Summary

  • A £128m extension of the Midland Metro in Birmingham could be delayed until May

  • Gang injunctions served on 18 'known criminals' in Birmingham

  • Homeless shelter for Wolverhampton after rough sleeper died

  • Cannabis factory found by firefighters in Bloxwich

  • Updates on Thursday 18 February 2016

  1. Trams in Birmingham city centre delayed until summerpublished at 13:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Peter Plisner
    BBC Midlands Today

    There's delays to the opening of the Midland Metro extension through Birmingham city centre. 

    Trams should have been carrying passengers to New Street station by now, but the BBC has learned that it could be May before the trams start running. 

    It's now four years since work on the £130m project started. 

    I'll have more on the Midlands Today at 13:30.

  2. Your pictures: Parakeets in Sandwell Valleypublished at 12:55 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Thanks to Mick Sheldon who has emailed in his pictures of Parakeets he said he captured at Sandwell Valley.

    Showcase your pictures by emailing us.

    ParakeetImage source, Mick Sheldon
  3. Latest: New homeless shelter; Digbeth robbery plot charge; police criticised in new reportpublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Alex Homer
    BBC Local Live

    If you are just catching up on Thursday's news stories, here are the headlines:

    - A new homeless shelter will open in Wolverhampton after a rough sleeper died

    - A man is charged with conspiring to rob in connection with a fatal Digbeth warehouse raid

    - West Midlands Police is criticised for how it deals with vulnerable people, external

  4. Council tax hike plan in Wolverhamptonpublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Rob Mayor
    Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM

    Plans to increase council tax in Wolverhampton, after it missed out on a £300m government grant for struggling authorities, have been announced.

    The council is trying to save £54m by 2020 and wants to raise tax by 3.99% next year -  which works out as an extra £3 or £3.50 for most people. 

    Proposals to cut school crossing patrols and grounds maintenance have been dropped after complaints from locals. 

    Finance councillor Andrew Johnson said the authority was not benefiting from the extra cash given to help rural councils.

  5. Blind Dave's latest challenge - doing what no prisoner ever managed - escaping Alcatrazpublished at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Ben Sidwell
    BBC Midlands Today

    Dave Heeley, from West Bromwic,h has never been a man to turn down a challenge - but his latest test could be the hardest of all. 

    Known as Blind Dave, after he lost his sight to an eye disease, he has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity by pushing his body to the limit .

    This time it is a triathlon beginning at the notorious US prison Alcatraz, with his guide Tony Ellis, but first he has had to learn to swim.

    Blind Dave
  6. Tamworth battery-burns victim recalls the horror of seeing his leg on firepublished at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Tamworth Herald

    A Tamworth man has been left scarred for life after his e-cigarette battery in his trouser pocket exploded, external "like a firework" setting his leg on fire and leaving him with second and third degree burns.

    Composite image of Dan Walker's injuriesImage source, Tamworth Herald
  7. Teen charged with possessing a loaded handgun after his arrest at a Birmingham shopping centrepublished at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    A teenager accused of head-butting a police officer at a Birmingham shopping centre before he was found to have a loaded handgun, has been charged.

    The 19-year-old is due before magistrates in Birmingham today accused of:

    - Possession of a firearm together with ammunition suitable for use in that firearm

    - Assaulting a police officer in the execution of their duty

    - Possession of a Class A drug - heroin

    - Possession of a Class A drug  - crack cocaine

    - Possession of a Class B drug - cannabis 

    The 19-year-old was arrested at Newtown shopping centre at about 17:00 on Tuesday. A police sergeant suffered an eye injury while making the arrest, said the West Midlands force.

  8. Deputy leader's outrage as paedophile joins Labourpublished at 10:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Express and Star

    Tom Watson MP has vowed to take action, external after it emerged a convicted paedophile who called for sex with children to be legalised had been allowed to join the Labour party.  

    Tom O'CarrollImage source, Express & Star
  9. Arriva Trains Wales 'worst in the country' for delayspublished at 10:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Tracey Higgins
    BBC Local Live

    Arriva Trains Wales is the worst in the country for commuter service delays, external, according to a new survey by the consumer group Which. 

    Almost a third (31%) of those Arriva commuter passengers questioned said their last journey was delayed, compared with 23% on London Midland.

    Arriva TrainImage source, Getty Images

    Arriva Trains Wales was also ranked fifth from bottom by passengers, in an overall satisfaction score, with just 49%       

    Overcrowding, poor value for money and dirty trains were among the issues raised in the poll of almost 7,000 travellers.  

  10. West Midlands Police criticised for how it deals with vulnerable peoplepublished at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    BBC WM

    West Midlands Police has been told it needs to improve the way it deals with vulnerable people. 

    A report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, external found weaknesses in this area, but overall rated the force as good.

    Staffordshire and West Mercia Police were among 18 forces told they "required improvement".

  11. Latest: New homeless shelter; robbery plot charge; police criticised for dealings with vulnerable peoplepublished at 09:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Alex Homer
    BBC Local Live

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

    - A new homeless shelter will open in Wolverhampton after a rough sleeper died

    - A man is charged with conspiring to rob in connection with a fatal Digbeth warehouse raid

    - West Midlands Police is criticised for how it deals with vulnerable people, external

  12. New night shelter to open in Wolverhampton after rough sleeper diedpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Louise Hancock
    Newsreader, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Wolverhampton is getting a new night shelter next week, after a campaign for emergency accommodation for rough sleepers in the city.

    Last month a homeless woman died sleeping in a restaurant doorway in Queen Street.

    Debris from where a person was sleeping rough

    The new shelter in Westley Street, which opens on Monday, will provide nightly beds for 20 people and will initially run for four weeks, but it is hoped it will become permanent next winter.  

  13. Third man charged with plotting a robbery in investigation into Digbeth raid deathpublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    A man has been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, external in connection with a Digbeth warehouse raid that ended with the death of businessman.

    The 50-year-old man is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court today.

    The charge is connected to the investigation into the death of Akhtar Javeed, aged 56, who was shot at his warehouse in Digbeth a fortnight ago.

    Akhtar JaveedImage source, West Midlands Police

    Two other men were remanded in custody on Wednesday accused of murdering Mr Javeed.

  14. Watch: Latest weather forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    It should be a much better day than yesterday, but there is still a yellow warning in place for ice. Highs of 6C (43F).

    Find out what else is in store for us later.

  15. Travel: Black Country Route delayspublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    BBC Travel

    There is slow traffic on the A454 Black Country Route/Wolverhampton Road in Walsall, near Wolverhampton, drivers are warned.

  16. Good morning: Follow our live updates throughout the daypublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2016

    Alex Homer
    BBC Local Live

    I'm back in the BBC WM newsroom with Thursday's news, sport, travel and weather.

    Get in touch about our stories and showcase your pictures of Birmingham and the Black Country by emailing us, external or tweeting @bbcwm, external.