BBC presenters accused of indecently assaulting boys
More claims in shamed breast surgeon case
Gang 'hid crack cocaine in Kinder eggs'
Panos Pavlakis resigns as Blues director
Three held after man shot in shoulder
Updates from Friday 19 May 2017
BBC Sport
The 30-year-old former world number one has been given a wildcard for the event in June having fallen down the world rankings after a 15-month drugs ban.
Image source, Getty ImagesA 21-year-old man has been remanded in prison after being charged with the murder of a man who died in a suspected hit-and-run earlier this month.
Benjamin Morse, 36, died on 1 May when he was hit by a dark-coloured hatchback at around 12:15 on Cherry Street, Halesowen.
Nidal Alboraiki appeared before Dudley magistrates this morning and was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceHe is due to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court tomorrow.
The suspects stand accused of flying illegal substances, weapons and other banned items into jails.
Read More
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
A device suspected by police to be a WW2 artillery shell has been "made safe" following its discovery in a garden in Dudley earlier, the West Midlands force says.
Stickley Lane in Lower Gornal was closed off and some homes evacuated.
Officers were alerted at about 11:20, with bomb disposal experts called to the scene.
Thieves making off with the £25,000 machine are caught on CCTV.
Read MoreA suspected World War Two device has been found in Dudley.
Their discovery triggers a military response.
Neighbouring buildings and streets can be evacuated, with cordons put in place as the army's bomb disposal experts go to work. It happened within the last few days in Aston.
The vast majority of unearthed devices are German bombs dropped from the air, although old shells have been found close to former munitions factories and artillery ranges.
But how many of these devices are there?
Image source, West Midlands PoliceThe large bomb found this week in Aston
It's the second discovery this week of what police have just described as a suspected "World War Two device" - and it's again closed a road.
This time it's in the Lower Gornal area of Dudley. Police have cordoned off Stickley Lane.
A spokesperson for the West Midlands force said: "Officers were alerted at around 11.20am today after a resident uncovered what is thought to be an old artillery shell in a garden."
Some houses have been evacuated as a precaution. Bomb disposal experts are to examine the find.
Within two days of the Army's controlled explosion of a World War Two bomb in Aston, the Black Country gets in on the act.
No word yet on the type of device other than suspected ordnance, described as "small".
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Police are talking to bomb disposal experts. And here they are on the way...
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness is confident of signing transfer targets within manager Steve Bruce's budget.
Read More
Alex Seftel
BBC Local Live
Eleven people have been charged with conspiring to smuggle items into prisons
It follows an investigation by West Mercia Police, external and the prison service into how things like drugs and weapons ended up at HMP Stoke Heath in Shropshire, HMP Hewell in Redditch, HMP Birmingham, and HMP Featherstone in Wolverhampton.
Image source, GoogleThe offences, in some cases dating back to 2015, included throwing items into prisons and using drones to drop them over walls.
Nine men and two women have been bailed to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday.
With the 2017 county season here, keep up to date with the latest signings, departures and rumours ahead of next season.
Read MoreFreedom of speech is a fundamental part of any democracy but, external, sadly, it is all too easily taken for granted writes TV presenter Ben Fogle.
BBC Sport
London has withdrawn interest in hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games, leaving Birmingham and Liverpool as the UK's potential candidate cities.
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester had already said it did not want to host on its own, but the city could still stage some events as part of a successful bid from Liverpool.
Australia, Canada and Malaysia are also interested in hosting the Games, which were stripped from Durban in March.
A decision on a formal UK bid will be made later in 2017., external
More than 100 West Midlands Police officers have been spat at in the last 12 months, according to the Police Federation.
Chief Constable David Thompson says the force is to consult on whether to introduce so-called spit guards.
Image source, HAMPSHIRE CONSTABULARYWhat are they? They are made from a mesh fabric and are put on offenders during an arrest when they have already started spitting or biting or if there is a clear risk of them doing it.
In February, two police forces - Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary - announced that all of its front-line officers would be issued them.
The M6 southbound is now fully open after long delays this morning between junctions 5 and 4a.
Several lanes had to be closed following a spill on the carriageway in the morning rush hour.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Parts of Birmingham have been hit with flash flooding, external, after relentless downpours hit the city this week.
A 29-year-old man has been reported as missing from Hollesley Bay Prison, external, near Woodbridge, following a roll call this morning.
Image source, Suffolk PoliceJames Fryer is serving an indeterminate sentence for robbery and receiving stolen goods, and is believed to have connections in Birmingham, officers say.
Members of the public are advised not to approach him, but to call the police immediately.
Delays continue on the M6.
Two lanes of the southbound carriageway remain closed between junctions 5 and 4a following a multi-vehicle crash earlier this morning.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
BBC WM
A group of campaigners say a building in Lichfield played a vital role in the industrial revolution in the West Midlands.
Image source, GoogleThe Lichfield Waterworks Trust, external is looking to raise £2.8m to preserve and redevelop the Sandfields Pumping Station.
They say they want local people to get behind the campaign and turn the building into an education or community centre.
Quote MessageThis building is incredibly important because it tells the story about ordinary people. It's got a very sort of rich social history, it saved the industrial revolution. I always call it the Black Country's most important piece of industrial heritage that's not in the Black Country."
David Moore, Chairman of the Lichfield Waterworks Trust
Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer
There were miles of tail-backs on the M6 and heavy traffic, external on surrounding roads after a multiple vehicle accident on the motorway.
