Summary

  • Former Aston Villa player Ugo Ehiogu dies

  • JLR 'to stay in UK'

  • Harry Redknapp: Geranium killer

  • Birmingham's interest in 2022 Games bid

  • Updates from Friday 21 April 2017

  1. Which MPs are quitting - and who might stand?published at 15:52 British Summer Time 2 May 2017

    Who is joining George Osborne in stepping down as an MP, and who plans to return?

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  2. Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Huddersfield Townpublished at 21:59 British Summer Time 25 April 2017

    Izzy Brown's strike is enough to give Huddersfield Town a narrow win at Wolves to secure a Championship play-off spot.

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  3. General election 2017: How do I register to vote?published at 18:01 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Don't get left outside on polling day. Here are details of what you need and where you need to go to register for the general election on 8 June:

    Media caption,

    The deadline to register is 22 May

  4. Bell misses ton but helps Bears to drawpublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Warwickshire captain Ian Bell misses out on a century but the Bears show fight to draw with Surrey at Edgbaston.

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  5. Gym to become a supermarket: Have your saypublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    A Stirchley leisure centre caught up in a controversial planning application by supermarket chain Lidl is being forced to close.  

    We asked you on social media - do residents' views count when it comes to planning matters?

    Adrian Stanley, external: "Council don't listen to residents... look up the road in Northfield where people wanted the beautiful swimming baths frontage incorporated into the new plan but they just went ahead and smashed it down. Stirchley is a massive traffic jam but council wouldn't listen when they messed up the roads."

    Fitness First in Stirchley, BirminghamImage source, Google

    Tracy Edgington, external: "Disgusting this gym is so busy we are one big family. No one wants it to close."

    Steven Malam, external:  "With any such planning, by the time the public get to hear about it the council have already decided what's going to happen."

    Gregory Ralph , externalsaid: "Just what Brum needs, another supermarket!!!!!!!" 

    Richard Wilkinson, external added: "Let's just hope that planning is still never granted and Lidl end up with a very expensive piece of land that they can do nothing with."   

    Join the conversation on the BBC Midlands Today Facebook page., external

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  6. General election 2017: How do I register to vote?published at 17:53 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Don't get left outside on polling day. Here are details of what you need and where you need to go to register for the general election on 8 June:

    Media caption,

    The deadline to register is 22 May

  7. Watch: The London Marathon finish linepublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Stephanie Barnard
    BBC Local Live

    Do you know someone who ran the London Marathon yesterday or maybe you ran it yourself?

    You can watch a feed of the finish line, showing everyone who finished between 2hrs 30mins and 6hrs.

    Find out their time and you can catch the moment they crossed the line.

    From tears of joy, limping over the line, through to some rather tired faces - watch six hours (or skip forward) and see friends/family/loved ones cross the finish line via the BBC iPlayer.

  8. Lidl plans force leisure centre closurepublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Leisure centre closing despite Lidl's planning permission being revoked.

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  9. Entertainment on the train for cross-city rail passengerspublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Peter Plisner
    BBC Midlands Today

    From tomorrow some London Midland passengers will be able to make use what's claimed to be one of the first ever free on-board entertainment system. 

    It doesn't come via a screen on the back of seats, but through tablet computers and smart phones. 

    It's all part of the long awaited introduction of a wifi system on the operator's trains. 

    For people who just want to work there's also free wifi. 

    London Midland train

    But London Midland is pretty late in the game with on board wifi. Virgin Trains has had it for years, but it's only free in first class and it's a similar picture on board with Cross Country trains. 

    Both Chiltern Railways and Arriva Trains Wales allows free access to all of their customers. 

    The new train entertainment system will be available on all London Midland long-distance routes and some local services, including all trains on Birmingham's cross city line. 

  10. General election 2017: How do I register to vote?published at 17:38 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Don't get left outside on polling day. Here are details of what you need and where you need to go to register for the general election on 8 June:  

    Media caption,

    The deadline to register is 22 May

  11. Weather: A chance of snow overnightpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    It seems a bit late in the year for snow, but with chilly temperatures forecast overnight, there's a chance we might see some in Staffordshire.

    The rest of us will have a cold night, with showers in places.

    Media caption,

    Charlie Slater has your forecast

  12. Villa v Blues: Five men charged over allegedly invading the pitchpublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Five men have been charged following a pitch invasion during the derby between Aston Villa and Birmingham City on Sunday.

    West Midlands Police say five men aged between 18 and 30 were arrested after going on the pitch following Villa's 1-0 win.

    Villa ParkImage source, PA

    A 21-year-old man from Dudley, arrested on suspicion of assault, has been released on bail.

    Three fans who were arrested yesterday over alleged disorder during the Blues-Leeds fixture last month have been charged with using threatening or abusive words / behaviour.

  13. Sight loss runner completes marathonpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Here's how another of our region's runners got on in the London Marathon on Sunday.

    Lucy Edwards, who lost her sight at the age of 17, competed the run with her guide and managed an excellent 6:27.

    The 21-year-old, from Sutton Coldfield, has a rare genetic disorder called Incontinentia Pigmenti.

    Lucy Edwards

    She took up running last August to help her deal with depression after her diagnosis. 

    She said it had become a "real passion" of hers.

    Lucy was raising money for Guide Dogs UK. 

  14. Man wanted after failing to appear for trialpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    An appeal to find an 18-year-old from Birmingham has been made by police, external after he failed to appear in court.

    Morgan Helsby was charged following a series of attempted robberies which started on a train from Birmingham to Redditch in March 2015.

    A man was threatened with a knife and another person punched in the face, British Transport Police (BTP) say.

    Morgan HelsbyImage source, British Transport Police

    BTP say he failed to appear for trial last month and is believed he could be in the Weston-Super-Mare area.   

  15. We must beat Walsall - Vale boss Brownpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Port Vale caretaker manager Michael Brown says his side have to win their last two games, starting at Walsall on Tuesday.

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  16. Free parking to boost town centre shoppingpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Daz Hale
    BBC WM

    Free parking is being offered by a council as a way to get more people shopping on the high street.

    From today, if you're visiting Sedgley, Dudley, Brierley Hill and Halesowen you could park for up to two hours for free.

    Free parking for two hours - signs

    The trial will run until the 2 July at 16 car parks across the four areas. 

    Drivers will still need to get a ticket from the machine but it won't cost them a penny.

    Quote Message

    Some of our residents and traders have expressed a belief that reduced parking charges could help to boost trade here in Dudley borough. The two-hour free parking scheme trial is being piloted in different types of retail centres across the borough and we are keen to see how this could affect the numbers of shoppers coming into the areas."

    Alan Lunt, Dudley Borough Council

  17. Free entertainment coming to a train near youpublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    BBC Midlands Today

    Free entertainment and wifi services are coming to some London Midland train services.

    Peter Plisner is following the story today and it certainly looks like he's swapping his magazine for a phone.

    Peter Plisner on a train filming

    The entertainment firm behind the new system says there's something for everyone, from films to Peppa Pig - plus onboard wifi.

  18. 'Tragedy' for bike club after burglarypublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    BBC WM

    Thieves have broken into a cycle speedway club in Birmingham and taken seven bikes.

    Officials from the Birmingham Monarchs arrived at their Perry Hall track yesterday morning and discovered the break-in. 

    A new decking area had also been vandalised, which has been described as a "tragedy".

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  19. MP backs new bank holidayspublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Louise Hancock
    Newsreader, BBC WM

    The Labour MP for Erdington is backing Jeremy Corbyn's promise of four extra UK-wide bank holidays.

    The holidays would be on each nation's patron saint day - St David's Day on 1 March, St Patrick's Day on 17 March, St George's Day on 23 April and St Andrew's Day on 30 November.

    Quote Message

    It is right that we celebrate the unity of Britain and in particular St George's Day - that would be a bank holiday."

    Jack Dromey, Labour MP

    The Conservatives have warned it would damage the economy. 

    Jeremy Corbyn said yesterday it would be good for people to spend more time with their families and lost productivity would be balanced out by more spending.