Summary

  • Updates on Tuesday 15 March 2016

  • More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 Wednesday

  1. Good evening: End of live updatespublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    That's it for our live updates today. We'll be back from 08:00 on Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Birmingham and the Black Country.

  2. Man arrested after explosion in Northfield flat blockpublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    A 45-year-old man has been arrested after an explosion at a block of flats in Northfield this afternoon.

    West Midlands Police detained the man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

    Emergency services say nobody was injured in the incident on the eighth floor of Sandown Tower.

    Scene in Northfield earlierImage source, Lee Baker - West Midlands Fire Service
  3. Baggies Arsenal tie rescheduledpublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    West Bromwich Albion's away game against Arsenal which was due to take place last week has been rescheduled for Thursday 21 April, the club announces., external

    The Emirates Stadium fixture will kick off at 19:45.

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  4. Overnight forecast: Chance of drizzlepublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    Cloud will gradually increase through the night from the east, turning thick enough at times to produce a little light rain or drizzle. 

    Mist and fog patches may also form overnight with lows of 4C (39F).

    Media caption,

    The weather for the West Midlands.

  5. PCSO sentenced for qualification liepublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    A Birmingham community police officer who lied about her qualifications has been ordered to do 12 months community service.

    At Birmingham Crown Court, Samantha Skinner, 24, admitted fraud.

    She had altered her NVQ Level 1 to a higher qualification when applying to be a full-time officer with West Midlands Police.

  6. Watch: Looking ahead to what's coming up on BBC Midlands Todaypublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    Mary Rhodes
    Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

    We'll have the latest news for the region from 18:30 on BBC One - here's a look ahead to what will be coming up.

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  7. Four to be sentenced over death of teenager Daniel Kirkwoodpublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    Birmingham man Tobijah Thompson (pictured top left) - found guilty today of the murder of teenager Daniel Kirkwood - will be sentenced on 11 April.

    Three other Birmingham men also face sentencing in connection with a fight at a Coventry nightclub, in which Daniel died last year. 

    Ramez Murtaza (top right) of Bordesley Green East pleaded guilty to manslaughter and also admitted assaulting Daniel's friend.

    Two other men, Hasham Ali (bottom left), of Amberley Green, and Ezra Scott (bottom right) of Hawksyard Road, Erdington, pleaded guilty to being involved in the violent disorder that resulted in Daniel’s death. 

    Tobijah Thompson - Ramez Murtaza - Hasham Ali - Ezra ScottImage source, West Midlands Police
  8. Latest headlines: Man found guilty of nightclub murder; Walsall mum speaks to MPs about Meningitis B vaccinationspublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    Stephanie Barnard
    BBC Local Live

    The top stories in the BBC WM newsroom this afternoon include:

    - A 25-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of a teenager in a West Midlands nightclub

    - A mother from Walsall has urged the government to extend Meningitis B vaccinations to all children,not just babies

    - The MP for Cannock Chase has again raised in the Commons complaints from Chase Line users of overcrowded, delayed and cancelled trains

  9. Aston Villa's sporting director steps downpublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016
    Breaking

    Aston Villa's sporting director has left the club by mutual consent, the club has announced., external

    Hendrik Almstadt has stood down with immediate effect.

  10. Society Club death: Man found guilty of murdering teen Daniel Kirkwoodpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    A 25-year-old Birmingham man has been found guilty of the murder of 18-year-old Daniel Kirkwood (pictured) who died after being stabbed outside a Coventry nightclub last year.  

    Daniel Kirkwood

    The jury at Warwick Crown Court found Tobijah Thompson, of no fixed address, guilty of Daniel's murder at a hearing today.

    He was also found guilty of wounding with intent, assault, violent disorder and possessing a 'bladed article' in connection with a fight at Coventry's Society Club. 

  11. Watch: Birmingham skyline in 24 hourspublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    BBC Midlands Today

    The developers of Birmingham’s 103 Colmore Row have released a time-lapse film capturing a day in the city in less than a minute.

    Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP and Sterling Property Ventures commissioned the video, filmed from the roof of the 22-storey NatWest Tower.

    Media caption,

    Birmingham skyline timelapse

    The floor-by-floor dismantling of the building will be complete in autumn, making way for a new £60m, 26-storey office building.  

  12. Promotion for Solihull Moors insight?published at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    BBC WM Sport

    Solihull Moors could go 12 points clear at the top of National League North if they beat FC United of Manchester. 

    Boss Marcus Bignot is counting down the games until promotion is confirmed.

    All the buildup to the night's action begins with the football phone-in on BBC WM 95.6 FM from 17:30.

  13. Morgan car company's university investmentpublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2016

    Ben Godfrey
    BBC Midlands Today

    The Morgan car company has signed an agreement with the University of Wolverhampton to help train engineering students. 

    About £12m is being invested at the university's Telford base. 

    Morgan racing car

    Students will be able to work on Morgan racing cars, as well as a number of other projects with the company. Morgan has been building cars in Worcestershire since 1909.