Going out to eat is supposed to be a treat isn't it?

But if you go out to eat in Birmingham, there is a chance you may find yourself somewhere where the food safety is completely unknown.

That is because more than 1,000 “high risk” food safety inspections have been missed by Birmingham City Council, it has been revealed.

Image source, Getty Images

The details came from a Birmingham City Council licensing committee meeting, external earlier this week.

But it isn’t the first time there have been problems like this in Birmingham.

In 2018, consumer watchdog Which? said Birmingham was the UK's worst area for food hygiene, because not enough businesses were visited within 28 days of opening.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A £30m scheme to upgrade flood defences dating back to the 1930s are on track to finish on time despite the heavy rain this winter, the Environment Agency has said.

Image source, Environment Agency

The work is being carried out around Burton-upon-Trent which was regularly flooded before 1932, until some 9km (5.5miles) of defences were built.

But the Environment Agency said they were old and needed replacing - work started in June on the second phase of improvements. , external

Engineers said the heavy rain over the past few months hadn't shifted the completion date from March 2021 , externaland, once finished, 4,500 homes and businesses would be protected.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Nine arrests have been made as police investigate an organised crime group they believe is working in north Staffordshire.

Six people - mostly from Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent - were detained in raids yesterday, with the others arrested on Merseyside.

All nine are being held on suspicion of conspiring to supply class A drugs.

BBC Sport

Britain's Kal Yafai will defend his WBA world super-flyweight title against Nicaragua's Roman Gonzalez on Saturday 29 February in Frisco, Texas.

Image source, Getty Images

Yafai, 30, has won all 26 of his professional bouts and is Britain's longest-reigning world champion.

Gonzalez, 32, whose nickname is Chocolatito, has held world titles at four weights, including the WBC version of the super-flyweight championship.

"It doesn't get bigger than this and it'll bring out my best," said Yafai.

"Chocolatito is someone I have idolised as I worked my way up to become world champion myself, so I can't wait."

The Birmingham boxer added: "It's a case of when idols become rivals and I am so honoured to share the ring with him but also show the world that I am an elite world champion."

A man suffered burns and smoke inhalation in a fire at a Birmingham pub.

Fire crews and paramedics were called to the Eagle and Tun pub on Banbury Street, Digbeth, shortly after 21:10 on Thursday.

The patient was taken to hospital.

Fire crews remain at the scene, with a fire investigation expected to take place today.

BBC News Travel

A signalling fault is delaying rail services between Birmingham New Street and Cheltenham Spa.

Disruption is expected until 09:00.

Birmingham Live

From Birmingham Live:

• One in hospital as fire tears through famous UB40 and Ed Sheeran pub, external
• Murder trial told James Teer was shot twice in head, external
• Hooded thugs beat up man in his Sutton Coldfield home in violent burglary, external

BBC News Travel

A stretch of the A46 remains closed in both directions near Evesham following a serious crash.

It was closed at 03:45 from the A4184, Cheltenham Road to A435 Teddington Hands roundabout.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Showers will clear leaving a dry and bright afternoon with highs of 8C (46F).

Crews remain at the scene of a fire in Digbeth which broke out last night.

About 20 firefighters attended the blaze on the corner of New Canal Street and Banbury Street after being called shortly before 20:50.

One man has been taken to hospital, says West Midlands Police.

BBC News Travel

A crash is blocking two lanes of the M5 northbound in Bromsgrove.

Traffic is queuing for two miles ahead of the incident between J4 and J3.

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

You can get in touch via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.

The images on display at Birmingham New Street feature the city's jazz festival.

Two hospitals started by collapsed engineering giant Carillion look set to open in 2022, years late.

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.

Leamington Observer

A few of the headlines on the Leamington Observer:

• Three arrested in murder investigation following fatal Leamington stabbing, external
• Community groups urged to apply for grants before Monday deadline, external
• Tribute paid to former Leamington mayor Heather Calver, external

BBC Midlands Today

The Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips has been outlining her pitch for the job of leader of the Labour Party.

She's one of five contenders hoping to be elected as Leader of the Opposition following Jeremy Corbyn's decision to step down after Labour's dismal showing in last month's general election.

She's been explaining to Sunday Politics Midlands how her approach would be different.

A man has been taken to hospital suffering potentially serious injuries after being hit by a car.

Paramedics were called to Waterloo Road in Wolverhampton shortly after 13:20.

The pedestrian was treated for multiple injuries before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Several housing schemes are in the pipeline in Staffordshire, according to our Local Democracy Reporting Service:

• Approval's been given to replace Rugeley Power Station (pictured) with up to 2,300 new homes and a school with the developer planning to start work this year
• A former school playing field in Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, is going to have more 60 homes built on it despite 44 letters of objection
• In Cheadle, former mill buildings dating back to the 18th Century could be knocked down and replaced with seven homes if Staffordshire Moorlands District Council approves plans

Crystal Palace Women keeper Lucy Gillett says she was subjected to sexist abuse during a game at Coventry United.