Jessica Labhart
BBC News

A "shocking" 999 call revealing the moment a seven-year-old boy was found dead and his mother with critical injuries has been played out in court.

Lesley Speed, 44, of Rushbury Road, Wall-under-Heywood, near Church Stretton, denies murdering her son Archie Spriggs on 21 September last year.

Image source, Family handout

At the start of the trial at Birmingham Crown Court earlier, the court heard how Ms Speed’s then-partner Darren Jones returned from work to find Ms Speed in the bathroom of the property, covered in blood.

In the call, he said: "There’s blood everywhere. She’s cut herself.

"Her son, he’s dead."

The trial continues.

Sophia Richards told Meghan, on a royal visit to Birmingham, she wants to be an actress like her.

Christopher James Colgan died after being was found shot in the head in Birmingham.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have encouraged young female students to pursue careers in subjects such as science and maths during their visit to Birmingham.

Image source, Getty Images

Around 90 students attended the International Woman's Day event at Millennium Point, taking part in building apps and touchpads.

Image source, Getty Images

They started the event by trying the headsets with students from Blessed Edward Oldcorne School, in Worcester, before looking at other technology such as pianos made from bananas and how to "hack the web".

Image source, Getty Images

The couple also gave prizes to three winners of a speech-writing competition in which they spoke about their most inspiring women.

Alton Towers' newest ride, Wicker Man, will open on Saturday 17 March, the theme park has announced.

It's the first wooden rollercoaster to be built in the UK in more than 20 years.

Image source, Mike Buck

Image source, Mike Buck

Ryszard Masierak's lorry was involved in a crash that killed eight people after he stopped in the inside lane.

The driver of this school bus has been praised for his quick-thinking after it burst into flames in the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said the vehicle was travelling on the A449, near British Camp, at 08:39 when it caught fire and the students had to be quickly led to safety.

Image source, Hereford and Worcester

The road had to be closed while the blaze was put out and the fire service called it "an amazing escape for a coachload of students".

Shrewsbury Town announce a £409,000 profit for the 2016-17 season in the same week they secured a place in a Wembley final.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are marking International Women's Day with a debate in the Commons.

As she did last year, Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips rose to "remember the women killed by male violence since the last International Women's Day debate".

Image source, House of Commons

Before she read the list of names, the Labour MP said: "After today I will be told that I don't care about men who died, which is obviously ridiculous."

Similar charges are not levelled at people who remember men who have been killed, she added.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Image source, PA

Judging is set to get under way on day one of Crufts at the NEC, Birmingham.

The four-day show opened with some agility events and sees the first judging this evening of Working and Pastoral breeds.

Preparations for the dogs have been going on all morning - if you think your hair takes a while to sort out, spare a thought for this Old English Sheepdog.

Image source, PA

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Firefighters have been monitoring the huge pile of waste since September 2016.

The couple arrive at an event to encourage young women into engineering and science-based careers.

Crowds have lined the streets in Wolverhampton to give former mayor, Elias Mattu a final send-off.

"You will be missed," the council tweeted.

Ten people have been charged with causing public nuisance in connection with a "ride out" event in the West Midlands.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The men are accused of taking part in an illegal rally through Solihull and Birmingham in June 2016.

The total number charged over the incident is now 29, said West Midlands Police. , external

They are due to appear before Birmingham Magistrates charged with causing causing public nuisance.

Jagroop Shinbt

Leon and Fabian Edwards grew up in part of Birmingham surrounded by "a lot of gang culture", but found their calling when they channelled their energy into mixed martial arts (MMA).

Image source, Instagram

Leon, 26, is considered to be one of the best welterweights in the UFC - he is ranked 15th - and has been a regular face in the organisation for over four years.

His younger brother, Fabian, 24, fights for UK-based promotion BAMMA and has his eyes set on championship glory.

The BBC MMA Show caught up with the brothers to discuss what it’s like to be part of a family that’s passionate about fighting.

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the stories on the Shropshire Star website today:

• £9 million Shrewsbury JLR showroom plan thrown into doubt, external
• Road remains closed due to 'increasingly unstable' snow drifts, external
• Work is starting again at Mile End roundabout, external

The paramedic was attacked following a row with a man over where the ambulance had parked.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

A panel brought in by the government to oversee the running of Birmingham City Council is to remain despite saying in August it would stand down.

The tone of the latest letter from the panel keeping an eye on Birmingham City Council for the government might be all about collaboration, but the fact that they’re still in place at all says a lot about the trials and tribulations the local authority faced in 2017.

The panel was put in place three years ago, in essence putting Birmingham in ‘special measures’ after a damning independent report found it was systematically failing.

Last summer it looked like the panel was about to say "our work here is done" – but then the bin dispute happened. And they’ve been back in the picture ever since.

How the council manages its finances remains one of the biggest concerns and this latest letter talks about the fact this year’s Budget relies heavily on reserves – a situation that can’t continue.

But the panel says with "transparency" from senior leadership, the relationship between it and the council will now be less big brother – and more of a partnership.

Warwickshire's Sam Hain has the potential to play Test cricket for England within 12 months, says Bears boss Ashley Giles.

A man who killed three former partners, including one in Wolverhampton, has had his minimum sentence increased at the Appeal Court.

Theodore Johnson was jailed for life at the Old Bailey in January and ordered to serve at least 26 years behind bars for the murder of 51-year-old Angela Best at his north London home.

He had had two previous manslaughter convictions after killing his wife in 1981 and another former partner in 1992.

Image source, Met Police

Three judges ruled today that the sentence was "unduly lenient" and increased the sentence to 30 years following an application by Solicitor General Robert Buckland.