Summary

  • Updates from Monday 8 March to Sunday 14 March

  1. Community funding drive saves youth clubpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2021

    More than £13,600 is raised through donations, a cake sale and yoga session to keep the club open.

    Read More
  2. Weather: Mostly dry and brightpublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2021

    BBC Weather

    It'll be mostly dry with plenty of sunshine, we'll see highs of 9C/48F, before some heavy rain moves in tonight.

    You can find more local forecasts at BBC Weather.

    WalsallImage source, Tippytoes
  3. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2021

    Welcome to our live service for Tuesday.

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

    We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external

  4. Tributes to ex-principal who died with Covid-19published at 21:51 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Gareth Jones was principal at Ormiston Meridian Academy before retiring in 2019.

    Read More
  5. Our updates across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Live updates have now ended for the West Midlands.

    We'll be back with you on Tuesday from 08:00 with all the latest news, sport, travel and weather.

  6. Reanne Evans to be offered World Snooker Tour cardpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    BBC Sport

    Snooker player Reanne Evans can turn professional from the start of the 2021-22 season with a two-year tour card.

    Reanne EvansImage source, Getty Images

    The move comes as part of an agreement between the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and World Snooker Tour (WST).

    Evans, from Dudley, is top of the World Women's Snooker (WWS) rankings.

    She is the most successful women's snooker player ever, having won 12 World Championship titles, and was awarded an MBE in 2020 for her services to women's snooker.

  7. Arrest after reports of man brandishing hammerpublished at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    A man has been arrested after police were called to reports of a man brandishing a hammer in Birmingham city centre.

    A hammer was recovered by officers after the incident at 16:45 on Broad Street.

    It's unclear at this stage if anyone was hurt or threatened or any property damaged, said West Midlands Police.

  8. Tribute to man fatally stabbed in streetpublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Marian Savu was attacked in the early hours and pronounced dead at the scene.

    Read More
  9. Plans for 240 home scheme submittedpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Tom Davis

    Final details have been submitted for 240 homes near Tile Hill station in Coventry.

    Housing plansImage source, Coventry City Council

    Land situated west of Cromwell Lane was removed from the green belt and allocated for 240 homes in the council’s Local Plan in 2017, with outline permission for 240 homes approved in 2018.

    An application has now been submitted for the plot, which is split in two by the Grade-II listed farmhouse Westwood Farm in the middle, which remains unaffected.

    The southern side will be developed by St Philips Homes and provide a mixture of 58 three and four-bed detached houses, each with two parking spaces and a garage. The northern parcel of land will be developed by Spitfire Homes and create 182 homes across a range of detached, semi-detached, and terraces, as well as apartments.

  10. Thumbs up for boy who called 999 for mumpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Oakley Hughes used his mum's thumb to unlock her phone when she passed out after a fall.

    Read More
  11. Naga Munchetty: It's time to talk about racepublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Naga Munchetty
    BBC News

    The killing of George Floyd last year triggered a national debate about racial injustice not just in the US, but in the UK, too. Naga Munchetty travelled across the UK to understand what race and racism means today.

    Usman

    Alum Rock is one of the most deprived parts of Birmingham. Almost 60% of those living there are of Pakistani heritage

    Usman works as a GP there. His grandfather arrived in the 1960s and worked as a road digger. He knows that his grandfather experienced racism, but believes things have moved in the right direction.

    "Have they moved quick enough? No," he says. "Do they need to continue to move in the right direction and faster? Yes."

    You can watch Naga's Panorama programme on Monday 8 March at 19:00 on BBC One, or afterwards on BBC iPlayer.

  12. Child 'dragged across floor' at children's homepublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    The home's provider has been told to improve by Ofsted after inspectors found "serious shortfalls".

    Read More
  13. Three arrested after attack on teenpublished at 16:37 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Three teenagers have been arrested after a boy was punched and chased during a robbery.

    The 17-year-old was attacked on Beverley Road, Leamington Spa on Friday night, said Warwickshire Police.

    He was treated in hospital for facial injuries.

    Two 15-year-old boys were arrested in connection with the incident and have been released on bail pending further inquiries, the force said.

    A 16-year-old boy has also been arrested this morning and is currently in police custody.

  14. New bike hire scheme launched in West Midlandspublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    The venture will expand to places including Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall in the next few months.

    Read More
  15. Bus station redevelopment moves forwardpublished at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Demolition of Crewe's bus station is due to begin next summer, it's been revealed.

    Bus stationImage source, Cheshire East Council
    Bus stationImage source, Cheshire East Council

    Passengers and buses will be moved to a temporary location nearby while a replacement is built.

    The scheme is part of wider plans for a new entertainment complex on the site of the old Royal Arcade next door.

    The new bus station and multi-storey car park are then due to open in spring 2023, said Cheshire East Council. , external

  16. PM leads Covid-19 briefingpublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Boris Johnson has just started leading the coronavirus news briefing at Downing Street.

    You can follow live updates here.

  17. Worcester prop Morris signs new dealpublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Worcester Warriors prop Joe Morris signs an extended contract with the Premiership club.

    Read More
  18. Woman found dead at property namedpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    Two people held on suspicion of murder, after Kelly Webber died, are bailed.

    Read More
  19. Two injured in 'violent disorder' gunfirepublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    A man and a teenage boy required hospital treatment after reports of gunfire in Coventry.

    Read More
  20. Lessons in maskspublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2021

    One of the big changes in secondary schools today, other than testing, is the guidance on wearing masks.

    Both students and staff are required to wear masks everywhere in school - including in the classroom.

    classroom

    Some students and adults will be exempt, such as those who cannot wear a face mask because of a disability and those who rely on lip-reading to communicate.

    The rule also won't apply to primary school pupils, although teachers and other staff will be expected to wear masks where possible.

    Read more.