Venue operators and concert promoters AEG Presents is to run Wolverhampton's Civic Halls.

It is due to reopen early next year following a major multi-million-pound refurbishment programme, said the council, which stated AEG Presents "beat off premier competition to secure the long-term deal".

The company owns and operates more than 40 venues and the Wolverhampton site would "host leading musical and entertainment acts, business events and conferences", the authority stated.

It added AEG Presents would now bring forward plans for the venue "with bigger and better acts and events" and work on developing the final stages of the transformation of the Grade II listed building.

Council leader Ian Brookfield said it was "a huge coup".

Investigations are underway into the cause of a fire in a commercial building in Shropshire.

Image source, Market Drayton fire station

Crews from Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire fire services were called to assist with the fire in the building in Market Drayton from 23:33 GMT.

The fire was contained to the single story building.

BBC Midlands Today

Hundreds of students joined a protest on Thursday against the treatment of women at the University of Warwick.

The organisers said women on campus felt "unsafe and unheard" and many had been the victim of some form of sexual assault.

They have been demanding changes from the university.

One woman said: "Within my social circle alone I know of four different women who have had extremely traumatising sexual assault issues and attacks."

A man said: "I've had so many friends who have unfortunately been affected by sexual assault."

The university said its policy on sexual misconduct was clear, it would not be tolerated and individuals found to have broken values would face expulsion or some other form of withdrawal from the university.

People had the right to feel safe, it stated.

Nine fire engines have been sent to a blaze at a metal scrapyard in Birmingham.

Image source, @kirbywithteeth_

There have been reports of 100 tonnes of scrap metal on fire at the scene on Cheston Road in Aston.

Thimble Mill Lane has been closed along with Cheston Road.

Two hydraulic platforms have also been deployed, the fire service said.

BBC Weather

It'll be a dull day with widespread cloud. There is a risk of some drizzle or light rain with highs of 7C to 10C (45F to 50F).

Image source, Tippytoes

Tonight will see widespread cloud persist, with very little in the way of clear spells. The odd spot of light rain or drizzle may linger for a time. Lows of 6C to 9C (43F to 48F).

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

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.

Talented saxophonist Colton Bryan had been stabbed several times and died at the scene, police say.

That's all for now. Any breaking news will be here this evening and we'll have more updates on news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Friday.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

West Midlands Police say they are "desperate to get a grip" on knife crime.

The force says it will be increasing preventative work and patrols in certain hotspots, as Covid-19 restrictions ease.

Incidents of knife crime have dropped during the pandemic, but there are fears there could be a surge in violent crime, as lockdown lifts.

Youth violence and knife crime force lead Supt Gareth Morris said: "There is of course a concern as lockdown eases, the sort of pent-up frustration, some of the friction and some of the domestic challenges that have existed throughout lockdown and how that will manifest as lockdown starts to ease.

"We've got a number of concentrated plans in place, both through ourselves and through partners and schools."

Police have used a mobile knife scanner as part of its work to tackle violent crime, especially among young people.

PC Dan Thomas, from Project Guardian, West Midlands Police, said: "Knife crime, it is something that... (is) really, really important to us."

Police activities have included education work, such as an undercover operation on retailers.

Organisers have announced details of a 16km cycling test around Atherstone.

The Women's Tour will include an individual time trial for the first time this year.

Image source, Google

The time trial will be on stage three of the six-day UCI Women's WorldTour race, which has been moved from its usual June slot to early October due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Women's Tour will begin on 4 October with a stage from Bicester to Banbury before a second stage which will start and finish in Walsall.

Organisers are still working to finalise venues for stage four on 7 October after earlier plans had to be scrapped due to the change in schedule, but are focusing on eastern England.

That will come ahead of a penultimate stage from Colchester to Clacton and a finale between Haverhill and Felixstowe.

A teenage boy has been robbed at knifepoint in Staffordshire, police said.

The victim, who is 13, was by a bus stop on Birches Road in Codsall shortly after 17:00 on Wednesday, when he was approached by two unknown males, Staffordshire Police said.

Image source, Google

He was then pushed and threatened with a knife before his jacket and gloves were stolen.

The boy was not injured, but was left shaken by the experience, the force said.

Both males were described as in their mid-teens with one described as being white and wearing a black jacket with a white collar and a blue mask.

The second male was described as being black and wearing a black hooded jacket with a blue mask.

Worcester News

Here are some of the stories on the Worcester News website:

• Worcester leaflets say men should wear a tag 24/7 to keep women safe, external
• Will new bridge in Worcester get the go-ahead?, external
• 25 people died from Covid in a week across 'all settings' in Worcestershire, external

Police are issuing a warning about the "additional dangers" of taking an illegal drug known as GBL/GHB, after a man died.

On Sunday the West Mercia force was called to Priorslee, Telford, following the death of a 36-year-old man.

It was suspected he had consumed GBL mixed with orange juice, police said.

On Wednesday the force was called to an incident in Wellington and officers found a 29-year-old woman, believed to have taken GBL mixed into orange juice, in a life-threatening condition.

Det Insp Rich Roberts said: "It may be that these incidents are not connected, but we want people to be aware there may be a bad batch of GBL circulating, or that it causes an adverse reaction when mixed with orange juice."

He said if anybody had taken the drug and fallen ill, they should seek medical attention immediately.

Birmingham call the decision to award Tottenham three points after they called off their Women's Super League game a "great disappointment".

Ameen Thabet is told he will serve a minimum of 18 years in prison for the murder of Najeeba Al-Alriqy.

The corporation is to relocate some news services and make more primetime shows in the region.

Evha Jannath's death at Drayton Manor was an "utterly tragic waste of a young life", the judge says.

BBC Radio WM Sport

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins have both been called up to the England senior squad for the first time.

Image source, PA Media

They are joined by Villa's Tyrone Mings and Wolves' Conor Coady for the World Cup qualifiers with San Marino at home on 25 March, Albania away on 28 March, and Poland, at home on 31 March.

Johnstone has made 115 saves - the most in the Premier League this season - while Watkins has scored 10 top-flight goals in his debut season for Villa.

But there is no place for Jack Grealish, who has missed the last five Villa games with a shin problem.

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is teaming up with Sir Ridley Scott for a 10-episode epic, external that will tell the story of World War II, Deadline said.

It added Roads to Freedom would tell the story of the war from several international perspectives, based on Sir Antony Beevor's books.

Deadline said it would "portray the brutal realities from multiple viewpoints, with characters not only from the U.S. and UK but also from Russia, Germany, France and other countries across the globe", including "women, and children struggling to survive".

Sir Ridley plans to direct the launch episode of the series and Knight and Sir Antony would write all episodes, it added.

In January Knight confirmed the BBC's Peaky Blinders would conclude with a film following the show's final TV series.

There could be a spin-off TV series inspired by and including characters from the hit Birmingham crime drama, he said.

Asked by BBC Midlands Today this year if we were talking about a one-off film or a series, he said: "You never know... But we're talking about, (I) don't like the word spin-offs, but TV series that are gonna [sic] be inspired by and include characters from Peaky."

Disabled rower Xander Van Der Poll has been selected for the British Rowing's talent programme