A motorcyclist has died following a crash with a stationary car in Birmingham last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called at 21:15 BST on Tuesday to reports a motorbike had hit a stationary car in Coventry Road, Sheldon.

On arrival, it said, the motorcyclist had been in a critical condition and had received advanced trauma care, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the car was treated for minor injuries, the service added.

Image source, Google

Sgt Mark Crozier, from West Midlands Police, said it was investigating the circumstances of the crash and urged anyone with information to come forward.

BBC Make A Difference

A West Midlands charity says it has given more than 300 gift bags to women in hospital being treated for breast cancer during the pandemic.

Image source, Getty

Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer's, external "Hug in a Bag" packs contain items such as lip balm, blankets and puzzles to bring comfort, particularly to those in hospital alone because of restrictions.

Veronica Kumeta, the charity's co-founder, said: "If you are going through chemotherapy or radiotherapy it's really, really tough and quite scary.

"So I wanted to find a way to support women through this process - especially if they are forced to attend hospitals alone."

British Transport Police officers are the latest to spot Tom Cruise in the West Midlands.

There have been a Cocktail of sightings of the A-list actor, who is currently filming the seventh instalment of the Mission Impossible series at Grand Central in Birmingham.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Benjamin signs a three-year contract with Warwickshire after impressing on a rookie deal.

Police in Coventry have run a series of summer activities for children in the city.

PCSOs Kelly White and Emma Coffield have been running activities throughout the school holidays in Coseley’s Clayton Park and Jubilee Park.

The pair have run activities like First Aid training to litter picks and outdoor games.

Image source, West Midlands Police

PCSO White said: “We have wanted to do something to reach out to vulnerable families for a while but Covid and lockdown has restricted this somewhat.

“We thought that we would use the summer holidays to provide some positive, educational activities for the children.

“We have also used this opportunity to build a more positive rapport with parents and carers.

"It has been a great way to be able to provide a meal for the children, thanks to One Stop, for at least for one day a week throughout the school holidays when school meals are not available.”

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Former world number one golfer Ian Woosnam is backing a bid to buy a Shropshire golf course where there are plans for almost 100 log cabins.

Coppergreen Leisure Resorts and club owner Ralph Tomley applied for permission to reduce Henlle Park Golf Club in Gobowen from 18 to nine holes, to accommodate a new 90-pitch holiday park.

Image source, Getty Images

It has now been claimed that the club’s owner turned down a bid in excess of the asking price which would have spared the golf course from being developed.

A letter published on Shropshire Council's website , externalto planners from Chinese Entrepreneurs Golf Club Ltd says the firm had been involved in a bid to buy the golf club, along with Ian Woosnam, who hails from St Martins, and ex professional Tony Minshall.

The club has been contacted for comment and the planning application will be decided by Shropshire Council.

The hunt is on for a man who has escaped police custody in Staffordshire.

Christopher Brennan, from Stoke-on-Trent escaped Northern Area Custody Facility in Etruria at around 15:30 BST on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old had been remanded following a recall to prison, Staffordshire Police said.

He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, grey trousers and black pump.

Anyone with information bout his whereabouts is urged to contact the force.

BBC CWR

The Environment Agency says it believes the discovery of dead fish in Coventry is likely to be connected to a severe warehouse fire.

In total, 70 firefighters were needed to tackle the blaze at RAM Enterprise in Ash Green at its height last Thursday.

The run off water from crews is suspected of polluting the River Sowe.

Aeration equipment has been used to improve levels of oxygen in the river.

Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

BBC Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy or overcast with plenty of low cloud.

It should be generally dry but the odd spell of light rain or drizzle is possible.

This evening and overnight will remain overcast, with the chance of some patchy light rain, but generally it should remain dry.

Find your local forecast at BBC Weather.

Welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

We’ll be bringing you the latest news from the West Midlands.

You can let us know about stories in your area via Twitter, external and Facebook, external.

Warwickshire sign West Indies fast bowler Chemar Holder for the rest of the County Championship campaign.

We're back from 08:00 on Wednesday with more news, sport, travel and weather updates. Have a great evening.

Boots has become the latest high street brand to sign up with Deliveroo.

The company is launching a 14-store pilot in cities across the country from Monday, with plans to roll out in other areas if successful.

Image source, Reuters

About 400 products will be available to customers on Deliveroo, including pain relief, vitamins and plasters.

Other items will include No7 products, make-up, sandwiches, snacks, toiletries and baby essentials, the company said.

Birmingham's High Street branch of Boots is among the 14 stores offering the service.

BBC Radio WM Sport

Aston Villa striker Danny Ings says the team are starting to find their true identity, ahead of Tuesday evening's Carabao Cup game at Barrow.

Image source, Google

Ings reckons the 2-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend got their opening-day setback at Watford out of their system.

"It was a great game from us, a good reaction from last week, one that we needed... I think we could be even better as well and just to get the win's huge for us and hopefully now we can get some momentum."

Tuesday's match will be live on BBC Radio WM on 95.6 FM, with Birmingham City against Fulham on DAB digital radio in Birmingham and Wolves' tie at Nottingham Forest on DAB in the Black Country.

Other matches in the Midlands include Shrewsbury Town's home game with Rochdale - there will be coverage on BBC Radio Shropshire.

A request to land a helicopter carrying an unnamed VIP leads to an encounter with Hollywood royalty.

BBC Radio WM

A Birmingham MP is calling for tougher penalties for those who abuse retail staff.

From today it is a specific offence to abuse, assault or threaten retail staff in Scotland.

Jack Dromey, the Labour MP for Erdington, said it should come into force in England too.

Image source, Parliament UK

"Four-hundred-and-fifty shop workers are assaulted every day [and] 88% of shop workers say that they've suffered verbal abuse," Mr Dromey said.

"I've seen it personally, and whenever I see it, I intervene and I stop it.

"We are dragging our heels in England and it is absolutely wrong, absolutely wrong that shop workers go to work in the morning and too many of them are in fear of assault. That must end."

The fines system for failing to pay Birmingham's Clean Air Zone charges is misleading, says a man hit with a penalty after turning his pub into a food bank during lockdown.

Since June, the daily charge for vehicles that do not meet emissions standards is £8 for cars, vans and taxis, or £50 for HGVs and coaches, unless a valid exemption is in place.

Darren Paul, landlord at The Station Inn in Kings Heath, received by letter a fine for £120 when he failed to pay a charge incurred while collecting food donations - reduced to £60 if he paid within 14 days.

He said he paid the £60 but added that he later found a page at the back of the council correspondence giving him the option of paying the daily £8 charge instead.

Birmingham City Council says it cannot comment on specific cases.

Mr Paul said the CAZ had spoiled the food bank's ability to operate, explaining "we're getting less and less people volunteering to collect food for us, so that impacts on our food bank, we've got less food".

A council spokesperson said the daily fee only applied to vehicles that did not meet the emission standards for the zone and motorists could check online , externalwhether they had to pay.

They added: “Support is available for people who live and work in the city centre and our teams continue to process applications for temporary exemptions and financial support."

The ambulance service says staff will be consulted over any proposals resulting from the assessment.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Residents in Coventry say fly-tipping is attracting "rats the size of cats" and have called on the city council to help put a stop to the problem.

Image source, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Communal garages behind homes on Seymour Close have been used as a dumping ground for years and are filled with items including refrigerators, bin bags, broken glass and chairs.

Resident Paul Owen said: "I have found one [rat] in my cupboard... as it chewed a hole in a box of porridge."

Another resident, Brian Folan, said: "Some of them are the size of a domestic cat."

Seymour Close is largely maintained by the city council, but the end of the road is private and the access point to the garages is also thought to be private, but it is not known who owns it.

Ward councillor Roger Bailey said: "One of the biggest issues is trying to find out who owns the garages and the land and taking the responsibility to not only clear it but sort out its future."

Coventry City Council was contacted for comment on multiple occasions but has not replied.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Crewe manager David Artell says they have "got to be prepared for Premier League quality", when they visit Leeds United in the Carabao Cup.

Image source, Google

They go into the second-round tie after picking up only one point from four games in League Two.

Artell said: "Obviously [it's] a cracking draw for us... They are taller, they are faster, they are quicker across the ground, [they're] quicker in speed. That's why they are where they are.

"It's gonna be a proper, proper test in front of a brilliant crowd."

The game will be live on DAB digital radio from BBC Radio Stoke from 19:45 on Tuesday.

Stoke City will aim to continue their unbeaten start to the season, when they entertain Doncaster Rovers. The build-up will start at 19:00 ahead of commentary on 94.6 FM.