Man arrested over 2001 abduction
Edgbaston to host first day-night test to be played in England
Funeral price hike row
Former MEP claims Woolfe incident 'not a one off'
Man in court following police pursuit
Rail line closed for bridge work
Updates from Friday 7 October 2016
One half of a duo of paramedics who have almost 90 years of service has retired just weeks after they were honoured for their lifesaving community service. , external
Sales of new cars in the UK rose in September, helped by strong purchases from fleet buyers and the new 66 number plate.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 469,696 new cars were registered in the month, a rise of 1.6% from 462,517 last year.
Image source, Christopher FurlongJaguar Land Rover have manufacturing plants in Castle Bromwich and Solihull, and two advanced design and engineering centres at Gaydon and Whitley in Warwickshire.
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM
Building work on the high-speed HS2 rail project will start next spring, a government minister has confirmed today. , external
The initial plan is for a new line from London to Birmingham, with later extensions to Manchester, through Staffordshire and via Crewe, and Leeds.
In July, new Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said he had "no plans to back away" from HS2, despite criticism of the cost and the impact on people living along the route.
Today at an event at the Conservative Party Conference, Transport Minister Andrew Jones said Royal Assent for the project was expected by the end of December with construction to start next spring.
Laura Shoaf, Managing Director of Transport for West Midlands, says it's the "equivalent of winning the Olympic bid for the region, external ".
Nicola Beckford
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
Cannock Chase Council , externalhas welcomed news that the online retailer Amazon is to take on more than 4,500 seasonal workers.
Also on the programme, a girl aged just five has criticised the Prime Minister for not doing enough to help homeless people.
Brooke Blair says she was inspired to send a message to Theresa May after seeing people sleeping rough on the streets of her home town of Coventry.
You can find out more on BBC Midlands Today at 13:30 on BBC One.
Researchers at the University of Warwick are investigating the effect of solitary confinement in prisons on mental health, external over the last 150 years.
They'll be starting with archive material, including prisoners' memoirs.
The team, based in the Centre for the History of Medicine, say there is evidence even those arriving in prison today without mental health problems are being harmed by solitary confinement.
Image source, Howard League Archives
Paul Marriott
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
Today's headlines include:
- West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge says it's a "distinct possibility" that he'll stand for leadership of UKIP again
- Coventry City Council says it's sorry for not telling people living in one part of the city why the bins haven't been emptied for three weeks
- New jobs are coming to Leamington after furniture maker Vitsoe begins work on its new headquarters
It will be a fine afternoon with plenty of sunshine, although a little cooler than yesterday especially in the breeze. Highs of 16C (61F).
Weather for the West Midlands.
Clive Eakin
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport
The Sky Blues have made it two wins out of two in the CheckaTrade Trophy to secure a place in the next phase.
Dan Agyei, Jodi Jones and Ruben Lamieras scored the goals in a 3-1 home win against Northampton Town.
Jones says caretaker manager Mark Venus is having a positive influence and former defender Ian Goodwin told us that he thinks Venus should be given a crack at the vacant manager's role.
Image source, Getty ImagesPaul Marriott
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
Here's the latest from the newsroom:
- Coventry's University Hospital staff are having to park on a nearby supermarket car park because of space issues on site
- Work officially starts in Leamington Spa on the new headquarters for former London-based furniture maker Vitsoe
- Sky Blues make it two wins out of two in the EDL Cup after their 3-1 home win over Northampton
Our BBC Weather Watchers keep us updated on the local forecasts where they are in Coventry and Warwickshire.
They also send in great pictures too - here are two from users Old Salt in Southam and SteveC in Royal Leamington Spa.
Image source, Old Salt
Image source, SteveCPaul Marriott
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
There are growing calls for something to be done about parking at Coventry's University Hospital after reports that staff are using a nearby supermarket because there's no where to park on site.
Patients also say they aren't happy with the parking situation because it takes a long time to get to appointments.
A hospital spokesman told BBC News that it will be tackling the issue.
Image source, Google
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
The West Midlands UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge says he's not ruling out another bid to become the party's leader.
Image source, PAMr Etheridge missed out in the last leadership election to Diane James, who has announced she's resigning after 18 days in the role.
Nigel Farage has said he is still technically leader but has told the BBC he won't be contesting any future leadership contest and Mr Etheridge says that's what he's been told as well.
Quote MessageI had a fairly forthright conversation with him [Nigel Farage] about this earlier and I'm very much assured that he won't be standing again although to be honest with you I wish he'd never stood down."
Bill Etheridge, West Midlands UKIP MEP
Indebted family members have paid tribute to "absolutely brilliant" firefighters who saved the life of an 82-year-old woman., external
Young women should ditch role models such as reality star Kim Kardashian West in favour of Shakespeare's heroine Cleopatra, a headteacher has said.
Jane Lunnon, from Wimbledon High School, said teenagers could learn more about projecting a positive self-image by studying the female lead in Shakespeare's tragedy than by following the social media posts of the American selfie queen.
Image source, PASpeaking at the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, held in the Bard's birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon, Mrs Lunnon said: "I think Shakespeare was saying with Cleopatra that you are allowed to be flawed and powerful and brilliant and still have enormous influence."
Quote MessageKim Kardashian is selling the myth about Kim Kardashian. Shakespeare's Cleopatra did the same thing... a lone female voice when all the other women in Antony And Cleopatra are basically powerless."
Jane Lunnon, Headtedacher
Coventry City are through to the next round of the EDL Cup after a 3-1 win against Northampton Town at the Ricoh Arena.
Dan Agyei, Jodi Jones (pictured) and Ruben Lamieras scored the goals.
Image source, Getty ImagesA convicted rapist from Coventry has died, external on the day he was due to be sentenced at court.
Paul Marriott
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
Here are the latest headlines for Coventry and Warwickshire:
- Parking problems around Coventry's University Hospital cause staff to use supermarket car park
- Good news for jobs in Warwickshire as furniture maker Vitsoe begins work on its new headquarters in Leamington
- Sky Blues have a 3-1 win over Northampton at the Ricoh last night in the EFL cup
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather
A mostly cloudy start to the day, but with cloud mostly breaking up as the day goes on to allow increasing sunny spells during the afternoon. Highs of 15C (59F).
Weather for the West Midlands.
Welcome to Wednesday's news, sport, travel and weather updates.
Comment on our stories and send us your pictures over email, Twitter, external or our Facebook page, external.
We're back at 08:00 tomorrow with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather, but keep an eye out here for updates through the evening and into the morning.
