Birmingham & Black Country

We've reached the end of Thursday's BBC Local Live updates. We will be be back at 08:00 tomorrow.

Coming up with Nick Owen and me at 18:30, getting mums back to work in an unemployment blackspot of Birmingham.

And the festival which aims to change your impressions of the architecture and landscape of the second city. Watch Midlands Today.

BBC Travel News says the A4123 Wolverhampton Road in Oldbury is closed between Pound Road and Brandhall Road because of a serious accident.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds for tomorrow. A wet and windy Friday ahead of us.

I'm off to Swindon Speedway, a great track to visit. Hoping there'll be another good crowd and atmosphere for the match versus the Brummies.

West Midlands Police reports four men have been arrested after thieves forced their way into a house in Selly Oak after threatening the owner with a knife.

The men stole a TV and games console after locking the householder's dog in a cupboard during the robbery on Wednesday.

Firefighters from Redditch helped rescue a horse which got its leg stuck after stamping through the floor of a horse-box in Barnt Green on Wednesday.

Station commander Ian Jallands said: "While there were no obvious problems with the vehicle involved, we'd urge anyone who uses a horse-box or trailer to ensure it is well-maintained to help avoid this type of incident occurring."

West Midlands Police tells the BBC officers arrested two teenagers in Warley earlier who were brandishing what appeared to be a knife.

Officers were called to Poplar Road at 13:20 and searched the street, finding a teenager carrying a plastic toy knife.

It says two boys, aged 15 and 17, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of affray.

About 100 mothers have attended a jobs fair in the Hodge Hill area of Birmingham to try to find work.

Local Labour MP Liam Byrne, who helped to organise it, told Midlands Today: "Mums have said they are really desperate for work, they want to work, they're ambitious and aspirational."

Birmingham-based radio station Kerrang! is to lose its FM slot in the West Midlands, reports BBC WM.

Owner Bauer says Kerrang!, which launched in the city in 2004, will continue via DAB and online. The company says its current frequency will switch to its sister station Planet Rock.

An eyewitness who saw two teenagers arrested for allegedly waving a toy knife around in Warley earlier described seeing "a fair few police cars, riot vans and dogs".

The Amateur Swimming Association has warned that more children may drown without better school swimming provision.

We asked on Facebook what the standard of swimming was like at your child's school.

Dean Campbell replied: "I don't think they will drown, my son spent 10 years on school and there was no swimming lessons at all, if kids do drown, it would be from a heavy rain storm, because if my son's education is anything to go by, they won't know what a swimming pool looks like."

Kellie Tyers shared this photo with us: It's cold, but I'm walking my dog Remy in Sutton Park.

Thanks for sharing Kellie, hope you're wrapped up warm! Share your pictures with us locallive@bbc.co.uk.

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.

Two teenagers have been arrested after brandishing what appeared to be a knife in Warley earlier.

Police found the pair, aged 15 and 17, on Poplar Road in the Bearwood area, at 13:20. The suspected weapon turned out to be a plastic toy knife and the teenagers were detained on suspicion of affray.

More on the nursery sex assault investigation.

West Mercia Police confirms there is just one alleged offender but says it has made five arrests due to the wide scope of the inquiry.

Six community projects across the West Midlands are to get a share of £20,000 funding from the National Express Foundation.

Anthony Vigor, who chairs the foundation, told BBC WM: "It was partly a response to the riots we saw in 2011 and as Birmingham's biggest employer we felt that we needed to respond in our own way."

One part of Birmingham is apparently the most hygienic place in the UK to buy a kebab and chips, reports BBC News Online's Andrew Dawkins.

Castle Vale has been judged the place to go for the cleanest kitchens, properly stored food and staff who care about not upsetting your digestive system.

West Mercia Police says some of the five men arrested over sex allegations at the nurseries are employed by Bright Eyes, which runs the centres.

It says all of the men are "connected" to the company.

The owners of the three branches of Bright Eyes nursery, in Bromsgrove, Redditch and Droitwich, have voluntarily closed all three premises while sexual assault allegations are investigated, West Mercia Police confirms.

The Carnival Parade is due to start at Victoria Square in Birmingham at 12:00 on Saturday.

It will then wind its way down New Street, into High Street, Carrs Lane, Smallbrook Queensway and Hurst Street, before finally entering the main Pride Festival site.

The A4031 All Saints Way in West Bromwich is closed and there's delays in both directions at the Lyndon junction, because of a serious accident.

A jobs fair is being held in the Hodge Hill area of Birmingham to get mothers into work.

It is part of a campaign by the local Labour MP Liam Byrne, who says the area has some of the highest rates of unemployment in the UK, with up to 28 people chasing every job.

Alton Towers has delayed the opening of its new rollercoaster.

The Smiler was due to open today, but the theme park said it would not be open until at least Saturday due to "unforeseen teething problems".

Peartree Lane, in Brierley Hill, is closed in both directions between the A4036 Pedmore Road junction and Cinder Bank Island because of an accident. Police are directing traffic.

Here's Pete Morgan at Birmingham Children's Hospital charity launch for the BIG Bandage with Nancy Gray and Rhianna Cooper from the fundraising team.

If you missed Pete's show today, listen again online.

Police have arrested five men and searched six properties after a child told their family they'd been sexually assaulted at a children's nursery in Worcestershire.

Spent the morning at at Jobs fair for mums in Saltley. Just finished editing my package for Midlands Today.

If you're interested we're on track for our coldest spring since 1979.

Those very cold days in March didn't help. Blame the jet stream!

The A34 Birmingham Road in Great Barr is now clear inbound at Scott Arms traffic lights.

We'll have reaction at 13:30 from Birmingham's Muslim community to the murder of a soldier in Woolwich yesterday.

Plus a jobs fair aimed at getting mums back to work in one of the city's worst unemployment blackspots.

Two new Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) for Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country have opened.

For the first time, people who have been subjected to rape or sexual assault in the region will be able to access support services without reporting to the police first.

A group of community projects across the West Midlands are to get funding from the National Express Foundation.

The six charities will share £20,000 from the bus company's trust, BBC WM reports.

West Midlands Police has released a phone app so members of the public can "help fight crime".

The app features the faces of crime suspects.

Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis remains the bookies' favourite for the vacancy at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Crewe's director of football Dario Gradi told BBC Stoke: "It's not a surprise he's being linked with other jobs, because he's got a great record. In his time here he's already won promotion and a cup."

I took advantage of the nice weather recently with a walk along the canals in Birmingham.

Share pictures of what you've been up to with me and I'll feature them on here. Email them to BBC Local Live.

The A34 Stratford Road in Sparkhill is busy but moving around the St Johns Road traffic lights junction.

Warwickshire are looking for their first win in their YB40 group this evening when they take on Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston.

The match is scheduled to start at 16:40 BST and you can hear ball-by-ball commentary via the BBC Sport website.

Five men have been arrested after a child complained of being sexually assaulted at a children's nursery in Worcestershire.

The child's mother told police it happened at one of the three branches of Bright Eyes nurseries, which are in Bromsgrove, Redditch and Droitwich.

Birmingham's failing transport system is to be tackled head on with a 10-year vision for roads, rail, bus, cycle and tram development in the city, reports the Birmingham Post.

With reports that primary school children in the West Midlands aren't being adequately taught to swim, the Amateur Swimming Association has provided a range of resources for schools and parents.

What is your experience? Are your children taught to swim at school? Email your thoughts to locallive@bbc.co.uk.

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

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival, Pride, is taking place this weekend.

Running from Saturday to Sunday, the main stage will see acts including Bananarama, Lucy Spraggan and Misha B.

The Amateur Swimming Association warns that children's lives are at risk because 50% of youngsters at West Midlands primary schools cannot swim 25 meters.

Ashley Cox, from S4Swim School in the West Midlands, told BBC WM: "Swimming is a life skill, so should be treated more importantly, or certainly as importantly, as other major curriculum activities."

Today we talked about how one market place is giving potential traders a free week to encourage people to go back to using local markets.

If you missed it, listen again online.

Adrian Goldberg is talking about swimming as reports show that more than half of primary school children in the West Midlands can't swim 25 metres.

Roger Gould tweets: @bbcwm So half of B'ham primary schoolchildren can't swim but the Council still want to close Moseley Road Baths

Showers throughout the day today and strong north westerly winds making things feel cooler.

Some sunny spells through the afternoon.

More children may drown without better school swimming provision, the Amateur Swimming Association warns.

The association says more than half of all primary school pupils in the West Midlands can't swim 25 metres and it is calling on the government to make it a priority sport for PE lessons.

Ian Webster speaks to BBC WM on his first day on Bilston Market which is giving new traders a rent free day.

Does marriage make a relationship stronger? Only 65% of cohabiting couples stay together until their kids are teenagers. Coincidence?

Share your story with me: 08453 009956 or text WM and your message to 81333.

The Labour group in Walsall failed to convince three independent councillors in the town to side with them in order to gain an overall majority last night, reports BBC WM.

But they lost the vote and the coalition between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats will carry on running the authority.

Problems from an earlier accident on the M5 southbound between the M6 and J1, A41 (West Bromwich) have now cleared.

Would-be market traders are being encouraged to have a go for free this week in Wolverhampton. It's part of a plan to encourage more of us to use our local markets.

I'm at Bilston Market chatting to stallholders for Pete Morgan. Listen to the Breakfast Show.

Four new free schools approved in Birmingham are Perry Beeches III, Perry Beeches IV, City United Limited (CUL) Academy Trust and The Birmingham Free School, reports BBC News Online.

They are among 102 new free schools set to open in England from 2014 after being granted approval from the Department for Education.

One lane is closed and there's queuing traffic on the M5 southbound between the M6 and J1, A41 (West Bromwich), because of an accident involving three cars. More at BBC Travel News.

Three men seen entering Saltbrook scrapyard in Cradley Heath before a fire began were seen to flee as flames start to take hold, reports BBC News Online.

Police say 100 cars were damaged in the suspected arson attack.

Showers will continue for much of the day and may be heavy with the risk of hail and thunder.

Good morning, I'll be bringing you all the latest news, travel, sport and weather from Birmingham and the Black Country today.