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Three teens questioned over carjackings
Updates from Friday 23 December 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Welcome to Friday, also known today as the eve of Christmas eve.
I'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Birmingham and the Black Country between now and 18:00, as well as some festive cheer.
If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us on @bbwm, external or message via Facebook, external.
Cheshire Police makes a fresh appeal over a mother-of-two who was set on fire in a graveyard 22 years ago.
Read MoreSix months on from the Brexit vote, what is the mood among Birmingham's Polish community?
Read MoreThe girlfriend of a paedophile rapist who used her mobile phone to record the evidence of one of his victims at his trial is convicted of contempt.
Read MoreHMP Birmingham - 16 December
Specialist riot squads were deployed after a riot broke out involving hundreds of inmates. The disturbance lasted more than 12 hours.
HMP Bedford - 6 November
A riot saw up to 200 inmates go on the rampage, flooding the jail's gangways.
HMP Lewes - 29 October
A national response unit had to be brought in to control the prisoners at the East Sussex jail during the incident which lasted for six hours.
Goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne and midfielder Connor Ronan sign new contracts after making first-team breakthroughs at Wolves.
Read MoreChelsea go nine clear. Watch Final Score as we bring you reaction, updates and images from a packed afternoon in the Premier League.
Read MoreWe'll be back from 08:00 Friday with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather updates. Or in this week's parlance, "one more sleep".
Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist
Barriers on two streets near Birmingham's German Christmas market have been put in place today to complement the concrete bollards already installed there.
I've been out to take a look at the additional security measure.
West Midlands Police says the barriers - at Temple Street and Bennetts Hill - arrive following consultation with the council in the wake of Monday's truck attack in Berlin.
The force says the extra security is not based on any new or emerging intelligence.
BBC WM Sport
Walsall midfielder Flo Cuvelier says he's desperate to get his career back on track after three injury-hit years.
The Belgian is back in The Saddlers' starting line-up heading into Christmas and is hoping 2017 brings him more luck.
Image source, PAQuote MessageIt's been frustrating, difficult at times, because I'm desperate to play and get my career back on track."
Flo Cuvelier
There's a yellow weather warning for high winds across the West Midlands, external tomorrow issued by the Met Office.
Wind could reach speeds of 50-60mph, with gusts of 70mph in places, between 12:00 and 18:00 on Friday.
There could also be a short period of "heavy rainfall", the Met Office is also warning.
A dry, chilly and frosty night with lows of 3C (37F).
Weather forecast for West Midlands
Great Barr Observer
The mother of a teenager killed in an horrific crash near Great Barr said she would never stop fighting, external for justice for her son.
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM
The former MP for Redditch, Jacqui Smith, has joined Nick Clegg and Ken Clarke in calling for the prison population of England and Wales to be cut to 45,000.
In a letter to the Times they say jails have become unacceptably dangerous.
They add that the violent unrest at HMP Birmingham last week was a "wake-up call for this country".
Mrs Smith is a former home secretary.
Image source, PAIt is not everyone whose festive food shopping list includes 20 litres of gravy - but that is what a charitable chip shop proprietor is planning.
Read More
Image source, Laura and GlennThis picture was snapped by Laura and Glenn in Delph.
It looks as though it's the height of summer, not the middle of December.
If you have a picture you'd like to share, sign up to become a BBC Weather Watcher here.
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM
The headlines this afternoon include:
- Safety barriers have been installed on two streets near Birmingham's German Christmas market
- A court has heard how a van driver from Wednesbury fell asleep at the wheel causing the death of a woman
- Wolverhampton's Civic Halls will hold their last event tomorrow before closing for full refurbishment works set for the new year
There are reduced rail services from Birmingham New Street in the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve.
Amended timetables will be in operation on all routes.
National Rail's website, external has the details.
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Postmen and woman at Stourbridge’s delivery office were thanked for their hard work during the busy festive period, external by the town’s MP this week.
BBC Midlands Today
Wolverhampton's Civic Halls will hold their last event tomorrow, before closing for full refurbishment works set for the new year.
The multi-million pound upgrade will see capacity increased as well as a new stage and bar area.
Management hopes the works mean it can attract as many as 330,000 additional visitors every year.
