Summary

  • Man raped woman on birthday night out

  • Driver jailed for killing pedestrian while on phone

  • Extra security for Birmingham Pride

  • Police call to hospital made in 'good faith'

  • First music event in Birmingham since Manchester attack

  • Olympian Laura Kenny visits Birmingham school

  • Updates from Friday 26 May 2017

  1. 'Dogging' and drug abuse close woodpublished at 08:19 British Summer Time 23 May 2017

    A wood is being shut to the public after complaints of "dogging", drug dealing and out-of-control dogs.

    The Woodland Trust says all entrances to Uffmoor Wood, near Halesowen, West Midlands, will be padlocked from Wednesday after it became one of its most "problematic" sites.

    A path running through the woodImage source, The Woodland Trust
    Image caption,

    The beauty spot is located about a mile from Halesowen

    It follows reports of dog attacks, dog fouling, drug abuse, the use of off-road bikes and illicit sexual activity.

    The trust says the closure is a "last resort".

  2. Follow our live coverage throughout the daypublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 23 May 2017

    We'll bring you the latest news, sport, travel and weather from across Birmingham and the Black Country.

  3. 'Dogging' and drugs shut beauty spotpublished at 07:32 British Summer Time 23 May 2017

    The Woodland Trust says the closure of the "unsafe" site in the West Midlands is "unprecedented".

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  4. Nine charged with using drones to fly drugs and weapons into prisonspublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Two women and seven men have appeared in court charged with conspiring to use drones to fly drugs, weapons and other contraband into several UK jails.

    They are accused of supplying the banned goods to inmates at Winson Green prison in Birmingham, as well as HMP Hewell, Worcestershire, HMP Stoke Heath, Shropshire, and HMP Featherstone, near Wolverhampton.

    They each face five counts of conspiring to supply prohibited items into prisons between July 2015 and January 2017.

    Among those appearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday was Sanjay Patel, 37, of Bush Court, Cheltenham.

    The case has been adjourned until June 23.

    Drone
  5. Nursery worker raped and blackmailed boypublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Teenage boys were tricked into sending him naked pictures of themselves as he posed as girls online.

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  6. Trescothick ton helps Somerset to drawpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Marcus Trescothick breaks Somerset's record for the most first-class centuries to help his side avoid defeat by Warwickshire.

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  7. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

  8. 'No tipping' signpost added after huge pile dumped on landpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    A landowner has been left to foot the bill of removing a huge pile of rubbish after it was dumped just off a country lane outside Birmingham.

    Bromsgrove District Council said it was made aware of the fly-tipping about "a few weeks" ago, as well as the Environment Agency, police, county and parish councils and even the local MP.

    Flytipped rubbish in FrankleyImage source, SnapperSK

    The sign warning people not to fly-tip in the area was in fact added to the gate post after the offence Bromsgrove District Council said in a bid to support the landowner.

    Flytipped rubbish in FrankleyImage source, SnapperSK
    Media caption,

    Rubbish dumped off country lane near Birmingham

  9. Birmingham blooms at RHS Chelsea Flower Showpublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Rebecca Wood
    BBC Midlands Today

    Today I'm at RHS Chelsea Flower Show meeting some of the people who have put together some of the lovely blooms from the West Midlands.

    What a stunning display here - this is this year's contribution from Birmingham City Council which has all been funded entirely through sponsorship

    Birmingham City Council display at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017

    See more on BBC Midlands Today at 18:30 on BBC One.

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  10. Family 'distraught' after laptops of disabled children stolenpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    A family has been left distraught after two laptops to help their young children communicate were stolen from Wolverhampton railway station on 14 May.

    Photo of man they want to speak toImage source, British Transport Police

    The computers, which were in a carrier bag, were briefly left on the main concourse before a man walked over to the bag and picked them up.

    British Transport Police has released images of a man it would like to talk to following the theft.

    He walked out of the station "right past the victims" and the machines were "not easily" replaceable, a spokesman added.

  11. Weather: A mild night and more sun tomorrowpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Alex Hamilton
    BBC Weather

    We're forecast a mild and overcast night, with temperatures not expected to fall below 10C (50F).

    Tomorrow we can expect more sunshine and temperatures up to 22C (72F).

    Media caption,

    Alex Hamilton has your forecast

  12. Tower block roof fire - residents evacuatedpublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 22 May 2017
    Breaking

    Stephanie Barnard
    BBC Local Live

    People living on the top two floors of a block of flats in Chelmsley Wood have been evacuated this afternoon after a fire on the roof.

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    The fire service was called to a 10-storey tower block in Moorend Avenue earlier this afternoon.

    One man was treated for minor burns and the effects of breathing in smoke.

    The fire is now under control.

  13. Badly parked cars blitzed by policepublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Officers issue more than 30 tickets in just over an hour in an area of Birmingham.

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  14. Nine in court over drone jail smuggling oppublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Mike Perkins
    Newsreader, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Nine people have appeared in court charged with conspiring to use drones to fly drugs, weapons and other contraband into several jails.

    HMP Hewell in Redditch, HMP Stoke Heath in Shropshire, HMP Winson Green in Birmingham and HMP Featherstone near Wolverhampton are all believed to have been targeted.

    As well as using drones, the two women and seven men are also accused of throwing contraband over prison walls.

    HMP Hewell signImage source, Google

    The nine are charged with conspiring to supply prohibited items into prisons between July 2015 and January 2017. They are next set to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 23 June.

    Another two alleged co-conspirators are due to appear before magistrates later this week.

  15. Limited places left for city's marathonpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    BBC WM

    There are fewer than 800 places left for the Birmingham International Marathon., external

    Birmingham International Marathon map 2017Image source, Birmingham International Marathon

    Runners considering taking part in the 26-mile race in October are being urged by organisers to sign up immediately to avoid missing out.

    They say they've received more than 8,000 entries already, making it one of the UK's top six marathons in its first year.

  16. Do voters trust May or Corbyn on social care?published at 15:21 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Voters are asked if they back the Conservative or Labour leader over caring for older people.

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  17. Rubbish dumped off country lanepublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 22 May 2017

    Fly-tippers ignore Environment Agency warning

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