Motorway police have attended a crash between a taxi and a bus on Soho Road in Handsworth.

The Central Motorway Police Group said on Twitter the taxi failed to stop and the driver was later arrested for not having insurance.

BBC WM

A man who was beaten with metal poles while thieves tried to steal his car in Shirley has been describing the attack.

Sanjib was targeted on Tilesford Road in Shirley, Solihull on Friday afternoon.

The 43-year-old was hit over the head and pushed to the floor, but his attackers still failed to get the keys to his BMW M4.

Caroline Gall
BBC News

A 14-year-old girl died after she was hit by a train in Walsall on Tuesday.

Terry Wootton, who's 62, was working nearby when a boy ran to him for help saying his friend had been hit by a train.

Mr Wotton, a warehouse maintenance manager, told the BBC he went with the boy and dialled 999.

"The first thing I saw was that school books had been strewn down the track.

"It was horrific, just horrific. I could see she had gone. I haven't slept since."

Image source, PA

Mr Wootton added: "The crossing is like something from the Dark Ages. Just a picket gate and a sign to say watch the trains. There needs to barriers or lights and warnings that trains are coming."

"What a waste of a 14-year-old girl's life. Her family must be devastated."

The BBC has been told that Network Rail asked Walsall Council to close this crossing three years ago on safety grounds, but it didn't happen.

Walsall Council says it's served a summons to a group of travellers who've illegally parked on a show ground in the town.

The illegal encampment has meant that organisers of a charity event this weekend have been forced to relocate.

Greyhound Gap's annual fundraiser was meant to take place at the site in Walsall on Sunday, but has now moved to the Marquis Drive Visitor Centre, in Cannock Chase.

The name is increasingly rare in England and Wales and a 13-month-old is a member of a dwindling set.

CCTV footage has been released of a group of suspects police would like to speak to over an attempted car-jacking.

A 45-year-old woman was sitting in her Ford Fiesta at the traffic lights on Queensbridge Road, Moseley, on 14 September, at about 15:30, when the suspects opened the car door and tried to drag her out of the driver’s seat.

A passer-by saw what happened and ran over to help, West Midlands Police said, and the suspects ran off.

Police said the woman was "extremely shaken" but not injured -nothing was stolen.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Aston Villa forward, Ross McCormack, is close to agreeing a loan move to A League club Melbourne City.

McCormack, 31, joined Villa from Fulham for £12m in August 2016.

Image source, Rex Features

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Nottingham Forest after Villa manager,Steve Bruce, dropped him from his squad, saying the Scotland international had been missing training.

McCormack returned to Villa in the summer but has made just two substitute appearances in the EFL Cup.

Melbourne City, managed by former Manchester United Under-21 boss Warren Joyce, open their A League campaign against Brisbane Roar on 6 October.

Caroline Gall
BBC News

Network Rail has told the BBC it recommended to Walsall Council three years ago the Wallows Lane foot crossing, near Bescot Stadium station, in Walsall, should be closed for safety reasons.

A 14-year-old girl died on Tuesday afternoon after being hit by a train at that crossing.

Image source, PA

The BBC has approached Walsall Council for a comment.

A Staffordshire dogs charity has managed to find a new venue to host its annual fundraiser this weekend after travellers moved on the field where it was originally meant to be held.

Image source, Walsall Advertiser

Greyhound Gap's annual event was meant to take place in Walsall on Sunday, but has now been relocated to the Marquis Drive Visitor Centre, in Cannock Chase.

The event usually raises more than £3,000 for the charity.

British Gymnastics has announced it has chosen Birmingham as the host city for the 2018 Gymnastics World Cup.

The event will take place at Arena Birmingham, in the city centre, over two days in March 2018.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

It could be at least three weeks before Birmingham City Council starts recycling again.

Refuse workers started clearing a backlog of rubbish last week after their strike was suspended, but the authority says rubbish which would usually be recycled will still end up in the incinerator at Tyseley until collections are up-to-date.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking as she announced plans to recycle 70% of waste by 2040, councillor Lisa Trickett, the cabinet member for clean streets, said recycling as normal isn't possible at the moment.

The controversial Velo Birmingham event says targeting cyclists is "pretty appalling".

A UK-based imam accused of trying to recruit people to fight for so-called Islamic State has been an "anti-terrorist" preacher for decades, a court heard.

Tarik Chadlioui, 43, was one of six people arrested across Europe on 28 June at the request of investigators on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca.

The Belgian national, who lives in Sparkhill, Birmingham, is wanted by Spanish authorities, who allege he recorded videos encouraging people to fight for the extremist forces in Syria, during two visits to the Balearic island in 2014 and 2015.

But an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday heard claims the father-of-eight had spent years trying to prevent young Muslims going to fight.

Mr Chadlioui - who faces a single charge of collaboration with, or membership of, an armed group - was remanded in custody.

Fresh milk from Staffordshire and Cheshire is being sold in the Middle East for the first time.

The farms are providing the milk to a firm in Birmingham so it can be exported to Qatar.

Nemi Dairy in Audlem, the company behind the idea, says there's a demand for British milk abroad.

BBC News Magazine

The Bearded Broz are a volunteer group who help residents in the West Midlands, offering practical assistance and an emergency food service.

They shot to fame with the Birmingham bin strike, when they helped local residents clear their rubbish.

Spending time with the group, BBC Stories finds a group of volunteers who feel religious organisations are not doing enough for local communities.

British Gymnastics chooses Arena Birmingham to host the British leg of the World Cup in March of next year.

BBC Weather Watchers

It seems most parts of Birmingham have been graced with a lovely sunrise this morning.

This picture was taken in Erdington by samham.

Image source, samham

And how great is this misty shot taken in Stourbridge? It was taken by Wilco.

If you have a weather picture you'd like to share, send it into us here.

Image source, Wilco

It's National Poetry Day and the BBC is celebrating the nation’s great local words.

In the West Midlands, poet Liz Berry has written a poem about a bobowler, which means large moth.

BBC WM listeners put forward their suggestions, with the Oxford English Dictionary making the final decision.

BBC WM

A Birmingham firm has revealed it's shipping milk to Qatar due to the high demand overseas.

Image source, Thinkstock

Fresh milk from farms in the West Midlands is being sold in the Middle East through Y International, external - it means farmers here who produce it also get more money for their product.

Two litres sells for £5.50 in a Qatari supermarket because it's seen as a premium item.

Raiders armed with metal bars attack car owner.