Summary

  • Updates from Monday 7 May to Sunday 12 May

  • Click related stories to read updates from your area

Live Reporting

  1. Work due to start on Commonwealth Games' village

    BBC WM

    Work's due to begin today on the athletes' village for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

    Artist's impression of the villageBirmingham City Council

    The Games Village in Perry Barr will include about 1,000 homes, dining areas, transport and services to accommodate up to 6,500 athletes and officials.

    After the games, the accommodation - a mix of apartments and town houses - is due to be converted to homes for sale and rent, including social and affordable housing.

    The city council says school children have been invited to the official launch this afternoon, along with athletes and members of the local community.

  2. Woman charged over city centre attack

    The victim, 20, remains in a critical condition in hospital after the attack on 1 May in Birmingham.

    Read More

  3. One man arrested and another wanted after body discovery

    One man has been arrested and police are searching for another, following the discovery of a 33-year-old man's body in Bedworth on Monday.

    Police have released this photo of the man they want to talk to and say 35-year-old John Allison from Bedworth should not be approached.

    John AllisonWest Midlands Police

    The arrested man, 35, is being held on suspicion of murder after the body find at a house in Bulkington Road.

    The force said a post-mortem examination and formal identification are due to take place tomorrow.

  4. Birmingham bins boss resigns after three months

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A councillor's stepping down from being in charge of Birmingham's bins after three months in the role.

    Bin bags piled up

    Councillor Brett O'Reilly's confirmed he'll stand down as cabinet member in charge of waste and recycling at the Labour group's AGM this weekend.

    A strike this year saw a series of walkouts start in February over "secret payments" made to non-striking GMB staff after a dispute in 2017.

    In March, the city council said it had agreed to pay £3,500 to each worker, resolving the dispute.

    Mr O'Reilly took on the role in February but said he is leaving to spend more time with his family - however he still intends to continue as councillor for the Longbridge and West Heath Ward.

  5. Leader resigns after local election win

    Rugby Borough Council leader Michael Stokes cites a new job role as the reason for standing down.

    Read More

  6. Woman charged after city centre 'attack'

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A woman's been charged with wounding after another woman was left in a critical condition following an attack in Birmingham, police said.

    Police at scene@SnapperSK

    The 20-year-old victim was found collapsed in Bull Street at 21:40 on 1 May.

    Savannah Ward, 22, of no fixed address, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday and was remanded into custody, to next appear at the city's crown court in June.

    West Midlands Police said a 19-year-old woman who was also arrested over the incident has been released on bail.

  7. Tree removed but disruption continues

    BBC News Travel

    Lines between Birmingham and Leamington Spa have reopened following a fault with the signalling system at Dorridge.

    In addition, the tree blocking the railway between Olton and Solihull has now been removed.

    While service returns to normal, trains may continue to be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes. Disruption is expected until 12:30.

    Tree downchiltern

  9. Knife Angel unveiled in Birmingham

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A sculpture dedicated to victims of knife crime has been unveiled in Birmingham.

    The Knfie Angel sculpture in Victoria SquareBirmingham City Council

    The 27ft (8m) Knife Angel is made from 100,000 blades handed in to police across the country and has messages from families affected by knife crime engraved on the wings.

    It was made at the British Inronworks Centre in Oswestry, first unveiled in 2017 and, since then, has been displayed in Liverpool, Hull and Coventry.

    The sculpture will be in Victoria Square until 5 June.

  10. Buses replace trains after tree blocks railway lines

    BBC News Travel

    Replacement buses are running between Solihull and Dorridge after a treed came down, blocking the railway lines.

    Train next to treeChiltern Main Line

    National Rail Enquiries says work's underway to clear the lines but services are being cancelled or delayed.

    Trains may continue to be cancelled or delayed by up to 50 minutes. Disruption is expected until 11:00.

    Train next to treeChiltern Main Line

  11. Worcestershire get Somerset in One-Day Cup play-off

    BBC Sport

    Worcestershire will host Somerset in their One-Day Cup play-off quarter-final on Friday.

    Worcestershire celebrating in One-Day Cup this seasonGetty Images

    The Pears had already booked their place by finishing second in the North Group.

    They now know their opponents as Somerset comfortably beat Surrey yesterday and will travel to New Road for the match.

  12. Council leader to stand down after five years

    The Conservative leader of Rugby Borough Council has announced he is stepping down after five years in charge.

    Michael Stokes says he's got a new job with his employer and can't spend as much time at the council as he used to.

    Michael StokesRugby Borough Council

    He will stay in post until 16 May when a new leader will be voted in.

  13. Tree blocks rail lines

    BBC News Travel

    Lines between Birmingham and Leamington Spa had reopened following a fault with the signalling system at Dorridge.

    However, there is now a tree blocking the railway between Tyseley and Dorridge disrupting trains on this route, the National Rail website reports.

    Trains may continue to be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 11:00.

    West Midlands Railway's said all railway lines are blocked and services could be cancelled, delayed or revised.

  14. Football club taking action after travellers pitch up

    Events at Stratford Town Football Club have been cancelled because a group of travellers have parked up there.

    The car park in Tiddington is also used as a drop-off point for Alveston School.

    Stratford Town stadiumGoogle

    The club is looking to get a court order to have them removed.

  15. 'Progressive Alliance' to run Wyre Forest District Council

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    A "progressive alliance" looks set to seize control of Wyre Forest District Council following last week's local elections.

    Wyre Forest District Council's HQGoogle

    Until Thursday, the authority was Conservative-controlled but the party lost six seats and its majority.

    The Independent Community and Health Concern group gained seats to be the next largest party with nine councillors.

    The council says that group, along with other independents, plus Liberal Democrat and Green councillors, have formed a coalition called the "Progressive Alliance" to run the authority after 22 May.

  16. M40 reopens after pedestrian 'hit by lorry'

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    The M40 southbound's reopened near Solihull after it was shut when a pedestrian was hit by a lorry.

    Warwickshire Police said the victim suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital after the collision near Hockley Heath.

    The southbound motorway was shut between J16 and J15 but Highways England said all lanes are now open.

  17. Police probe fatal shooting in Birmingham

    BBC Midlands Today

    Police are continuing to investigate a fatal shooting in Birmingham.

    A 23-year-old died in St Vincent Street West in Ladywood just after 17:00 BST on Tuesday.

    Police at the scene

    Two men, aged 20 and 19, are being treated in hospital for injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

  19. Man charged with murder of mum and daughter in Canada

    BBC News UK

    A British man has been charged with the murder of a woman and her one-year-old daughter in Canada.

    Jasmine Lovett, 25, and her daughter Aliyah SandersonCalgary Police

    Robert Leeming, 34, faces two counts of second-degree murder over the deaths of Jasmine Lovett, 25, and Aliyah Sanderson.

    Their bodies were discovered in woodland west of Calgary on Monday.

    Leeming is believed to be from Stoke-on-Trent and has lived in Canada for six years.

  20. Numbers show fall in number of GPs in West Midlands

    BBC News Health

    The number of GPs in the West Midlands has dropped by more than 100 over two years, the BBC can reveal.

    The NHS is seeing the first sustained fall in GP numbers in the UK for 50 years across the UK.

    A generic photo of a GPGetty Images

    An analysis by the Nuffield Trust shows the number of GPs per 100,000 people has fallen from nearly 65 in 2014 to 60 last year.

    In the West Midlands, the data shows there were 101 fewer GPs in 2018 compared to 2016, a fall of 2.8%. There were 58.1 GPs per 100,000 people in the region last year.

    The last time numbers fell like this was in the late 1960s and it comes at a time when the population is ageing and demands on GPs are rising.

    Patient groups said it was causing real difficulties in making appointments.

    NHS bosses maintain that steps are being taken to improve access, with more GPs being trained and extra support staff recruited to work alongside them.