Summary

  • 2 Sisters plant in Smethwick could shut

  • Chocolate factory gets £75m makeover

  • Wolves boss named manager of the month

  • Updates from Friday 7 April 2017

  1. Watch: Your weather forecast for tonight and tomorrowpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    After a dry and warm day for most of us, here's how tomorrow is looking across the West Midlands.

    If you want to get the latest forecasts at any time, head to the BBC Weather website .

    Media caption,

    Sara Blizzard

  2. Climate change forest gets green lightpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    The launch of the giant outdoor experiment will see trees engulfed by high levels of carbon dioxide.

    Read More
  3. Man jailed after Facebook hate campaignpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Robert McNaughton was "hell bent" on destroying his ex-partner's life, police say.

    Read More
  4. 'No clear motive' over fatal tram stop stabbingpublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Police investigating the fatal stabbing of a man near a Birmingham tram stop say they do not believe he knew his attacker.

    He has been named this afternoon as 57-year-old Anthony Banting.

    DCI Paul Langley of West Midlands Police says "there is no clear motive behind the attack".

    Mr Banting of Sparkhill was found by a member of the public collapsed on steps leading from the Soho Benson Road tram stop on Friday afternoon.

    Anthony BantingImage source, BTP / Banting family

    Officers have issued CCTV images (below) to help trace a man who was seen walking down Factory Road towards the steps where Mr Banting - who had sustained multiple stab injuries - was discovered. 

    "This was a time of day when a number of people would have been around in the area, returning from work," said DCI Langley.  

    Man in CCTV images issued by policeImage source, BTP
  5. Tram stop stabbing victim namedpublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    A man who was repeatedly stabbed and found dead near a Birmingham tram stop has been named by British Transport Police as Anthony Banting, 57, from the Sparkhill area of the city.  

    Anthony BantingImage source, BTP / Banting family

    Mr Banting was discovered on a pathway leading from the Soho Benson Road stop in Winson Green. He had alighted a tram alone at about 16:30 on Friday.

    DCI Paul Langley of West Midlands Police said: “At the time of his death, Mr Banting was on his way to meet his son in a nearby pub.

    "Understandably this has come as a huge shock to Mr Banting’s family, who are being supported by family liaison officers at this very difficult time.

    "A man – a father – was stolen from them on Friday evening and we will not stop until we have found the person responsible."

    Police have released CCTV images and want to trace this man in connection with their investigation.

    Man at centre of police's CCTV appealImage source, BTP
  6. Woman sentenced over dying puppiespublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    The RSPCA seized 37 puppies, as well as a dead dog, following raids at the West Midlands puppy farm.

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  7. Search continuing for missing Birmingham manpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Police say they are still searching, external for a 71-year-old man who was reported missing over the weekend.

    David MilesImage source, West Midlands Police

    David Miles, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, was last seen at his home in the Bordesley area of Birmingham on Saturday morning. 

    He was wearing black trousers, a checked navy and maroon shirt, and black shoes. He uses a manual wheelchair, police say.

  8. Dog's pitch invasion halts football gamepublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Dog's pitch invasion halts football game

  9. Another fine mess: New film about Laurel and Hardy to be shot in the West Midlands published at 15:43 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    A new BBC film about comedy duo Laurel & Hardy is to be partly filmed in Dudley.

    Laurel & Hardy

    While details of the film are being kept secret, it's thought the town is being used as a location because Laurel and Hardy performed there in 1947 and 1952. 

    Steve Coogan is going to be playing Stan Laurel and the American actor John C Reily will play Oliver Hardy. 

  10. Woman sentenced over dying puppiespublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    A woman who was involved in the breeding and selling of sick and dying puppies in Solihull has been given a suspended prison sentence and disqualified from keeping dogs for life, says the RSPCA.

    DogsImage source, RSPCA
    Image caption,

    Ben and Max, two of the dogs sold by Ms Poulton, who had to be put to sleep due to severe parvovirus.

    Louise St John Poulton, 43, of St Albans, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court where she pleaded guilty to six counts of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs and three offences of failing to meet the needs of a number of dogs.

    Poulton was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

    The RSPCA launched an investigation following reports from members of the public who had bought puppies which had quickly fallen ill and, in some cases, died.

    The charity says inspectors discovered animals living in appalling conditions, including four dogs, three of whom were pregnant, locked in a dark outbuilding.

    Some of the dogs had injuries and officers also recovered the body of a dead puppy wrapped in a plastic carrier bag in the footwell of a van.

  11. Speedway: New-look league returns tonightpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    BBC WM Sport

    Wolverhampton Wolves face Leicester in the new-look Premiership this evening. 

    SpeedwayImage source, Getty Images

    Tapes are up at 19:30 at Momore and BBC WM will have full commentary on the  website .    

  12. Traffic moving again following motorway collisionpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    West Midlands Ambulance Service is reporting that the air ambulance sent to the scene of an M6 crash near north Birmingham earlier has left the scene.

    The emergency vehicle's presence meant traffic had to be held.

    Highways England says traffic is beginning to move again.

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  13. Travel: Ongoing delays on M6published at 14:19 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Great Barr Observer

    Latest on the ongoing M6 delays between Erdington and Great Barr.

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  14. Facebook troll jailed for terrorising ex-partnerpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    A man operated a social media hate campaign against his ex-partner, culminating in her car being petrol bombed, West Midlands Police says, external .

    Robert McNaughton, 51 of Tenter Drive, HalesowenImage source, West Midlands Police

    Robert McNaughton of Tenter Drive, Halesown, has been jailed for five years, having been found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson and harassment after subjecting the 44-year-old woman to abusive Facebook messages.

    According to Sgt Chris Jones, McNaughton, 51, "could not handle being rejected and became hell bent on destroying his ex-partner's life".

  15. Man in court over mother and son killingspublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Aaron Barley is accused of killing Tracey and Pierce Wilkinson who were stabbed at their home.

    Read More
  16. Cancer surgeon's notes 'missing'published at 13:33 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Ian Paterson denies 20 counts of wounding with intent against 10 people.

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  17. Football: Baggies keeper hoping to finish season with more than '50 points' published at 13:20 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Steve Hermon
    Journalist, BBC WM Sport

    West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster says the club is aiming to end the Premier League season with more than 50 points.

    Ben FosterImage source, Getty Images

    It follows a goalless draw with Manchester United on Saturday - which saw the Baggies move to 44 points.  

    Quote Message

    We want to get at least the 50 points...to finish off a good season that we've had.

    Ben Foster, West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper

  18. 'No further action' against man arrested over tram stabbingpublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    BBC WM

    Police say a 31 year old man arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing at a Birmingham tram stop has been released and no further action will be taken against him. 

    Police tape

    The victim, who was in his 50s, was found dead on a pathway leading from the Soho Benson Road tram stop in the Winson Green area. 

    He was repeatedly stabbed after getting off a tram alone on Friday afternoon.

  19. Pet 'pawses' Halesowen Town matchpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Express and Star

    Chaos reigned at Halesowen Town, external as a dog invaded the pitch during their Evo-Stik Premier clash against Skelmersdale United.

    Dog invades pitchImage source, Express and Star
  20. Bridge plunge victims saved by treepublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 3 April 2017

    Phil Maiden
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Three women have escaped serious injury after their car crashed over a bridge in Redditch and came to rest in some trees, , external West Midlands Ambulance Service says.

    All three women managed to get out of the vehicle themselves after the accident on Ravensbank Drive at 06:35 on Sunday morning. 

    Car in a treeImage source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

    The women were all immobilised before being taken to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.