A crane has fallen at the construction site of the £350m Midland Metropolitan Hospital.

According to the fire service, a 20m section of crane fell on a flat roof of a building there, with another 20m section left unstable.

It said earlier it appeared the crane at the scene in Smethwick was being dismantled when it fell.

Construction of the hospital has been troubled, and at one point it stood only two-thirds completed with work stalled.

A spokesperson for the trust which will run the hospital says: “We were informed immediately of this incident and notified that no-one has been harmed. I am confident that this matter will be thoroughly investigated.”

Image source, @Anthony17459340

The fire service says it's handed over to onsite agent, builder Balfour Beatty, and a plan is being put in place to make safe the area. A structural engineer has been requested.

The fire service confirmed nobody had been hurt, with only "minimal damage" done to the building.

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

Natalie Putt's sister pleads for anyone with information to "make it right" and come forward.

BBC Shropshire

Two Shropshire veterans taking part in a desert fundraising challenge have described how they rescued a German family who were stuck in the dunes.

David Robb and Matt Bispham set off on their 800-mile (1,287 km) journey across the Rub' al Khali desert between Oman and Dubai on 1 March, using 4x4 vehicles to cross dunes up to 400 ft high.

Image source, VetRun180

Mr Robb (pictured below), who is from Telford, said they spotted the roof of the Germans' vehicle and pulled over to find a couple and their two children, with just one litre of water left between them.

He said: "They'd decided they wanted to go off-road, to go and have a look at the sand dunes and they'd been stuck for three days. We spotted them, we pulled them out and rescued them."

Image source, VetRun180

The expedition was run by the charity group Vet Run 180 which is for veterans with disabilities or PTSD.

BBC News Travel

The exit slip road from the M5 up to the M6 northbound is currently blocked in the West Midlands.

There's queuing traffic in the area, says Highways England.

A tower crane has collapsed on to a building in Smethwick.

West Midlands Fire Service said it was called at 11:40 to reports of a 20m section falling on to the flat roof of a building that was under construction.

It said it appeared the crane was being dismantled when it fell over.

Image source, @Anthony17459340

A cordon has been set up in the Grove Street area, near an industrial estate where the collapse is believed to have happened.

The fire service said nobody was hurt and "minimal damage" had been done to the building.

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

A shop worker was attacked with a baseball bat and threatened with a knife during a robbery in Nuneaton.

Image source, Google

Five men and a woman entered the Jesvic Convenience Store on Camp Hill Road at about 20:15 on Monday.

The victim, a 30-year-old man, suffered minor facial injuries.

The offenders fled with alcohol, said Warwickshire Police.

Shropshire Star

From the Shropshire Star today:

• Post Office reopens after months of staffing problems, external
• MP quits pro-Brexit ERG - to ensure Brexit, external
• Nine council officials earn more than £100,000, external

A 1979 photography project asked passers-by to take snaps of themselves using a makeshift studio built on a street in a multicultural Birmingham suburb.

Image source, Derek Bishton

An exhibition of the Handsworth Self Portrait images showcases how people interacted with the idea of the "selfie" 40 years ago.

Image source, Derek Bishton

Running on weekends in 1979, Handsworth Self Portrait project, by Derek Bishton, Brian Homer and John Reardon, saw more than 500 people taking photographs of themselves in a range of poses.

Image source, Derek Bishton, Brian Homer and John Reardon

Speaking to BBC WM, Derek Bishton says the reaction to the exhibition has been "overwhelming", with "scores" of those photographed having been to see it.

He said: "People have gone on to do incredibly positive, productive things, so it was a marvelous moment really that we captured."

Handsworth Self Portrait: 40 Years On is at the Midlands Arts Centre, external, Birmingham, until Sunday 2 June.

BBC Shropshire

An RAF Cosford aircraft technician says he hopes to finally get his hands on his Olympic bobsleigh medal in November.

Stuart Benson was part of a four-man British team which finished fifth at the 2014 Sochi games, but was promoted to the bronze medal position after two Russian teams which finished above them were disqualified for doping offences.

Image source, Getty Images

It was made official on 28 March but he said he had to wait until an IOC member was available to present the medal.

There won't be a podium for Stuart, who retired from the sport three years ago, but he says there are plans for a ceremony at the annual team GB ball, later in the year.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gurdip Thandi

An infant school in Walsall is employing someone dedicated to changing pupils’ nappies.

Image source, Google

The unnamed school was one of many examples of how youngsters in the area were not ready to start school, a councillor said.

In a report to full council on Monday, Councillor Chris Towe said letters would be sent out to parents informing them of the basic skills their children would be expected to have when they started school.

He said headteachers had raised concerns that many youngsters were two or three years behind where they should be, with many unable to hold a pen properly, use knives and forks, wash their hands, or turn pages - with some in nappies rather than underwear.

“The letter will give advice on what [parents] can do or where they can get help but this is a first step to try to engage with parents so they understand their responsibilities,” he said.

An officer was on hand to console a Wolves fan after Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat at Wembley.

Health bosses say cuts to personal medical services contracts is in line with national guidance.

A man suffered a serious gunshot wound when a car was fired at from another vehicle in Birmingham last night.

Image source, Google

Officers were called to Farnhurst Road in the Washwood Heath area after a grey Honda Civic was targeted.

A 22-year-old passenger is being treated in hospital for an injury to his abdomen. It is not thought to be life-threatening.

Scientists are closer to pinpointing where and when different grass species will trigger hay fever.

The New Saints could wrap up the Welsh Premier League title on Friday, if their closest rivals, Connah's Quay Nomads, lose or draw away to Bala Town.

The Oswestry-based side has a seven-point lead at the top of the table and only needs one point from its remaining three games to be crowned champions.

TNS have also surpassed their own record for the largest goal difference - it's now 76.

Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater was arrested after a crash in Mere, Cheshire, on Monday.

Farnhurst Road in Washwood Heath has been closed in both directions, with police vehicles in place to prevent access.

The cars are at either end of the street, between Bromford Road and A4040 Bromford Lane.

One local taxi driver has described seeing officers carrying out a fingertip search in the area.

Buses are being diverted away from the area.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
David Irwin

Residents say they are dismayed after a “huge” crater appeared beside an estate’s latest housing scheme, with fears it will pose a major danger to children’s safety.

More than 100 people have signed a petition objecting to the “pond” which has been dug on land next to the Alderbrook development, in Arran Way, Smith’s Wood, Solihull.

Many are parents concerned about the drainage pit being excavated a stone’s throw from a number of nearby schools, arguing it could put pupils at risk.

John Halton, regeneration director of the North Solihull Partnership, said the drainage pit would eventually be planted with reed beds and was in line with Environment Agency requirements.

“It’s fully compliant with all the statutory requirements, through the planning process and through national policy," he added.

Birmingham Live

Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today are:

• 'Deleted' council boss walked away with £444K package, external
• Hooded men smash window and climb into Audi in botched robbery bid, external
• Convicted fraudster 'to have £750,000 luxury home repossessed', external

Daniel Wainwright
Data unit - English regions

Coventry had one of the lowest turnouts in English local elections last year.

People are being urged to register to vote in the local elections by 12 April, but only about a third use their ballot.

Just 24.4% of registered voters in the city returned a ballot last year, compared to an average in England of 35%.

BBC News has been looking at what is putting them off.