A man shouted "I've got acid" and threw cleaning fluid in the face of a drinker outside a pub, police have revealed.

West Midlands Police have released CCTV images of a man seen running from a car on Main Street, Dickens Heath before he then threw liquid at a man outside The Chalice pub on Tuesday night.

The victim had to use a bowl of dogs drinking water to quickly wash the liquid off and was unhurt.

A 21-year-old suspected of driving the car has been arrested, but police are still looking for the attacker.

Image source, West Midlands Police

PC Dave Spencer from Solihull Police said: "Given the recent spate of acid attacks in London this was a hugely irresponsible act and very scary for the victim.

"The attacker shouted 'I've got acid' but we believe it was actually an ammonia-based cleaning fluid."

West Midlands Police's media team is spending a day in one of their control rooms and is live tweeting, external the calls it receives.

Yesterday the force took 1,917 calls to the 999 emergency number and had 4,694 calls to the non-emergency 101 number.

Here's some of the calls police have taken so far today...

Image source, Twitter

The total number of recorded crime has increased by 11% across the West Midlands Police force area in the last year.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner says the rise is a major concern.

The number of cases of possession of a weapon went up by more 24% from the year ending March 2016 to March 2017.

Crimes classed as 'violence against the person' went up by 13%.

Image source, Getty Images

David Jamieson says the figures are further evidence that the government needs to change course on police funding.

Across England and Wales, violent crime is up 18%.

Sarah Portlock
BBC News Online

Armed with hot food, sandwiches, socks and sleeping bags, the Trolley Dollies spend every other Wednesday evening in Birmingham City Centre distributing anything which can make Birmingham's homeless comfortable.

Joanna Evans, 48, helped set the volunteer group up through Facebook, external.

"We have regulars who like to have a chat with us, sometimes they don't want things off us.

"People can be critical of the homeless but we don't know their situation. If an alcoholic drink can make things feel better then who are we to judge?

"In my time I have seen two people I know on the streets which can be upsetting.

"People donate all sorts of things - we just gave some Fred Perry speedos away to a chap who was very pleased with them."

Wolves sign Monaco's Portugal Under-18 international defender Ruben Vinagre on a season-long loan deal.

Shane Bryant was taken ill following a raid at a store in Ashby-de-la-Zouch and died in hospital.

BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa have signed midfielder Glenn Whelan from Stoke City for £1m on a two-year contract.

The 33-year-old, who won 81 caps for the Republic of Ireland, is Villa's fourth arrival of the summer.

Speaking to the club's website, external, Whelan said: "I have enjoyed happy times at Stoke City but now is the time for a new football adventure – and what a club to join in Aston Villa.

"We may be in the Championship but everything about this club screams Premier League – and it’s the job of the players to get us back up there."

A group of teenagers have been praised by West Midlands Ambulance Service as they directed paramedics to their injured friend.

The service was called to a wooded area on Bridgnorth Road in Compton, Wolverhampton around 18:00 yesterday after a boy fell off his bike.

The medical team were met by friends of a teenager who took them to their friend, a 10-minute walk away.

Image source, Google

The 13-year-old had been knocked unconscious after coming off his bike, suffering facial injuries, a suspected pelvic injury and had pain in his back and neck.

The teenager was then taken to New Cross Hospital for further assessment and treatment.

A spokeswoman for the service said: "The quick-thinking and help from the patients’ friends was very much appreciated by our staff at the scene and ensured the teenager received treatment as quickly as possible."

BBC Midlands Today

Ten years after devastating floods hit the Midlands, those affected have been reflecting on the impact.

Five people died in floods across the region in the summer of 2007.

Around 10,000 homes and businesses were flooded and 350,000 people were left without fresh water.

Our reporters are looking back on the devastation on BBC1 from 13:30

A new low-cost airline is going to start transatlantic flights from Birmingham Airport to New York and Boston from next May.

Just last week it was revealed United Airlines are pulling out of the airport, with flights to Newark ending in October.

Primera Air will operate daily flights to New York, and four a week to Boston.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer

Three outdoor sites in Sutton Coldfield have retained their prestigious awards for meeting high standards and being well managed., external

The father of a teenager who designed the Black Country flag has come to his daughter's defence following an MP's comments that the flag she had designed made her "uneasy" because of the links to the slave trade.

The Express & Star reported Labour MP Eleanor Smith called for the flag to be scrapped, external over its "offensive" imagery.

Dave Sheppard said in a post on Facebook, external that has been shared nearly 500 times, "[Gracie] took considerable care to research our area before submitting her flag design.

"She was delighted to have amassed the most public votes and win the competition."

He went on to thank "hundreds of strangers" who posted messages of support.

The recent debate on the flag's connotations made it into PMQ's yesterday.

Tory MP for Dudley South, Mike Wood, said: "The Black Country flag has come under attack from the other side to this chamber in recent days, but will the Prime Minister join me in again congratulating Gracie Sheppard who designed the flag when she was just 12-years-old, reflecting our industrial heritage?

Mrs May replied: "He's absolutely right, the Black Country remains a great place to do business, and I'd like to congratulate Gracie on designing that flag at the age of only 12 years.

"And I have to say that I think, I'm sure, that she and others, including the Express & Star, have been surprised at the attitude from the benches opposite on this particular issue".

BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Birmingham have opened contract talks with 21-year-old attacker Che Adams after rejecting a £5m bid for him from Fulham. (Daily Mail), external

The 57-year-old had been running a football team and a training school in South Lanarkshire at the time.

Here are some of the startling figures around the flooding that hit the West Midlands 10 years ago.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a woman was taken to hospital with serious head injuries following a crash.

The crash happened in Northfield at the junction with Shenley Lane around 06:00 yesterday between a Corsa and a Jaguar.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the regional Collision Investigation Unit, said: "We are asking anyone who saw what happened to contact us.

"This is a busy junction and, although it was early, I am sure there were other motorists on the road at that time."

A new programme is being launched today to help people who abuse their partners get help.

The £1m scheme is being rolled out by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson.

Image source, PA

Offenders will work with a domestic violence charity for 30 weeks to change their behaviour.

Their partners and children will also be helped.

A fire at an industrial estate in Tyseley has been brought under control, the fire service said.

West Midlands Fire Service said around 30 crews remain at the scene this morning.

Around 70 firefighters in total were needed to tackle the blaze.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

BBC Radio Stoke understands that the Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan is on the verge of completing a move to Aston Villa.

Image source, Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The Championship club have reportedly agreed a deal worth £1.5m after an initial £500,000 bid was rejected this summer.

Whelan played a big part in helping Stoke win promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and has made over 330 appearances for the club.

Labour's Preet Gill, who represents Birmingham Edgbaston, has pressed the government for action on helping the many thousands of missing child refugees.

She raised the figures coming out of a European law enforcement agency.