Follow text and radio coverage of Arsenal's trip to West Brom, the first of seven Premier League matches on Saturday.

The Republic of Ireland have named an initial 39-man squad for games against Wales and Iceland. 

It includes West Brom winger James McClean, Birmingham midfielder Stephen Gleeson, Wolves defender Matt Doherty and Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane.

Image source, Getty Images

Meanwhile West Brom trio Darren Fletcher, Matt Phillips and James Morrison are in Scotland's squad for matches against Canada and Slovenia.

Surgeon Ian Paterson is accused of performing unnecessary operations on nine women and a man.

BBC WM Sport

The West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has admitted his team defended poorly in the weekend defeat at Everton. 

Image source, BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images

The Baggies are now seven points behind the seventh-placed Merseysiders in the Premier League, after losing 3-0.

It was Tony Pulis' 300th game as a top-flight boss but his side managed just two shots on target. 

Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands Today

A former tea factory in Birmingham is set for a £200m renovation.

Stoford Developments says the old Typhoo Tea site, external , which has been derelict for years after opening in 1926, is going to be turned into a digital hub. 

The city council says it's part of its attempts to re-brand the former industrial neighbourhood of Digbeth. 

Stoford says its plans for the site are for a mix of offices for large and small businesses, a hotel, homes and a public square.

Andrew Dawkins
BBC News Online

A suburban house was revealed as a drugs factory by massive white cannabis clouds billowing from its roof.

Dopey growers had overloaded the electrics at the house in the Handsworth Wood area of Birmingham, leaving the property looking like a set from a Cheech and Chong movie. 

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

Fire crews dealt with the smouldering semi in Hamstead Hall Avenue at 06:50 GMT on Sunday. 

They found a massively overloaded fuse box and a haul of marijuana.

In a comment on Twitter, the West Midlands Police Cannabis Disposal Team said: "Huge threat to public safety. Neighbours at risk of damage or death!"  

When Jeba Ali turned 30 she decided to donate 17 inches of her hair to a charity which makes wigs for children experiencing hair loss. "I've always grown long hair and I've been known as Pocahontas. [My hair] is very personal to me and it's part of my identity," said Mrs Ali from Birmingham. The young enterprise manager said she was "fearful" about how people may react so she initially hid what she had done with hair extensions. But after revealing her new look Mrs Ali was surprised by the positive feedback and has no regrets.

The attack showered the driver with broken glass, West Midlands Ambulance Service says.

Police say a glass eye is among the items snatched in the prolific thief's latest spree.

Police footage shows cars on course for collision that threw from vehicle a boy not wearing a seatbelt.

Potty makeshift wiring job leads drug squad to smoking dopes.

BBC News England

A man and woman have been arrested in connection with the death of a five-year-old boy from Tamworth in a suspected drowning. 

Image source, Family handout

Charlie Dunn died in hospital after being found submerged in a lake at Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire on 23 July. 

The couple were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence and child neglect.

The man, in his 30s and the woman in her 20s were arrested in Staffordshire. 

An inquest into Charlie's death was opened and adjourned until April.

The Irish ambassador was one of the guests of honour at the St Patrick's Day parade in Birmingham. 

It was one of his last official functions on this side of the Atlantic before he's posted to the USA.

An estimated 85,000 people turned out for the event yesterday.

Crufts in Birmingham  hasn't just been about dog shows, there's also been the opportunity for people to find the right breed for them.  

As for names, that's up to you. Afterglow Miami Ink has been named Best in Show - can you top calling that in the local park?

Margaret Johnson's victims included a string of elderly women and a heavily pregnant woman.

The managers of the Enville Estate, just off the Bridgnorth to Stourbridge Road, say it will cost at least £10,000 to clear up a large pile of rubbish dumped on its land.

The Country Landowners Association, which represents landowners in rural England and Wales has called for more legal action to prevent fly-tipping in the region.

On-the-spot fines for those caught fly-tipping look set to be introduced in Walsall.

The fines - if approved by Walsall Council on Wednesday - will be £400, with a £50 reduction for early payment.

The authority says it spent £408,000 cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish last year and it could have employed 16 extra staff with that money.

Grapevine Birmingham

Birmingham’s Flatpack Film Festival has announced the programme for the 11th edition of the festival, taking place next month from 4 to 9 April., external

Nobel prize-winning campaigner Malala Yousafzai has received a conditional offer from a top British university

Image source, PA

The 19 year old, who lives in Birmingham and is studying for A-levels, told a conference her focus was on meeting the offer's requirements.

"I have received a conditional offer which is three As," said Malala, who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 for her campaign on girls' rights to education.

Korean Billy shot to internet fame after his series of video guides on Britain's accents and dialects became a resounding hit on Facebook.  

It looks like he favours northern dialects over those in this part of the world, but if you fancy hearing his stab at doing us, here you go, external . 

We think it needs a smidge more work, Billy, but top marks for the use of "gambol" - it's had us [forward] rolling in the aisles.