'Big club fringe players should move'published at 22:33 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Players struggling for first-team football at "bigger clubs" should move on and "earn their money", says West Brom boss Tony Pulis.
Read MoreSummary
M54 body: Fresh plea for info
Pulis confirms bid for Schneiderlin
Three teens questioned over carjackings
Updates from Friday 23 December 2016
'Big club fringe players should move'published at 22:33 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Happy Christmas: Our coverage across the daypublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveWishing a happy Christmas on the eve of Christmas eve from the BBC News Online team.
We'll be back from 08:00 on Wednesday 28 December with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather for Birmingham and the Black Country.
Weather: What's in store?published at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
This evening in the wake of Storm Barbara skies will clear giving a chilly and generally dry night.
It will stay windy overnight, but this should prevent too much frost from forming - lows of 3C (37F).
Media caption, Weather for the West Midlands.
Blustery conditions out in Birminghampublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
BBC WMStorm Barbara has well and truly landed today, and it's been causing a few problems across the city.
Firefighters had to retrieve this runaway gazebo from Flint Green Road in Acocks Green earlier this morning, which affected some nearby telephone lines.
West Midlands Fire Service said no damage was caused to the lines, and phone services are working as normal.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceStorm Barbara: Trains may be delayedpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Rail services may be delayed, warns Network Rail.
Weather warnings have been issued across the country as Storm Barbara hits.
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End of twitter postLast chance to see stunning Lichfield Cathedral Illuminated Christmas lightspublished at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Photos: Elderly woman's life savings stolenpublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
A 77-year-old woman's life savings have been stolen from her home.
Police say a man posed as a workman while another three went through her belongings at her home in Kitts Green, Birmingham.
Images of four men police would like to speak to about the incident have been released., external
Image source, West Midlands PoliceQuote MessageThe lady was targeted because of that vulnerability and the offenders managed to get away with many thousands of pounds of her life savings.
Detective Constable Nigel Box, West Midlands Police
Tracey Mertens death: Fresh appeal over graveyard petrol fire murderpublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
A fresh appeal has been made to catch the killers of a mother-of-two who was doused in petrol and set alight in a Cheshire churchyard 22 years ago.
Tracey Mertens, 31, was abducted from her former Birmingham home and attacked in Eaton near Congleton on 23 December 1994.
Image source, Cheshire PoliceShe suffered 95% burns to her body and died 12 hours later.
Cheshire Police said in her final hours she managed to tell detectives what had happened to her.
Storm Barbara: 'Lucky escape' for family as tree fallspublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
A family of four had a "lucky escape" after a tree nearly fell on them, says West Midlands Fire Service.
The tree fell on Gay Hill Lane in Birmingham this afternoon.
The fire service is warning drivers to take care as Storm Barbara hits the West Midlands.
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End of twitter postPlan for Lichfield Minor Injuries Unitpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Health chiefs have promised that if Lichfield's Minor Injuries Unit closes, external, it will be replaced with "something better".
M54 body: Police urge caller to come forwardpublished at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Police are urging a person to call them back with information regarding the death of a man whose remains were discovered near the M54 in Telford.
Surjit Takhar, 37, was reported missing from his home in Oldbury, in October 2008 - his skull and remains were discovered last August by maintenance workers.
Image source, West midlands policeWest Midlands Police say they want to speak to someone who called in January this year saying they had information about Mr Takhar, but the call was cut off before the caller's name could be taken.
Det Insp Jim Munro from West Midlands Police said: "I would urge that person to contact us again."
1D Liam Payne visits kids on hospital wardpublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Chris Blakemore
BBC WMOne Direction's Liam Payne surprised patients on the children's ward at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital with some presents from Santa.
Liam, from Bushbury, contacted the hospital earlier this week to arrange to drop off the gifts and they turned up yesterday afternoon.
Image source, Getty ImagesLiam, currently embarking on a solo career, was born at the hospital.
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End of twitter postHeading home for Christmas?: Warnings about tailbacks and weatherpublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
A combination of weather and maintenance on the roads and rail are expected to make the Christmas getaway more difficult later.
Millions of people will be heading off for the festive period but drivers are being warned about tailbacks and engineering works could make it tough on the trains.
An amber weather warning has been issued because Storm Barbara is on its way.
Killer HGV driver Rajesh Patel jailed for just a yearpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Royal Sutton Coldfield ObserverA Sutton Coldfield lorry driver who gave another trucker no chance to avoid a collision after ploughing, external into the back of a broken-down wagon has been jailed - for just a year.
Schneiderlin can leave Man Utd - Mourinhopublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Jose Mourinho says French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has asked to leave Manchester United and confirms the 27-year-old will be allowed to leave the club "for the right offer".
Read MoreBruce looks ahead to Burton on Boxing Daypublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
BBC WM SportSteve Bruce says he'd have no qualms about making big changes to his Aston Villa team for the visit of Burton Albion on Boxing Day.
The manager made six alterations to his side for the win over Queens Park Rangers last Sunday.
Despite the 1-0 victory, Bruce admits he's considering more movement on the team sheet as he aims to keep the squad fresh and on their toes.
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End of twitter postGardner signs new Aston Villa dealpublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Aston Villa midfielder Gary Gardner signs a new contract to stay with the Championship club until 2020.
Read MoreDudley Museum shuts as council cuts bitepublished at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Dudley Museum has closed its doors on the same day, external as a much-loved over-50s charity – as crippling council cuts start to bite.
football 'Schlupp on West Brom's radar'published at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Football
Pat Murphy
BBC Midlands football reporterI understand the possibility of Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin coming to West Brom was kicked around by the suits of both clubs in the boardroom after last Saturday's match between the two clubs.
Schneiderlin would be marquee signing for West Brom but they're also pursuing Jeffrey Schlupp after being knocked back by Leicester City last summer.
The return to Southampton's first team by Jay Rodriguez looks like frustrating West Brom who had hoped to land him in Jauary after missing out in August.
Image source, Rex FeaturesImage caption, Is Jeffrey Schlupp heading for West Brom?
The best ways of helping homeless peoplepublished at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 December 2016
Our article Why are there so many homeless people in Birmingham? prompted many questions on how you can help those sleeping on the streets.
The sleeping bags that line UK towns and cities seem ever more visible as Christmas approaches, prompting many people to reach out during the season of goodwill.
Image source, ThinkstockBut what about the rest of the year?
Homeless charity Crisis, external works to help rough sleepers over the Christmas period but stresses that help is needed all year around, while fellow charity Shelter estimates more than 250,000 are homeless in England and in need of support.
