Local Democracy Reporting Service
Mark Cardwell

Artworks at Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery are at risk as water is leaking into the building, a report says.

Image source, Google

The museum has applied for £5m worth of government funding to fix the issues, which has seen more than 47 areas affected by water leakage due to broken and blocked drainage.

Other damage to the flagship building which holds the world's leading collection of Pre-Raphaelite art includes out-of-action lifts, missing flashings and tiles and damaged mortar, pipework, windows and roof-lights.

The museum is currently closed for rewiring works, which are not due to be completed until 2023-24, and the council recommended the repairs take place while it remains closed to the public.

A hospital trust says the problems are "more demanding than the most difficult winters".

Fast food giant McDonald's has announced its first ever vegan burger in the UK is to be trialled at 10 restaurants in Coventry.

Image source, PA Media

The McPlant, consisting of a plant-based patty, plus vegan sesame bun, salad, pickles, ketchup and a new vegan sauce, would be cooked separately from other food, the company said.

It will be available in the restaurants from 29 September and a further 250 outlets from 13 October, with the aim of a nationwide roll-out next year.

Meat-alternative producer Beyond Meat co-created the patty with McDonald's.

The McPlant is fully accredited as vegan by the Vegetarian Society.

Teachers from Liverpool and Sevenoaks are in the last 50 in the hunt for the world's best teacher.

BBC Weather

After a dry start it will be an unsettled day with heavy and thundery showers throughout and highs of 22°C (72°F).

A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms is in place from 10:00 until 20:00.

Worcestershire sign Warwickshire's hard-hitting opener Ed Pollock on a two-year deal to play all three forms of the game.

The fire service advises people living in Kidderminster to keep windows closed.

After the verdict Julie Hambleton accused police of "re-traumatising" victims' families.

Scott McCluskey posted racist comments about black England players on social media.

Hampshire bowl out Warwickshire for 235 to win by 60 runs and go level on points in joint second with Yorkshire.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

An offer from an anonymous donor of £300,000 to boost the collection of artworks at a city museum has been unanimously accepted.

Image source, Worcester City Council

The leader of Worcester City Council said the philanthropist had given the city a "fantastic opportunity" to redevelop the Worcester Art Gallery and Museum.

He added he had thanked the donor personally but they wanted to remain anonymous.

Councillors were told at a meeting on Tuesday, to spend the money the authority has to set up a charitable body and the donor has set a deadline of December for them.

Officer Phillipa Tinsley said the gallery had not seen major investment in several decades and the money would help improve exhibition space, retail space and refreshments.

BBC Midlands Today

A blue plaque has been unveiled today on the site of the BBC's former Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham.

As well as being the home of Midlands Today for many years, Pebble Mill produced thousands of BBC programmes including Doctor Who and Gardeners' World.

Pebble Mill opened in 1971 and was demolished in 2005 and the site is now occupied by the Birmingham Dental Hospital.

In 2020, on another part of the site, a hospital was built for Circle Health.

Police have released images of a person they want to speak to following an attempted robbery in Birmingham's Bullring Shopping Centre.

West Midlands Police said the male, believed to be in his mid to late teens, is suspected of pulling a knife on a schoolboy and demanding his bag and money on 5 August.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The victim ran off and was helped by a passer-by, but the offender made off from the scene with another teenager.

One 14-year-old boy has already been arrested in connection with the incident.

The force urged anyone with information about the offence to come forward.

Further events have been announced as part of Coventry City of Culture.

It includes a visit by puppet Little Amal, in October.

The puppet will travel 8,000km across Europe, telling the story of shared humanity and the experience of displaced children, separated from their families.

Coventry City of Culture is its first stop in the Midlands.

Image source, Coventry City of Culture

Other events include Coventry Sound Systems a celebration of Coventry’s rich cultural links to its twin city of Kingston in Jamaica, while the Home: Art and Homelessness Festival will see an exhibition of works created by artists across Coventry with experience of homelessness.

Chenine Bhethana, creative director of Coventry City of Culture said: "As we move into Autumn, there is a huge range of activity taking place across the city... Coventry truly has something for everyone."

A man who started a fire, when he attempted to make a bomb in his microwave, has been jailed.

The fire began when George Moore, 24, put aerosol cans into the microwave at his house in Cubbington Road in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire on 5 May.

Warwickshire Police said another person who had been in the home at the time was able to escape uninjured.

Moore, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 45 months at Warwick Crown Court on 3 September after admitting charges of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and possession of a bladed article.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Det Sgt Jen Baker said: "This was a reckless act that caused substantial damage to the house in which Moore lived.

"His behaviour was quite clearly dangerous and his actions on the night could easily have resulted in more serious harm being caused.

"We are fortunate that no-one was injured in the incident."

Footage shared on social media captures the scale of an industrial fire in Kidderminster.

Stafford Borough Council says the artefact, valued at about £5m, was removed without proper consent.

A man is being sought by police on suspicion of stabbing and kidnapping a woman.

West Midlands Police said it is looking for Lee Martin in connection with the incident in Solihull on Sunday.

The woman, who is known to Mr Martin, was able to escape and only suffered minor injuries.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The force said Mr Martin made off in a car when police tried to arrest him the next day.

It has urged anyone with information to speak to police, but not to approach him as it believes he is dangerous and could be armed.

A dairy farmer says the shortage of lorry drivers has hit milk collection and is a "constant worry".

Seven new control sites are approved as ministers confirm regular culling will end in 2025.