr Beacon School studentspublished at 17:49
Great Barr ObserverA group of Year 8 pupils from Barr Beacon School in Great Barr, external were honoured to be invited by the BBC to participate in a lecture given by Professor Stephen Hawking.
Image source, Great Barr ObserverComing up on BBC One at 18:30 with Nick Owenpublished at 17:43
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End of twitter postPolice officer charged with wilful assault against a childpublished at 17:36
A West Midlands Police officer has been charged with wilful assault against a child.
Image source, West Midlands PolicePC Tariq Dost, 49, who's based in Solihull was first arrested last week.
He appeared before magistrates earlier and due to appear in crown court next month.
Ex-footballer Marcus Bent pleads guilty to affraypublished at 17:28
Ex-Birmingham City footballer Marcus Bent has admitted a charge of affray after an incident at his home in Surrey last September.
The 37-year-old striker from Esher has already pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine at Guildford Crown Court.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe faced charges after an incident in which he was reportedly Tasered by police responding to reports of a break-in at his home in Claremont Lane.
Judge Stephen Climie told him a custodial sentence would be justified.
Travel: Lane blocked on M6published at 17:22
BBC TravelOne lane is blocked and there's slow traffic on the M6 northbound between J10 for Walsall and J19A fior the M54.
It's because of a broken down vehicle. More details on BBC Travel.
Wheelie bin wagons 'too wide for roads'published at 17:18
Wagons used for a wheelie bin recycling service are too wide for some streets, Birmingham City Council says.
However, the council said most people who had received wheelie bins for recycled waste said streets were now cleaner and the service was working.
A two-week review of all vehicles and routes started this week.
Hundreds of teachers and staff learn together at annual training eventpublished at 17:07
Sutton Coldfield LocalStaff from Mere Green Combined Primary joined hundreds of others, external from across seven schools in the region for a joint training day on Friday 8 January.
Aston Villa win: Are we set for a West Midlands Great Escape remake?published at 16:54
Ged Scott
BBC SportLast night's win was also new manager Remi Garde’s first win in 12 attempts, since taking charge on 2 November - and suddenly talk of miracles is in the air.
Is there really any genuine justification for optimism in Birmingham B6?
Only one team in Premier League history, Villa’s big local rivals West Bromwich Albion, have been bottom at Christmas and still stayed up.
But Villa, for all this season’s woes, are now suddenly just eight points adrift of safety - and Garde’s men have only lost twice in six matches.
Could a West Midlands Great Escape remake really be on? It all depends on whether your jar is half full or half open?
Aston Villa win: A dreadful fumble saved the daypublished at 16:45
Ged Scott
BBC SportIt has taken eight months and a change of manager, but Aston Villa fans finally had the chance to acclaim a Premier League win at Villa Park last night.
Admittedly, it took a huge helping hand or two from Crystal Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey (pictured), whose dreadful fumbles allowed fellow former Wolves player Joleon Lescott’s weak but goalbound header to slip from his grasp before finally rolling over the line off his ankle. A goal made at Molineux.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was the first time since 9 May, when they beat West Ham 1-0, that Villa fans had seen their side win at home in the league.
Coventry 1-1 Walsallpublished at 16:29
BBC SportWalsall were held to a 1-1 draw at Coventry City in their League One promotion battle.
Tom Bradshaw struck a neat, late equaliser as the Saddlers came from behind to sneak a draw.
Birmingham testing the boundaries in council shake-uppublished at 16:11
Patrick Burns
Political editor, MidlandsLet's start in Moseley Village - "Britain's best place to live in", according last year's survey by The Sunday Times.
It's famed for its pubs, wine bars, restaurants, independent shops and craft outlets - a welcome exception to the rule that every single high street has to look much the same as every other one, complete with the predictable array of coffee shop logos, supermarket chains and the rest of the familiar "multiples", from Land's End to John O' Groats.
But Moseley Village may soon be in Moseley no longer. Read the story in full on my blog page.
Image source, Google MapsGym and benches to remain in Wolverhampton park despite yob problemspublished at 15:57
A petition to remove fitness equipment and benches from a Wolverhampton green space, external due to anti-social behaviour fears has been rejected by councillors.
'We had to scrap admission fees' - Free entry for more museumspublished at 15:45
It's claimed more museums are having to charge entry fees, just to make enough money to stay open.
The Museum's Association says the number of those shutting, external either partly or completely is also growing.
Quote MessageWe had to scrap admission fees because of pressures from other museums simply because they weren't charging so how could we? Our admission had gone down
Caroline Kerr, Business development manger at St Mary's Museum in Lichfield
Work begins to remove illegal dumppublished at 15:28
BBC Midlands TodayWork has begun to remove an illegal rubbish mountain which has towered over homes in the Black Country for the last six years.
The boss of the recycling firm responsible for the eyesore was jailed during a lengthy legal battle to get it removed.
Now, at last, contractors are on site in Brierley Hill.
Latest headlines: Work starts to remove rubbish from illegal tip and Birmingham City Council admits its wheelie bin trucks are too widepublished at 15:14
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveThe top stories in the newsroom at 15:00 include:
- Work's started to remove an illegal rubbish tip which has towered over homes in the Black Country for the last six years
- Birmingham wheelie bin wagons 'too wide for some roads'
- Police are investigating the stabbing of a teenage boy in Sutton Park last week
Travel: Road closed near Merry Hillpublished at 14:49
BBC TravelThe A4036 near Merry Hill is closed in both directions between A4100 Mount Pleasant and Hurst Lane after an accident.
Traffic is queuing in the area. More details on BBC Travel.
Darel Clarke died from head injuries after pub attackpublished at 14:36
Attack victim Darel Clarke who died after being assaulted , externalat a pub died from head injuries, a post mortem has revealed.
Image source, Express and Star
