Updates for Thursday 7 May 2015
Election 2015 live updates for the West Midlands start at 22:00 tonight
That's the end of today's Local Live updates. We'll be back at 22:00 with election updates for the West Midlands.
There won't be any election news on the BBC until the polls close tonight.
The BBC TV's election night programme, which starts at 21:55 will be fronted by David Dimbleby.
The programme will start with the results of a joint BBC, ITV and Sky exit poll. There'll be live coverage from 220 counts.
Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today
Coming up on Midlands Today at 18:30: Aston Villa a step closer to a takeover - as a bid emerges of £150 million pounds, involving former Arsenal captain Tony Adams.
They've dubbed the city "Boomingham" and say cities such as London are now "saturated" - the Chinese investors looking to Birmingham.
And it's Birmingham's best Boxing line-up for five years. We look ahead to this weekend's fight featuring Olympic Champion Anthony Joshua
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today Weather
Showers will soon ease this evening to leave a mostly dry night with patchy cloud and long clear spells. Later in the night thicker cloud will spread in from the southwest with a low of 4C (39F).
Tomorrow we're likely to see patchy rain spreading north through the day, turning heavy at times.
BBC Sport
Aston Villa are the subject of a £150m takeover bid by a group of investors led by former Chelsea business director Paul Smith.
It's understood ex-Arsenal captain Tony Adams would be brought in to work on football matters if the takeover is successful but wouldn't pose a threat to current Villa boss Tim Sherwood.
Image source, Getty Images"I haven't heard anything. It's out of my hands," said Sherwood (pictured). "I know Tony but only through playing. He's a good guy, I have a lot of respect for Tony.
Election 2015
It is set to be the most exciting general election night in years - here is a full guide to what you can expect after the polls close at 22:00 and how to follow all the results and reaction on the BBC.
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Here are the top stories coming up in the newsroom:
A formal £150m offer has been made to take over Aston Villa football club
Staffordshire Police have made 14 arrests following an investigation into sexual criminal offences against two young people
Four trees have been hacked down with an axe in a Birmingham park
BBC Sport
Roy Keane's not one to mince his words.
Image source, Getty ImagesAnd the ex-Manchester United captain has given his two pennies' worth on Aston Villa, where he was assistant manager under Paul Lambert.
Keane told the Irish Independent:, external "There seems to be the wrong attitude. We're not going to be challenging but we're probably good enough to stay up. It's like drifting. It's a tired club, a tired brand."
Jennifer Harby
Journalist, BBC News Online
Four trees have been hacked down in a "devastating" act of "mindless" vandalism in Cannon Hill Park.
Birmingham City Council says the trees had been "felled with an axe" and the matter had been reported to the police.
The trees, including one that was about 50 years old, measured up to 30ft (9m) in height.
Chris Blakemore
News editor, BBC WM
BBC WM presenters Adrian Goldberg and Paul Franks are double-heading our election coverage tonight from 22:00.
We're covering all 14 counts across the West Midlands and South Staffordshire, with reporters at every count, bringing you all the results as soon as they are announced.
You can also hear comprehensive coverage of the local election results on Friday.
Fourteen men have been arrested as part of an investigation into claims of serious sexual offences on two young people., external
Staffordshire Police say the men aged between 14 and 41 were arrested at five locations in Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton and Derbyshire earlier today.
Police say the arrests are part of an ongoing case into "serious sexual criminal offences against two young people."
Jennifer Harby
Journalist, BBC News Online
Police are looking for a vandal who attacked four mature cherry trees in a Birmingham park with an axe.
The four trees, measuring up to 30ft (9m) were attacked overnight in Cannon Hill Park, in Edgbaston, West Midlands Police said.
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Our top stories in the BBC Birmingham newsroom:
A man found dead at a Birmingham tip has been named as 41 year old Thomas O'Brien
Travel: There's very slow traffic outbound on the A38 Aston Expressway
BBC Sport
Aston Villa are the subject of a takeover bid led by former Chelsea business director Paul Smith.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt is understood that ex-Arsenal player Tony Adams would be brought in to work on football matters should the takeover be successful.
Smith is known to current Villa owner Randy Lerner, who put the club up for sale last May.
Express and Star
A road had to be closed for an hour following a collision which left a woman with facial injuries, external.
The incident happened at the junction of St Paul's Road and Holly Lane in Smethwick at 11.15am and the road was closed for an hour.
BBC WM Sport
A consortium led by former Chelsea executive Paul Smith has made a £150m formal offer for Aston Villa.
The offer is dependant on Premier League survival and would happen before the end of July.
Tim Sherwood's job as manager would be safe if the deal goes through.
Election 2015
When the polling stations are shut at 22:00 tonight, the vote counters work begins.
Millions of votes will be taken in boxes from polling stations and transported to leisure centres, town halls, schools and other venues where their presence is eagerly awaited by hopeful candidates and tables of staff ready to count.
Who are the vote-counters? Read more here.
Birmingham Mail
An award-winning Birmingham chef was saved from tragedy in Nepal by a TOILET break, external which saved him from falling victim to a devastating landslide.
Ganeth Shrestha, former head chef at Shimla Pinks on Broad Street, was travelling with relatives by car to visit Nepalese family members and was up to five hours away from Kathmandhu when the earthquake struck.
Mark Regan
BBC WM Sport
Manager Tim Sherwood answers my questions at Aston Villa's training ground Bodymoor Heath ahead of their crucial fixture with West Ham on Saturday.
Image source, Aston VillaHe confirms striker Gabby Agbonlahor is back in training following injury and can play a part against the West Ham as Villa look to move clear of the relegation zone.
Villa are currently on 35 points, two clear of the bottom three.
BBC WM Sport
Wolves slipped to a 55-35 defeat at Poole last night., external
They were without skipper Peter Karlsson due to illness, the Monmore men were well beaten on a tough night.
Birmingham Post
A group of wealthy Far Eastern investors are planning a major spending spree in Birmingham - and have huge regeneration schemes in their sights, external.
A consortium headed up by Denise Li, president at GlobalChina Wealth Management Company, plans to filter capital from the super-rich of China and Taiwan into property, infrastructure and energy schemes in the UK.
