Murder inquiry launched
Man charged with possession of fighting dog
Rare car up for auction
PCC calls for 'fairness' over £1.5m conference bill
Updates from Friday 2 September 2016
Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today
We've more information about the West Midlands Police recruitment drive - its biggest one in a decade.
More than 1,000 new jobs will be on offer.
And Nick Clitheroe will give us the latest information on football's transfer deadline day.
Tune into Midlands Today on BBC1 at 18.30.
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
Tonight the cloud will melt away nicely.
It's going to be a clear, dry night with temperatures dropping as low as 10C (50F).
That should set us up for a summery day tomorrow.
Shefali Oza has your update
BBC Travel
The M5 is blocked with delays and queuing traffic northbound after J4, A38 (Bromsgrove), because of an accident. Congestion to J5, A38 , BBC Travel news reports.
There's also a lane closed with slow traffic and delays on the M42 northbound between J5, A41 (Solihull) and J6, A45 (Birmingham Airport), because of an incident. Congestion to J3a M40.
And in Penn the A449 Penn Road is closed with queuing traffic southbound at the Wynn Road junction because of an overturned vehicle. Police are directing traffic with diversions in operation - National Express West Midlands bus services 255 & 256 are being diverted.
A man stabbed when he tried to help a colleague who was being robbed has been discharged from hospital.
The incident happened yesterday morning in Crampers Field in Coundon, Coventry, when a man tried to rob another man of his watch.
His colleague was stabbed when he intervened.
No-one has been arrested and West Midlands police are appealing for witnesses to the incident.
A mother finds a sac of "potentially deadly" baby spiders in a bunch of bananas she bought from Lidl in Nuneaton.
Read MoreThese are some of the stories we're looking at today:
- Warwickshire police are linking two thefts in Rugby involving a man using a suspected firearm
- A man who was injured trying to help his colleague who was being robbed, has been released from Coventry's University Hospital
- The West Midlands Police Federation has cast doubt on the claims that 800 extra police officers will be recruited over the next three years
The West Midlands Police Federation has questioned the claim that 800 police officers will be recruited over the next three years.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, has said he's able to start recruiting more than 1,000 officers and staff thanks to efficiency savings.
But the Federation says recruiting 800 officers will only cover the numbers due to leave the force anyway.
Quote MessageIf you think this is 800 new police officers over three years, we will probably lose that many if not more through retirement and other means, so it will enable us to stay static with the numbers we've currently got
Steve Grange, Secretary, Police Federation in the West Midlands
BBC Travel
Major road through Coventry is closed tonight.
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These are some of the stories we're looking at this afternoon:
- A police car was slightly damaged in a pursuit which resulted in the arrest of a man on suspicion of a number of offences
- A Nuneaton restaurant owner and his brother have been found guilty of attacking a customer because they thought he hadn't paid
- West Midlands police is to recruit hundreds of new officers and staff
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport
Cricket and it's day one of Warwickshire's County Championship match against Middlesex.
An efficiency drive means West Midlands police can now recruit more than 1,000 officers and staff, according to the region's Police and Crime Commissioner.
David Jamieson said they can now afford to take on 800 officers, 150 PCSO's and 200 specialist staff over the next three years.
He said he wants a force that's representative of the population.
Image source, BCDavid Jamieson
Quote MessagePolicing's not just about being on the street, it's about being there looking after internet crime, domestic violence and it's counter-terrorism.
David Jamieson, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
A Nuneaton restaurant boss and his waiter brother launched a vicious attack on a drunk customer they believed had left without paying., external
Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent
After years of cuts, job losses and the closure of police stations West Midlands Police has announced it's biggest recruitment drive in a decade.
More than 1,000 new jobs including 800 front line officers, 200 specialist staff and 150 extra police community support officers.
See more on this story on Midlands Today, BBC One at 13:30 and 18:30.
These are some of the stories we're looking at this afternoon:
- A man has been arrested after a police chase near Rubgy in which a police car was damaged
- Efficiency savings are being given as the reason why West Midlands police can recruit more than 1,000 new staff
- Plans for a new 50m pool in Coventry could be fully approved in September
BBC Travel
There's a lane closed on the M6 northbound between J4, M42 (Coleshill) and J5, A452 (Castle Bromwich), because of a broken down vehicle, BBC Travel news reports.
On the M5 there's a lane blocked on the exit slip road southbound at J4, A38 (Bromsgrove), because of a broken down vehicle.
BBC Travel
Trains are running slowly through Bearley in South Warwickshire after a vehicle hit a bridge.
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Paul Marriott
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
A police car was slightly damaged after it followed a car that failed to stop in the Rugby area yesterday morning.
The car was eventually stopped on the A4600 just off Junction 2 of the M6.
A Coventry man has been charged with theft from a shop, driving a motor vehicle dangerously and other alleged offences.
Another man arrested on suspicion of theft has been released with no further action.
Adam Whitehead, the Warwickshire-based Commonwealth Games gold medallist, has said he's delighted the go-ahead has been given for a new 50m swimming pool in Coventry.
The £16m pool will replace the one in Fairfax Street, which is due to shut
Adam Whitehead
Quote MessageActually you do need an Olympic size swimming pool in order to train to go to an Olympic games and challenge for medals.
Adam Whitehead, Commonwealth Gold medalist
The pool will be at the Alan Higgs Centre in Allard Way and will be part of a new sports complex that will include a training centre for Wasps Rugby club.
The plans are due to be ratified by full council next month.
Scott Borthwick and Mark Stoneman share a 151-run second-wicket stand to earn Durham a draw against Warwickshire.
Read More