Pulse

Category: Politics

  • Pulse Local afternoon digest for Friday 29 May 2026: Birmingham and the Black Country

    Pulse Local afternoon digest for Friday 29 May 2026: Birmingham and the Black Country

    This is the Pulse Local afternoon digest for Friday 29 May 2026, covering Birmingham and the Black Country – Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. So here is the useful bit of the day, minus the usual sludge.

    So far the main themes are rail disruption around Birmingham New Street and the Cross City line, police activity in Smethwick, Birmingham, Sandwell and Walsall, warm but fresher weather, fresh council developments in Sandwell and Wolverhampton, and half-term events across the region this afternoon and evening.

    Top stories

    Cross City line closure hits Birmingham and Black Country rail travel
    West Midlands Railway says no trains are running between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley on the north side of the Cross City line from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May while an HS2 viaduct is installed near Curzon Street. Its engineering works page also says buses are replacing trains today between Lichfield Trent Valley, Four Oaks or Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham New Street, with knock-on impact between Walsall and Wolverhampton too. That matters because it cuts across commuter, shopper and half-term journeys right through the afternoon and weekend.

    Man charged after violent disorder in Smethwick
    West Midlands Police confirmed a 19-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon after disorder in Foundry Lane, Smethwick, on Tuesday night in which two men suffered stab wounds. Police said one 21-year-old remained in a serious condition and the accused was due before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today. For local residents, it means a high-profile case is now moving into court while the police presence in the area stays heightened.

    Sandwell has a new council leader and cabinet
    Sandwell Council says Councillor Ray Nock was formally confirmed as leader at the authority’s annual meeting this week. He said the new administration would focus on jobs, town centres, high streets and cost-of-living pressure. That is worth watching because leadership changes tend to shape what actually gets pushed through, and what gets quietly parked in a drawer like every other grand civic promise.

    East Birmingham regeneration remains one of the biggest live regional stories
    WMCA says the Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation will drive an £11bn regeneration programme, with more than 50,000 jobs and 20,000 new homes planned in east Birmingham. The authority says the scheme is meant to improve transport connections and living standards in some of the city’s most deprived neighbourhoods. If it moves at the pace promised rather than the pace councils usually prefer, it could reshape a big chunk of Birmingham’s future.

    Crime and courts

    In Birmingham, West Midlands Police confirmed Josiah Johnson, 28, has been charged with assault, assaulting an emergency worker, two counts of criminal damage and attempted criminal damage after an officer on Soho Road was threatened and kicked in the face on Monday night while responding to a report of a man carrying a knife.

    In Sandwell, West Midlands Police said a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery after a teenager was threatened and forced to hand over his bike in Sandwell Valley Country Park on Tuesday evening.

    In Walsall, West Midlands Police said officers stopped a suspicious vehicle in Harden Road, Bloxwich, on Wednesday night, recovered suspected cocaine and cash, and arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and driving offences.

    For a wider courts picture, West Midlands Police also reported that five men from Birmingham were jailed this week for running what it described as a significant drugs line. That is not a breaking case today, but it is part of the wider picture around organised crime enforcement across the region.

    Weather

    The latest Met Office forecast for Birmingham puts today at a high of 24C, with clouds giving way to sun, and the broader West Midlands forecast says the region will stay warm but feel fresher than earlier in the week. Current regional readings around early afternoon were 23C in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley.

    The regional outlook says skies should brighten later this afternoon and into the evening, with a dry night ahead and a minimum around 8C. Saturday then looks bright and very warm again, with Birmingham forecast to reach 25C before more unsettled conditions edge in later in the weekend. British weather remains committed to emotional inconsistency.

    Traffic and travel

    The biggest live travel problem remains rail. West Midlands Railway says replacement buses are operating today on routes affecting Birmingham New Street, Four Oaks, Tame Bridge Parkway, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Lichfield Trent Valley. The separate Cross City closure notice says the north side of the line stays shut until Monday 1 June.

    On buses, TfWM says major service changes start from Sunday 31 May on routes including the 40, 79, 74, 80, 82, 87 and 51/X51, and it also flags ongoing disruption linked to the Saltley Viaduct closure on Birmingham routes including the 8A/8C, 14, 94, 95 and 97. TfWM also says the 8 and X8 between Birmingham and Wolverhampton via Dudley and Blackheath are on a long-term diversion until 19 October because of roadworks in Merry Hill linked to Metro construction.

    Council and public services

    Birmingham City Council’s waste injunction page says the injunction granted on 20 February 2026 and extended on 18 May 2026 is in place to stop people blocking or obstructing the provision of waste services in Birmingham. Residents still need to keep checking local guidance because service changes during disputes have a habit of becoming their own weather system.

    Sandwell Council has now formally installed its new leader and cabinet, with jobs, high streets and the cost of living set out as priorities.

    In Wolverhampton, the council says four new council bungalows have been completed on small brownfield sites and another social housing scheme in Bilston is to follow. The council has also reopened Tettenhall Pool and East Park water play, which is practical news for families trying to survive half-term without spending half a mortgage payment.

    Business, jobs and regeneration

    The biggest regeneration story in the Birmingham patch remains the new Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation. WMCA says it is meant to bring more than 50,000 jobs and 20,000 homes while improving transport links and raising living standards in east Birmingham.

    WMCA has also launched a separate £3.8bn Futures Fund which it says is aimed at speeding up regeneration, building more affordable homes and creating jobs across the region.

    For people job-hunting, the current WMCA careers page is listing roles including ERP Systems Analyst, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Programme Investment Appraiser, all posted in the last few days.

    What’s on

    Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s Art Club: May Half Term is running today, Friday 29 May, as part of Birmingham Museums’ school holiday programme.

    Dudley Council says Priory Fest is on at Priory Park today from 10am to 4pm, with family activities, stalls, open mic slots and history tours.

    Sandwell Council’s Festival of Free Play continues across the borough through 31 May, with free activities in Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Rowley Regis.

    Walsall Council’s May events page lists Float Fun at Bloxwich Active Living Centre this afternoon and a Big Bounce inflatable session there today as part of the half-term offer.

    The Halls Wolverhampton lists James Morrison at Civic Hall tonight, Friday 29 May. Its main events page also lists The Ultimate Classic Rock Show at Civic Hall this evening.

    Community noticeboard

    Walsall Council’s school term dates page confirms today is the final day of the May half-term break in the borough for the 2025/26 school year.

    Walsall Council’s family activities page points families towards leisure centre sessions, libraries, gallery activities, parks and the HAF programme during the holidays.

    TfWM is also urging passengers to check journeys before they travel because online timetables and at-stop information are not always updated before changes take effect. That is civil-service language for “do not trust the first thing you see and then act surprised”.

    One thing to watch

    Tomorrow’s big thing to watch is not some dramatic mystery. It is whether people remember the Cross City closure is still in force on Saturday. West Midlands Railway says the disruption runs right through Sunday, while the Met Office says Saturday should stay bright and very warm before the weather turns more unsettled later in the weekend. That combination usually means fuller trains where they are running, busier roads and more people deciding at the exact same moment that they fancy a day out.

  • Pulse Local morning digest for Friday 29 May 2026: Birmingham and the Black Country

    Pulse Local morning digest for Friday 29 May 2026: Birmingham and the Black Country

    This is the Pulse Local morning digest for Friday 29 May 2026, covering Birmingham and the Black Country, including Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

    Today’s main themes are rail disruption on Cross City routes, a run of West Midlands Police updates, warm and partly sunny weather, half-term council information, and a busy Friday night in Birmingham.

    Cross City rail closure starts today

    West Midlands Railway says buses replace trains between Lichfield Trent Valley, Four Oaks, Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham New Street today. The affected routes include services between Lichfield Trent Valley/Four Oaks and Longbridge/Bromsgrove/Redditch, between Walsall and Wolverhampton, and between Rugeley Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street/Birmingham International. The wider Cross City closure is listed from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May.

    This is the biggest practical issue for morning commuters, students, shoppers and anyone travelling into Birmingham before the weekend.

    Five men jailed after Birmingham drugs lines were dismantled

    West Midlands Police published a new court result at 6am today saying five men have been jailed after the Mario, Luigi and Cam drugs lines were dismantled in Birmingham. The force’s latest news page lists it as a court result, so use the full police post before publishing names, sentences or locations.

    County lines and local drug supply cases have direct community impact, especially around exploitation, violence and neighbourhood safety.

    Birmingham sees intensive day of police action

    West Midlands Police said Operation Advance brought resources from across the force into Birmingham yesterday, targeting parks and open spaces to keep people safe. The update was published at 7pm on Thursday 28 May.

    Why it matters: This is a public safety story for families, park users and residents heading into the weekend.

    Smethwick violent disorder charge follows stabbing injuries

    West Midlands Police confirmed a man has been charged after two people were stabbed during disorder in Smethwick. The force published the update at 5pm on Thursday 28 May.

    Why it matters: This is legally sensitive but locally important, especially for Sandwell readers watching public safety issues.

    Wolverhampton bus station arrests after weapon seized

    West Midlands Police said two teenagers were arrested and a knuckleduster was seized after suspicious activity was spotted at Wolverhampton bus station on Wednesday evening. The update was published on Thursday afternoon.

    Why it matters: Bus station safety matters to young people, commuters and city centre visitors. Humanity has invented public transport and then made it need weapon patrols, because apparently that was the natural next step.

    Crime and courts

    West Midlands Police has several current updates across the patch. The most recent is the court result on five men jailed after Birmingham drugs lines were dismantled, published this morning. The force also lists a charge linked to violent disorder in Smethwick, two teenage arrests and a weapon seizure in Wolverhampton, an arrest after a teenager was robbed in Sandwell Valley Country Park, and an arrest after suspected Class A drugs were recovered during a vehicle stop in Walsall.

    For legal safety, the Smethwick, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall items should be treated as active or developing police matters unless and until court outcomes are confirmed. Use “charged”, “arrested” and “suspected” exactly as police use them.

    Weather

    The forecast for Birmingham is partly sunny, warm and less humid today, with a high of around 23C and a low of around 10C. Current early conditions are sunny at around 14C. Saturday is forecast to stay warm, with times of cloud and sun and a high of around 24C.

    That means a decent day for school holiday plans, outdoor work and evening events, though commuters may still want a light layer early on.

    Traffic and travel

    The main confirmed disruption is on rail. West Midlands Railway lists replacement buses today between Lichfield Trent Valley/Four Oaks/Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham New Street. It also lists affected routes involving Walsall, Wolverhampton, Rugeley Trent Valley, Birmingham International, Longbridge, Bromsgrove and Redditch.

    West Midlands Railway’s homepage is also flagging the Cross City closure from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May, with live updates available from the operator.

    Transport for West Midlands has a live disruption portal, but it needs manual checking before publication because the page did not provide usable live details in the source capture.

    Council and public services

    Birmingham schools are in half-term today. Birmingham City Council’s school term page lists the summer half-term as Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026, with schools due back after the break.

    Councillor Zaker Choudhry has been formally installed as Lord Mayor of Birmingham, becoming the city’s first Lord Mayor of that name/background according to the council snippet. This needs a manual check on the council page before publication because the full page could not be opened.

    Business, jobs and regeneration

    The main practical regeneration-linked item today is the rail engineering work around Birmingham. Media reports say the Cross City closure is linked to construction work near the future Curzon Street station, including work connected to HS2 infrastructure. Treat this as a secondary source unless confirmed with Network Rail or HS2 before publication.

    A separate business and student-life item this week is the opening of Joe’s Bar on the University of Birmingham campus, reported as a joint venture involving Wetherspoons and the Guild of Students. It is not a core morning lead, but could work as a later local business brief if verified with the university or Guild.

    What’s on

    MAMMA MIA! at Birmingham Hippodrome

    Birmingham Hippodrome lists MAMMA MIA! on the Main Stage from Friday 29 May to Saturday 30 May. The performance page lists tonight’s show at 7.30pm with limited availability.

    Movies and Video Games in Concert at Symphony Hall

    The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra lists Movies and Video Games in Concert at 7.30pm today. It is one of the more family-friendly evening options, assuming everyone has survived half-term without turning into furniture.

    Shxtsngigs at Utilita Arena Birmingham

    Utilita Arena Birmingham lists Shxtsngigs: Daddy’s Home Tour for today. AXS also lists the event at 8pm.

    Art Club: May Half Term at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

    Birmingham Museums lists Art Club: May Half Term at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery today, aimed at creative school holiday activity.

    Library of Birmingham events

    Birmingham City Council’s events listing shows Library of Birmingham events around Friday 29 May. This needs a manual click-through check for exact titles and times before publication.

    Community noticeboard

    Rail users should check before travelling and allow extra time, especially if using Cross City routes or travelling between Birmingham, Lichfield, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Rugeley, Bromsgrove, Redditch or Longbridge.

    Parents should note today is the final weekday of Birmingham’s May half-term holiday, according to the city council term dates.

    Anyone heading to Birmingham city centre tonight should check venue timings, transport routes and return journeys, especially with rail replacement buses running on key routes.

    One thing to watch

    Watch the Cross City rail closure through the day. If replacement buses struggle, delays could build into the evening and weekend. It is also worth checking whether Network Rail, West Midlands Railway or TfWM issue fresh updates before lunchtime.

  • Reform surge reshapes Birmingham and Black Country council politics

    Reform surge reshapes Birmingham and Black Country council politics

    Birmingham and the Black Country have been left with a changed political map after the 2026 local elections, with Reform UK making major gains and Labour losing control of Birmingham City Council after 14 years.

    The most direct changes came in Sandwell and Walsall, where Reform took control. Birmingham was left under no overall control, while Dudley remained without a single-party majority and Wolverhampton stayed Labour-held.

    Some details are still not settled. Birmingham’s final two seats had not been declared when ITV reported on 8 May that the count was due to resume on 11 May. Without a confirmed later result in the dossier, that final position should not be treated as complete.

    What happened

    Birmingham held a full council election on 7 May, with all 101 seats across 69 wards up for grabs. ITV reported that the city had gone to no overall control, with Labour leader John Cotton losing his seat and Reform emerging as the largest party at that stage.

    That matters because Birmingham is already under pressure. The council has been dealing with severe financial problems, government intervention, budget pressures and the long-running bin strike. This is not just a change in party colours on a council chart. It affects who has the authority to make decisions on services, cuts, waste, leadership and spending.

    In Sandwell, the official council results show Reform UK won 41 seats, Labour 28, the Greens two and one independent. The council recorded average turnout at 34.28%. Because Sandwell held a whole-council election, councillors were elected on staggered terms.

    Walsall also moved to Reform. ITV reported Reform won 40 of the council’s 60 seats, with Conservatives on 10, Walsall Community Independents on eight, Labour on one and one independent.

    What we know so far

    Dudley did not move into outright Reform control, but the result still changed the balance. Official council results show Conservatives on 27 seats, Reform UK on 23, Labour on 15, Liberal Democrats on four and the Black Country Party on three.

    That leaves Conservatives as the largest group, with Reform now the second-largest group. It is a shift, not a clean takeover. Those distinctions matter, dull as they are, because council maths is where political slogans go to meet the bin rota.

    Wolverhampton was listed by ITV as a Labour hold. But the city also saw Reform wins in several wards, including Bilston North, East Park, Fallings Park, Oxley and Wednesfield North, according to official council results in the dossier.

    What’s unclear or not yet confirmed

    The biggest open question is Birmingham’s final position. ITV reported the final count was delayed with two seats still undeclared. The dossier does not confirm the final composition after that delayed count.

    It is also not confirmed who will lead Birmingham City Council, what arrangement will run it, or whether any formal deal between parties or groups will be made.

    In Walsall, ITV reported Elaine Williams was set to become council leader after Reform councillors chose her as group leader. But the report also stated full council confirmation was due on 18 May, so her appointment should be treated as pending until formally confirmed.

    In Sandwell, ITV reported Reform councillors were due to choose their group leader. The dossier does not confirm the outcome.

    Background and context

    Birmingham’s result landed against a brutal backdrop. In September 2023, the government announced proposed intervention at the council after a section 114 notice linked to a major equal pay liability and wider budget pressures.

    The bin strike also sat heavily over the election. ITV reported in April that a deal had been reached in principle between Birmingham City Council and Unite, but that the pre-election period prevented a final decision before 7 May.

    ITV polling in the dossier suggested the strike was a major issue for Birmingham voters, with 59% of respondents saying resolving it was one of their top priorities and 63% saying it would directly influence how they voted. That shows salience. It does not prove exactly why each voter made their choice.

    Across the wider region, the pattern is not uniform. Sandwell and Walsall moved decisively to Reform. Dudley shifted heavily but stayed without a single-party majority. Wolverhampton stayed Labour-held while losing ground in several wards.

    What happens next

    The next test is what the results mean in practice. Birmingham needs confirmed final numbers, leadership arrangements and decisions on the bin strike.

    Sandwell and Walsall need formal leadership and policy direction from their new Reform administrations. Dudley needs to show how it will operate with Conservatives as the largest group and Reform close behind.

    Wolverhampton remains Labour-held, but Reform’s ward wins put new pressure on the city’s political leadership. The votes are counted. The harder bit now begins – turning the result into actual decisions.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 11 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 11 February 2026

    Leo Ross murder sentence confirmed, Birmingham bin strike mandate extended into September, and West Midlands Police reports a 16-year jail term in a child safeguarding case plus Guardian Taskforce arrests and seizures across the force area.

    Teenager sentenced for murder of schoolboy Leo Ross in Hall Green

    Credit: West Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police says a 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 13 years in custody, for murdering 12-year-old Leo Ross.

    Police say Leo was attacked in Hall Green on 21 January 2025 as he walked home from school, near Trittiford Mill Park.

    Police say there is no indication the two knew each other and there is no known motive. The youth defendant cannot be named for legal reasons.

    The Crown Prosecution Service says the boy pleaded guilty to murder at Birmingham Crown Court on 29 January 2026.

    The CPS also says he admitted assaults on three elderly women in separate incidents near the same area between 19 and 21 January 2025.

    Sentencing took place at Birmingham Crown Court on 10 February 2026.

    Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strike mandate into September

    Birmingham’s long-running bin strike could run into September 2026 after a reballot.

    ITV News reports Unite says its members voted to extend industrial action for another six months, taking the mandate past the May local elections and into September.

    ITV reports the dispute began after the council announced the scrapping of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role and changes to drivers’ and loaders’ conditions.

    ITV reports Unite claims the changes mean some workers face pay cuts of up to £8,000, describing it as fire-and-rehire.

    Birmingham City Council has said it has made offers and wants the dispute to end. ITV reports the council has also said Unite’s demands would risk another equal pay bill running into hundreds of millions of pounds.

    ITV also reports the council confirmed fortnightly bin collections are set to begin in June 2026, even if industrial action continues.

    Birmingham mosque worker jailed in child safeguarding case

    Credit: West Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police says a former agency IT support worker at a Birmingham mosque has been jailed for 16 years for a campaign of rape and sexual abuse against boys as young as nine.

    Police say five boys were abused, with the oldest aged 14. Police say the mosque cannot be named for legal reasons.

    Police say the offender, Said Daauud, stopped working at the mosque in February 2022 but continued to attend and was well known to the congregation.

    Police say their investigation began in May 2022 after mothers raised concerns about grooming behaviour.

    Police say the investigation led to charges including one rape, nine sexual assaults, and four offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

    Guardian Taskforce reports arrests and weapons seizures across force area

    West Midlands Police says Guardian Taskforce teams have made arrests and seized knives, drugs and suspected criminal cash across multiple locations.

    Police say a man stopped in Wolverhampton city centre on 6 February was arrested after officers seized two wraps of Class A drugs and a knife.

    Police say Dean Everall, from Bridgnorth, has been charged with possession of a bladed article and possession of Class A drugs, and is due to appear at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on 5 March.

    In Chelmsley Wood, police say officers found a machete, cash and multiple wraps of Class A drugs during a stop in Roebuck Close on 7 February, and a 19-year-old man was arrested and later bailed pending further enquiries.

    Police say a 26-year-old man was given a community resolution after a stop in Balsall Heath on Edward Road where cannabis was seized.

    In Shard End, police say a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of a bladed article after a “zombie knife” was found nearby, and he was later bailed pending enquiries.

    Police also say a 22-year-old man was charged in Lye with possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply after officers found cannabis, cash and mobile phones believed to be linked to drug dealing.

  • Birmingham Council sets out draft three-year budget plan as Cabinet meets

    Birmingham Council sets out draft three-year budget plan as Cabinet meets

    Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet is due to consider the draft three-year budget report that sets out spending plans, savings proposals and council tax assumptions before it goes to full Council.

    Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet is due to consider the city’s draft budget plans for the next three financial years at a meeting on Tuesday 10 February 2026.

    The agenda includes a report on the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), covering the period from 2026/27 to 2028/29.

    This is the document that frames the big calls: what the council expects to spend, where it plans to save, and what assumptions it is making about income such as Council Tax and government funding.

    What the papers say

    In the draft report to Cabinet, the council sets out a net General Fund revenue budget of £1.907bn for 2026/27.

    The report also states that the plan requires £95m in savings across the MTFP period.

    On Council Tax, the report assumes a maximum 4.99% increase in each of the three years. That figure is typically made up of the core rise plus the adult social care precept.

    The report also notes that the Final Local Government Finance Settlement had not been received at the time the report was written. In practice, that means some figures and assumptions may still be subject to confirmation.

    Exceptional Financial Support and legacy costs

    The papers refer to Exceptional Financial Support (EFS), a mechanism councils can use with government agreement to manage certain costs.

    The report says that, as previously reported to City Council, the 2025/26 budget was approved with £11m of EFS and adds that no further EFS is being requested from Government. It links the earlier EFS position to historic equal pay liabilities and earlier budget pressures.

    What happens next

    Cabinet decisions are not the final sign-off for the budget. The Cabinet meeting is the stage where the draft report is considered before it moves on to the wider Council decision-making process.

    For residents, the practical point is simple: these papers are where the direction is set, including the assumptions that shape service budgets and Council Tax planning.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 10 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 10 February 2026

    Birmingham’s cabinet considers key budget papers, police issue two public appeals, and rail passengers are warned of late-night disruption between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton

    Birmingham cabinet considers draft budget papers for 2026/27 to 2028/29

    Birmingham City Council’s cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 10:00.

    Key items on the agenda include:

    • 2026/27 to 2028/29 Budget Setting for the General Fund Revenue Account
    • 2026/27 to 2028/29 Capital Programme Medium-Term Financial Plan
    • 2026/27 Treasury Management Strategy and Policy

    Other items listed for the same meeting include performance and savings monitoring, procurement strategies, a housing repairs contract extension, an item related to a Perry Barr residential scheme, a City of Sanctuary strategy, Kings Heath and Moseley Places for People, and appointments to outside bodies.

    Police appeal after reported sexual assault in Perry Barr

    West Midlands Police has published an appeal after a woman reported being sexually assaulted at a shopping park in Birmingham.

    Police say it happened at around 3pm on Saturday 20 December at One Stop in Perry Barr.

    Officers say they want to identify a man pictured as part of their enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting crime reference 20/482030/25.

    Wolverhampton disturbance appeal: police seek witnesses

    West Midlands Police has issued an appeal linked to an incident on Bevan Avenue, Wolverhampton.

    Police say they were called on 8 February after a report of a disturbance outside an address. Officers say they are working to understand what happened and want to speak to anyone who was in the area between 9pm and 10pm.

    Police also say they want to speak to two people pictured as part of their enquiries, and that they are not being considered as suspects.

    Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 4371 of 8 Feb.

    Rail disruption warning for late services via Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton

    National Rail has published disruption information for late night Avanti West Coast services between London Euston and Wolverhampton, due to engineering work.

    The notice says the work runs from Monday 16 February 2026 to Thursday 19 February 2026, and that engineering work is taking place between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton, closing some lines.

    National Rail says the 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30 Euston to Wolverhampton services will be diverted after Birmingham New Street via Aston and Bescot Stadium, extending journey times and arriving later into Wolverhampton.