Summary

  • Updates from Monday 5 March to Sunday 11 March 2018

  • Click on Related Stories to view stories from your area

  1. One lane of M6 reopens after lorry firepublished at 08:33 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    One lane on the M6 northbound has reopened after a lorry fire just north of junction four.

    The entry slip road from the M42 remains closed.

    Lorry fireImage source, Warwickshire Police

    No one was injured in the incident, police said.

    Scene of lorry fireImage source, Warwickshire Police

    Traffic is filtering through very slowly, said police, with drivers being advised of delays in the area.

  2. Call for 'essential' use of water onlypublished at 08:26 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018
    Breaking

    While water supplies have been reconnected in Birmingham, South Staffordshire Water says a number of its customers are waking up to find they're cut off or suffering low pressure.

    The firm says after the recent freeze, it's experiencing "very high levels of demand for water due to multiple bursts and leaks".

    Tap

    It's called on customers not to use water "for anything that isn’t essential" and asks anyone who spots a burst pipe to report it as soon as possible.

    The firm says engineers have been working through the night to try to restore supplies.

  3. Horse face-plants into snow-driftpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    Jack the horse had fun in the snow at his home near Ross-on-Wye, in Herefordshire.

    Read More
  4. More than 160 homes without electricitypublished at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    More than 160 homes and businesses in Birmingham are without power this morning.

    Western Power Distribution says the outage is affecting those with a B31 and B29 postcode, and engineers hope to have everyone reconnected later this morning.

  5. Birmingham appoint new managerpublished at 08:06 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    BBC Sport

    Birmingham City’s new manager Gary Monk will be introduced at a news conference later today.

    Gary MonkImage source, Getty Images

    The 38-year-old former Swansea, Leeds and Middlesbrough boss succeeds the sacked Steve Cotterill to become Blues' fifth manager in 15 months.

    "The club is delighted to have secured the services of one of the game's brightest young managers," a statement read., external

    Pep Clotet, Monk's assistant at Swansea and Leeds, has also been brought in.

  6. Vehicle fire affecting M6published at 07:56 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    BBC News Travel

    We're told smoke from a lorry on fire is to blame for disruption on both carriageways of the M6 just north of junction four.

    The northbound entry slip from the M42 is currently blocked and emergency services are at the scene dealing with the blaze.

    The northbound carriageway is blocked and delays are building in both directions, Highways England says.

  7. Travel warning on M6published at 07:50 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    BBC News Travel

    Long queues are now building on the M6 southbound between J7 and J6 after several vehicles broke down.

    One lane is blocked and Highways England says delays are currently running at more than 45 minutes on the approach from J10A.

    It's one of several incidents on the M6 this morning.

  8. Grandson in court over woman's murderpublished at 07:42 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    A man is due in court charged with the murder of his grandmother, who was stabbed to death at her home.

    A neighbour found 74-year-old Anne James collapsed with suspected knife injuries at her home in Walsall on Wednesday evening.

    Anne JamesImage source, Family handout

    Her grandson Greg Irvin, 25, from Walsall Wood, was arrested the day after her body was discovered and charged with murder on Sunday.

    Mr Irvin is due to appear before magistrates in Wolverhampton later.

  9. Gritters out againpublished at 07:31 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    Just when you thought temperatures were on the rise, several councils have told us the gritters were out again overnight and this morning.

    If you're out on the roads first thing there are warnings to be careful.

  10. Pardew given more time at West Brompublished at 07:27 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    BBC Sport

    Alan Pardew will stay as West Brom boss for at least one more match, despite Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Watford.

    Media caption,

    Watford 1-0 West Brom: One mistake cost West Brom defeat - Alan Pardew

    It had been thought another loss would spell the end of Pardew's short reign at the Premier League's bottom side.

    However, club owner Guochuan Lai and chief executive Mark Jenkins noted the vast improvement in the performance at Vicarage Road, compared with the home defeat by Huddersfield a week earlier.

    Pardew will therefore take charge of Saturday's home game against Leicester.

  11. Water supplies restoredpublished at 07:14 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    Customers suffering no water or low pressure in Birmingham over the weekend should now have supplies restored, said Severn Trent.

    The company said they'd had to deal with an "unprecedented" number of leaks in the area, following the cold weather, which put pressure on the network.

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  12. Video: Can we expect an end to the cold weather?published at 07:08 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    After a chilly start it should be a dry day with bright and sunny spells, but some cloud and rain moving in by mid-afternoon and highs of 9C (48F).

    Media caption,

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  13. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March 2018

    Vanessa Pearce
    BBC News

    Welcome to our live service for Monday.

    We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

    We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external