A pedestrian subway is to be filled in as part of a scheme to transform Perry Barr.

Three pedestrian subways at the junction between the A453 Aldridge Road and A34 Walsall Road will be filled in and the centre of the island raised up to road level.

The scheme forms part of a grander "emerging" masterplan for Perry Barr including a facelift for public areas and transport improvements, Birmingham City Council said.

Cannock Mercury

Staffordshire Police have called on the services of one of their specialist 4x4 vehicles in order to clamp down on illegal off-roading, external at a Cannock beauty spot.  

Image source, Penkridge Police

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

Two men accused of murdering a businessman who was shot at his Birmingham warehouse have been remanded in custody. 

Akhtar Javeed, 56, of East London, died in the street outside his soft drinks firm in Digbeth a fortnight ago.

Image source, bbc

Suraj Mistry, 26,  of Laundon Way, Leicester and Lemar Wali, 18, of Osmaston Park Road, Derby, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court via video link. 

They are also charged with conspiracy to rob and possession of a firearm and will appear in court again on 9 May. 

A Birmingham man has been jailed for a year after a pregnant mother was killed in a collision in Small Heath.

The heavily pregnant woman and two children were hit after a BMW 3 Series mounted the kerb in Heybarnes Lane on 6 September 2013, police said.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene while a four-year-old suffered serious injuries and a one-year-old sustained minor injuries.

Shammas Rehman, aged 23, of Charles Road in Small Heath, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving and was disqualified from driving for two years and six months.

Sean Coughlan
BBC News, education correspondent

Labour has accused the government of failing to take fast enough action to close down illegal schools.

There are 21 institutions being investigated in England by the Department for Education, according to a ministerial statement. The only one identified publicly previously was Bordesley independent school in Birmingham, which had already been closed down.

The statement from children's minister Edward Timpson says "robust steps" are being taken to tackle unregistered schools.

But Labour's Lucy Powell said ministers had "dragged their feet".

Figures have been released showing the number of people out of work in the West Midlands has fallen by 12,000. 

Figures for the three months to December last year show 145,000 people were out of work. Nationally unemployment fell by 60,000 to 1.69 million. 

The death of a woman found at a house in Redditch is no longer being treated as a murder, police have said.

Stacey Sollis, 27, was discovered at a property in Knowle Close on 13 December.

Post-mortem tests show her death was not suspicious and her case has been referred to the coroner, said West Mercia Police, external.  

Yesterday we reported motoring groups' view that a scheme allowing motorists to drive throughout the day on the hard shoulder on part of the M6 was "dangerous".

"All-lane running" has been introduced between junction 10a, for Wolverhampton, and junction 13, for Stafford.

Highways England said when trialled on the M25 near London, it "reduced congestion and led to more reliable journeys".

BBC WM

It is hoped a new £50m project to get thousands of young people into work will boost Birmingham's economy.

The scheme is being launched to help those under 30 get jobs and training opportunities.

The city's previously had one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the country with the latest figures out later. 

Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer

A teenager was attacked in Sutton Coldfield, external following an exchange of words in a town centre pub.

Image source, Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are the top stories in the BBC WM newsroom on Wednesday:

- A free weight loss programme in Birmingham has been scrapped

- Plans for Sandwell's first CCTV camera covering a bus lane have been delayed over legal concerns

- A £50m project is launched to help thousands of young people into work

Two teenagers have been arrested by police investigating a bomb hoax call to an Oldbury training centre.

The boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested in connection with a hoax call to Nova training centre, Church Street, Oldbury, on 28 January.

The West Midlands force said both boys, who were local, had been bailed with conditions as police inquiries continued.

Image source, Google

Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM

Plans for Sandwell's first fixed CCTV enforcement camera on a bus lane have been delayed again while councillors seek further legal advice. 

About 3,000 vehicles a day have been clogging up New Street, in West Bromwich, causing delays of up to an hour on bus services using the nearby bus station. 

Last night the council discussed the introduction of cameras to enforce the ban on other vehicles, but a decision has now been delayed after legal questions were raised by taxi drivers.

Image source, Getty Images

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

A leading obesity doctor has called the decision to pull all funding for free weight loss services in Birmingham "disastrous for the health of the city". 

The city council has told companies providing weight management help there is no more money.

It says it has had to make tough choices due to government cuts to the public health budget. 

Prof Nick Finer, from University College Hospital London, criticised the move.

There's lots of rain around today. Over higher ground you might catch you snow. Highs of 7C (45F).

A yellow warning for snow is in place for later. Find out what the outlook is like near you.

BBC Travel

There is slow traffic on the A449 Penn Road in Penn, Wolverhampton, at the junction with Coalway Avenue in the roadworks area.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Welcome back. I'm here with Wednesday's latest news, sport, travel and weather.

Send us your views and your photographs from around the region over email or tweet @bbcwm, external.