Eight lambs have been butchered in a field on the border between Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

Warwickshire Police said it happened in the early hours of yesterday morning, near the Magna Park Roundabout on the A5 and it believes a vehicle used by the criminals may have been parked on nearby Coalpit Lane or another road for some time.

The force also thinks the offenders may have visited the field in the days leading up to the crime.

Birmingham Bears lose injured Australia spinner Ashton Agar for the rest of their T20 Blast campaign.

BBC Midlands Today

The University of Wolverhampton has made a bid to buy the iconic Beatties building in the city centre., external

Image source, Google

The 142-year-old store was saved from closure by Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley last year, after its parent company House of Fraser went into administration.

But the owners have put it up for a sale with a guide price of £3m.

The university says it would want to use the space "creatively".

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Birmingham Bears will be without fast bowler Olly Stone and Australian Ashton Agar (pictured) for their T20 Blast trip to Leicestershire tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

All-rounder Agar damaged his ankle at the weekend, while Stone has aggravated his previous back injury.

The Bears go into the match in fourth place in the North Group, a point behind Notts Outlaws with a game in hand.

You can follow the match on local radio commentary or via the BBC Cricket website.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website's headlines today include:

• Families' 'night of hell' as gospel singing at new church keeps them awake until 4am, external
• 'Disgusted' diner 'finds dead insect and mouldy piece of popcorn chicken' in KFC bucket, external
• Traders back £1k fines for aggressive beggars to cut anti-social behaviour in town, external

An armed robber in a clown mask has been stopped by police officers who were getting a coffee at a McDonald's in Coventry this morning.

West Midlands Police said officers were flagged down by a customer who was fleeing the restaurant on Alvis Retail Park on Holyhead Road and said there was a man with a knife demanding money.

Image source, Google

They were able to arrest him, with the help of a Taser and nobody was hurt.

They tweeted afterwards "what a clown".

The Telford International Centre is producing a cinematic advert in the style of a heist movie, in an attempt to "further distinguish the venue in an increasingly competitive market".

The exhibition centre, which hosts about 120 events a year, said the film was shot over three days.

It said it had tried to create a "Hollywood feel" with professional actors, film-producers and script-writers,

Image source, Telford International Centre

Image source, Telford International Centre

Ricky Hill, from Born Communications, the marketing company brought in to produce it, said: "Nicely shot venue showreels have their place, but they soon become indistinguishable from one another."

The finished film is due to be released on Youtube on 23 August.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

There isn't enough scrutiny of the decisions made by Shropshire Council's cabinet, an independent councillor claims.

In his blog, external, Dave Tremellen complained "decisions affecting the 311,000 residents of Shropshire are made by 10 people" who were chosen by the Conservative administration to sit on the cabinet committee.

Image source, BBC/Shropshire Council

And he said the five scrutiny committees which were supposed to provide balance and review the cabinet's decisions were all chaired by Conservative members.

Counillor Peter Nutting, leader of Shropshire Council, has been approached for comment.

Ben Perrin
BBC Online

The protest by Extinction Rebellion blocking the A38 in Birmingham in seven-minute "swarms" has come to an end.

The group was demonstrating on the Bristol Road from 08:00 for about an hour over climate change, urging immediate action on the issue.

West Midlands Police said it had officers at the protest but no arrests were made.

BBC News England

A firm has a warehouse the size of 10 football pitches ready for an anticipated backlog of parcels in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Under the scenario, goods coming from the EU would be subject to new taxes and duties, meaning packages could not be released until payment was made.

Until then, parcels handled by DPD would stay at the huge site in Oldbury.

Birmingham Live

A few of the stories appearing on the Birmingham Live website today:

• Pregnant woman in labour caught up in Extinction Rebellion protest, external
• Manhunt launched after 'drive-by shooting' near Wolverhampton pub, external
• Fury over new-style bus stops leaving passengers soaked in the rain, external

Ben Perrin
BBC Online, at the scene

Drivers including a pregnant woman have been caught up in the protest by Extinction Rebellion on the A38 in Birmingham.

The climate change activists blocked the road for an hour from 08:00 in seven-minute 'swarms' as part of a campaign to get immediate action to tackle fossil fuel emissions.

Another man stopped by the protest said his wife was in hospital and was shouting at the protesters to let him through.

But one driver, Stuart Fereday, 55, from Kings Norton, said he hadn’t heard of the group but it had made him “sit up and take note”.

While protester Jeanne Bouvier, a health care assistant from Edgbaston, said it was important to take part in the protests.

“We want the government to act and reduce gas emissions to net zero by 2025.”

BBC WM

This is the scene on the A38 in Birmingham this morning as Extinction Rebellion holds a protest, blocking the road:

The group is halting traffic for seven minutes at a time in 'swarming protests' as it says that's the length of time before you can be arrested for obstructing a highway.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Extinction Rebellion protesters blocking the A38 Bristol Road in Birmingham this morning say they want to "raise the alarm" about climate change.

The international group's already held protests across the world since launching last year, including when members brought some of London's busiest routes to a standstill over 11 days in April.

In Birmingham, they plan to protest until 09:00, blocking the A38 for seven minutes at a time, and told BBC WM they need to get people's attention about climate change.

BBC WM

A pub's been damaged after reports of gun shots from a vehicle in Wolverhampton, police have said.

Image source, Google

They were called to Riches Street, Wolverhampton, just after 18:30 yesterday.

The force said no-one is reported to have been hurt.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Drivers are now being held up by Extinction Rebellion protesters on the A38 Bristol Road in Birmingham this morning.

The group's told the BBC they plan to let some traffic through for a couple of a minutes at a time, until their demonstration ends at 09:00.

Ben Perrin
BBC Online

Extinction Rebellion environmental protesters have gathered by the junction of the A38 Bristol Street on the way into Birmingham this morning.

They plan to hold rush-hour traffic up for seven minutes at a time.

At least 35 people are here with many wearing hi-vis jackets. One placard says "rebel for life", while a flag says "tell the truth".

They plan to protest for an hour until 09:00.

BBC Sport

Birmingham City were dumped out of the first round of the Carabao Cup by League One outfit Portsmouth in a 3-0 win.

Image source, Getty Images

Blues - the 2011 League Cup winners - made nine changes and Pompey took full advantage.

Birmingham manager Pep Clotet then confirmed to BBC Radio WM 95.6 after the game that Blues had accepted a bid from an unnamed club for striker Isaac Vassell.

Elsewhere last night, in the National League Solihull Moors beat Torquay 3-0 and in National League North, AFC Telford won 2-0 over Kidderminster Harriers.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Climate change protesters from Extinction Rebellion say their demonstration blocking part of the A38 in Birmingham this morning will be from 08:00 to 09:00.

It had been reported by the city council , externalthey would be disruption to traffic on the Bristol Road near the McDonald's by Belgrave Middleway from 07:00 to 10:00.

But, speaking to BBC WM, one of the protesters, Martin, said they'd block the road for seven minutes at a time, with breaks to let some traffic through, for an hour from 08:00.

West Midlands Police tweeted, external to say they'll have officers in the area during the demonstration.

BBC News England

The number of reported crimes involving children attacking parents in the West Midlands has nearly trebled in three years, data suggests.

Image source, Science Photo Library

Comparable data for 19 police forces in England, Wales and the Channel Islands saw annual incidents jump from 7,224 in 2015 to 14,133 in 2018.

For West Midlands Police, they rose from 1,084 to 3,067 for the same period.

Mental health charity Young Minds said violence towards parents could indicate a cry for help, with support "often too hard to access".

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said the rise was due to a change in recording practices.