End of live updatespublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
That's it for live updates today. We'll be back from 08:00 on Tuesday, after the Easter break.
Whatever you're up to we hope you have a lovely long weekend.
Summary
Updates on Thursday 24 March 2016
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Tuesday
End of live updatespublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
Everton loan Pennington to Walsallpublished at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
BBC SportWalsall sign young Everton defender Matthew Pennington on loan until the end of the season.
Image source, EmpicsBrussels attacks: Brit survivor describes blast - read the story in fullpublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
A British survivor of the Brussels terror attacks has described the aftermath of an explosion at a metro station which killed 20 people.
Mark Beamish, 35, had just stepped off the train at Maelbeek on his way to work on Tuesday when the blast hit.
He says he has "no memory" of the explosion which left him with cuts to his head and burns to his hands.
Read the story in full and watch his interview on BBC News.
Villa's Sellars joins Wycombe on loanpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
BBC SportWycombe sign striker Jerell Sellars from Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the season.
Image source, Rex FeaturesThe 20-year-old joined Villa in 2012 from Lincoln City and scored against Swindon in a first-team pre-season friendly last summer.
Listen: Police release 999 call complaining 'my Snapchat isn't working'published at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
The West Midlands Police call-handling centre is urging the public to think twice before phoning 999.
The force has released audio of a non-urgent call it received last night from someone who complained "my Snapchat isn't working".
Media caption, Police issue audio of 'non urgent' 999 call
The emergency services hope public education initiatives and the release of examples of inappropriate calls will help underline the message that 999 is for emergencies only.
Wolverhampton 'menace', 74, attacked paramedicspublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
An elderly man who assaulted three paramedics after they answered his 999 calls, external has been branded 'a menace' by a judge.
Speedway season previewpublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
Nick Clitheroe
BBC Midlands Today SportThe new speedway season is a time for real excitement among the sport’s fans but the start of this campaign has shown us once again that it faces real challenges.
The new national stadium in Manchester should, and eventually will, be a great step forward for speedway but it’s embarrassing that the track is not safe enough for Wolverhampton to race there against Belle Vue on Friday.
Fans of Cradley Heath will be glancing enviously at the national stadium. Six years after returning to the sport, Cradley are still homeless although the move back to share Monmore Green is welcome news for the fans.
However none of that should detract from the fact that a really exciting season lies ahead for the sport and the fans just can’t wait for racing to begin.
Overnight forecast: Wet and cold night aheadpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
This could lead to a chilly end to the night in places, with lows of 2C (36F).
Media caption, The weather for the West Midlands.
Athlete accused of triple stabbingpublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
Lauren Jeska, 41, is charged with attempted murder and wounding two others with intent at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on Tuesday.
The men are reportedly officials from UK Athletics. One, 51, is in a stable condition in hospital, police said.
Easter travel: Train services at Wolverhampton disruptedpublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveIt's expected to be busy over the Easter weekend if you're travelling by rail or road.
Train services between Wolverhampton and Birmingham will be disrupted until the end of Wednesday 30 March.
Operator London Midland, external is running replacement bus services and a reduced service on a number of other routes. You can check all routes on the National Rail website, external.
If you're travelling further afield BBC News takes a look at what you need to know for your Easter journey.
Image source, Getty ImagesOpening speedway meeting called offpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
Nick Clitheroe
BBC Midlands Today SportWolverhampton Speedway team's opening match of the season in Manchester has been called-off.
They were due to race Belle Vue at the new national stadium on Friday but the track is not ready for use.
Coventry, Birmingham, Stoke and Cradley Heath will all be in action on the opening weekend.
Football gossip: Moyes interested in taking over at Villapublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
BBC SportFormer Manchester United and Everton manager David Moyes is still interested in taking over at Aston Villa this summer, despite the Birmingham club facing relegation to the Championship.
Read all the day's football gossip here.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrussels attacks: 'I was told to get up and run'published at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
Twenty minutes after the blast on the metro in Brussels, survivor Mark Beamish says he was told to run from the scene as concern set in that there may be another blast.
Image source, BBC / Getty ImagesQuote MessageA bystander rang my wife for me to tell her that I was injured but I would be fine. And then there was panic - 20 minutes after the blast I was told to "get up and run". I got up and ran with him and simply ran in the other direction.
Mark Beamish, Brussels metro attacks survivor
Brussels attacks: Video - metro blast survivor speaks of his survivalpublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
A British man injured by a bomb at Maelbeek station in Brussels has told BBC News of his experience.
Mark Beamish from Birmingham told the BBC's Lucy Williamson how he was in shock after the blast.
Media caption, Brussels attacks: British survivor describes metro blast
Brussels attacks: Eyesight saved by glasses, says blast survivorpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
A man from Kings Heath who was on the Brussels metro when a bomb exploded says wearing glasses saved his vision from the blast.
"My eyes are unscathed," Mark Beamish explains.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageI've got burns and cuts to my hand and also vertigo but other than that I'm fine.
Mark Beamish, Survivor of metro Brussels attack
Brussels attacks: 'I don't remember a blast or any sound'published at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
A Birmingham man's spoken about how he escaped serious injury after getting off the train just moments before the bomb went off in the metro on Tuesday in Brussels.
Mark Beamish, who is from Kings Heath and works in the Belgian capital, suffered burns in the blast at Maelbeek station.
Quote MessageI remember shaking my friends hand to say goodbye as I got off at Maelbeek station and that's the last thing I remember. I don't remember a blast or any sound. I have one static image of me crouching on some stairs covered in dust. And then the next thing being outside the station being looked after by a bystander.
Mark Beamish, Survivor of metro Brussels attack
Easter weekend delays expectedpublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
Sarah Falkland
BBC Midlands TodayFamilies heading off for the Easter weekend are being warned that roads are likely to be busier than this time last year.
Routes around the West Midlands are expected to be among the most used, particularly the M5 going south and the M6 north from Birmingham.
Highways England is lifting more than 58 miles of major roadworks across the region to help ease congestion.
Dudley Eye row: Thousands visit controversial attraction in just a few dayspublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
More than 3,000 people have visited the Dudley Eye since it opened , external- despite critics hitting out at views from the top.
Image source, Express and StarDisabled people 'prevented from shopping'published at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
Disabled people will be prevented from coming to Birmingham when the city's Shopmobility service shuts, according to the charity which runs it.
The service, based in the Bullring shopping centre, lent out 500 scooters and wheelchairs last year.
The council said it could no longer afford the running costs of £90,000 a year and 12 jobs are at risk.
Former running champion charged with attempted murderpublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2016
A former England fell running champion has appeared in court charged with attempted murder following Tuesday's stabbing at Alexander Stadium.
Lauren Jeska, 41, is accused of trying to kill Ralph Knibbs - a figure in UK Athletics, according to reports, external -and also faces counts of malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to two other men, Tim Begley and Kevan Taylor.
Additional charges at Birmingham Magistrates Court included possession of a 30cm bread knife and two kitchen knives, 13cm and 12cm in length.
Ms Jeska, of Wesley Terrace, Machynlleth, Powys, was remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on April 25.
