BBC Local Live: Birmingham and the Black Country on Friday 12 August 2016

Summary

Prisoners attack staff and start fires
Body found near missing teens' beach
Man due to stand trial over cold case murder
Eight men arrested after train brawl
Updates from Friday 12 August 2016

Live Reporting

Stephanie Barnard

Search for husky in stolen carpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
A search is on for a dog left inside a car which was stolen.
Bo, a Siberian Husky, was in a white Vauxhall Astra taken from Washwood Heath Road in Ward End, Birmingham, this afternoon.
Officers say a man snatched a woman's purse outside the Natwest Bank, external before running away, pushing a man to the floor as he was getting into his car and took his white Vauxhall Astra.
Image source, West Midlands Police
Police are now appealing for help to identify the suspect as well as to locate the missing car and dog.
Speedway: Birmingham Brummies meet Coventrypublished at 16:34 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
The Birmingham Brummies aim to extend their lead at the top of the National League as they take on Coventry Storm, external.
It will be a 19:30 start at Perry Barr.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
MP unimpressed as Labour chooses men for mayoral candidates across the countrypublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Birmingham Post
Labour's candidate to be mayor of the West Midlands is a man, external - and the same is true in Manchester and Liverpool. Birmingham MP Jess Phillips isn't impressed.
Image source, Labour
Image caption,
West Midlands Labour candidate Sion Simon
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Be inspired: Be the next Olympic hopefulpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
If you're following coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics you're probably enthralled by the awe-inspiring gymnasts and record-breaking swimmers.
Usually it's this time of year when kids see Olympians and think "I'll have a go at that".
So if you're looking for what facilities are in your area, Wolverhampton Today, external posts on Facebook: "Have you got Olympic fever? Join one of the many sporting clubs in the city and get involved. http://socsi.in/Q8zoy, external"
There are also some top stories and an activity finder on BBC Sport's Get Inspired.
Here's Team GB's Max Whitlock demonstrating different exercises for you to try at home
Media caption,
Three exercises that look easier than they are
Residents asked to donate 25p each to Christmas lights campaignpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Campaigners in a Black Country town are asking each of its residents to donate 25p to raise money for extra Christmas lights this year.
A public group called Hands on Wednesfield are trying to raise £4,000 by mid September for extra lights for the town.
Quote Message
Last year we had the massive countdown. When we got to 'one' and we flicked everyone looked around and said 'oh'. It was a bit of an embarrassment. We've had a meeting with the council, we know they have no money and we didn't even ask. They said that if we can find some funding we can support it with some improved lights
Simon Archer, Hands on Wednesfield
Man jailed over 'forgotten' drugs wrappublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
A drug dealer is jailed after a "forgotten" wrap of heroin found in his bag at Birmingham Airport led police to uncover a stash of drugs, money and weapons at his home.
Read More
£100k worth of cannabis seized on M6 Tollpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Lichfield Mercury
Staffordshire Police have seized cannabis thought to be worth well in excess of £100,000 after stopping a vehicle on the M6 Toll near Burntwood., external
Giant bees among highlights of arts festivalpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Satnam Rana
BBC Midlands Today
Giant bees and a ceramic garden are just some of the highlights of Sandwell's arts festival this weekend. , external
Most of the exhibits on show have been created by people from the Black Country.
Image source, Creative Black Country
Find out more about this weekend's festival online , externaland by watching Midlands Today on BBC One in the Midlands at 18:30.
Murder charge over cupboard body findpublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
A man is charged with the murder of a woman found dead in a utility cupboard 35 years ago.
Read More
Forgetful drug dealer who boarded flight with heroin is jailedpublished at 13:40 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Caroline Gall
BBC News Online
A drug dealer has been jailed after security staff at Birmingham Airport discovered a wrap of heroin in his luggage, external which led police to uncover a stash of drugs, money and weapons at his home.
Majid Hussain “simply forgot” about the class A drug in his carry-on bag as he tried to board a flight to Pakistan in February, police believe.
Image source, West Midlands Police
When officers went to his house on Nansen Road in Saltley they found 1kg of heroin – with an estimated street value of £18,000 - in a suitcase under his bed, a semi-automatic handgun; 27 rounds of ammunition; a stun-gun disguised as a mobile phone; an air pistol; and almost £300,000 in cash.
The 41-year-old admitted five charges on the first day of his trial at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday and was jailed for a total of 12 years.
Crystal Palace v West Brompublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Follow live text coverage from the opening weekend of the Premier League season as Crystal Palace host West Brom at Selhurst Park.
Read More
Mass water fight plan to be considered by councilpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer
A seemingly bizarre plan for a mass water fight in the centre of Sutton Coldfield is to be looked at by the new town council., external
Image source, Sutton Coldfield Observer
Bedsit plans delayed by councilpublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM
The decision over plans to turn a former care home in Dudley into 22 bedsits has been delayed.
The property on Himley Road, external would have a communal kitchen and has been described by police as a potential crime magnet.
Dudley Council is now planning to have site visits before approval is considered.
Champion fell runner remanded in prison after attempted murder chargepublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
BBC WM
A former fell-running champion charged with attempted murder after a man was stabbed at Birmingham's Alexander stadium has been remanded in custody until later this month.
Lauren Jeska (pictured) was not required to enter any plea during an appearance at the city's Crown court via video-link from prison in Derbyshire this morning.
The 41-year-old, from Machynlleth, Powys, is also charged with two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on two other men and possession of three knives in a public place.
Masked robbers attack man in field behind Cannock pubpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Cannock Mercury
Police are appealing for information after a man was attacked by masked robbers as he walked across a field behind a Cannock pub., external
Image source, Cannock Mercury
Villa's Sanchez joins Fiorentinapublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez joins Fiorentina on a season-long loan with an option for a permanent move.
Read More
Warwickshire v Surrey - day fourpublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Listen to live BBC local radio commentary as Warwickshire v Surrey in the County Championship.
Read More
Northamptonshire v Leicestershire - day fourpublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Listen to live BBC local radio commentary as Northamptonshire face Leicestershire in the County Championship.
Read More
EFL Cup: Round one resultspublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
BBC WM Sport
It was a mixed night for our sides in the EFL Cup - Blues crashed out, losing at home to Oxford 1-0 after extra time.
Walsall were knocked out by Yeovil, who won 2-0 after extra time.
Elsewhere, Wolves did make it through to round two after a hard fought 2-1 win over Crawley.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Crowdfunding campaign aims to make town more festivepublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 10 August 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
A fundraising campaign has been set up to help pay for more Christmas lights in Wednesfield.
A crowdfunding page has been set up to try to raise £4,000 to make this year's event better than previous years.
Image source, Crowdfunder
Campaigners say they want to:, external
- Double the amount of lights along Wednesfield High Street
- Add more lights to the trees around St Thomas' Church
- Work towards a long-term goal of bringing a living tree back in to the heart of the village
So far more than £700 has been raised online for a bigger and better lights display across the town.