Birmingham Mail

An investigation is underway after a man was shot in the head in broad daylight. , external

BBC Midlands Today

A former cadet has described how he was "systematically abused and raped" by a commanding officer at a base in Birmingham.

Martin spoke out as part of a BBC Panorama investigation revealing evidence of a nationwide cover up of historical sex abuse in Britain's cadet forces.

Our reporter Joanne Writtle will have more on BBC1 from 13:30.

All lanes of the M6 affected by a multi-vehicle crash have reopened, Highways England says.

There are long delays and motorists are being advised to take alternative routes, external.

BBC Panorama has uncovered evidence of repeated cover-ups of historical sex abuse in Britain's cadet forces.

Robert - not his real name - joined the West Midlands' Reserve Forces and Cadets' Association at its base at Tennal Grange in Harborne when he was 12 years old and has been recalling his experiences.

"It just started off with innuendo and comments," said Robert. "[It] then went on to touching."

On one occasion, he was helping in the building's kitchen when he was approached by Peter Cooper, an adult instructor who was jailed for five years in 2007 for sexual assault - charges he denied during his trial, maintaining his innocence to this day.

"He took me into his kitchen and raped me," Robert said.

"I remember looking out the kitchen window and I was just looking at this fence in his garden - just transfixed on points - to hope it would finish quickly.

"You're a child and there's nothing you can do about it."

An 11-year-old girl who died after falling from a theme park water ride received "no help and was eventually sucked under the water", MPs heard.

Evha Jannath, from Leicester, fell from the Splash Canyon ride on a school trip to Drayton Manor theme park in May.

Image source, Themeparks.IE

Leading a Commons debate on theme park safety, Leicester East Labour MP Keith Vaz said changes needed to be made.

Eyewitnesses said Evha tried to move towards the boat after falling into the water but received "no help" despite her friends calling for assistance, the Commons heard.

Mr Vaz said Evha's family remained "shocked and in mourning".

A man stabbed in Birmingham on Monday night has died of his injuries in hospital.

BBC WM

Police in Birmingham are making a fresh appeal eight months after a dad of three was killed in a crash near Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium.

Paul Foster, 61, was walking to work last December when he was hit by a van that had been in a collision with a car.

Police have spoken to the van's driver but want the driver of the car - a dark coloured hatchback - to come forward.

The thin red line cutting across a 2km swathe of Birmingham is promoting an arts festival.

Murder detectives investigating the stabbing of a man in Aldridge say they want to speak to two "smartly dressed" Asian men who were seen near to where it happened.

James Brindley, 26, was stabbed last month on his way home from a night out.

Image source, West Midlands Police

His family say they are in "utter disbelief and despair" at his death but have been "uplifted" by the messages and support they've had since he died.

The latest appeal for information follows a Crimestoppers reward that was announced last week to help find Mr Brindley's killer.

Bartley Green residents have described the aftermath of a fatal stabbing there last night in which people were heard crying and begging for help.

The ambulance service was called to Woodgate Gardens at about 22:50 following reports a man had been stabbed - he was taken to hospital where he died, leading police to launch a murder investigation.

One witness to the scenes before the ambulance arrived said: "I just heard loads of young adults crying and asking for help and doing CPR on him."

Image source, @SnapperSK

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested.

Residents said the man who died was aged in his early 20s.

The government-appointed trust was set-up after back-to-back poor ratings at Sandwell.

BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Susanne

BBC Weather Watcher Susanne sent in this lovely picture from Stourbridge - we love the contrast between the grey, stormy-looking sky and the flowers' vivid purple.

If you have picture you'd like to share, you can send it in to us here.

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local Live

A Staffordshire mother says police haven't apologised for ripping her son's ashes out of a teddy bear and spilling them on the floor whilst searching her partner's home.

Chelsea Wright's son Nathan was 10 months old when he died in 2014.

Despite the warrant to search the premises her legal team say Miss Wright, from Rugeley, was not suspected of committing any offence.

Image source, Family pictures

Staffordshire Police says an investigation is under way.

Assistant Chief Constable Nick Adderley told the BBC "as a father, (he) understands how distressing this is for Chelsea and is promising to get to the bottom of this complaint as quickly as possible."

John Terry says it would be "incredible" to manage his former club Chelsea once his playing career ends.

BBC Sport

Warwickshire go into the second day of their Championship match against Middlesex at Edgbaston on 302 for 7.

Image source, Getty Images

They lost Rikki Clarke for 83 just before the close of the first day.

Earlier, Matt Lamb scored his maiden first class half century on his home debut.

County champions Middlesex are looking for their second win of the season, while the hosts are bottom of the table, having yet to earn a victory in their first seven County Championship games.

Nigeria and Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu inspired millions across Africa as a player. Now he wants to make a difference off the pitch, by improving healthcare on the continent.

Birmingham City's failure to sign John Terry could work in the club's favour, says manager Harry Redknapp.

The MP for Redditch, Jacqui Smith, will chair the board of the trust that will take over the running of Sandwell's beleaguered children's services.

The local authority department has received two "inadequate" ratings from Ofsted in the last four years and in 2015 a report warned children were "at risk of harm".

Sandwell Council said the former home secretary would support the aim of "delivering rapid improvements".

Image source, PA

Plans were announced by the Government in October 2016 to introduce an independent trust to run Sandwell’s children’s social care services.

BBC Midlands Today

Highways England is warning motorists to start planning for disruption caused by the next stage of repairs to the M5 motorway in the West Midlands.

More than £100m is being spent on concrete repairs and waterproofing on the 'Oldbury Viaduct' between junctions one and two.

A contraflow system and a 30mph speed limit will come into force at the end of the month.

A BBC investigation has discovered evidence of repeated cover-ups of historical sex abuse at a cadet force in Birmingham.

Victims have spoken for the first time of senior cadet leaders covering up complaints and pressurising families against going to the police.

A freedom of Information request found there had been 363 sexual abuse allegations across the UK's military cadet forces in the last five years.

Overseen by the Ministry of Defence, the cadets is one of the UK's largest youth bodies with 130,000 members.

The MoD has paid more than £2m to cadet abuse victims, and says it has "robust procedures in place to protect cadets".