BBC News England

Birmingham's central location is behind its popularity with people moving from London according to a tourism chief.

Statistics suggest more than 6,000 people left the capital for England's second city last year and Emma Gray, marketing director for Visit Birmingham, said the city had seen significant growth and investment that challenged outmoded perceptions.

"Businesses both internationally and domestically are looking for opportunities outside the capital.

"They know that by being located in a central place like Birmingham they have the best of both worlds, they can get back to friends and family, and because they are in the middle of the country they can explore more."

Image source, PA

Last year, HSBC bank said about 1,000 jobs would be transferred from London to Birmingham as it relocated its headquarters to a new office in the city centre.

Deutsche Bank has also continued to expand in the city.

London Midland has said to expect delays on train services between Coventry and Birmingham International due to staff illness. 

BBC WM Sport

The sport headlines for Birmingham and the Black Country:

- The Birmingham Brummies took control of the local derby in the National League semi-final, beating Cradley Heathens 53-37 in the first leg at Perry Barr last night 

- Solihull Moors manager Marcus Bignot has told BBC WM survival in the National League would be the club's biggest ever achievement 

- The ECB has announced England will take on the West Indies in the country's first floodlit Test Match at Edgbaston next summer

All week you have been using Your Questions to ask about the West Midlands. Here are some of our answers.

BBC News UK

Former Blues player Howard Gayle says he turned down an MBE because it was "against my values".

The 58-year-old started his professional career with his hometown club Liverpool in 1977, moving on to Fulham, Newcastle United, Birmingham City, Sunderland, Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers and Halifax Town. He also won three caps for England Under-21s.

Mr Gayle says the honour - Member of the British Empire - should have its name altered so that there is no reference to "empire". 

He was offered the MBE earlier this year because of his work in combating racism in football. He also told the BBC that clubs should do more to deal with homophobia in the game.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport

BBC 5 Live's Pat Murphy says Edgbaston hosting the first day-night test to be played in England will appeal to workers in the city because of its "novelty factor."

He said: "A three-day second XI match against Worcestershire was trialled under lights in September, with both the Duke and Kookaburra ball being used. The experiment was deemed a success, which led to the ECB's blessing for Edgbaston.

"More tickets have been sold for Edgbaston international matches than any other ground outside London in the past decade, and with West Indies hardly a major attraction these days the attendance is unlikely to be lower than if it were a daytime Test. The novelty factor and appeal to workers in the city centre - just a mile away - is likely to impact favourably on the gate."

BBC News England

Birmingham is the most popular destination for people moving from London. 

Latest internal migration statistics show more than 6,000 people left the capital for England's second city last year. 

The second, third and fourth most popular destinations were all within 50 miles of London - Brighton, Thurrock and Epping Forest respectively. 

Business leaders say the figures reflect an ongoing trend.

BBC Sport

BBC 5 Live's Pat Murphy says Edgbaston hosting the first day-night test to be played in England is a "coup" for the Birmingham venue.

He said: "Several other counties have lobbied for a floodlit Test but Warwickshire - who staged the first floodlit one-day match against Somerset in 1997 - have been in the vanguard of night cricket for years. Permanent lights were installed at Edgbaston in 2011, 11 years after the ground staged its first floodlit one-day international against Zimbabwe.

"It will be Edgbaston's 50th Test - the scene of just eight defeats and 26 victories for England. It will be an invaluable learning process for the home side, with at least one [day-night] Ashes Test due a few months later in Australia."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport

The first day-night Test to be played in England will take place against West Indies at Edgbaston in August 2017.

Play will start at 14:00 BST on 17-21 August and continue until 21:00, with an additional 30 minutes possible at the end of each day's play.

Teams will wear traditional white clothing but use a pink Dukes ball.

Image source, Getty Images

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

This morning's headlines for Birmingham and the Black Country are:

- The first day-night Test to be played in England will take place against West Indies at Edgbaston in August 2017

- A trade union says its members at children's social services in Sandwell could be prepared to take industrial action if a plan to overhaul the department affects their pay and pensions

- Tickets go on sale at 09:00 this morning for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, which are being held in Birmingham this year

BBC Weather

A damp and drizzly start to the day, with plenty of cloud around.

The rain should clear up as the day goes by, with something a little brighter possible this afternoon. Highs of 15C (59F). 

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

Welcome to Friday's news, sport, travel and weather updates.

Comment on our stories and send us your pictures over email, Twitter, external or our Facebook page, external.

Firefighters' sons take a tour of their fathers' abandoned station, which was found untouched after half a century.

The first day-night Test to be played in England will take place against West Indies at Edgbaston in August 2017.

We're back at 08:00 tomorrow with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather, but keep an eye out here for updates through the evening and into the morning.    

BBC Radio Stoke

A man has been arrested in connection with three thefts in Staffordshire in which a man ran up to different women, grabbed the necklace from their neck and ran off with it. 

Staffordshire Police, external say the trio of cases happened in Burntwood, Lichfield and Norton Canes and the man has been arrested on suspicion of theft. 

The force says they're also trying to find the driver of a courier van who chased the offender in the Lichfield case.

The new president of Birmingham's Chamber of Commerce, external says promoting the city as a great place to do business is even more important following the Brexit vote. 

Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport, takes on the role. 

He revealed his plans for his two-year term at an annual meeting, saying the themes of his tenure included "geography, scale and the city's place in the world".

Image source, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Police investigating a spate of distraction burglaries on elderly people in south Birmingham have arrested two people, external. 

In one incident, a 101-year-old woman had her handbag stolen. 

A man and a woman are being questioned in connection with 10 alleged offences. 

Police also want to trace 31-year-old Francis Maughan to question him over 'purse dipping' - they say he is suspected of involvement in a number of other distraction burglaries. 

Image source, West Midlands Police

BBC Weather

It's cloudy today with bright spells and highs of 13C (55F).

Some isolated showers tonight with a low of 7C (45F).

BBC Midlands Today

An independent trust is to take over the running of the troubled Children's Services department that covers much of the Black Country. 

The Government says progress to improve the service in Sandwell has been intermittent since parts of it were first rated inadequate six years ago.

Our reporter Ben Sidwell will be giving us the latest, live on BBC1 from 18:30.