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

Children 'given CPR on front lawn'published at 13:24 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today
Dawn Hill who lives near the house that caught fire with two children inside says she saw the boy and girl receiving CPR on the front lawn as firefighters fought to keep them alive.
Both were pronounced dead in hospital.
Ms Hill told me: "I heard a scream like I've never heard before. It was terrible. I went up the road and saw a woman who was uncontrollable. Two children were on the grass and the fireman were giving them CPR."
She added: "I feel sick to my stomach."
BBC One in the West Midlands at 13:30published at 12:57 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today
Two children have died following a fire at a house.
Emergency services were called to the property in Holland Road, Hamstead, in the early hours of this morning.
Our reporter Bob Hockenhull is at the scene for us - he'll have the latest details on BBC One in the West Midlands at 13:30.
Neighbour 'awoken by terrible screams'published at 12:33 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today
I've just spoken to a woman who lives in the road where a boy and girl were found in a house on fire.
They were pronounced dead in hospital. Neighbour Dawn Hill said she was awoken by "terrible screams" and saw a woman screaming uncontrollably in the early hours of this morning.
Ms Hill said she saw firefighters treat two young children on the front lawn of the property where they were discovered.
Shooting 'unconnected' to house firepublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Police say, external the shooting of a man in Handsworth Wood this morning is unconnected to the house fire in neighbouring Hamstead - the subject of a criminal investigation, external following the deaths of two children.
Following reports that a gun had been fired, police were called to Vernon Road, Handsworth Wood, at about 2am.
A 27-year-old man sustained serious injuries, according to the West Midlands Force, and is in a critical but stable condition. Police are treating the shooting as attempted murder.
Emergency crews were called to Holland Road, Hamstead, at about 03:40 this morning following reports of a fire at a house. Inside the property a boy and girl were found. They were pronounced dead in hospital.
Investigation under way into cause of house firepublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
An investigation into the cause of a fire at a home where two children were found in cardiac arrest is under way, says the fire service who within the last few minutes has extended its sympathy to those affected, external.
Thirteen firefighters attended the scene in Holland Road, Hamstead, after receiving a 999 call at 03:36 this morning. A boy and a girl were discovered and later pronounced dead in hospital.
A statement released by West Midlands Fire Service said: "The fire is being treated as suspicious and our investigators are working with police scenes of crime officers to establish how it started."
It added: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with everyone affected by this incident."
Image source, Facebook
Children were in cardiac arrestpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
A boy and girl who died following a house fire were in cardiac arrest when the ambulance service arrived.
Quote Message
Bystanders had already started CPR which crews took over before also administering advanced life support. Treatment continued en-route to hospital with the boy being taken to Sandwell Hospital and the girl to Birmingham Children's Hospital. Unfortunately, shortly after their arrival at the hospitals, it became clear that nothing could be done to save either child and they were confirmed deceased."
Spokesman, West Midlands Ambulance Service
A woman was assessed and discharged at the scene.
At the scene: Flowers left on the streetpublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today
Flowers have been laid near a house in Hamstead where firefighters found a boy and girl later pronounced dead in hospital.
A semi-detached home in Holland Road has been cordoned off but there are no obvious signs of fire damage. Firefighters tackled a blaze in the hallway of the house.
Police have said the fire is suspicious and will release more details later.
Two children die after 'suspicious' house firepublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Express and Star
Emergency services were called to a report of a fire at the property on Holland Road in Hamstead, Great Barr, external, at around 3.40am.
House fire: Events leading up to children's deaths 'unclear'published at 11:13 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Police say the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two children following a house fire "remain unclear".
Emergency crews were called to the property in Holland Road, Hamstead, at about 03:40 this morning. Inside a boy and girl were found - later pronounced dead at hospital.
Quote Message
The events of this morning remain unclear and we are still trying to piece together the circumstances leading up to what happened. This is a terrible incident and my thoughts are with everyone who has been affected."
Justin Spanner, Detective Inspector, West Midlands Police CID
Boy and girl dead after house firepublished at 11:02 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Firefighters extinguished a fire in the hallway of a house in Hamstead where two children – a boy and a girl - were found, police say, external.
The children - "found unwell inside", according to officers - were both taken to hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The cause of their deaths is unknown and a forensic post-mortem is due to take place.
Emergency crews were called to the Holland Road property about 03:40 this morning.
House fire: Two children deadpublished at 10:56 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Breaking
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Two children found at a house in Hamstead to which firefighters were called this morning have died, police say, external.
Three people treated following firepublished at 10:27 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
West Midlands Ambulance Service says paramedics treated three people following a fire at a property in Hamstead overnight.
Emergency services tell us more details are expected to be given later today.
West Midlands Police are at the Holland Road site and are treating the fire as suspicious.
Pulis extends contract at West Brompublished at 10:25 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Breaking
Manager Tony Pulis signs a one-year contract extension at West Brom, to extend his stay at The Hawthorns to 2018.
Read More
Loved and lost: Actor funds anti knife filmpublished at 10:25 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent
A TV actor from Birmingham has self-funded a new film that he hopes will educate other young people about the dangers of carrying knives.
Theo Johnson (pictured), who's appeared in Channel 4's Raised by Wolves and BBC's Doctors, has friends who've been stabbed. It is with them in mind that the three-minute film is to be screened in schools across the country.
Quote Message
I've had friends who have been stabbed and lost their lives just because of the area they are from. It's all over arguments that didn't need to be had. I've seen the effects it's had on me and family, as well as the person who has done the stabbing. I feel like the only way I can help is through my creativity because that's all I've got.
Theo Johnson, Actor
'Number of people' in property hit by fire, say policepublished at 09:57 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Breaking
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Police are at the scene of a fire in Hamstead to which crews were called about 03:40 this morning.
They are treating the blaze in Holland Road, which has been cordoned off, as suspicious.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "A number of people were in the property at the time. We are unable to confirm the extent of their injuries at the moment.”
Travel: Trains disrupted between Tamworth and Nuneatonpublished at 09:48 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
BBC Travel
Trains between Tamworth and Nuneaton are being disrupted this morning, external say National Rail Enquiries due to reports of a trespasser on the line at Atherstone.
Get the latest from the BBC Travel website.
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Pick-your-own pumpkin boost for farmerpublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today
A Midlands farmer says pumpkins could soon overtake strawberries as his top pick-your-own crop.
Richard Simkin has grown the autumnal favourite across five acres at Essington Farm near Wolverhampton - double the amount he produced last year.
So many people have come to pick their own that all his pumpkins are expected to sell out by Halloween.
Boy stabbed in Birminghampublished at 09:01 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
Breaking
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
A 16-year-old boy is being treated in hospital after he was stabbed in Birmingham last night.
West Midlands Police says it was called to Stratford Road, Sparkhill, at about 19:15 yesterday.
The boy's injuries are said to be serious. He is in a stable condition in hospital.
No arrests have been made. Police are appealing for information.
Blues v Villa: Police 'hoping for a peaceful' derbypublished at 08:49 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
West Midlands Police says it's ready for the 25,000 football fans who are expected to attend Sunday's derby between Birmingham City and visitors Aston Villa.
The match is the force's biggest footballing operation of the year and marks the clubs' first league meeting in five years.
Ch Insp Nick Rowe said the early kickoff - midday - and the measures officers had put in place left him hopeful of a 'very peaceful day'.
Image source, Getty Images
Quote Message
My hope at the end of the day is that we're just talking about football on the pitch and not what's going on outside."
Nick Rowe, Ch Insp at West Midlands Police
Weather: Mainly dry with sunshine in placespublished at 08:15 British Summer Time 28 October 2016
BBC Weather
A generally cloudy day with light winds. Some light rain is likely further north at first, although easing quickly, leaving most places dry, and with some brighter periods in the south - highs of 16C (61F).