Lincoln City sign Aston Villa midfielder Riccardo Calder and Doncaster goalkeeper Ross Etheridge on loan until the end of the season.

Birmingham Mail

Shocking CCTV has been released showing the moment a drunken thug crippled his girlfriend by repeatedly throwing her down the stairs at his Birmingham home.  

Warning: some may find the video at the end of this link, external distressing.  

Nicola Beckford
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

The cost to councils in the West Midlands of cleaning up fly-tipping reached £3m last year. We will be exploring the roots of the problem.

A South Yorkshire Police officer claims the West Midlands force has "pushed the boundaries of positive action too far" when it comes to recruiting black and ethnic minority officers. 

And supporters of two non-league football teams from the West Midlands are dreaming of a trip to Wembley. Coleshill Town and Bromsgrove Sporting have both reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase. 

More on these stories and others on the Midlands Today on BBC One from 13:30.

A motorcyclist has died after his bike hit a barrier in Birmingham city centre. 

Emergency services were called to the junction of Dartmouth Middleway and Aston Circus at around 04:15. 

West Midlands Ambulance Service said, external the biker, a man, was in cardiac arrest when they arrived, but CPR and advanced life support could not save him and he died at the scene.

BBC News England

A woman has found a letter by popular children's author Enid Blyton in a book that cost £1.  

Jacqueline Ralph found the note in a copy of Silas Marner, by George Eliot, which she purchased in the Cinema Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye.  

Ms Ralph, from Lichfield said she was "amazed" by the find.

Experts said the letter was probably a generic copy that was sent to the writer's fans.

A domestic abuser who dragged his then girlfriend by her hair along the floor and threw her down a flight of stairs twice has been jailed for 13 and a half years.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Mark Power's victim suffered "fractures to her pelvis, eye socket and the back of her head, as well as multiple bruises, a split lip and wobbly teeth" in the assault on 20 December, police said. She is "continuing to recover".

The 37-year-old Power, of Francis Road, Erdington, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and was jailed on Thursday.

Anyone who has suffered domestic abuse and would like support and guidance can  find help here, external .

BBC WM Sport

Former Birmingham City captain, Martin O'Connor, has told the West Midlands Football Phone-In sacking Gary Rowett has been a "big factor" in their slide down the Championship table.

Image source, Getty Images

Our pundit also thinks the Blues' board will be patient with boss Gianfranco Zola, who has taken just nine points from a possible 45.

The Moseley area of Birmingham has again been named as one of the best places to live in the West Midlands in a list published by the Sunday Times.

Image source, Google

The survey looks at things like quality of life, community spirit, good local shops and attractive outdoor spaces. 

Crime rates, house prices and school performance are also taken into account in the rankings.

BBC WM Sport

West Bromwich Albion are reportedly among the clubs that could be interested in Chelsea captain John Terry.

Image source, Getty Images

The Times reports that the defender has not ruled out a move elsewhere in the summer.

Express and Star

Former Wolves player Shaun Newton is being hunted by police, external after he failed to appear in court charged with burglary.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A senior judge at Crufts says Shih Tzus should not be wearing bows in their fur.

Image source, Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Today is the second day of the famous dog show at Birmingham's NEC, which is now in its 126th year.

The Kennel Club, which runs it, says the dogs must secure their top knots "without adornment" - meaning no bows or ribbons. 

BBC WM Sport

Warwickshire's Chris Woakes was named man of the series as England whitewashed the West Indies with victory in their third and final One Day International.

Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty

Alex Hales and Joe Root struck centuries as England steamrollered the hosts by 186 runs in Barbados in the third match, and Liam Plunkett and Woakes took three wickets each with the ball.  

Firefighters are have been tackling a fire at a factory unit in Darlaston. 

Six crews were called out in the early hours of this morning to the factory fire on Bentley Road South, involving 10 tonnes of metal.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

A cloudy day in store with occasional light drizzle, but also some patches of brightness - highs of 13C (55F).

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

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

Comment on our stories and share your pictures over email , tweet us, external or visit the BBC WM Facebook page, external .

Ann-Marie James was stabbed in the chest by her brother Melvin, police say.

Walsall's 5ft 3 in midfielder Erhun Oztumer tells how he has turned his lack of height into an advantage.

That's it from us on Thursday. Please join us again for more news, sport, travel and weather updates from 08:00 on Friday.

As always, please keep an eye out here for any news that breaks overnight.

Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this evening, we'll have more on shocking statistics that more babies die before their first birthday in the West Midlands than anywhere else in the country. 

Health professionals are trying to reduce the numbers of deaths by 20% by 2021.

And with the chancellor Philip Hammond looking to kick-start the so-called Midlands Engine with £392m, we'll look at how it's going to be spent. 

Those stories plus more, including your weather forecast for the West Midlands, from 18:30 on BBC One.

There will be 20,000 dogs descending on the NEC over the next four days for the annual Crufts dogs show - here are some images from the first day.  

Photos from Getty Images.