Key skills gaps in the West Midlands will only be filled if more women enter "male-dominated industries like manufacturing and engineering", Birmingham City University academics are warning.

The region has a shortfall in the number of qualified technicians, engineers and other skilled trades despite being one of the UK’s powerhouses in manufacturing, the institution said.

And academics say that encouraging more women to enter the fields is "crucial" in fulfilling the needs of the West Midlands’ workforce and boosting the economy.

Birmingham City University says it is trying to help plug the gap by working with schoolgirls to demonstrate the merits of future study and careers in the field. 

The university's warning comes after it said it joined up to WISE (Women In Science, Technology and Engineering), a nationwide campaign to encourage more females to study subjects in these areas and which advises businesses on how to support women in such careers.

BBC Sport

A family scrapbook dating from the 1940s has provided a portal in to the world of football before champagne and Ferraris were the norm.  

It tracks Jackie Vernon's rise through the ranks of the game from the 1940s to the 1950s. 

He played for Belfast Celtic and West Bromwich Albion, and had more than 20 caps for playing at international level for Northern Ireland, Ireland and a Great Britain XI.

But it could have all been so different; John Joseph Vernon was born in Belfast in 1918 and was destined to become a butcher, not an international centre-half.

Image source, Jim Peel

BBC WM

A new secondary school in Sandwell opens for the first time to pupils this morning. 

The Q3 Academy Langley is the first secondary school to open in the area in 10 years. 

This month, 153 Year 7 pupils will start and the school hopes they will eventually be able to accommodate more than 1,500 students. 

BBC WM Sport

Batsman Matt Lamb is making his Championship debut for Warwickshire against Somerset at Taunton today.

The pitch that the game is being played on is that one in the middle of the picture. We think it may take some spin.

Follow the action here.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A West Midlands Police officer will be sentenced later this month after he admitted sexually assaulting two women while on duty.

PC Steven Walters, who is suspended from his job in Sutton Coldfield, had denied two counts of sexual assault between February and April last year but pleaded guilty at Stafford Crown Court on Monday.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said Walters, aged 48, "targeted vulnerable victims of crime for sexual purposes".

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here is a recap of the headlines we have been covering so far:

- A Birmingham school in special measures may be saved from closure, a letter has revealed

- A West Midlands Police officer will be sentenced later this month for sexually assaulting two women

- England have made all-rounder Chris Woakes available for Warwickshire's One-Day Cup Final

Birmingham Mail

Meet the chocolate inventor whose tastebuds have been insured for a cool £1m, external.  

Image source, Cadbury

Adrian Goldberg
Presenter, BBC WM

A Birmingham school in special measures could get a reprieve from closure. 

BBC WM has seen a letter sent to parents and staff at Baverstock Academy in Druids Heath that states renewed efforts to identify a new sponsor have progressed positively over the summer. 

As a result there is no need for a consultation on the closure of the school at the moment, it adds.

The letter states that a further update on progress will be provided by October half-term.

Image source, Google

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

There's an exceptionally warm start to today, with highs of 24C (75F).

Find out more.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are the top stories on Tuesday so far:

- A Birmingham school facing closure could win a reprieve

- A West Midlands Police officer has admitted sexually assaulted two women

- England make all-rounder Chris Woakes available for Warwickshire's One-Day Cup Final

Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM

Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Spink says the club's work in the transfer window means a return to the Premier League is a real possibility. 

Roberto di Matteo's side made nine signings, including former Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia, before deadline day last Wednesday - as they look for an immediate return to the top-flight. 

Spink told us the club had an "ideal platform" for promotion. 

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Travel

There is slow traffic on the A34 Stratford Road in Sparkhill, Birmingham, at the junction with Court Road, in the roadworks area, drivers are warned.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

I'm back with the news, sport, travel and weather updates on Tuesday.

Comment on our stories and share your pictures over email, tweet @bbcwm, external or visit the BBC WM Facebook page, external.

A family scrapbook dating from the 1940s puts the spotlight on a forgotten Belfast footballer.

Relatives of the Birmingham pub bombings are told they will find out if they are to get legal later this month.

A police officer who "targeted vulnerable victims of crime for sexual purposes" admits sexually assaulting two women while on duty.

That's it from us on Monday.

Join us again from 08:00 on Tuesday for more news, sport, travel and weather. Keep an eye out here for more updates throughout the rest of the day. 

Have a great evening from everyone in the newsroom.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer

The trust which runs Good Hope Hospital is to join forces with the leading university teaching hospital in the West Midlands to create a single organisation, external in a move to "maximise clinical benefits" for patients, it has been announced today.

Image source, Sutton Coldfield Observer

BBC WM Sport

Wolves host the reigning Elite League champions Poole at Monmore tonight. 

The visitors will have Scott Nicholls as a guest rider for the meeting.

You can hear commentary on BBC WM DAB, Freeview Channel 722 and online from 19:00.  

Solihull's Dan Evans will move up to career high 52 in the World Tennis Rankings after his performance at the US Open. 

He made it to the third round but was knocked out on Saturday by world number three Stan Wawrinka.

Image source, Getty Images