Summary

  • Updates from Monday 20 August to Monday 27 August

  • Click on related stories for updates from your area

Live Reporting

  2. Commonwealth Games 'legacy' top of the agenda

    BBC WM

    The new chairman of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee says the lasting legacy is top of the agenda.

    John Crabtree will be heading up the committee for the Games and says he wanted to "bring some swagger" back to the region.

    Artist impression of the Alexander StadiumBirmingham city Council

    We have a lot here in the Midlands that we can pull together. Providing we focus on local people and look after the neighborhoods where the Games are going to be, and involve lots of volunteers and focus on industry and business, it's hard to imagine that we can get that wrong. It's going to be a lot of work.

    John Crabtree, Chair of Birmingham 2022

    Commonwealth Games: Next host city Birmingham puts on a show in Gold Coast ceremony

  3. Moeen 'absolutely vital' for Worcs' T20 finals bid

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    The leadership of Moeen Ali's been hailed ahead of Worcestershire Rapids' T20 Blast quarter-final tomorrow.

    Moeen Ali in action for Worcestershire RapidsALLSPORT/Getty Images

    The side are looking to reach Finals Day in the contest for the first time and host Gloucestershire at New Road.

    Moeen goes into the match in good T20 form, having hit 115 off 56 balls in the side's last T20 game.

    He's a player of great experience, not only on the international stage but now with the Indian Premier League, and that kind of knowledge he can bring to a group like ours is absolutely vital and the way he's gone about it, he's been very calm."

    Joe Leach, Worcestershire club captain

  4. Bank holiday closure for beauty spot after huge blaze

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    A beauty spot and the area around it's going to stay shut this weekend in Staffordshire, despite fire crews having left the scene after a devastating blaze.

    Scorched area of The RoachesStaffordshire Fire Service

    The fire service was at the Roaches in the Peak District for 12 days as they fought a fire which, at its height, spread across around 200 acres of moorland, woodland and heath.

    They left the area this week but the county's wildlife trust says the area's staying shut across the bank holiday weekend as it isn't safe to visit.

  5. WWI battlefields images to go on display

    Pictures which have been seen by millions of people worldwide are going on display in Worcester's Cathedral Square from tomorrow.

    The exhibition, called "Fields of Battle - Lands of Peace", is a collection of photographs of First World War battlefields as they are today.

    WW1 battlefieldFields of Battle - Lands of Peace

    The exhibition is free and runs until 30 September.

    WW1 battlefieldFields of Battle - Lands of Peace

  6. UK's biggest gaming fest comes to city

    BBC Midlands Today

    The UK's biggest gaming festival arrives in Birmingham today for the bank holiday weekend.

    Insomnia 63 is taking place at Birmingham NEC.

    The event features the latest games, the chance to experience virtual reality and to meet popular YouTubers.

    Insomnia 63, Birmingham NEC

    Industry experts say the event highlights the growing importance of gaming to the national and local economy.

    It's very significant to the region, given that the West Midlands is a hotbed for publishing and development. It's good to have it here.

    Dr Alex Wade, Senior research fellow, Birmingham City University

  7. Asylum seekers sent to Salford to report to Home Office

    BBC Radio Stoke

    Asylum seekers in Stoke-on-Trent are having to travel to Salford to sign in with the Home Office.

    The centre people used to report to in Etruria closed at the beginning of this month, and now there are concerns about how they will pay for their travel to Greater Manchester.

    The round-trip is now about 100 miles.

    If you have to spend £21 to sign in at the Home Office to say that you're still here, it's obviously a huge difficulty and it's the money to cover them for the whole week. They should be able to sign here in Stoke-on-Trent. The local police station was easier and then the custody suite, that was a bit more difficult - but to go to Salford is appalling

    Reverend Sally Smith, MD, Sanctus - a support group for asylum seekers

    The Home Office says it closed the Eturia office for "operational reasons" and people travelling to Salford will have their travel costs repaid.

    The spokesperson added: "Those who reported to Stoke now have to travel to Manchester and the majority of these individuals are required to do so on less than a monthly basis."

  8. City celebrates 100 years of the RAF

    BBC Midlands Today

    Some of the most famous military aircraft to ever grace the skies have landed in Birmingham city centre to mark 100 years of the Royal Air Force.

    A First World War era Sopwith Snipe, a Super Marine Spitfire, an F-35 and a Eurofighter Typhoon will be turning heads over the weekend as they are parked outside the Council House in Victoria Square.

    Replica plane outside Birmingham's Council House

    The full-sized replica aircraft will be in place until Monday. They've been chosen to represent the many leaps in technology over the RAF's century in the air.

    Replica plane in Victoria Square, Birmingham

  9. West Brom set to face former manager in hunt for third win

    BBC WM Sport

    West Bromwich Albion are looking for their third league win on the bounce tonight as they travel to face Middlesborough.

    Tony PulisPA

    It will mean going up against their former manager, Tony Pulis (pictured), for the first time since he was sacked by the Baggies in November 2017.

    West Brom beat QPR 7-1 at The Hawthorns in their previous outing and are set to stick with the same line-up.

    They've got a very, very experienced manager, knows his way in the game, looking forward to seeing him once again. Certainly in our time when we've worked together, when I was a player, coach, still very much in contact with him and regard him as a very, very good friend."

    Darren Moore, West Bromwich Albion head coach

  10. Become a 'care hero'

    Nicola Beckford
    Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

    Herefordshire Council has launched a new website to encourage people to work as carers in the county.

    It's estimated there are 6,200 adult social care jobs in Herefordshire.

    careheroes.co.ukcareheroes.co.uk

    The ever-growing ageing population in the area means there's an increasing need for care professionals.

    The website is part of a campaign to help care providers recruit more staff.

  11. Plans for £3.4m improvements for cyclists and pedestrians

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    New cycle routes and walkways are being planned in part of Worcestershire as part of a £3.4m scheme to get people out of their cars.

    An existing crossing in BromsgroveWorcestershire County Council

    The county council says the Department for Transport is funding the schemes in Bromsgrove that will link places like the railway station, town centre and schools.

    It says there will be six more walking and cycling routes installed over the next two years and existing crossings will be upgraded, along with wider paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

  12. Car workshop fire 'accidental'

    A fire at a car workshop in Birmingham last night is thought to have been started accidentally.

    Fire investigators have been working through the night to try to establish the causes.

    Fire at a motor mechanic workshop, Bordesley Green, Birmingham

    The blaze broke out just before 18:30 yesterday evening, in the Bordesley Green area of the city.

    At its height 50 fire fighters were tackling the severe flames.

    Fire at a motor mechanic workshop, Bordesley Green, Birmingham

  13. Wolves defender expected to be fit for champions game

    BBC Sport

    Wolves wing-back Matt Doherty is expected to be fit for their game tomorrow against Manchester City, despite being forced off through injury against Leicester.

    Matt Doherty of Wolverhampton WanderersALLSPORT/Getty Images

    Meanwhile, winger Adama Traore could make his first start after impressing as a substitute last weekend.

    Wolves have a draw and a loss from their opening two Premier League fixtures.

  14. Bank holiday getaway: Roadworks and rail delays

    It's the bank holiday weekend and a busy time on roads and railways as the big getaway gets under way across the Midlands.

    Highways England say they have completed and removed various roadworks in time for the extra traffic - though there are various works still taking place along the M6 at Crewe, Coventry, Stafford and Oldbury.

    M6

    Trains will be disrupted across the Midlands as London Euston closes for a second weekend while engineering works are carried out.

    There are no trains to or from the London station across the entire three-day weekend.

    London Euston station closed for three weekends in a row

  15. Rain likely this afternoon

    Rich Davis
    BBC Weather presenter

    Today will be breezy and cool with sunny spells, but also showers.

    These are likely to be heaviest and most frequent during the afternoon with the chance of thunder - highs of 16C (61F).

    Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands

  16. Live updates for the West Midlands

    Stephanie Barnard
    BBC News

    Good morning.

    We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands between now and 19:00 this Friday.

    We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via:

  17. Nuclear power station trespasser jailed

    An amateur photographer caused 100 staff to be put on lockdown when scaled a fence at the disused station.

    Read More

  18. Paramedic struck off for sex with patient

    Mr Finnerty was in a rapid response vehicle on his own when he was called to the "vulnerable" woman's home.

    Read More

  19. Our live coverage across the day

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

  20. Cash and supplies raised to aid victims of Kerala floods

    Amy Cole
    BBC Midlands Today

    An urgent appeal has been launched by a group from Worcestershire following devastating floods in India.

    Flooded areaAFP

    Nearly 400 people have died and thousands remained stranded by the worst flooding in the state of Kerala in a century.

    Worcestershire is home to nearly 100 families who still have relatives in the area in India.

    They've been collecting tinned good, blankets and £5,000 which they hope to send to those who need it by the weekend.

    My family are cut-off from their place, my cousin's house got flooded, so we are all affected by these floods."

    Lizoman Mapranath, Kerala Cultural Association, Redditch