BBC News Birmingham & Black Country

A swan has been rescued after getting her head stuck between some railings in Walsall.

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The stricken cygnet was spotted by a member of the public on the corner of Dudley Street and Bath Street and they alerted the RSPCA.

Animal rescue inspector Vicki Taylor said: “The cygnet must have gone off exploring and flew into the yard but then she would have been unable to have enough room to take flight from the area.

“She must have decided to put her head through the railings and obviously got stuck."

The cygnet was taken to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, for a check-up and is expected to be released back into the wild this week.

Plans for 2,000 homes on a current bus depot site have been approved by councillors in Birmingham.

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Developers HUB were granted permission by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee for outline plans for 1,250 canal-side homes and 950 student apartments at the site today.

The outline plans include buildings measuring from six to 25 storeys, and public space, including a new canal-side square named Bordesley Wharf.

Also part of the hybrid application were detailed plans for the first phase – involving the first 213 apartments at the site on Adderley Street, Digbeth which is currently used by National Express.

A Walsall primary school is hoping to get approval for five new classrooms, allowing it to take in another 120 children.

Christ Church CE Primary in Harden Road, which already teaches 354 pupils, would also look to take on another eight members of staff.

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Some neighbours have objected, complaining it will bring extra noise, traffic and parking issues, but a report going before Walsall Council's planning committee next week recommends the application is approved.

It said the expansion was needed to cope with the expected increase in student numbers.

A man who died after being hit by a car in Quinton last week has been named by police as Nicholas Brown.

The 46-year-old was struck by a Volkswagen Golf on Hagley Road West, at about 22:00 on Friday.

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"Despite the best efforts of emergency services he was sadly confirmed dead at the scene," West Midlands Police said.

The family of Mr Brown said: “Nicholas was a loving son and brother, a much loved husband and a devoted father to his sons."

A 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and being unfit through drink or drugs has since been released under investigation.

The Birmingham City head coach, Aitor Karanka, said it was "difficult to understand" his team's performance in last night's defeat to Barnsley.

Blues took the lead but went on to lose the match 2-1 - the sixth game in a row in which they've failed to win.

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Afterwards, Karanka accepted "they were better than us", but he couldn't explain his player's poor performance.

He said: "I try pick the best 11 players to try to play good football. Good football players who like to play and we couldn't pass the ball more than two or three times in the first half."

Search dogs, metal detectors, armed officers and drones will all be part of the police operation in Birmingham to make sure Christmas shoppers are safe.

West Midlands Police said officers would also work with security staff and shop workers and use a knife arch to detect people carrying bladed weapons.

West Midlands PoliceCopyright: West Midlands Police

Insp James Tandy, from the Project Guardian team, said: “With Christmas fast approaching and the shops reopening this week, we’re expecting the city centre to be busy."

A government backed testing pilot specifically for people without Covid-19 symptoms is being extended in Wolverhampton.

The testing centre at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, on Sedgley Street, has tested nearly 2,500 people since it opened on 20 November and 5% returned a positive result.

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It will now stay open until next Tuesday - using tests that can deliver results in under an hour.