Summary

  • Jail for gorilla mask rapist

  • Two accused of murder over Aldridge stabbing

  • Fatal school bus crash investigation "to take months"

  • Weekend serves Spaghetti closure

  • Refuse workers on strike

  • Updates from Friday 14 July 2017

  1. Bus lane camera nets £1m in six monthspublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    The camera in West Bromwich is already among England's most lucrative.

    Read More
  2. Mo's final British track race will be in Brumpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    Sir Mo Farah will compete for the final time on a British track in Birmingham.

    Organisers have announced Farah will compete at the Diamond League meeting at the Alexander Stadium on 20 August.

    It has not been announced over what distance the 34-year-old will be racing.

    Sir Mo FarahImage source, AFP
    Quote Message

    I'm really looking forward to what will be my final track race in Britain at the Muller Grand Prix Birmingham on August 20, and I'm sure it will be a day I remember for the rest of my life.

    Quote Message

    I've run many great races at the Alexander Stadium over the years, and have a history there, so it's a fitting venue for my last track race. I've had fantastic support throughout my career from people all over the UK, and the atmosphere in Birmingham is always amazing.

    Sir Mo Farah, Athlete

  3. Your pictures: A solitary duck and a busy beepublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    There's an animal theme to today's weather watcher pictures.

    This first one was taken in Witton by Ryan Lewis and shows a lovely lake but just one duck seems to be enjoying the scene.

    WittonImage source, Ryan Lewis

    Amblecote is the next backdrop, and senior snapper captured this lovely picture of a bee busy at work.

    Send us your pictures and we'll feature our favourites on the live page.

    AmblecoteImage source, senior snapper
  4. Open swimming lessons for summer safetypublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    Hundreds of schoolchildren are having a go at outdoor swimming this week in Aston Reservoir

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  5. Man fighting for life after being driven at deliberatelypublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    A man is "fighting for his life" after he was deliberately driven at, West Midlands Police said.

    The victim, a 35-year-old man, was hit just before 16:30 on Tuesday at the junction of Brighton Road and Moseley Road, Moseley in Birmingham.

    A 43-year-old man handed himself in to police on Tuesday night where he was then arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

    Moseley Road, MoseleyImage source, Google

    He is in hospital having undergone surgery for a "very serious head injury", the force said.

    Police said their enquiries lead them to believe the man was deliberately targeted and "left for dead in the street".

    The man, from Washwood Heath, was interviewed and later released under investigation.

  6. Liverpool competes with West Midlands for Channel 4 relocationpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    Brookside creator Phil Redmond is leading a rival bid to bring Channel 4 to Liverpool, saying "there could be no better home".

    The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) launched a bid for the broadcaster to move to its region last week, with sites proposed in Coventry, Birmingham, Solihull and Dudley.

    Channel 4 building

    A government consultation is considering whether the broadcaster should move out of central London.

    Elsewhere, two Bradford MPs have called on Channel 4 to move its HQ to West Yorkshire.

  7. Rough sleeper 'task force' set uppublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    Rough sleepers in Birmingham are going to get help from the city council.

    It's set up a task force with West Midlands Police to help people they say are genuinely sleeping rough.

    Rough sleeperImage source, PA

    They say it's in response to an increase in the number of people begging and homeless people involved in crime in the city.

  8. Ofsted challenge Birmingham school's segregationpublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    A Birmingham school is waiting to hear the outcome of a Court of Appeal case over sex discrimination.

    Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman is challenging a High Court ruling in November last year that cleared Al-Hijrah, an Islamic mixed-sex faith school in Birmingham, of operating an unlawful policy of segregating the girls and boys from year five.

    ProtestersImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Protesters campaigned outside the Court of Appeal

    Schools around the country which split up boys from girls will face fresh inspections if Ofsted wins the test case.

    Three appeal judges will hand down their decision at a later date.

  9. Halesowen News: Fresh hope for Heathen fanspublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    Halesowen News

    Here's how the front page of the Halesowen News is looking, the paper is carrying the story of the plans submitted for a new home for the speedway team the Cradley Heathens.

    For this story and more, take a look here, external.

    Front pageImage source, Halesowen News
  10. Woman car-jacked at traffic lightspublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    A woman waiting at traffic lights near Belgrave Middleway in Balsall Heath, Birmingham has been car-jacked.

    Four teenagers were arrested after a police chase, after the 65-year-old was attacked as she waited at traffic lights during the early morning.

    Belgrave MiddlewayImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    A stretch of Belgrave Middleway,

    Police later spotted teenagers driving a car with false number plates.

    Two boys aged 15, and two aged 16 are in police custody.

  11. Rail disruption expected until 15:00published at 13:56 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    BBC News Travel

    Major disruption between London Euston and Rugby is expected to last until at least 15:00 says National Rail.

    Some passengers at Rugby are being diverted via Leicester to connect with East Midlands Trains services.

    Bus replacement services are also running between Rugby and Milton Keynes via Northampton.

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  12. Murder arrests after man stabbedpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    A man aged 20 and a 17-year-old boy are held following the stabbing of James Brindley.

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  13. Prepare for train cancellationspublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    A fault with the signalling system between Kings Langley and Milton Keynes Central means that journeys between London Euston and Rugby are being disrupted, the National Rail website, external says.

    Trains may be delayed by up to 60 minutes, cancelled or revised.

    Virgin Trains and London Midland routes are affected.

  14. Coming up on BBC Midlands Today: Safe swim schemepublished at 13:11 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    BBC Midlands Today

    Hundreds of schoolchildren are getting a taste of open water swimming this week in an effort to keep them safe over the summer holidays.

    The RNLI scheme usually takes place near the coast, but after a number of drowning tragedies, for the first time ever, it's being held in Birmingham.

    Our reporter Giles Latcham will have more on BBC1 from 13:30.

    Children swimming
  15. Ex-Wolves winger Henry signs for Oxfordpublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    Oxford United sign former Wolves and Millwall midfielder James Henry on a free transfer.

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  16. Pub has licence suspended in wake of fatal stabbingpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    BBC WM

    A Birmingham pub has had its licence suspended for 28 days after a man was stabbed and killed outside it.

    Daniel Baird, 26, was attacked outside the Forge Tavern in Digbeth during the early hours of Saturday.

    Forge TavernImage source, Google

    The city council's licensing committee suspended the licence after concerns were raised by police.

    Mr Baird was stabbed after a "substantial disorder" at the pub, police have said, where they believe 60-100 people were in attendance.

  17. West Midlands house prices on the risepublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    Louise Hancock
    Newsreader, BBC WM

    House prices in the West Midlands are on the rise despite a national fall.

    Row of housesImage source, Getty Images

    According to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, net balances for houses here went up by 33% last month.

    Across the country house prices fell in June - with the number of properties available also dropping to a new all-time low.

  18. James Brindley murder: 'Local' man and teenager arrestedpublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 13 July 2017

    Monica Rimmer
    Journalist, BBC Online

    A 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old male have been arrested on suspicion of James Brindley's murder.

    The arrests were made on Wednesday evening and the "local" man and boy remain in police custody.

    James Brindley

    Det Ch Insp Chris Mallett said: "Although we have made two arrests we are still asking people to come forward with any information they have, no matter how insignificant it may seem."

    James Brindley, 26, was stabbed to death on High Street in Aldridge, on 23 June.