The police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands has condemned last night's events in Manchester as a "vicious" and "truly dreadful" attack on young people.

Image source, West Midland Police and Crime Commissioner

Commissioner David Jamieson said it "targeted people enjoying the simple pleasure of a music concert".

In a statement he urged people to be "vigilant" but to go about their daily lives as normal.

BBC WM

A vigil is taking place in Birmingham this evening to remember the victims of the Manchester attack.

It's being held in Victoria Square outside the Town Hall at 18:00.

BBC Midlands Today

The West Midlands has benefited from a record year of foreign investment, according to new figures released today.

Ernst and Young's annual Attractiveness Report, external suggests the region secured 111 foreign direct investment projects in 2016 - half of which were in manufacturing.

More than a third of these were in Birmingham, followed by Coventry and Solihull.

The highest number of investors came from the US and Germany.

BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa, external will travel to Germany as part of their pre-season preparations.

The club has announced plans to take part in a mini-competition on Sunday 23 July.

Steve Bruce's outfit will also play a game against Vitesse Arnhem on Tuesday 25 July, with kick-off time and venue to be confirmed.

An inquest into the death of an 11-year-old girl who fell from a ride at Drayton Manor has been opened in Cannock.

South Staffordshire Coroner's Court was told Evha Jannath, from Leicester, died from chest injuries after being taken from the theme park to Birmingham Children's Hospital on 9 May.

The brief hearing heard Evha was identified by her brother.

Image source, Family handout

The Health and Safety Executive and Staffordshire Police are carrying out an inquiry into the death and the inquest has been adjourned until November.

There is due to be a vigil in Birmingham later as an act of "solidarity" following the suicide attack at a Manchester pop concert.

It is has been organised by Stand Up To Racism Birmingham.

The event is due to take place at 18:00 in Victoria Square.

Central Birmingham concert venue 02 Academy says its "security measures have been enhanced" following the suicide attack at a pop concert in Manchester yesterday.

Its shows are due to continue as scheduled, according to a statement issued within the last few minutes, although it added "updated plans" for shows would be shared on Thursday.

The next show on the venue's main stage is scheduled for the weekend.

The victim "never regained consciousness" and died nearly three years after the attack, police said.

A security and intelligence expert at University of Birmingham, external has said the explosion at a Manchester pop concert last night was a calculated attack on young people.

Twenty-two people were killed on Monday and scores injured.

Dr Steve Hewitt said: "You go and see an Ariana Grande concert, you know who the audience is going to be.

"I mean this is a deliberate targeting of children and this is designed to cause horror and shock."

Here's more from Birmingham City Council which is flying a flag at half-mast in support of Manchester where an attack at a pop concert last night left more than 20 people dead and scores injured.

This is the sight in central Birmingham today following last night's attack in Manchester in which 22 people died.

The NEC Group, external says it has "a number of security measures in place" which it continues to review following the Manchester attack.

Image source, NEC

The group which operates the NEC, ICC, Genting Arena, Barclaycard Arena and the Vox Conference Centre, says its teams "are vigilant at all times" and reviews security measures "as necessary".

CEO Paul Thandi says "public safety at our events is our priority" and it encourages those attending its events to remain vigilant and "to report any suspicious activity to our security staff or police".

Mr Thandi says teams liaise with the police, exhibition and conference organisers and concert promoters on an on-going basis.

He said: "We don’t discuss specific security details as doing so is potentially detrimental to these measures, however, we do use a number of different security techniques."

Birmingham's Town Hall and Symphony Hall say "for now, it remains business as usual" for the venues.

But they also suggested more information could be forthcoming as they reviewed their "response" to the attack at a concert venue in Manchester last night in which 22 people were killed.

The Woodland Trust says it is closing down one of its Worcestershire sites because of anti-social behaviour.

The charity says despite numerous campaigns, Uffmoor Wood near Romsley has a growing problem with violent and out of control dogs, drug use and sexual activity, and many of its members say they feel "unsafe".

Image source, Google

The motorway junction everybody loves to hate - the Gravelly Hill Interchange - opened 45 years ago this week.

The winding network in Birmingham, better known as Spaghetti Junction, is the subject of a short film by Coventry man Joe Sampson.

It shows the motorway junction, which is the busiest in Europe, from underneath - an angle most motorists don't get to see.

Birmingham Mail

Birmingham leaders have said the city 'stands strong alongside Manchester, external' after a suicide bomber left 22 dead and dozens injured.

Barclaycard Arena - a concert venue in central Birmingham - has had this to say this morning in wake of the attack in Manchester.

The venue is next due to host a concert on 27 May.

Genting Arena - a venue based at the NEC complex - echoed the message and has said customers' safety is its priority.

Ambulance crews from the West Midlands were sent into the north west of England last night in the wake of last night's suicide attack at Manchester Arena.

Crews provided support to the North West Ambulance Service while they dealt with the incident, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

"These resources have now been stood down and returned to their normal operating areas," a spokesman said.

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

"We would like to thank the many staff who offered to stay late and work additional shifts."

The Manchester incident emergency phone number 0161 856 9400.

About 20 tonnes of waste has been dumped on land off a country lane in Worcestershire.

The pile, estimated to be about 15ft (4.6m) high, was found by a press photographer out taking pictures of the sunset on Sunday in Frankley.

Bromsgrove District Council says the rubbish has been there for a few weeks and it's offered to help the landowner move it.

Image source, Snappersk

In the wake of last night's suicide attack at Manchester Arena following a pop concert, a major West Midlands concert venue has been responding to visitors' concerns.

Genting Arena, situated on the NEC complex near Solihull, responded to customer questions on Twitter, saying: "Your safety is our priority and our teams will continue to remain vigilant.

"We have security measures in place and will keep reviewing these."

Twenty-two people, including children, have been killed and 59 injured in the Manchester blast.

Genting Arena's next event is listed as 26 May. Ariana Grande - who slain concert-goers went to see in Manchester on Monday - performed at the venue on 18 May.