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

  1. One year on since the death of Dalian Atkinsonpublished at 08:49 British Summer Time 15 August 2017

    BBC Midlands Today

    The family of footballer Dalian Atkinson says the passing of time will not weaken its resolve to find out the facts surrounding his death - one year ago today after being tasered by police.

    Dalian Atkinson

    The device was deployed against the former Aston Villa star at his father's house in Telford. He was 48.

    Media caption,

    Former footballer dies after Tasering

    Quote Message

    A year has gone by and we’re still reeling from our loss. Dalian was our baby brother. Our determination to get to the facts and to see that appropriate action is taken will not be weakened by the passing of time. We’re buckled in for the long haul."

    Dalian Atkinson family statement

  2. Watch: Latest weather forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 08:26 British Summer Time 15 August 2017

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    It will be a much drier and brighter day on the whole with a low risk of catching a brief shower.

    There will be plenty of sunny spells and it will feel warm in the sunshine - highs of 23C (73F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands

  3. Dalian Atkinson's family 'still reeling from loss'published at 08:13 British Summer Time 15 August 2017

    The family of Dalian Atkinson say they're still reeling from their loss, a year after the death of the former Aston Villa star.

    Dalian AtkinsonImage source, Getty Images

    The 48-year-old died after being tasered by police last August outside his father's house in Telford.

    Police watchdog investigators are still looking into the case.

    In a statement released by the family, they say they're determined to get to the facts and are in it "for the long haul".

  4. Tuesday: Live updates for Birmingham and the Black Countrypublished at 08:05 British Summer Time 15 August 2017

    Stephanie Barnard
    BBC Local Live

    I'm in the BBC WM newsroom bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country between now and 18:00.

    If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach us on Facebook , externalor tweet @BBCWM, external.

  5. Gang smuggled people in car bootspublished at 22:30 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    A child was among Albanian nationals found in a car boot by border officials, a court hears.

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  6. Gun victim mum warns of 'complacency'published at 21:53 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Marcia Shakespeare says she is angry her work in schools to fight violent crime had lost funding.

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  7. Blues win appeal against Kieftenbeld redpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Birmingham City win their appeal against Maikel Kieftenbeld's red card in Saturday's win over Bristol City.

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  8. Bin strike costs city '£40,000 a day'published at 19:38 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Birmingham City Council is using agency staff and contractors to help clear the backlog.

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  9. The bin bag mountains costing thousandspublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Birmingham's bin strike is said to be costing the city £40,000 a day as it enters a seventh week.

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  10. Council boss's daughter accused of fraudpublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Anna Clancy used a company credit card to order make-up, fake tan and other items, a court is told.

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  11. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Tuesday.

    Keep an eye out here for more updates and breaking news before then.

  12. Speedway rained offpublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    BBC WM Sport

    Wolves' meeting against Kings Lynn has been called off tonight due to the latest weather forecast.

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  13. Employee 'didn't realise company was paying for her Amazon goods'published at 17:50 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    A former employee of a marketing firm denies knowingly using a company credit card to buy herself hundreds of goods from Amazon.

    Miss Clancy, 28, of Wheats Avenue, Harborne, told the court she had set up an Amazon account using her work email, but had wanted to use the online retailer's Prime feature, which included free next-day delivery, and so added her own personal bank details, which were set, she said, as the default payment details for the account.

    She then continued to use an app to order personal items using the "one click" method, again assuming the money was coming directly out of her bank, the court heard.

    Earlier, magistrates in Birmingham heard a spending spree at her employer's expense totalled more than £4,500, with purchases made months after she left the firm.

    She denies fraud by false representation

  14. Son accused of murdering his motherpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Beryl Hammond, 81, had not been seen around her Sutton Coldfield home for some time.

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  15. Weather: Heavy rain tonight and some showers tomorrowpublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    We're forecast some heavy rain tonight, but it will be a much better day tomorrow, with just a few showers expected.

    Media caption,

    Charlie Slater has your forecast

  16. Isaac Vassell: Birmingham City sign striker on four-year deal from Lutonpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    BBC Sport

    Isaac Vassell. Pic: Getty ImagesImage source, Getty Images

    Birmingham City have signed striker Isaac Vassell for an undisclosed fee from League Two side Luton Town.

    The 23-year-old moves to St Andrew's on a four-year deal having been under contract at Luton until next summer.

    Blues manager Harry Redknapp bemoaned the lack of fit strikers as a "crazy situation" after losing Che Adams in Saturday's victory over Bristol City. Vassell will go straight into Redknapp's squad for the home match with Bolton on Tuesday.

    Having moved to Luton on a free transfer last summer, Vassell - a cousin of former Aston Villa and England striker Darius Vassell - scored 10 league goals for the Hatters in 42 appearances last season.

    He will provide Redknapp with another option up front with Lukas Jutkiewicz also missing with a calf problem.

    Newquay-born Vassell, who graduated through the youth ranks at Plymouth, becomes Birmingham's fifth summer signing.

  17. Birmingham sign Luton striker Vassellpublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Birmingham City sign striker Isaac Vassell for an undisclosed fee from League Two side Luton Town.

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  18. Prison officer turnover concerns at HMP Oakwoodpublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    Concerns have been raised over staff turnover at one of the UK's largest prisons, Staffordshire's HMP Oakwood.

    A report by the prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), external said the number of prison officers at the site in Featherstone who are aged under 25 "appears to be increasing" over the past year.

    A hallway inside HMP Oakwood

    The IMB says they're satisfied "everything is being done that can be" with recruitment but says they're concerned some new recruits don't last long before leaving.

    They also say the prison is doing well to tackle the increase of drugs and mobile phones entering UK prisons using drones or being thrown over the fences.

    In one example the IMB says a drone was found in the prison's grounds in October with a package of mobile phones and the psychoactive substance Mamba.

    Private firm G4S, which runs HMP Oakwood,, external says they're taking steps including fitting rip-proof nets to stop the flow of illegal items and are overall "encouraged" by the report's findings.

  19. Man appears in court charged with his mother's murderpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    A man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with the murder of an 81-year-old woman who police believe to be his mother.

    Her body was discovered on Saturday in Sutton Coldfield following concerns about her whereabouts.

    Darren Hammond, of Ebrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court earlier. The 41-year-old is due to appear before Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday morning via video link.

    Ebrook Road, Birmingham

    Police think the dead woman is his mother Beryl Hammond, although she is yet to be formally identified.

  20. WBA 'desperate' for players says Pulispublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 14 August 2017

    West Brom manager Tony Pulis says the club are "desperate" to sign players before the end of the transfer window.

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