Summary

  • Updates for Tuesday 22 March 2016

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

  1. Our live coverage from across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    That's it from Local Live for Birmingham and the Black Country for Tuesday. Join us again from 08:00 on Wednesday for more news, sport, travel and weather updates.

  2. Chris Brunt: West Bromwich Albion man hoping to follow NI in Francepublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    West Bromwich Albion's injured utility man Chris Brunt talks to BBC Midlands Today about his hopes of following Northern Ireland at Euro 2016 in France this summer.

    Media caption,

    Chris Brunt

  3. The world's largest passenger airline touches down in Birmingham after test flightpublished at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    Peter Plisner
    BBC Midlands Today

    An Airbus A380 has just landed at Birmingham Airport.

    It's not the largest plane in the world but it's pretty massive at nearly 80ft high, 260ft wide, 240ft long - and weighing 590 tonnes.

    The Airbus

    The world's largest passenger airline is due to start flying to Dubai regularly from Easter Sunday after its test flight today.

    I will be live at the airport at 18:30 on BBC One.

  4. Watch: Latest weather forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    A dull, cloudy, overcast afternoon. Lows of 6C (43F).

    Find out what tonight is going to be like.

    Media caption,

    Afternoon weather forecast from BBC Midlands Today

  5. Travel: M54 delays near Wolverhamptonpublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    BBC Travel

    One lane is closed and there is very slow traffic on the M54 in both directions between J2 for Wolverhampton and J3 for Albrighton because of barrier repairs. 

    Travel time is around 35 minutes, drivers are being warned.

  6. Latest: Alexander Park stabbing; 'indefinite delays' to flights; drug dealer jailedpublished at 17:09 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    Alex Homer
    BBC Local Live

    Here is a recap of the news we have been reporting in the past few hours:

    - A man is fighting for his life after being stabbed at Birmingham's Alexander Park Stadium

    - Brussels flights to and from Birmingham Airport face "indefinite delays" following explosions in the Belgian city's airport and metro system  

    - A drug dealer found with loaded guns, ammunition and drugs at his Sutton Coldfield home has been jailed for 12 years

  7. West Bromwich Albion: Chris Brunt invited to join Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 partypublished at 16:36 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    West Bromwich Albion's Chris Brunt has been invited to be part of Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 party in France this summer, even though he will miss the tournament through injury.

    The 31-year-old utility man from Belfast is expected to be out of action for at least a further six months after undergoing knee surgery in early March.

    But he has been invited to France by Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill.

    Chris BruntImage source, Getty Images
  8. Government says improvements being made at hospital with 'inadequate' maternity unitpublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is insisting improvements are being made at Walsall Manor Hospital after hearing that safety fears mean women are "denied the choice" to have their babies there. 

    In the Commons, Valerie Vaz, Labour MP for Walsall South, asked about the situation at the Manor, which is in special measures. She asked whether safe staffing levels were in place.

    Jeremy Hunt listed several changes he said were improving the situation, including 83 more doctors and 426 more nurses at the hospital since May 2010.

    Walsall Manor HospitalImage source, Google
  9. Sutton Coldfield drug dealer found with guns and ammo jailed for 12 yearspublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    A drug dealer who was found with loaded guns and ammunition at his Sutton Coldfield home has been jailed for 12 years, say police.

    A 9mm Heckler and Kock plus 8mm Baum - both automatic pistols - were recovered at Sundeep Khatkar's house in Walsall Road, Four Oaks, along with more than 120 bullets.

    The items seized from Khatkar's houseImage source, West Midlands Police

    The force also said officers found a stun gun and cocaine and crack cocaine valued at more than £60,000. 

    Khatkar, aged 33, admitted seven charges relating to the possession of firearms, ammunition and class A drugs with intent to supply and was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.

  10. Latest: Stabbing at Alexander Park Stadium; Brussels flights delayed; Findings of hearing into M6 chaospublished at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    Alex Homer
    BBC Local Live

    If you are just catching up on Tuesday's stories, here are our headlines:

    - A man is fighting for his life after being stabbed at Birmingham's Alexander Park Stadium

    - Brussels flights to and from Birmingham Airport face "indefinite delays" following explosions in the Belgian city's airport and metro system  

    - Charges should be lifted more quickly on the M6 Toll during emergencies, finds a hearing into last month's M6 traffic chaos 

  11. Police look to track down suspects who stole car and set fire to it in Cannockpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    Cannock Mercury

    Staffordshire Police have today confirmed that a car set on fire on a Cannock housing estate was in fact stolen, external.

    The carImage source, Cannock Mercury
  12. West Midlands threat level not increased over Brussels terror attackspublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    West Midlands Police has said the threat level for the region has not increased, external as a result of this morning's terror attacks in Brussels.

    Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said the force had "appropriate police resources already in place at Birmingham Airport" and the situation would "continue to be reviewed".

    He added "the threat to the UK from international terrorism remains at severe".

  13. Brussels attacks: Flights to and from Birmingham face 'indefinite delays'published at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    The 14:10 flight planned to leave Birmingham Airport for Brussels is delayed, according to the website.

    A spokesman said earlier that flights to and from the Belgian city were subject to "indefinite delays" in the wake of the explosions at its airport and metro system which have claimed dozens of lives.

  14. Binman trapped between car and lorry in Stourbridgepublished at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    A binman was injured as a passing car trapped him against the lorry he was working on.

    The 53-year-old man suffered an arm injury in Coldstream Drive, Wordsley, Stourbridge, at around 07:50, according to West Midlands Ambulance Service.

    A spokesman said he was taken to Russells Hall Hospital for further assessment and treatment, while two colleagues who went to help him were discharged at the scene.

    The driver of the car was uninjured, he added.

  15. Coming up on TVpublished at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    Peter Plisner
    BBC Midlands Today

    Flights from Birmingham to Brussels have been cancelled this morning following the attacks in Belgium. 

    Many passengers have been left stranded in Brussels and those due to fly to the city from Birmingham Airport have been sent home. 

    I am at the airport and will bring you all the latest on the Midlands Today on BBC One now

  16. Free use of toll road among recommendations following M6 traffic chaospublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    A raft of improvements have been recommended following a fatal M6 crash that caused 24 hours of disruption last month - including relaxing protocols on lifting M6 toll charges.

    A hearing was held last week into the tailbacks and the effect on thousands of motorists.

    The crash sceneImage source, Pete Saull

    In all, there are 11 recommendations called for by the Labour West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) David Jamieson. Among them is lowering the thresholds to activate the so-called Operation Freeway measure - suspending charges on the M6 Toll during emergencies.

    The PCC recommends putting that decision in the hands of the Metro Mayor of the West Midlands, once that role is formalised.

  17. M54 delays after lorry smashes into central reservationpublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016

    Express and Star

    Motorists faced delays after a lorry lost control, external on the M54 motorway, near Wolverhampton, today.

    M54 lorry crashImage source, Express & Star
  18. Man left with 'life-threatening injuries' in stabbing at Birmingham stadiumpublished at 12:33 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2016
    Breaking

    A man has sustained what police believe to be life-threatening injuries in a stabbing at Birmingham's Alexander Park Stadium.

    Officers were called to the Perry Barr venue just before 10:30.

    A 41-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently helping police with their inquiries. An area of the stadium has been cordoned off while forensic experts examine the scene. 

    The injured man, aged 46, has been taken to hospital suffering from serious injuries.