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18 May 2013 Last updated at 06:54 ET

Theatre building to be demolishedDudley Hippodrome

A council says it will knock down a West Midlands theatre as part of £10m regeneration plans.


Stephen Onley before surgeryMan paralysed 'after missed checks'

A man was left paralysed because doctors did not monitor him correctly after a routine hip operation, lawyers say.

Mohammed Saleem'Dozens' on mosque murder case

More than 100 police officers and staff are still working to find the killer of a 75-year-old man who was attacked on his way home from evening prayers.

Patrick Burns, Political editor, Midlands Article written by Patrick Burns Patrick Burns Political editor, Midlands

Suicide highlights welfare dispute

The tragedy of Stephanie Bottrill's suicide highlights the dispute over changes to housing benefit.

Read full article

David Gregory-Kumar Article written by David Gregory-Kumar David Gregory-Kumar Science & Environment correspondent, BBC News

Another bad year for our farmers

A raft of newly published farming statistics show the weather and animal diseases continue to cause problems.

Read full article

BBC Local Live

  1.  
    1800: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    Thanks to everyone who got involved with comments and photos today. I'll be back with more updates from 08:00 tomorrow.

     
  2.  
    Coming up 1750: Keith Middleton Presenter, BBC WM

    Tonight I'll be joined by a host of Eurovision stars including Sir Terry Wogan, Sandie Shaw, Dana, The New Seekers, Olivia Newton John, Bucks Fizz and Katrina Leskanich for my Eurovision Extravaganza.

    Listen live from 22:00.

     
  3.  
    Wigan v Villa 1740:

    Aston Villa will be without top scorer Christian Benteke for tomorrow's game at Wigan.

    Christian Benteke
     
  4.  
    Travel 1730:

    The A449 Penn Road in Wolverhampton is closed and there's queuing traffic southbound between the A4150 Ring Road St Johns junction and the Lea Road junction because of a police incident, BBC Travel News reports.

     
  5.  
    1721: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    There's been more reaction on Facebook to the news that Dudley Hippodrome will be demolished.

    Cheryl Clorley writes: I was the assistant manager at gala bingo when they closed in 2009, sad times but the fight isn't over yet

     
  6.  
    Weather 1712:

    Any patchy rain will soon clear, with a dry night to follow.

    Clear spells at times, as well as light winds, may allow some mist and fog patches to form in prone locations towards dawn.

     
  7.  
    Petrov tribute 1701:

    About 3,000 Aston Villa fans will don Stiliyan Petrov masks for the club's final game of the season at Wigan tomorrow, reports BBC Midlands Today.

    Stiliyan Petrov masks

    The Bulgarian midfielder is retiring from football to continue his fight against leukaemia. The fans' tribute will raise money for the Cure Leukaemia charity.

     
  8.  
    Station revamp 1649:

    Virgin Trains will invest millions of pounds in Wolverhampton's railway station, reports the Express and Star.

     
  9.  
    Dudley Hippodrome 1627:

    Friends of Dudley Hippodrome say they will continue fighting to save the venue despite the council announcing it will be demolished.

    Geoff Fitzpatrick, from the group, says: "This has been on the cards for a long time but the fight goes on."

     
  10.  
    1611: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    On Facebook we asked for your memories of Dudley Hippodrome after the council said it was going to be demolished.

    Marie Gould says: I remember going there when it was the cinema when I was a teenager.Good memories.

     
  11.  
    Football 1557:

    West Bromwich Albion are waiting on the fitness of Steven Reid ahead of tomorrow's home game against Manchester United.

    Steven Reid
     
  12.  
    Change of plan 1545:

    Walsall Council tells BBC WM it is disappointed a £13m plan to build a new police station in the town centre will not go ahead.

    The force is instead planning to relocate staff to Bloxwich police station with a police base set up in the town's Civic Centre on Darwall Street.

     
  13.  
    Teaching conference 1530:

    BBC News Online has more on head teachers at a conference in Birmingham passing a motion of no confidence in the government's education policies.

     
  14.  
    Dudley Hippodrome 1512:

    Dudley Hippodrome will be demolished as part of a £10m regeneration plan, the borough council has said.

    The authority said it was in talks with nearby Dudley Zoo to build an education centre on the Castle Hill site.

     
  15.  
    1459: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    What are you up to this weekend? One of our team emailed in this picture of bluebells in the woods at Packwood House.

    Bluebells

    Email us a picture if you are out and about and we'll feature the best on BBC Local Live.

     
  16.  
    1443:

    Police are appealing for witnesses after a 20-year-old man suffered a serious head injury following an assault in Wolverhampton in the early hours of yesterday.

    The man was punched to the ground in Broad Street outside the Caspian Kebab House just after 4am, police said.

     
  17.  
    your views 1433: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    Tell us what you think of BBC Local Live. We'd like your feedback about this service.

     
  18.  
    Midwives 1416:

    Midwives at Stafford Hospital are holding an open day to reassure people it is business as usual there despite uncertainty about its future.

    Specialist midwife Mandy Stenson said: "We here to give a good quality service and things are just carrying on as normal."

     
  19.  
    1400:

    West Midlands Police tweets: Police appeal for information after man left critically injured in Wolverhampton yesterday bit.ly/1139uHu

     
  20.  
    Ferguson 1347:

    Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will bring his illustrious management career to a close at The Hawthorns tomorrow afternoon.

    Sir Alex Ferguson

    West Bromwich Albion's players will join with opposition players to form an extended guard of honour for him prior to kick-off at 16:00.

     
  21.  
    1335: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    This week Birmingham's Civic Society said it wants to commission a piece of artwork which would "define the city worldwide" to mark the group's centenary.

    What sort of design would you want to see? Email us your ideas.

     
  22.  
    1319:

    A man is in hospital following a fight in Birmingham earlier, BBC WM reports.

    Summer Row has been closed and the area is still cordoned off. One man has been arrested.

     
  23.  
    Video: Silent movies 1304:

    Two classic silent movies have been given a new soundtrack at Birmingham's Symphony Hall.

    Still of the film

    The pieces, performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra while the films were shown on a big screen, have been composed by Carl Davis for films starring silent screen comic Harold Lloyd.

     
  24.  
    Midwives day 1245:

    Midwives at Stafford Hospital tell BBC WM they hope an open day will reassure people it is business as usual despite uncertainty about its future.

    Members of the Royal College of Midwives are hosting a Celebration of Midwifery at the hospital today.

    The maternity unit could be removed under plans to downgrade the hospital because of financial issues.

     
  25.  
    1232: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    Earlier we posted on Facebook to say today's weather was due to be cloudy with rain at times.

    Debs Hackett replied: Good old English weather!!

     
  26.  
    Travel 1219:

    Summer Row in Birmingham is closed between the Fleet Street junction and the A38 Great Charles Street Queensway junction because of a police incident, BBC Travel News reports.

     
  27.  
    Dudley Hippodrome 1205:

    Dudley Hippodrome will be demolished as part of £10m regeneration plans, the council has said.

    Dudley Hippodrome

    Campaigners had put forward a plan to save the venue by turning it into a community theatre.

    But Dudley council said the idea was "not financially viable" and it had now submitted a planning application to knock it down.

     
  28.  
    1153:

    The office account for Bob Jones, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, tweets: Plans for @WMPolice co-location with @WalsallCouncil are making progress. ow.ly/1WlhyY

     
  29.  
    Pub surprise 1142:

    The Birmingham Mail reports regulars at a pub in Birmingham got a big surprise when eight ducklings hatched in a plant pot in the beer garden.

     
  30.  
    Harry match 1123:

    Celebrities due to take part in the Celeb Footy 4 Harry match at St Andrew's today include boxer Joe Calzaghe, singer Gareth Gates and The Only Way Is Essex's James 'Arg' Argent.

     
  31.  
    1113: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    Have you taken any photos of Birmingham and the Black Country recently?

    Birmingham New Street station

    Share them with us by emailing them to BBC Local Live.

     
  32.  
    1103:

    A man has been taken to hospital following reports of a fight in Birmingham.

    Police have cordoned off part of Summer Row and arrested a man following the incident at about 09:30, BBC WM reports.

     
  33.  
    1054:

    A Birmingham schoolboy has been selected to be a mascot at Celebrity Footie 4 Harry which takes place at St Andrew's later, the Birmingham Mail reports.

     
  34.  
    1039: Rebecca Wood BBC Weather

    Just looking at the models for today, the band of showers we were expecting across the north Midlands looks like being less of a problem.

    All in all this weekend could be rather pleasant.

     
  35.  
    Cancelled train 1028:

    London Midland tweets: Due to signalling problems, the 11:30 Coventry to Birmingham New Street service is cancelled. Apologies if affected.

     
  36.  
    Cricket 1017:

    Warwickshire slumped to an innings defeat to Yorkshire at Edgbaston yesterday.

    Adil Rashid

    It was their heaviest loss for three years.

     
  37.  
    Midwives day 1002:

    Midwives at Stafford Hospital are inviting people to meet them and find out about the work they do at a special open day, BBC WM reports.

    The "celebration day" is inviting past, present and future parents, their children and families, to meet the team and see the facilities.

     
  38.  
    your views 0950: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    We've introduced BBC Local Live to bring you the latest news, sport, travel and weather all in one place. Tell us what you think.

     
  39.  
    Football 0938:

    West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke said he was "delighted" Gareth McAuley had signed a new contract with the club.

    Gareth McAuley

    He said: "He's been a stand-out performer this season and deserves every reward he gets."

     
  40.  
    Head teachers 0921:

    Head teachers are preparing to debate a motion of no-confidence in the government's education policies at their annual conference in Birmingham today, reports BBC WM.

    Members of the National Association of Head Teachers will accuse ministers of pushing through changes without proper consultation.

     
  41.  
    0910:

    West Midlands Fire Service tweets: Firefighters at @BilstonFire station are holding a charity car wash today (Sat 18 May), 10.30am-2pm bit.ly/100WenM

     
  42.  
    as it happened
    • News, sport, travel, weather from Sat 18 May
    • More updates from 08:00 on Sunday
    • Listen to BBC WM
     
  43.  
    Football 0900:

    West Bromwich Albion centre-half Gareth McAuley signs a new contract keeping him at the club until 2015.

     
  44.  
    Hunt for killer 0844:

    More than 100 police officers and staff are still working to find the killer of Mohammed Saleem.

    The 75-year-old was stabbed to death on his way home from evening prayers in Small Heath last month.

     
  45.  
    Travel 0832:

    There's slow traffic on the A4540 New John Street West eastbound at the A34 New Town Row traffic lights junction, BBC Travel News reports.

     
  46.  
    Football 0815:

    The Premier League says a third-place play-off game will be staged at Villa Park if Chelsea and Arsenal finish level.

    Villa Park

    The match, scheduled for 26 May, would only be required if the teams have the same points, goal difference and goals scored.

     
  47.  
    Weather 0804:

    Quite a cloudy day ahead with rain at times and highs of 14 °C.

    Any rain should clear into this afternoon.

     
  48.  
    0800: Gavin Bevis BBC Local Live

    Hello everyone and welcome to today's news, sport, travel and weather updates.

    Send your comments, questions and photos to locallive@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @bbcderby.

     

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