Birmingham City accept Harlee Dean's two-game ban for his red card in Sunday's 2-0 defeat by promoted Wolves.

Ninety four staff have been made redundant from the Birmingham home shopping company Betterware Ltd after it called in administrators.

A petition to wind-up the company was put forward by HM Revenue and Customs earlier this month and it was placed in the hands of joint administrators Gareth Rusling and Claire Dowson of Begbies Traynor on 13 April.

The company was founded in 1928 in East London selling brushes and polishes door to door, taking on the name Betterware in 1970 and moving to Birmingham in the 1980s.

Claire Dowson said: “It is very sad to see the demise of such a long-established business.

"Our aim was, of course, to find a purchaser for the business as a going concern in order to safeguard the jobs, but unfortunately, despite our efforts, this did not prove possible."

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A car involved in a fatal crash in Stoke-on-Trent was travelling the wrong way down the A50 when it happened, police say.

Image source, Lyz Sweetland Stubbs

The car was being chased by officers after failing to stop for a routine check on Etruria Vale Road, Hanley yesterday morning but the force says the pursuit was stopped before the collision near Longton.

A man died in the crash and an 18-year-old woman who was in the car is critically ill but stable in hospital.

Staffordshire Police has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Hampshire pacemen Kyle Abbott and Fidel Edwards bowl out Worcestershire as they win by 196 runs at Southampton.

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

A West Midlands Tory MP says there's no need for MPs to have a vote on Theresa May's decision to authorise air strikes against the Syrian government.

Opposition parties say MPs should have been consulted before the UK joined the US and France in bombing three Syrian sites, in response to a suspected chemical attack on the town of Douma.

Labour says its advice suggests the military strikes were not legal.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson promised MPs would have "abundant time" to have their say.

BBC Weather

You can't move, it seems, for people talking about how great the weather is looking this week with temperatures set to soar by Wednesday above 20C (68F) in the West Midlands.

But it's also that time of year when, for many people, the hayfever season's getting under way with the pollen count rising.

Here's Louise Lear taking a look at how our weather can influence pollen count:

Allen Cook
BBC News

It's all over for Worcestershire and not in the way they'd have wanted to open their County Championship campaign in Division One, with defeat.

Chasing a target today of 324 to beat Hampshire, they started the morning at 59-3 but lost their remaining seven wickets before lunch, ending 127 all out and losing by 196 runs., external

Meanwhile, Warwickshire's early hopes of wickets against Sussex have been frustrated by a partnership of over 100-runs, moving the visitors into the lead against the Bears.

Follow play in that match on local radio commentary or via the BBC cricket website.

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these top stories today:

• Minister rejoices over pause on double yellow lines, external
• No driving ban for man found drunk in a car in Worcester, external

• County council 'overly optimistic' about its finances, independent report said, external

Police speed guns are out in the West Midlands as part of a week of European action.

Today, officers are logging speeding traffic on Bristol Street, Birmingham.

Image source, West Midlands Police

An HGV doing 54mph and a motorbike travelling at 56mph are among the vehicles to be caught so far.

A second site on Belgrave Middleway has so far led to more than 30 prosecutions police say, with some drivers caught doing more than 80mph in the 40mph zone.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A man's been arrested over a suspected road rage argument , externalwhich police say turned into a "vicious attack".

Image source, Google

A 78-year-old man suffered injuries to his head, arms and legs, police say, after the incident on Saturday on Bewdley Road, Kidderminster.

Officers have arrested a 51-year-old from Ludlow on suspicion of assault and released him on bail.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Mr Blue Sky by ELO was the song that launched Birmingham's Commonwealth Games 2022 handover.

The live performance in Victoria Square saw dancers, drag queens and young people mime along to the well known song.

So what did you think? You've been sharing your thoughts on the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external, here are a selection. It's certainly been met with mixed reviews.

Linda Dimmock writes: , external"It will be great for Birmingham and other ereas in that region loved the ELO music really vamped up the ad for it."

Kay Hailstone adds:, external "Can't help it!! I have always stood up for Birmingham as my home town, but after the end of the Commonwealth games handover to Birmingham I have no words except that I feel that no way was my Birmingham represented."

Image source, Getty Images

Lin Shaw, external: "Terrible video of our wonderful city what a bad impression it has given the commonwealth before we’ve started."

Sharon Modley adds: , external"It was awful, didnt represent Birmingham at all."

Shirley, in Solihull, external, praised the Mr Blue Sky section, but said other parts just made the city look like a "slum" and would be perceived negatively by others outside of the city.

"I was born and raised in London, and now live in the Birmingham area, but can tell you for most people in London that Birmingham has a terrible image and reputation" she wrote.

Ann Marie Cooper adds: , external"Why are people so negative? I thought it was good fun and can only be good for the city#BRUM, external"

Joanne Harrison writes: , external"I wonder what the rest of the world thought?#Brum, external"

Greg Kelly died in hospital after being attacked by Robert Keavey and Phillip Picken in 2017.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The hunt's continuing for the vandals who sprayed graffiti on several heritage train carriages., external

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Volunteers at the Churnet Valley Railway in Leek, Staffordshire arrived on 8 April to discover that large silver lettering had been sprayed across several of them.

BBC Radio Stoke understands that most of the paint has now been removed.

BBC Sport

Former British number four Dan Evans is set to return from a one-year drugs ban as a wildcard entrant at the Glasgow Trophy on 28 April.

Image source, Getty Images

The 27-year-old, Birmingham player who tested positive for cocaine during the Barcelona Open last year, is eligible to return on 24 April after passing "agreed checks" by the Lawn Tennis Association.

He said: "I have learned a lot about myself in my time away from the game, a sport that I love very dearly."

Evans added he was "grateful".

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star's covering these top stories today:

• Plea for patience as work goes on at notorious Oswestry junction, external
• Delays at Shropshire hospitals 'could cost patients their sight', external
• Homes to be monitored for radioactive gas, external

A 15-year-old girl was reportedly attacked twice in one night in separate incidents in Birmingham.

Temperatures are set to rise over the coming week with some areas expected to reach up to 23C (10F) on Thursday.

Image source, Mikesnapper

BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about this morning recording blue skies and temperatures across the region.

Image source, My Sky Eye

Image source, Foggy

Play is under way on the final day's play of both Worcestershire and Warwickshire's opening fixtures of the County Championship.

Away at Hampshire, Worcestershire started today 59-3, chasing a target of 265 runs to win but have already lost two early wickets to be 67-5.

While Warwickshire, with Sussex 194-6 overnight, have already taken a wicket through Keith Barker, to have their visitors 202-7.

With play continuing in both matches, keep up-to-date through local radio commentary or via the BBC Sport website.

Coventry Live
Coventry Live

Some of the main stories on the Coventry Live website today include:

• Serial killer did not kill Coventry mum Nicola Payne, says cold case investigator, external
• Police issue urgent appeal after man disappears during medical treatment, external
• Wasps stars bring home gold at the Commonwealth Games, external

Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent

A 16-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of a girl in Wolverhampton.

Viktorija Sokolova was found dead in the city's West Park on Thursday morning.

The boy who can’t be named for legal reasons appeared at Dudley Magistrates' Court in front of District Judge Michael Wheeler.

He spoke only to confirm his name and address.

He was remanded to secure Youth Accommodation before appearing tomorrow at Wolverhampton Crown Court for a bail hearing.

A 17-year-old youth arrested last week has been bailed pending further police inquiries.