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´óÏó´«Ã½ Midlands Today

New electric vehicle charging points are being installed across Solihull as part of efforts to improve air quality in the borough.

it was trying to encourage motorists to use electric vehicles and a shortage of charging points was preventing people making the switch.

Shirley, Olton and Knowle are among the areas set to benefit.

With West Brom looking on the brink of relegation to the Championship, was taking the Baggies job Sam Allardyce's big mistake?

Early showers, with hail in places, should clear away to leave a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers. High: 9C (48F).

Turning cloudier tonight with wet and windy weather forecast which could see some heavy outbreaks of rain. Low: 4C (39F).

You can keep up-to-date at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Weather website.

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email,and

Jersey Reds sign former back Scott van Breda on loan from Premiership side Worcester Warriors.

Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors is due to be staged in an outdoor performance area this summer.

Campaigners fear Shrewsbury's former Granada Theatre could be turned into flats.

England midfielder Jill Scott is among the scorers as Everton overcome a first-half scare to win at Birmingham.

The site has been found "inadequate" by inspectors and placed in special measures.

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow.

Coventry Live

From Coventry Live:

• 'One-man band'
• New Ricoh
• Driver left in

The Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, Gareth Morgan, has announced he will retire in June after four years in the position.

He has been a police officer for 33 years and said: "I am looking forward to rediscovering many of the interests I’ve not had time to pursue of late and to volunteering."

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Paying tribute, the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: "Gareth has led the force through a huge period of change and a challenging financial landscape over the last few years and not least over the last 12 months with the pandemic."

A Labour MP lists all women killed in the UK over the last year where a man has been convicted or charged.

A 15-year-old boy has admitted terrorism offences.

The teenager, from Birmingham, was accused of possessing information "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".

Image source, PA Media

He was arrested in June last year after a warrant was executed at his home in Bartley Green, said West Midlands Police.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday where he was conditionally bailed.

The charges relate to three counts of possessing a document used to prepare or commit an act of terrorism on or before 23 June 2020.

He is next set to appear at Avon and Somerset Youth Court on 21 May for sentencing.

Worcester Warriors centre Will Butler signs a new deal with the Premiership club, along with lock James Scott.

An extra 16 "Covid marshalls" are being recruited in Birmingham to patrol the city when it opens up after lockdown.

The city council said they would be deployed across the city centre, local neighbourhoods and parks joining the 24 already patrolling five days a week.

Image source, Getty Images

The local authority said the marshals would be its "eyes and ears" and the new ones would be asked to advise and reassure businesses, residents, workers and visitors.

They will also be asked to encourage people to comply with public health measures like social distancing, but they won't have any enforcement powers.

Amy Griffiths's killer is jailed for life over an attack of "extreme" violence.

Eddie Bisknell
Local Democracy Reporter

Figures suggest around 900 staff at Derby and Burton hospitals have not had the Covid vaccine for undisclosed or non-health reasons.

Jabs have been available to all 15,862 front-line staff at the Royal Derby Hospital and Queen's Hospital in Burton upon Trent for four months.

Image source, Google

Figures show 1,587 staff have not yet had their vaccines.

Of these, 687 have said they are delaying the jab, mostly for health reasons such as pregnancy.

Another 68 have declined outright for non-health reasons, which have not been specified.

The remaining 832 have so far not explained why they have not come forward.

The trust has confirmed staff who have declined vaccines are still in work and reiterate that the jabs are not mandatory.

You might want to check where your wheelie bin has got to, because it's been a blustery day with rain and even hail in places too.

These photos were taken by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Weather Watchers in Ludlow and Bridgnorth earlier.

Image source, Shropshire Lass

Image source, Botters Weatherman

After ´óÏó´«Ã½ News reported on a woman who spends Friday evenings litter picking, others got in touch.