BBC Midlands Today

Sporting history is set to be made in Birmingham on Sunday when two LGBTQ+ cricket teams face each other for what is thought to be the first time.

Birmingham Unicorns will host London-based Graces for a 40-over game at Weoley Hill Oval.

The Unicorns were set up during the pandemic by cricket fan Lachlan Smith and he says the players cannot wait for their first game.

"They are learning, they are improving every week and I am hoping they get to play some games this season and once they have played a few games, they get the bug and hopefully stay," he said.

Hospitals in Wolverhampton have seen an unexpected surge in accident and emergency cases, possibly linked to the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Professor David Loughton, the chief executive of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said "last week we broke our A& E attendance record twice in the same week".

He speculated that "it could be people have put off coming and now feel more comfortable to".

Professor Loughton also said "the pressure is off" his hospitals with coronavirus admissions.

He said he believed we've now seen the worst of the virus and doesn't expect a third wave will put the same amount of pressure on hospitals.

"I don’t believe we will get hit anywhere near where we got hit before," he added.

A motorcyclist has been seriously hurt in a crash.

The 58-year-old man was on a Honda when West Midlands Police said, external it was believed he lost control on Friday on the Birmingham Road in Meriden, near Solihull.

The force said it did not believe any other vehicles were involved but has appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage.

BBC Radio CWR

Plans for a series of off-road cycle trails in a Warwickshire park have been approved despite hundreds of opposing comments.

Image source, Google

The proposals for Newbold Comyn, Leamington Spa, also include creating a cycling hub reception area, cafe and toilets., external

Warwick District Council received 1,400 comments over the plans with 60% in favour.

The proposals were approved by councillors on Thursday night by 10 votes to one.

Police thank Tilly Rae for her charity work despite undergoing a rare multi-organ transplant.

Tyrelle Harris stabbed Karl Gallagher during a chance meeting as the victim picked up a pizza.

The death of a woman in her home in Shropshire is still being treated as unexplained, police said.

The bodies of Margaret Owen, 72 and Andrew Owen, 53, were found in their home in Ferndale, Pant, near Oswestry, on 21 April.

West Mercia Police said, external an inquest had opened into the death of Mr Owen but officers were still investigating Mrs Owen's death.

The force added it believed the deaths to be an isolated incident.

Police say the newborn baby boy could have been in the water for up to four days.

Birmingham Live

From the Birmingham Live website today:

• Community in shock as baby's body found in Willenhall canal, external
• Urgent treatment for thousands of cancer patients delayed as Covid-19 took over city hospitals, external
• Birmingham mum started fire in ex's flat after he failed to turn up to see kids, external

A husband said he was "absolutely disgusted" with a hospital when he could not reach staff for two days after his wife was taken to A&E following a heart attack.

Raymond Jones said none of the phones had been picked up at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital for 48 hours after his 71-year-old wife Jean (pictured below) was taken ill on Tuesday.

He told the BBC not being able to contact his wife or find out her condition had left him stressed and struggling to sleep. In desperation, he said, he had gone to the hospital itself but still could not find out how Jean was doing.

"Had she had another heart attack? Was she OK?," he said.

Image source, Raymond Jones

Eventually at about 22:00 BST on Wednesday he was finally able to get through to Jean and find out she was recovering, but he said things at the hospital must improve.

"We can put a robot on Mars but I can't speak to a hospital three miles down the road," he said.

Image source, Raymond Jones

A spokesperson for Heartlands Hospital said they were "very sorry to Mr Jones for any distress caused in not being able to receive an update about his wife’s condition".

"Good communication with patients and their families is really important, and we are working hard to ensure that this is maintained during these exceptionally challenging times.”

The victim, who is yet to be identified, died at the scene in Exhall, Warwickshire.

Orange decorations adorn streets for Azaylia Cain's funeral after she died last month with cancer.

Police say the newborn baby boy could have been in the water for up to four days.

Coventry host Saracens in the Championship - listen to BBC CWR commentary.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website has these stories today:

• Fire engines descend on Stoke-on-Trent flats block after arson attack, external
• Eyesore pub to be turned into student flats, external
• Dozens of boarded-up Hanley shops as M&S becomes latest big name to quit city centre, external

BBC Radio CWR

Horses decorated with orange feathers have led the funeral procession of eight-month-old Azaylia Cain in Nuneaton this morning.

People in the town decorated homes and businesses with orange balloons and ribbons as the cortege passed through the town's streets.

Azaylia died in April after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia.

The Environment Agency responds to criticism of its handling of issues at Walleys Quarry.

BBC Radio CWR

People in Nuneaton have put up orange balloons and ribbons in tribute to Azaylia Cain as her funeral takes place.

Residents, businesses and schools have decorated buildings and left collection buckets outside to raise money.

Before the eight-month-old died, buildings and attractions around the world were lit orange to raise awareness of acute myeloid leukaemia.

Image source, Jewson

Image source, helen harrison

The Environment Agency is accused of being "repeatedly too slow to react".

A handler said he was "incredibly proud" of his police dog after he "essentially saved his life" while they were investigating reports of a break-in at allotments.

PD Stark was hit more than 20 times over the head with a machete in the attack in Handsworth in November.

He and handler PC Paul Hopley have won West Midlands Police's Dog Action of the Year award.

PC Hopley said, despite being attacked, Stark had “never backed off”, persevering to detain the offender.

A 17-year-old boy was sentenced to a detention order for the attack on Stark.

Image source, West Midlands Police Federation

“Stark deserves all the praise he can get," PC Hopley said.