Ofsted criticises an Islamic independent school, after inspectors found leaflets which claimed music and dancing were "acts of the devil".

Latest weather for the West Midlands

A bogus faith healer who defrauded three women out of £145,000 has been jailed.

That's it from us for Thursday. We're back from 08:00 on Friday with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather, but keep an eye out here for updates through the evening and into the morning.

Showers will generally ease this evening, although a few may well persist through the night. 

Otherwise it'll be mainly dry with some clear spells and local mist or fog patches.

Lows of 12C (54F). 

Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

There's growing concern among parents and teachers, as the West Midlands heads for a shortfall in secondary school places.

We'll have more on the case of a bogus faith healer who has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years, for defrauding vulnerable women out of tens of thousands of pounds.

And we'll speak to a Michelin-starred chef who is risking losing his prestigious industry award by ditching his tasting menu.

Join us for Midlands Today on BBC One.

A total of 15 members of a drugs gang which supplied heroin, cocaine and cannabis on Birmingham's streets have been jailed, according to police, external.

The network operated for at least 14 months from March 2014 to May 2015, said police, who uncovered drug safe houses, cannabis factories and dealer phones taking orders and "issuing text advertisements".

Shaymas Ulhaq, from Handsworth, was the "kingpin" of the cartel and oversaw six cannabis grows – including one with a £150,000 yield operating from the back of a tyre firm in Erdington – and managed a group of drug runners and farmers, said West Midlands Police.

He was jailed for 18 years after being found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here is a quick recap of Thursday's news:

- A bogus faith healer who conned his victims out of a combined £145,000 has been jailed

- Birmingham City Council is among the authorities facing the biggest shortfalls in secondary school places

- A man has now been confirmed to have died after being involved in a collision with a lorry in Birmingham

Trading Standards in Birmingham have praised the bravery of the victims of bogus faith healer, Abdoulie Gassama, for coming forward as he was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

BBC Travel

There is slow traffic on the M6 northbound between J6, for the A38(M) Aston Expressway, and J7, for Great Barr, because of a crash earlier, even though all lanes have been reopened, drivers are warned.

Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today

A Michelin-starred chef has said he's dumping the formal tasting menus at his Birmingham restaurant in favour of "accessible cooking".

Richard Turner, of Turners, in Harborne, said he was making the "brave decision" to break with what many Michelin-starred restaurants offered, to respond to what customers were asking for.

Lichfield Mercury

A major revamp for a historic centre is the lead story in this week's Lichfield Mercury, external.

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

A man dies after being involved in a collision with a lorry in Birmingham, emergency services confirm.

Sarah Falkland
BBC Midlands Today

Abdoulie Gassama, of Slade Road, Erdington, pleaded guilty to 22 offences under the Theft Act 1968 and Fraud Act 2006 at a hearing on 22 April 2016, according to Birmingham City Council trading standards.

It said the 34-year-old advertised his services under the pseudonyms Shaikh Jammal and Shaikh Riyad in "a number of local and Asian newspapers", claiming to have 40 years’ experience and guaranteed results.

Complaints came from "several women" between December 2014 and March 2015, prompting trading standards to investigate.

The Conservative former cabinet minister and former Sutton Coldfield MP, Norman Fowler, has been elected as the next Lord Speaker. 

He will take his place on the Woolsack on 1 September.

He is the third elected Lord Speaker and first man to take the post since it was established in 2006.

Image source, Parliament

Birmingham Mail

Roberto Di Matteo has warned that there could be an exodus of players, external as he looks to trim Aston Villa's squad.

Sarah Falkland
BBC Midlands Today

A bogus faith healer from Birmingham, Abdoulie Gassama, has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison. 

He defrauded three women out of £150,000. 

More than 16,000 new secondary school spaces are needed within seven years to accommodate new pupils starting primary education, official figures reveal.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

If you are just catching up on Thursday's news, here are our headlines:

- A cat has lost an eye after being shot with an air rifle in Dudley

- The Aston Expressway into and out of Birmingham could be closed for works for months, according to a public notice

- A man has been hit by a lorry in a crash in Erdington

Walsall Advertiser

Members of the public will have the opportunity to hear about the achievements and challenges Walsall Manor Hospital is facing, external at its AGM.

Image source, Walsall Advertiser