The BBC has discovered a postcode lottery when it comes to public chargers for electric vehicles.

Birmingham is one of the worst areas of Britain for electric car charging points, a BBC investigation has found.

Image source, Getty Images

There are only four charging points for every 1,000 licensed electric cars, the figures show, which is the third worst ratio in England.

A "patchy" network of charging points is discouraging UK drivers from embracing electric cars, analysis suggests.

More than a third of local authorities have 10 or fewer locations where drivers can plug in their vehicles, with wide variation across the country.

BBC Arts

Companies from across the UK, including Birmingham, will come together today for an on-air and online celebration of dance.

Eleven hours of events are underway from hubs in Birmingham, London, Leeds, Swansea, Belfast and Glasgow showcasing the UK's diverse and dynamic dance scene.

From the DanceXchange , externalstudios in Birmingham Hippodrome you can watch an energetic, high octane contemporary dance class led by Johnny Autin, creative director of Birmingham’s Autin Dance Theatre, and accompanied by live music from award winning percussionist Azizi Cole.

Firefighters have freed two trapped motorists after a collision in Brewood this morning.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called out at 08:50 and there was a casualty in each car

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it took both patients to New Cross Hospital, but neither had serious injuries.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

People have painted their own disabled parking sign on a road because the old markings had almost entirely faded away.

It comes amid claims Stoke-on-Trent City Council doesn't have the money for new paint.

The new markings on Baden Road have allowed 82-year-old Doreen Poole to be dropped off in her wheelchair right in front of her door.

She said she was "very glad" the unknown painter had done it.

Another resident, Frederick Smith, said he'd been plagued with vans and cars blocking his driveway, but had been told by the council it didn't have the cash to replace the double-yellow markings that used to be there.

But the cabinet member for regeneration, transport and heritage, Daniel Jellyman, said: “We haven’t received any reports of problems with road markings in this area, but we will happily send someone out to have a look now we know about it."

The jury in the Birmingham pub bombings inquests will continue deliberations today.

Image source, Birmingham Inquests

The bombs killed 21 and injured 220 at the Mulberry Bush in the base of the city's Rotunda building and the Tavern in the Town in nearby New Street.

In returning their verdicts, jurors have been asked to consider issues including the adequacy of the coded bomb warning given by the attackers, the police's response to the call, and whether the authorities were tipped off about the bombings.

The 11 members of the panel have sat through almost six weeks of evidence and have been tasked with completing a questionnaire, listing their narrative findings.

The coroner has instructed them to return a verdict of unlawful killing.

The Stoke-on-Trent North MP, Ruth Smeeth, says she's working to protect the pensions of the 318 workers who've lost their jobs at the pottery firm Dudson.

She said she's being supported by the unions and added that no-one was expecting the collapse of the 200-year-old firm.

Image source, Google

The Labour MP added that two weeks ago union officials were busy negotiating this year's pay deal with no idea the firm was about to go into administration.

Twenty-three universities, including three in Birmingham, are set to receive a government letter urging them to end "unacceptable" admission tactics.

Image source, University of Birmingham

It's a bid to stamp out the "unethical" practice of "conditional unconditional" offers, which, the letter says, are used to lure students into accepting places.

A "conditional unconditional" offer informs students they are guaranteed a place but only if they put the university as their first option.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds is set to write to Staffordshire University and Keele University along with Aston University, University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University.

Mr Hinds says universities are "backing students into a corner" to accept a place at their institution and trapping them from exploring other options that could be more suitable.

Birmingham Live

Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today are:

• Man arrested as missing baby found safe and well, external
• Birmingham universities criticised for 'unacceptable' offers to students, external
• Teen 'wannabe gangster' shock outburst at judge, external

Almost 35,000 Wolves supporters are heading to Wembley this weekend for their FA Cup semi-final against Watford.

They're into the last four for the first time in 21 years after their victory over Manchester United in the quarter finals.

They face a Watford team who’ve already beaten Wolves in the Premier League this season.

Coventry Live

Some of the Coventry Live headlines today are:

• Thug breaks man's jaw after he refused to hand over 60p, external
• Ambitious plans to make Coventry's canals a 'jewel in the crown', external
• Man arrested as missing baby found, external

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Port Vale manager John Askey says he won't let speculation linking him with other jobs distract him.

Since arriving more than two months ago he's guided them on a run which has seen them move eight points clear of the League Two relegation zone.

Image source, Getty Images

Askey also said his side had "a lot to play for" in their local derby against Crewe this weekend, with safety still not guaranteed.

Gay Muslims have told the BBC the No Outsiders books would have helped their mental health growing up.

The programme was created in 2014 by Andrew Moffat, the assistant head teacher at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham, and aims to teach children about the characteristics protected by the Equality Act – such as sexual orientation and religion.

Some parents at the school say lessons featuring books depicting same-sex relationships are not age-appropriate and have been protesting about it.

The BBC's LGBT correspondent, Ben Hunte, spoke to five gay Muslims about the issues raised by the protests.

Birmingham's Clean Air Zone could raise more than £40m in charges and fines in its first year.

The proposals are to bring in fees for older vehicles, which release high levels of toxic emissions, that are driven within the city's ring road from January 2020.

Paying would only apply to non-compliant vehicles - diesels manufactured before 2015 and petrol cars made before 2006.

Birmingham City Council maintains any money raised will be used to improve public transport.

A woman is set to appear in court today charged with murdering her husband.

The man - named by police as John Carroll, 52 - died in hospital on Tuesday after being stabbed at a property in Alwold Court, Barnes Hill, Selly Oak.

The accused, Deborah Carroll, 53, of the same address, has been remanded in custody.

She is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court later.

A report from an inquiry into disgraced Ian Paterson is delayed because of the "sheer number" of victims.

A member of staff at a shop in Stoke-on-Trent was attacked by a teenager armed with a metal bar, police say.

Four teens, aged between 16 and 18, entered the International Shop on Beverley Drive in Bentilee just after 20:00 on Wednesday night and threatened staff.

A 39-year-old was taken to hospital with a head injury and has since been discharged.

The four made off with a money from the till, said Staffordshire Police.

Express and Star

These are some of the early headlines on the Express and Star website today:

• Extension planned over order to curb trouble on Walsall estate, external
• Raciallyabusive gambler on the run after being sentenced, external
• Oldbury warehouse plan to bring dozens of jobs, external

Workers who lost their job after the collapse of a 200-year-old pottery manufacturer, have expressed concerns over their pensions.

Image source, Google

More than 300 people lost their jobs after the closure of Dudson, in Stoke-on-Trent, which has been making tableware, glassware and fine china since 1800.

Representatives from the GMB union said staff were told to leave the premises "with no notice whatsoever" and called it a "devastating blow".

The pension scheme is set to be assessed over the coming weeks, said administrators PWC.

A man is being questioned by officers investigating the disappearance of a five-month-old baby.

The boy was reported missing from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, on Thursday, as officers launched a manhunt for a man called James Dempsey.

West Midlands Police later announced that the child had been found and thanked the public for its help in the search.

A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of child abduction and remains in custody, the force said.