Summary

  • Man dies as multi-vehicle collision closes motorway

  • Teenager dies after reservoir rescue

  • Murder investigation after stabbing

  • Terror attacker 'taunting and smiling' says witness

  • Apology for mother of soldier killed in Iraq

  • Updates on Friday 18 August 2017

Live Reporting

Andrew Dawkins

  1. Motorway spill causing delays in Birmingham

    Two M6 lanes are closed, Highways England says, following a spill.

    Delays of 90 minutes are projected.

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  2. Three in court on petrol station robbery charges

    Three men have appeared in court on robbery and drugs charges following a raid at a petrol station in Great Witley on 1 August, police say.

    West Mercia Police says two 19-year-olds and an 18-year-old, all from Wolverhampton, appeared at Worcester Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

    They are next due to appear again in court on 9 September.

  3. 'I'd rather die than live by roadworks'

    People living alongside the M5 motorway say the noise of long-term roadworks is unbearable.

    Read More

  4. Bin strike: Petition for council tax refund halfway to target

    A petition calling on Birmingham City Council to refund residents for missed bin collections during the continuing strike has received more than 11,000 signatures.

    Alex Yip, a Conservative councillor, set up the petition in June and called on the Labour-controlled authority to act.

    Mr Yip wrote an update online yesterday, saying: "We are halfway there to meeting our target of 20,000 signatories from Birmingham residents which will compel a full council debate of all councillors in the city in a public vote for your request."

    So far more than 11,400 people have signed the petition.

    Bin bags on the streets in Birmingham

  5. Could Wolves be champs?

    Nick Clitheroe
    BBC Midlands Today Sport

    Wolves are hoping to make it three wins out of three in the Championship this evening.

    Wolves supportersGetty Images

    They're level on points with Cardiff at the top of the division before their trip to newly relegated Hull City tonight.

    Wolves are yet to concede a goal this season and the bookmakers have installed them as the early favourites to win the Championship.

  6. Bedroom makeover for the girl going home for the first time

    A Birmingham family are being given a helping hand to bring their disabled daughter home.

    Maham Naz who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy has spent most of her life in hospital but she is going home for the first time.

    More than six volunteers are helping to create a brand new bedroom for the four-year-old.

    Bedroom makeover

    While the family had the whole house adapted ahead of Maham's arrival, they hadn't been able to do her bedroom until the charity WellChild stepped in.

    There is a growing number of children with exceptional care needs in the UK and we want to enable them to go home with their families which is the best place for them to be."

    Kieran Cullen, Wellchild charity

  7. Mother was victim of 'sustained attack'

    An inquest hears her cause of death is still not known and further tests are needed.

    Read More

  8. Mother found dead at home was subjected to 'sustained attack'

    A mother-of-three found dead at home was the victim of a "sustained attack", an inquest has heard.

    Rikki Lander, 26, was discovered at the Oldbury property on 5 August. Her husband Paul Lander, 30, was also found dead in a different part of the home.

    He died from asphyxiation. Mrs Lander's cause of death is still not determined.

    At an inquest opening today, Detective Sergeant Sue Hordern said: "It's clear a sustained attack had taken place towards Rikki."

    West Midlands Police confirmed it was not seeking anybody else in connection with the deaths.

  9. Day-night Test means 'learning on the job'

    BBC Sport

    Edgbaston, home of the Bears, hosts the first ever day-night Test match to be played in England on Thursday - only the fifth in international cricket anywhere.

    The venue welcomes the West Indies and England bowler Stuart Broad says he is "excited" by the format.

    Stuart BroadAFP

    "I watched the day-night match in Adelaide and enjoyed it. The exciting thing as a player is we are going in with a clear mind and learning on the job almost.

    "The team which will come out successful this week will be the team which reacts quicker. It's stepping into the unknown completely."

  10. Preview: Reading v Aston Villa

    BBC Sport

    Leandro BacunaGetty Images

    Leandro Bacuna completed his move to Reading from Aston Villa on Sunday

    Leandro Bacuna could make his Reading debut against former club Aston Villa tonight, two days after leaving Villa Park to join the Royals.

    Midfielder Garath McCleary (groin) will hope to feature for the first time this season after returning to training.

    Aston Villa may be without Ahmed Elmohamady after the full-back needed stitches in a cut lip sustained in the defeat to Cardiff City on Saturday.

    Winger Andre Green (groin) is doubtful having missed the trip to Cardiff.

    Read a full preview here.

  12. Bin strike: 'No alternative' to 'muscle of industrial action'

    Daz Hale
    BBC WM

    We all know the disruption the bin strike - into its seventh week - is causing in Birmingham.

    As bags of uncollected rubbish pile up across the city, the council says it's costing them £40,000 a day.

    But one bin man told me: "We will stay on this gate until we get a resolution in our favor."

    Picket lines in Perry Barr

    He said: "We are dustmen through and through and we are proud. We are extremely apologetic for disrupting your refuse collection but we have no alternative. We need to use the muscle of industrial action to force the council to consult with us properly."

    This is what the council has to say:

    I utterly regret that the people if Birmingham have had to go through this. The people deserve a modern, efficient and effective service. We have to be there at the table arguing for that because that is what the people of Birmingham have asked for."

    Councillor Lisa Trickett, Cabinet member for sustainability

  13. History-making cricketers' pink balls

    The West Indies visit Edgbaston for the first day-night Test match to be played in England.

    Read More

  15. Murder-accused appears in court over police station body find

    A 40-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder in connection with the discovery of a man's body that was driven to West Bromwich police station.

    The body of Harish Kumar was found in a car's front passenger seat last Thursday.

    West Bromwich police stationWest Midlands Police

    Sukhwinder Singh, of MacDonald Close, Tividale, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court where he was remanded in custody, with a provisional trial date set for January next year.

    Police are waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination.

  16. Cricket history to be made at home of the Bears

    BBC Sport

    The day-night Test between England and West Indies on Thursday is a "step into the unknown," says bowler Stuart Broad.

    Edgbaston will host the first ever Test to be played under these conditions in England, and the fifth in international cricket anywhere.

    EdgbastonGetty Images

    I just don't know what to expect. We are just going to have to be so adaptable on the day and figure out what's going on."

    Stuart Broad

    Play will start at 14:00 and continue until 21:00, with an additional 30 minutes possible at the end of each day's play.

  17. Football chairman dies

    The chairman of Bilston Town, Graham Hodson, has died, the club has announced.

    He had been diagnosed with cancer.

    Graham never pretended to be anyone other than a Black Country lad who loves football and, whilst I am sure many will have been upset by his forthright views along the way, he was a man who never left you wondering what his viewpoint was - and it was never a view that was for his own personal benefit."

    Club statement

  18. Sports headlines: A Championship triple bill

    BBC WM Sport

    There's a triple bill of Championship football on BBC WM tonight:

    • After their 3-0 defeat at Cardiff, Aston Villa are at Reading
    • Birmingham City will have new signing Isaac Vassell available for this evening's game at home to Bolton - a match that's live on BBC WM's DAB service in Birmingham
    • Wolves take their 100% record to Hull City, live on our DAB frequencies in the Black Country
    • Following his stunning performance in England's series win over South Africa, Birmingham born Moeen Ali is only going to improve, says former captain Michael Vaughan

  20. Moeen Ali will 'only get better'

    Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan says spinner Moeen Ali is only going to get better.

    The former Warwickshire star took 25 wickets during the series win against South Africa.

    Speaking to BBC Sport he says the all-rounder - in England's squad for the nation's first day-night Test at Edgbaston on Thursday - is one of the side's most valuable performers.

    Moeen AliGetty Images

    Moeen's bowling throughout this series and for a while now it's been getting better and better. If he can keep improving, what we saw from Moeen in this series is he is getting better."

    Michael Vaughan