BBC Local Live: Birmingham & the Black Country

Here's a look at some of the big stories we'll have for you in Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.  

A British mother took her toddler to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State, a court hears.

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Tareena Shakil, 26, originally from Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire and more recently from Birmingham, told her family in 2014 she was going on a package holiday to Turkey.  

The Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust has defended its care of an 82-year-old patient, after criticism from her son.

Wayne Nixon says he had to fight to get his terminally ill mother, who is now home, the fluids she needs to keep her alive.

The medical director at trust says staff do all they can "to ensure that the end-of-life pathway is as comfortable and caring as it can be".

Quote Message: Our doctors and nurses worked with Mr Nixon to agree on a pathway he was happy with for his mother, as we always take the views of family and carers into account at this most difficult time. from Dr Jonathan Odum Medical director at The Royal Wolverhampton Trust

Our doctors and nurses worked with Mr Nixon to agree on a pathway he was happy with for his mother, as we always take the views of family and carers into account at this most difficult time.

Mr Odum described Mr Nixon as a "very caring son" and that he and his partner were being supported by social services and the hospital.

Another Hednesford home has been targeted by burglars - becoming the fifth since Christmas to see high value goods stolen within an area of the town.

New Aston Villa chairman Steven Hollis says the Premier League's bottom club needs a "shake-up". 

Hollis, a business leader in the West Midlands, has been appointed by Villa owner Randy Lerner and will work alongside chief executive Tom Fox. 

Hollis said a strong board would be behind changes needed to "overcome the under-performance Aston Villa has experienced over the last five years". 

Lerner admitted Villa had "not been on a stable footing" over the same period.   

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A teenager out celebrating a friend's birthday was fatally stabbed at a club when a fight broke out after a row over a girl, a court has been told.

Daniel Kirkwood, 18, was found with knife wounds to his neck outside Society Club, in Coventry, last March.

At Warwick Justice Centre, five men from Birmingham deny his murder.

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After a tank containing hydrochloric acid collapsed in Willenhall today the Environment Agency tell me a brook which feeds into the river Tame has been contaminated.

People living near Watery Lane are being asked to stop inside and dog walkers are being asked to keep their pets away from the water. 

The tank collapsed at a Galvanising factory in Willenhall this morning. 

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The government agency says inspectors are on site distributing lime along the river and will be monitoring levels over the next 48 hours to ensure the acid doesn't reach the river.

The fire service posts a photo on social media of one of its crews pouring lime into a nearby brook to neutralise any hydrochloric acid which may have got into the water.

Birmingham singer-songwriter Laura Mvula is back with new material.

After the successful album Sing To The Moon in 2013, she's back on the scene.

She's teamed up with Nile Rodgers on her new single, Overcome which has its first play on BBC Radio One last night. Hear the single and her in conversation with Annie Mac.

Demolition of Birmingham's old Central Library and its surrounding buildings in Chamberlain Square continues.

Campaigners had hoped to save the John Madin designed building but demolition work started before Christmas.

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Head coach Sean O’Driscoll insists he is focused on strengthening his Walsall squad, rather than losing any of his stars.

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Environment Agency officers are investigating an acid spill that has entered Waddens Brook, near a factory in Willenhall which had a hydrochloric acid spill earlier this morning.

Officers are accessing a tributary of the River Tame and say the "immediate priority has been to manage the flow of acid and how it is dispersing, to stop it entering the drains and water system".

The top stories in the BBC WM newsroom include:

- A Sparkbrook woman has gone on trial accused of fleeing to Syria with her young child to join the so-called Islamic State group

- A man whose remains were discovered close to the M54 last August has been formally identified as Surjit Takhar from Oldbury

- A factory in Willenhall has been evacuated after a tank holding diluted hyhydrochloric acid has leaked

The West Midlands police and crime commissioner has written to the boss of online retailer Amazon and the Home Secretary to ask for so-called zombie knives to be banned. 

David Jamieson claims the brightly coloured blades are increasingly being used by gangs as a status symbol.

Police have been given five more days to question two men arrested on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences.

Two men, aged 25 and 32, were arrested on Tuesday at an address in Walsall.

Two other men, both aged 26 from Walsall were also arrested by counter terrorism officers this morning - West Midlands Police say the arrests are linked.

The police have released more details about the remains found by maintenance workers by junction four of the M54 last August.

They say 37-year-old Surjit Takhar was last seen by his family in Oldbury on 29 September 2008 and that a detailed investigation was carried out when he disappeared.

The cause of his death is still unknown and West Mercia Police are now working with the West Midlands force on the investigation.

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A former law enforcer has swapped walking the beat for walking dogs at an animal rescue centre – with him being awarded as one of the most hands-on volunteer in the UK.  

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A woman from Sparkbrook in Birmingham allegedly took her toddler to Syria to join so-called Islamic State, posing the child with guns for photos and wearing clothing branded with the terror group's logo, a trial has heard.    

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Tareena Shakil, 26, originally from Burton, is also accused of posting messages on Twitter encouraging others to carry out acts of terrorism. 

She denies all the charges against her - the trial at Birmingham Crown Court continues and is scheduled to last up to three weeks.