The weather for the West Midlandspublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
The weather for the West Midlands.
Summary
Updates on Monday 13 June 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Tuesday
The weather for the West Midlandspublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Ex-MEP fake claims case 'makes no sense'published at 14:57 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
An ex-MEP urges jurors to consider why she would have falsely claimed expenses shortly after being warned of similar allegations about a colleague.
Read MoreEx-MEP says it 'defies sense' to claim fake expenses after warning over colleaguepublished at 12:33 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
An ex-Ukip MEP has told jurors it defied sense to make fake expenses claims in the same month she was warned about a colleague later jailed over the alleged practice.
Nikki Sinclaire, who represented the West Midlands until 2014, denies submitting "significant" expenses claims that she knew to be false.
She said her expenses were submitted by her staff, and alleged that at least one claim was "deliberately corrupted" by a former aide who was acting as a spy for the Ukip hierarchy.
Image source, PAShe told Birmingham Crown Court today that it made no sense for her to start filing false claims from October 2009, as the prosecution suggests, as this was the same month Ukip briefed all its elected members about wrong-doing by then-MEP Tom Wise.
Wise admitted fiddling £36,000 of his Brussels travel expenses at his trial the following month.
Nikki Sinclaire 'left staff to deal with travel expenses'published at 11:54 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
An ex-MEP who denies making fake expense claims would empty a handbag full of receipts and leave them for staff to deal with, she told a jury.
Nikki Sinclaire is accused of claiming for car journeys across Europe, when she flew for less money than claimed.
Image source, PAExpenses were dealt with by staff who knew passwords for her email and credit cards, she told Birmingham Crown Court.
Ms Sinclaire, who was UKIP MEP for the West Midlands until 2014, denies fraud and misconduct in public office.
Latest weather for the West Midlandspublished at 07:34 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Latest weather for the West Midlands
MEP 'left staff to deal with expenses'published at 21:03 British Summer Time 4 July 2016
A former MEP who denies making fake expense claims tells a court she would empty a handbag full of receipts and leave staff to deal with them.
Read MoreHas Brexit ended junior doctors dispute?published at 16:02 British Summer Time 4 July 2016
Nick Triggle
Health CorrespondentIn two days' time doctors in England will vote on whether to accept a new contract.
Doctors have been out on strike six times - two of them all-out stoppages - over the terms and conditions that were on offer before it was announced in May that union and government negotiators had finally reached a deal.
Even if British Medical Association members vote no, it's quite possible it will not matter. The will to continue the fight has all but evaporated since the Brexit vote.
Image source, PAThe weather for the West Midlandspublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 4 July 2016
The weather for the West Midlands.
On Midlands Today this lunchtime: Hunting for future Olympianspublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 4 July 2016
Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands TodayWith a month to go until the start of the Rio Olympics, one Midlands academic has devised a ground-breaking study about what we can learn from the competitors' attitudes, backgrounds, and sporting experiences.
Image source, BBC SportIt's hoped his research could be used to uncover the champions of the future.
I'll have more on Midlands Today from 13:30 on BBC One.
West Midlands MEP 'not surprised' over Farage resignationpublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 4 July 2016
UK Independence Party MEP for the West Midlands James Carver says he's not surprised Nigel Farage has stood down as party leader.
"He's still going to lead our group in the European Parliament, which is an extremely powerful position to be in.
"He's been a great leader but there's plenty of talent within UKIP."
Pollen levels 'very high'published at 10:05 British Summer Time 4 July 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local LiveIf like me you suffer with hay fever, you've probably sneezed already this morning.
Pollen levels are very high today - so tissues at the ready for watery eyes and a runny nose.
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End of twitter postLatest weather for the West Midlandspublished at 07:28 British Summer Time 4 July 2016
Latest weather for the West Midlands
A ghoulish tour of medieval punishmentspublished at 00:29 British Summer Time 3 July 2016
As an English town considers bringing back the stocks, which other settlements have kept their instruments of medieval correction?
Read MoreHundreds march in bid to keep pool openpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 2 July 2016
Hundreds of people have marched through Shrewsbury to demand that the town's swimming pool is kept open.
Read MoreHundreds march to save town poolpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 2 July 2016
Hundreds of people march in a bid to save a town's swimming pool from possible closure.
Read MoreFarage 'hostile' to fraud-accused MEPpublished at 19:28 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
A former UKIP MEP on trial for alleged fraud had a poor relationship with leader Nigel Farage, a former aide tells a court.
Read MoreShrewsbury sign Bury defender Rileypublished at 19:25 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Shrewsbury complete their eighth signing of the summer with the arrival of Bury right-back Joe Riley on a two-year deal.
Read MoreFake pregnancy bid baby kidnapper jailedpublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
A woman who kidnapped a baby as part of a "naive" attempt to fake a pregnancy, is jailed for two years.
Read MoreSomme centenary: Thousands pay tributepublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Thousands of people across the Midlands have marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme.
Read MoreSomme centenary: Thousands pay tributepublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 1 July 2016
Thousands of people across the Midlands have marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme. The campaign in France lasted five months, with the British suffering almost 60,000 casualties on the first day alone.