Travel: Handsworth delays warningpublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
BBC Travel
Soho Road is blocked in both directions because of the fire in a derelict pub.
Summary
Updates on Thursday 21 April 2016
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 Friday
Travel: Handsworth delays warningpublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Firefighters en route to Handsworth blazepublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
The "severe" fire is in Soho Road.
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End of twitter postStourbridge hit-and-run driver jailed for 33 months after leaving schoolgirl critically injuredpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
A "callous" Stourbridge hit-and-run driver has been jailed for 33 months after he left a teenaged girl with terrible injuries when he ploughed into her at speed as she crossed the road - here's today's front page, external.
Image source, Stourbridge NewsM6 northbound delays: Fatality confirmedpublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
West Midlands Ambulance Service has confirmed the man who fell from the motorway bridge on the M6 northbound earlier this morning has died.
A spokesman said: “He was treated at the scene for serious injuries before being airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
“Unfortunately, shortly after arrival at the hospital it became evident nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased.”
Greater Birmingham mayor and council 'might be a failure'published at 12:15 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Plans for a combined authority and mayor to help govern the West Midlands are “untested” and may not work, an independent financial watchdog has warned, external.
Never mind the B'lox - street politics is in rude healthpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Patrick Burns
Political editor, MidlandsFor anyone who thinks these local elections are dull and boring, I have this challenge - come to Walsall.
The saucy "double entendre" that's been enlivening local social media is an appropriate piece of signposting for a town where passions run deep and local politics is anything but the dreary, humdrum business of general repute.
Walsall really is like a microcosm of the political landscape of our part of the country as a whole.
Image source, Karl RogmanWithin the council, where one third of the 60 seats are up for election, the numbers reflect the changeable political weather in a region well-known for swinging back and forth between the two biggest parties. It is a significant weather vane.
Aston Villa-linked David Moyes to make summer decision on his next movepublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
BBC SportFormer Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes says he will wait until the summer before deciding what club he will manage next.
Moyes is the favourite with bookmakers to take over at Celtic after the club announced Ronny Deila would be leaving at the end of the season.
The 52-year-old is also interested in the vacancy at Aston Villa.
Image source, Getty ImagesChocolate Buckingham Palace: It took four days to create, but workers didn't Flake outpublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Expert chocolatiers at Cadbury World in Bournville have fashioned their own delectable Buckingham Palace to mark The Queen's 90th birthday.
It took four days to craft the detailed stately scene with gates and Beefeaters standing guard. It weighs almost 60kg and stands 70cm tall.
The gold and silver and royal coat of arms are all edible, the attraction has confirmed, and were piped by hand.
Image source, Cadbury WorldCounty Championship: Robson breaks records in Middlesex-Warwickshire drawpublished at 10:54 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
BBC SportMiddlesex opener Sam Robson broke several long-standing county batting records at Lord's as his side's opening Championship match of the season ended in a dull draw against Warwickshire.
Travel: Tailbacks to J8 of the M6 from J10published at 10:29 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
BBC TravelCongestion remains back to J8 for the M5 interchange after the "police incident" near J10 for Wolverhampton on the northbound carriageway, drivers are warned.
M6 closure: Reports of a fall from bridgepublished at 10:16 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
All three lanes of the northbound carriageway were closed at around 09:30, before the southbound carriageway was also closed as an air ambulance attended the scene.
The incident happened between Junction 10 for Wolverhampton and Junction 10a for the M54.
West Midlands Police spokesperson Kate Baker said: "Emergency services are currently responding to reports of a man falling from a bridge over the M6."
Travel: M6 northbound blockedpublished at 10:03 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
BBC TravelThe M6 northbound is blocked between J10 for Wolverhampton and J10a for the M54 because of a "police incident", drivers are warned.
Work begins on new £37.5m centre at Birmingham Children's Hospitalpublished at 09:59 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
BBC Midlands TodayWork starts this morning on a new cancer centre at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
The £37.5m building also includes the UK's first centre for rare diseases, many of which are not treated anywhere else.
Chief nurse Michelle McLaughlin said it would improve the care they offered.
Planners have given the green light to start work on the Whittall Street building and the hospital has shared an image of how its new clinical building could look.
Image source, Birmingham Children's HospitalMcDonald's cut from Labour conference dietpublished at 09:42 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WMThe MP for Dudley North is criticising the Labour leader's decision to ban McDonald's from their party conference.
Ian Austin says the move by Jeremy Corbyn is "juvenile gesture politics" - pointing out that Labour needs to raise cash and cannot afford to alienate people.
Meanwhile the decision has been ridiculed by Prime Minister David Cameron who aped the fast food giant's slogan by saying he was "lovin' it" that Labour excluded such a big employer.
How to make a handbag fit for the Queenpublished at 09:28 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Louise Brierley
Reporter, BBC Midlands TodayThe Queen is rarely seen without an elegant handbag - and her favourite is made in the Black Country.
She was seen with a Launer London Traviata on her arm at the start of her 90th birthday celebrations. The bag, which costs £2,000, is handmade at a factory in Holtshill Lane, Walsall.
Launer London was granted the Royal Warrant in 1968 and has been supplying the Queen with bags ever since.
Media caption, The Queen's rarely seen without an elegant handbag but her favourite is made in Walsall.
Birmingham homes plan approved amid greenbelt rowpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
A plan to build more than 50,000 homes in Birmingham has been approved by government, with 6,000 being destined for greenbelt land.
Birmingham's population is expected to rise by 150,000 by 2031 and the city council is planning to create homes and hundreds of acres of employment land.
Fields near the Sutton Coldfield bypass in Peddimore and Langley will have 6,000 homes and 71 hectares (175 acres) of business property built on them.
Image source, GoogleLatest: Greenbelt homes row; work starts on new cancer centre; McDonald's ban criticisedpublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Alex Homer
BBC Local LiveHere are the top stories on Thursday so far:
- Campaigners say they are devastated after plans for 6,000 new homes on greenbelt land near Sutton Coldfield were approved by the government
- Work starts this morning on a new cancer centre at Birmingham Children's Hospital
- The MP for Dudley North is criticising the Labour leader's decision to ban McDonald's from their party conference
Watch: Latest weather forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 08:26 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterIt might be a bit chilly first thing but plenty of sunshine to come. Highs of 14C (57F).
Media caption, Latest weather for the West Midlands
Travel: M6 delays warningpublished at 08:09 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
BBC TravelTwo lanes are closed on the M6 southbound between J6 for the A38(M) Aston Expressway and J5 for Castle Bromwich because of a crash involving four vehicles, drivers are warned.
Good morning from Local Live from Birmingham and the Black Countrypublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 21 April 2016
Alex Homer
BBC Local LiveI'm back with more news, sport, travel and weather on Thursday.
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