BBC Local Live: Birmingham and the Black Country on Friday 28 October

Summary

Two children have died after a house fire in Birmingham
Boy, eight, and girl, six, were taken to hospital but could not be saved
Man believed to be their father found in burnt-out car
He suffered life-threatening injuries and is in a critical condition
Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case
Updates on Friday 28 October 2016

Live Reporting

Stephanie Barnard

Latest headlines: Man in serious condition after stabbing; Abuse victim failed by the justice systempublished at 09:37 British Summer Time 25 October 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
The top stories for Birmingham and the Black Country this morning include:
- A man's in a serious condition in hospital after being stabbed multiple times in Birmingham last night
- A woman says she has been failed by the justice system after an imam who abused her when she was a child fled the UK for Bangladesh after being convicted
- The build up has already begun to this weekends massive derby between Blues and Villa
Man left with life-threatening injuries after being 'stabbed multiple times'published at 09:10 British Summer Time 25 October 2016
Breaking
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
A man is being treated with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed multiple times in Birmingham last night.
West Midlands Police say it was called to a part of Raddlebarn Road in Selly Oak at about 18:40 last night.
A 21-year-old man was found with multiple stab wounds.
The road remains closed while police carry out inquiries.
UKIP contender Bill Etheridge quits leadership racepublished at 08:52 British Summer Time 25 October 2016
Justin Parkinson
BBC News
One of the eight candidates to become UKIP's leader, the West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge, has pulled out of the contest.
He stated that one of his rivals is "the only person who can effectively unite our party" adding that the other contenders should follow his example and stand down in favour of current deputy leader Paul Nuttall.
Image source, Getty Images
He urged UKIP to stick to its "patriotic, libertarian" principles.
Mr Nuttall announced on Sunday that he would run for leader.
Whoever wins the race will replace Nigel Farage, who is filling the role on a temporary basis.
One of the other confirmed contenders is Suzanne Evans, the party's former deputy-chairman, who has a house in Shrewsbury and previously competed for the local seat.
Airport expansion decision imminentpublished at 08:35 British Summer Time 25 October 2016
BBC Midlands Today
The Government is to name Heathrow or Gatwick Airport as its "preferred option" for expansion or another runway later today, but there's growing speculation that Birmingham Airport will also be earmarked for future development.
However, environmental campaigners say a second runway at Birmingham would not be a good investment.
Weather: Sunny and cloudy day aheadpublished at 08:17 British Summer Time 25 October 2016
BBC Weather
It will be a cloudy start to the day with the odd spot of rain at first. However, this will tend to ease, allowing some sunny spells to develop in the afternoon - highs of 13C (55F).
Live updates for Birmingham and the Black Country.published at 08:00 British Summer Time 25 October 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Hello, I'm in the newsroom again bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country between now and 18:00.
If you'd like to get in touch with me today you can do so on email, by tweeting @bbcwm, external or visit the BBC WM Facebook page, external.
The police force looking for a leaderpublished at 00:24 British Summer Time 25 October 2016
A police force in a rural part of England is struggling to find a suitable chief constable, despite casting the net as wide as the US, Canada and Australia.
Read More
Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
That's it for our live coverage today.
We'll be back with you from 08:00 on Tuesday with more news, sport, travel and weather.
Have a great evening whatever you have planned.
Overnight weather forecastpublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
It will be mostly dry with clear spells developing tonight, which will allow some mist and fog patches to form in places - lows of 3C (37F).
Tomorrow will be cloudy for much of the day though it should stay dry and bright with sunshine.
Media caption,
BBC Midlands Today's Charlie Slater has your forecast
Midlands composer pens Jane Eyre operapublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today
It's taken decades to write but a Midlands composer is finally seeing his proudest work performed for the first time.
John Joubert who is almost 90 years old has written a new opera based on the novel Jane Eyre.
The Worcester-based English Symphony Orchestra will perform its world premiere in Birmingham tomorrow. , external
Sport headlines: Wolves need to turn around their luck; Baggies need to learn from their mistakespublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Rob Gurney
BBC WM Sport
The top sport stories in the newsroom this afternoon include:
- Wolves' midfielder Dave Edwards says it's down to the players to turn around their current poor form
- The Albion defender Jonas Olsson says they have to learn from their mistakes to end their winless run
- Birmingham City Ladies' 19-year-old goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley has been called up to the senior England squad for the first time for tomorrow's friendly in Spain
Attacks on ambulance staff double in five yearspublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Attacks on ambulance staff in the region have almost doubled in the last five years.
West Midlands Ambulance Service Trust said the number of assaults rose from 175 in 2012-13 to 298 in 2015-16.
The situation nationally shows the vast majority of attacks occur on a Saturday night just before midnight, and almost three quarters of assaults involved alcohol. Just less than a quarter involved drugs.
Mike Duggan, a paramedic with the trust, wants to see mandatory sentencing introduced for anyone who assaults a member of the emergency services.
Quote Message
It is disgusting that any ambulance staff, who come to work purely to help people, are subjected to this level of abuse and violence. Despite this, we turn up for duty each shift and continue to provide a first class service to people in their hour of need."
Mike Duggan, Paramedic, West Midlands Ambulance Service
Christmas market comes to Brum for seven whole weekspublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Birmingham Christmas market comes to the city in just under a month.
As some of you may remember the market usually packs up on Christmas Eve - but not this year. It's in the heart of the city centre until 29 December.
So get ready for it to open on 17 November and last a full seven weeks.
Image source, Getty Images
Former railway station to be restoredpublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Corinne Wheatley
BBC WM, Journalist
Campaigners in Dudley say they don't want a light railway link, but for the former station to be restored instead.
Plans for a £27m light rail innovation centre were given the go ahead last week, external.
Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for transport at Dudley Council, says it's an opportunity to bring better development to the area.
However, not everybody is so keen on the approval.
Quote Message
It is extremely important that this 65km railway line is used for trains. You put trains on train lines and trams on roads. Our politicians and transport officers have not done that."
Tim Weller, Environmentalist and campaigner:
It is thought the development could create up to 200 jobs.
Is Birmingham first choice for people leaving London?published at 16:54 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Has Birmingham recovered from the 2008 recession?
An economist in the city says it's suffering from an identity crisis following the recession.
But a commercial business manager argues "people are finally seeing Birmingham as a destination for business".
Though Birmingham is known as the second city - is it actually considered the capital's little brother? - we've been looking at the highs and lows of the city over the past eight years after you got in touch with us to ask the question.
Quote Message
Birmingham has gone from being that place you moved to if you had to - to the first choice for people leaving London for a better way of life. It's an amazing turnaround and it's something that the city has had to work hard to achieve
Peter Plisner, Business Correspondent, BBC Midlands Today
Wolves' FA Cup final scorer Smyth diespublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Sammy Smyth, the last surviving member of Wolves' 1949 FA Cup-winning side, dies at the age of 91.
Read More
Thrills outweigh spillspublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Express and Star
Breaking a collarbone during his first ever competitive track race failed to quash Pete Wright’s love for motorbikes., external
Sikh temple protest: Three men answer bailpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online
Last month, 55 arrests were made following a protest at the Gurdwara Sahib temple in Leamington.
Police said a group of men, some carrying weapons, many of which were ceremonial knives, entered the temple in the early hours of 11 September. The protest lasted eight hours in a row over mixed marriages.
Warwickshire Police said, external following the 55 arrests, three men had answered bail.
A 28-year-old man from Coventry was cautioned for religiously aggravated criminal damage.
A 39-year-old man from Birmingham was re-bailed until the end of November while investigations continue; and no further action will be taken against a 31-year-old man from Oldbury.
The force said two more men remained on police bail and the investigation continued.
Biker jailed for reckless riding spreepublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
A biker who led West Midlands Police on a 20-minute chase through Birmingham has been jailed.
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Walsall starting to gel - Oztumerpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
Erhun Oztumer says Walsall fans are now starting to see the Saddlers' new-look squad play to their potential.
Read More