Summary

  • Updates from Friday 12 May 2017

  1. Our coverage throughout the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    That's all from us on Friday. Join us again from 08:00 on Monday for more news, sport, travel and weather updates.

    In the meantime, any breaking news will be posted here. Have a good weekend.

  2. Record crowd for Birmingham City Ladies' final against league championspublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Dan Pallett
    BBC Midlands Today Sport

    A record crowd is expected when Birmingham City Ladies take on league champions Manchester City in tomorrow's FA Cup final at Wembley. 

    It's the third time the event has been staged at the stadium and a crowd of 40,000 is expected.

  3. Coming up on TVpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Elizabeth Glinka
    BBC Midlands Today

    We will bring you the latest on the developing story of the cyber attack on NHS computer systems.

    And a one-of-a-kind prequel to the Harry Potter book series - handwritten by J K Rowling on a postcard - has been stolen.

    And we look forward to two major sporting clashes tomorrow - Birmingham City Ladies play the league champions Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley and Kal Yafai is making the first defence of his world boxing title. 

    More on these stories and others on the Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.

  4. Lias Skidmore: Man jailed for rape and murder of nursepublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    A man who strangled a nurse and left her in a house fire has been jailed for life - and given a full life term.

    Lisa Skidmore, 37, was discovered dead in bed at a property on Mill Croft, Bilston, on 24 November.

    Lisa SkidmoreImage source, Family handout

    Leroy Campbell, 56 from Forest Road, Moseley, Birmingham  admitted raping and murdering Ms Skidmore, external as well as arson with intent to endanger life and the attempted murder of Ms Skidmore's mother.

    Police said Campbell had been released from prison just four months earlier having served 17 years for burglary and indecent assault. 

    Leroy CambellImage source, West Midlands Police

    They said he had planned his attack at least three days previously.  

  5. Weather: A dry weekend, but heavy rain to comepublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Rebecca Wood
    BBC Weather

    We're due a dry, but cloudy weekend, with a little bit of sun breaking through and temperatures up to 18C (64F) in places.

    But it's not looking so good for Monday, with heavy rain forecast for most of us.

    Media caption,

    Rebecca Wood has your forecast

  6. Dogs found dead with suspected dog fighting injuries in Sandwellpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Alex Homer
    BBC Local Live

    Two dogs with injuries believed to be the result of dog fighting have been found dead in Sandwell. 

    They were found partially buried in bin bags at the side of a canal in Birchfield Lane, Oldbury, on 2 May by a member of the public.

    Both dogs were described as Staffie-type breeds with "swelling to their legs and puncture wounds around their jaw" according to the RSPCA.

    The charity is now investigating and are urging anyone with information to come forward. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 bands animal fighting.

  7. Charity football match to honour Tunisia victim Joel Richardspublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    BBC Midlands Today

    A young football referee from Wednesbury, who was killed in the Tunisia terror attack, is to be honoured with a charity match at Walsall football club this weekend.

    Adrian Evans, Patrick Evans and Joel RichardsImage source, Evans family

    Joel Richards, aged 19, died along with his uncle Adrian and grandfather Pat on the beach in Sousse in 2015. 

    The celebrity match at the Banks's Stadium will raise money for the Smile for Joel charity, which was set up by his brother Owen, who survived the attack. 

    Joel was a student at the University of Worcester.

  8. Paul Lambert: Wolves head coach's future in doubt over Jorge Mendes involvementpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Pat Murphy
    5 live Sport

    Paul Lambert's role as Wolves head coach is in doubt because of a dispute over who has the final say in signing players, reports BBC Radio 5 live.

    Paul LambertImage source, Getty Images

    The 47-year-old, who was appointed in November after Walter Zenga's sacking, has concerns about agent Jorge Mendes' involvement in the recruitment process. 

    Wolves started well under Zenga after making 12 summer signings, several of which were arranged by Mendes. 

    But the Italian left after 14 games and Wolves finished 15th under Lambert.

  9. The Rise in Homeless People & Begging in Birminghampublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Grapevine Birmingham

    The last 12 months have been horrendous on the streets of Birmingham with record amounts of rough sleepers and beggars, external.   

  10. Tram works lasting six months 'will kill trade'published at 15:53 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Ben Godfrey
    BBC Midlands Today

    Traders in Wolverhampton claim that work to replace part of the Midland Metro track could put them out of business.

    Ammo Singh

    Repairs to two miles of the track are due to get underway next month and last until Christmas, reducing Bilston Road to one lane of traffic.

    Ammo Singh, owner of NES Electrical nearby, said disruption would kill trade and said there had been a lack of consultation. 

    Midland Metro Alliance denies it has failed to keep businesses informed about the possible disruption. 

  11. Police hunt after Birmingham carjacker who stole luxury Bentleys escapes from open prisonpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Birmingham Mail

    Police are hunting a violent Birmingham carjacker who has escaped from an open prison, external where he was serving an eight-year sentence for stealing luxury cars - including Bentleys.  

  12. Cricket: Bell century boosts Bears totalpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Captain Ian Bell made 104 as Warwickshsire racked up 304-5 batting first in their Royal London One-Day Cup game at New Road.

    You can hear the whole of Worcestershire's reply on BBC Hereford & Worcester's 738AM frequency and online.   

    Ian BellImage source, Getty Images
  13. Birmingham Airport delays: Passenger dubs security queues 'complete chaos and unorganised'published at 14:35 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Louise Hancock
    Newsreader, BBC WM

    A passenger who missed her flight as she waited in security queues at Birmingham Airport described the situation earlier this Friday as "complete chaos and unorganised".

    Sam Butler from Wolverhampton was due to fly at 06:45 BST but said "luckily" the airport put her on a later flight to Glasgow at 08:15 BST.

    She said it was fortunate she was in no rush to arrive there but criticised the queues.

    The airport has apologised and said staff sickness and a "mechanical fault" meant two lanes of security had to be closed, leading five people to miss flights.

  14. Harry Potter prequel stolen in burglarypublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    The manuscript was penned on both sides of an A5 card for a charity auction nine years ago.

    Read More
  15. Pupils threw food at school inspectorspublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Ofsted report finds its staff were also jostled in corridors during an inspection.

    Read More
  16. Bob Sleigh appointed as deputy mayorpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    The leader of Solihull council, Bob Sleigh, has been appointed as Deputy Mayor for the West Midlands by Andy Street.

    Bob Sleigh and Andy StreetImage source, West Midlands Combined Authority

    Cllr Sleigh, who's been chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority since 2015, said he was "honoured" to accept the position.

  17. Willenhall E-ACT Academy pupils pelt Ofsted inspectors with food as school put in special measurespublished at 13:52 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Express and Star

    Out-of-control pupils pelted Ofsted inspectors with food, external at a school which has now been placed into special measures.

  18. Birmingham Airport 'sincerely apologises' for security queuespublished at 13:52 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    Joanne Writtle
    BBC Midlands Today

    Birmingham Airport has "sincerely apologised" for queues on Friday morning.

    Staff sickness and a "mechanical fault" led to the closure of two lanes of security checks, it said, and around 55-minute waits.

    Five people missed flights out of 4,000 passengers it saw between 05:00 BST and 07:00 BST, it said.

    The airport said it was "investing £100m in new facilities including self-service bag drop desks, a free drop-off car park and baggage system upgrade, which would be complete by the summer peak".

    As well as that, it was recruiting 60 new terminal staff and extra security personnel.

  19. 'More time' for Hillsborough chargespublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 12 May 2017

    The Crown Prosecution Service is considering if anyone will face criminal charges over the 1989 disaster.

    Read More