Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
That's all from our live coverage for Birmingham and the Black Country for today.
We're back from 08:00 tomorrow with more news, sport, travel and weather updates. Join us then.
Summary
Live updates on Monday 15 February 2016 have now finished for the day. We're back at 08:00 on Tuesday.
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Watch: Latest weather forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 17:50
Sara Blizzard
BBC WeatherOne or two showers are starting to diminish. It will turn very cold in the evening and through the night. Lows of -1C (30F).
Lescott's Twitter own goal after Liverpool thumpingpublished at 17:43
BBC Midlands TodayJoleon Lescott scored a Twitter own goal in the wake of Aston Villa's thumping 0-6 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday.
If you missed the story, here's a recap.
Raids by Trading Standards uncover thousands of illegal cigarettespublished at 17:39
Thousands of bootleg cigarettes worth about £8,000 have been seized by trading standards officers at Erdington businesses today.
Sniffer dogs helped root out the illicit tobacco products - which had either been smuggled in, illegally produced or for which no duty had been paid. Police teamed up with Birmingham City Council's trading standards officers for the raids at eight different shops and off licences.
The authority said illegal goods were seized at seven of the premises, external, including one where 286 packs of cigarettes were taken out of an overall haul of 1,065 packs (21,300 cigarettes).
Pollution cameras for Birmingham and Londonpublished at 17:37
BBC Midlands TodayPollution cameras have gone up on roads in Birmingham and London to measure emissions from cars.
It's part of a trial by the Universities of Birmingham, Leeds and King's College London, funded by the Department of Transport.
The US manufactured devices shine a laser beam through exhaust fumes and use reflected light to measure levels of toxins.
In America the pollution cameras are used to identify and reward the cleanest car drivers with a free pass from their annual emissions test.
Latest: Country strife for disdvantaged pupils; Freed terror suspect; Digbeth murder casepublished at 17:27
Alex Homer
BBC Local LiveHere are the top stories in the BBC WM newsroom on Monday afternoon:
- Disadvantaged pupils are achieving worse results at rural schools than those at inner city ones, BBC Inside Out West Midlands can reveal
- A UK terror suspect freed after being detained on holiday in Portugal has said he will continue to be an activist for Sikh political prisoners
- Two men have appeared in court charged with killing a business owner during an armed raid at his Digbeth warehouse
Birmingham MP campaigns for more support for young people with parents addicted to alcoholpublished at 17:18
Joanne Writtle
BBC Midlands TodayA Birmingham MP is campaigning for more support for young people with parents addicted to alcohol.
Image source, Liam Byrne MPLast year Liam Byrne's father died from alcoholism. He says charities and local authorities need to be more clear about what help is available.
Campaigners call for action to save shabby former Woodside Library buildingpublished at 17:06 GMT 15 February 2016
Campaigners are calling upon council chiefs to try and breathe new life, external back into the former Woodside Library building.
Rise in part of council tax to fund West Midlands Fire Servicepublished at 16:56 GMT 15 February 2016
Taxpayers in Band D properties will pay £1.09 extra a year from 2016/17 to cover the cost of West Midlands Fire Service after a rise in precept to fund it was approved.
Chair of the West Midlands Fire Authority John Edwards, a former firefighter himself, said the service was expected to miss out a further £10m government funding between now and 2020 and this increase was an attempt to plug part of the resulting shortfall.
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End of X postCannock stables targeted by thievespublished at 16:41 GMT 15 February 2016
A stable complex in Cannock has become the latest set of buildings to be targeted by thieves, external.
Akhtar Javeed death: Murder accused pair appear in courtpublished at 16:20 GMT 15 February 2016
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WMTwo men have appeared in court charged with killing a business owner during an armed raid at his warehouse.
Suraj Mistry, 26, and Lemar Wali, 18, are accused of murdering Akhtar Javeed in Digbeth, Birmingham on 3 February.
The pair also faced charges of attempted robbery and possession of a handgun when they appeared before magistrates in Birmingham.
Both men were remanded in custody to appear at the city's Crown court on Wednesday.
New film inspired by nostalgic pictures of Birminghampublished at 15:59 GMT 15 February 2016
Birmingham PostNostalgic photographs of Birmingham which at one stage looked set for the dustbin are the inspiration behind a new film, external.
Latest: Disadvantaged pupils 'worse off at rural schools'; Lescott sorry for tweet; Solihull triple stabbingpublished at 15:36 GMT 15 February 2016
Alex Homer
BBC Local LiveHere is a recap of some of the stories we've been covering in the past few hours:
- Disadvantaged pupils are achieving worse results at rural schools than in inner city schools, BBC Inside Out West Midlands can reveal
- Joleon Lescott apologises for tweeting a picture of an expensive car after Aston Villa were thrashed by Liverpool
- Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after three schoolboys were stabbed in Solihull on Saturday
Tackling poor performance by disadvantaged pupils in rural schoolspublished at 15:16 GMT 15 February 2016
David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, BBC Midlands TodayOfsted says closing the gap in performance between disadvantaged pupils in rural schools and those in more built-up inner cities is a priority.
Weather: Plenty of sunshine but feeling coldpublished at 14:54 GMT 15 February 2016
Plenty of sunny spells continuing through the day, especially towards the west. However, it's going to feel very cold.
Tonight will see long clear spells and light winds. A widespread frost is expected with very cold temperatures.
Attempted murder arrests over Solihull stabbingspublished at 14:38 GMT 15 February 2016
Police continue to appeal for information after three schoolboys were stabbed in Solihull over the weekend.
The attack took place in the Hobs Meadow area near Westcote Close at about 18:00 on Saturday.
Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
India terror suspect 'to carry on as Sikh activist'published at 14:13 GMT 15 February 2016
A UK terror suspect freed after being detained on holiday in Portugal has said he will continue to be an activist for Sikh political prisoners.
Paramjeet Singh Saini spent eight weeks in a Portuguese jail, but returned home to the West Midlands over the weekend.
He has been fighting extradition to India over his alleged involvement in the murder of a Sikh politician in 2009 and bomb attacks in India in 2010.
Lescott not the only footballer to flaunt his wealth - don't forget Ridgwell's bum jokepublished at 13:48 GMT 15 February 2016
Joleon Lescott apologised to Aston Villa fans on Sunday after tweeting a picture of an expensive sports car soon after the club's 6-0 home defeat to Liverpool.
The 33-year-old defender claims the tweet was a "total accident" which happened when his phone was in his pocket while driving, but he nevertheless incurred the wrath of angry Villa supporters.
It's not the first time our local sportsmen - intentionally or otherwise - have flaunted their wealth on social media.
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Bromwich Albion fans felt Liam Ridgewell had some cheek when he was pictured in December 2012 squatting over a toilet and wiping his backside with a wad of £20 notes, instead of toilet roll.
Ridgewell later apologised for the snap, saying the "joke" was to wind up a friend he had won a personal bet with and had not been intended for public viewing.
Plans to curb Canada geese numbers in Sandwell after controversial cullingpublished at 13:28
Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WMPlans have been put forward by Sandwell Council to control the wild geese population at local parks.
Councillors backed away from plans to cull the birds but they are meeting tonight to discuss other options.
Last year the council received a petition entitled Save Our Canada Geese which contained around 1,700 signatures.
Dog walkers at Dartmouth Park in West Bromwich this morning had mixed views on the birds.
Political week in 60 seconds: West Midlandspublished at 13:07
HSBC is planning to move 1,000 jobs from London to Birmingham and the M6 Toll is up for sale.
Catch up with the rest of the past political week in 60 seconds.
