Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Large piles of fly-tipped rubbish prompted several raids today in Stoke-on-Trent and the Staffordshire Moorlands,, external targeting people accused of illegally dumping waste, the Environment Agency says.

Fly-tipping has hit the headlines in recent months in this area and here are some of the worst cases we've reported on since the start of this year: 

• On 9 January, Hullock's Pool Road near Audley was shut after what looked like building waste was found dumped there. 
• In January, a mountain of rubbish was found on the Biddulph Valley Way near Knypersley which included hundreds of plastic bottles, bags, and cans. 
• On 2 February we reported on "an ocean" of 175 tonnes of rubbish fly-tipped in woodland between Madeley and Betley. It was finally cleared earlier this month., external
• On 13 March, Hollywall Lane, Tunstall had to be shut after waste including asbestos was dumped there. 
• On the same day, managers of the Enville Estate in Staffordshire said they were facing a £10,000 bill to clear a huge pile of rubbish dumped on their land.

Former England and Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu is in hospital after collapsing at Tottenham's training centre on Thursday.

Wolverhampton North East Labour MP Emma Reynolds is gearing up for another campaign run - just days after giving birth to her first child.

She said any thoughts of a "period of quiet" with her family had "gone out of the window with the announcement of a general election".

Little Theo was born on Good Friday. 

Gerard Coyne - the man challenging Len McCluskey for the leadership of Unite - has been suspended from his job as a regional official with the union, the BBC understands.

The move comes as counting is about to get under way in the union's leadership ballot. 

Mr Coyne, who is supported by Labour's deputy leader and West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson, has been suspended from his duties as Unite's regional secretary in the West Midlands but not as a member of the union, a member of his campaign team said. 

They are not aware of the reasons for the suspension but will put out a statement when they know more, they added.

A former nursery worker has admitted a series of serious sexual offences against children, including the rape of a teenager, say police, external.

Jamie Chapman, from Smiths Wood, Solihull, pleaded guilty to the rape of a teenage boy as well as 21 counts of causing or inciting sexual activity with children. 

The 28-year-old also admitted nine counts of taking, making and distributing indecent photos of children.

Chapman was remanded and will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 22 May.

Nick Clitheroe
BBC Midlands Today

The British judo team start out on the road to Tokyo 2020 this week as they compete at the European Championships in Poland.

They have been preparing for the first major tournament of the next Olympic cycle at their performance centre in Walsall.

And for one of the team it will be a real family affair.

Brummie Max Stewart, aged 23, is preparing for his first European judo championships and said he could not have a better mentor because his coach is his father Dennis, an Olympic bronze medalist at the games in Seoul almost 30 years ago.

BBC Business News

German car maker BMW has beaten analyst expectations with 27% growth in pre-tax profits, external to 3bn euros (£2.5bn) in the first quarter.

Last week workers at three BMW plants, including Hams Hall in Warwickshire, staged a one-day strike in a row over pensions.

Image source, Getty Images

The firm's growth is largely because of higher profits from its Chinese joint venture, and an investment by chipmaker Intel driving up the value of its stake in mapping service Here.

Sales at BMW, which also makes Rolls-Royce, Mini and motorcycles, grew 12% to 23.5bn euros.

Birmingham Eastside

We looked into the weekly average fees for the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University and Aston University’s accommodation, external. 

BBC WM Sport

Birmingham Brummies' teenage star Jack Parkinson-Blackburn is being tipped for a bright future in speedway. 

The 16-year-old again top-scored, picking up 16 points in their 54-36 win over Plymouth in the National League last night. 

Team boss Graham Drury said the youngster had "good family" around him and hoped in "5-6 years time" his time at the Brummies "would stand him in good stead".

BBC WM Sport

New Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp has told us the Blues could easily be turned into Championship play-off contenders next season.

Image source, Rex Features

His first priority is keeping them in the division after taking charge for the final three games of the season with the team sitting just three points above the relegation zone. 

But Redknapp, who's currently working for free, says they could challenge for promotion next year.

His first game in charge is this Sunday's derby at Villa - which will be live on BBC WM 95.6FM.

Ian Paterson denies 20 counts of wounding with intent against 10 people.

A 41-year-old is arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

A man has been arrested over a suspected hit-and-run crash which left an elderly man with "severe injuries" in Walsall.

The collision happened at 11:00 BST on Wednesday on Lichfield Road, Walsall as the man, in his 80s, was crossing the road.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said on Wednesday the man suffered "very serious injuries to his head, chest and left ankle."

A 41-year-old man is  being questioned on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision, police said.

Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today

The train company London Midland has been forced to lay on buses after experiencing overcrowding on some off-peak services.

And with a fortnight to go until polling for the first West Midlands "Metro Mayor" we look forward to a special election debate show which is being screened tonight on BBC One. 

Join us for the Midlands Today from 13:30.

Jurors have been sent out to consider the case against a breast surgeon accused of wounding 10 patients in a series of "completely unnecessary" operations.

Image source, Other

Ian Paterson allegedly lied to his patients, "exaggerating or quite simply inventing the risk of cancer" and claimed payments for more expensive procedures, the prosecution alleges.

Over seven weeks, his trial at Nottingham Crown Court has heard the 59-year-old's alleged motives were "obscure", but may have included a desire to "earn extra money". 

Paterson, of Castle Mill Lane, Ashley, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, denies 20 counts of wounding with intent against nine women and one man relating to procedures he carried out between 1997 and 2011 at two West Midlands' hospitals.

A Birmingham father is calling for drivers who are convicted of dangerous driving to be banned for life after his daughter was killed three years ago.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Sukvinder Mannan was jailed for eight years after he crashed his car while racing, reaching speeds of more than 100mph. 

Rebecca McManus, 21, was standing at a bus stop in Bearwood when the car hit and killed her. Her father Gerard called for the life bans.

Twelve awards to honour members of the public for their courage, compassion and community spirit will be handed out tonight.

Image source, Warwick Kay

The Pride of Birmingham Awards - organised by the Birmingham Mail - are being handed out at the great hall of the University of Birmingham. 

The Midlands Air Ambulance Aircrew will pick up the emergency services award for saving the life of a heavily-pregnant woman who had been stabbed in Sutton Coldfield on 4 March 2016.

Birmingham Mail

Police have linked 26 carjackings and arrested 19 suspects, external as officers battle a massive vehicle crimewave.  

Rail passengers hoping to travel on certain services between Bromsgrove and Birmingham this week face being transported on buses instead. 

London Midland is warning people that the Easter break is causing an increase in passenger numbers, and some mid morning services are already full when they arrive at the town.

London Midland says there aren't enough diesel trains left in the country to meet demand, and that providing buses instead is "the right thing to do".

An 81-year-old man from Streetly has been left devastated after being targeted in a distraction burglary.

A man posing as an official from the water board entered the home of Colin Bennett and his home was ransacked.

Thousands of pounds in cash and a wedding ring belonging to Colin's wife who died last year were amongst the items taken.

Image source, Sutton Coldfield Observer

A wedding album believed to have been stolen during the burglary was found thrown in a discarded wardrobe in the house.