Jessica Martin

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft are scheduled to fly over several West Midlands locations on August 8 and 9, including Hixon, Spring Village, Highley Railway Station and Callow Hill. The flights coincide with the Severn Valley Railway’s Vintage Transport Extravaganza, but may be changed or cancelled because of weather or operational requirements. The flight operates from RAF Coningsby and maintains historic aircraft for commemorative and public display purposes.

Residents in Smethwick say used nappies thrown from balconies at Cygnet Court have become caught in trees and attracted rats and mice, creating fears about hygiene and children’s safety. Midland Heart, which manages the flats, says it has repeatedly arranged for the waste to be removed, but has no evidence that its tenants are responsible and has reminded residents about proper waste disposal.

Julie Maughan, from Bromsgrove, warns families to check water-quality information before swimming after her eight-year-old daughter Heather contracted an aggressive E. coli infection during a 1999 holiday at Dawlish Warren and later died. Although a sewage discharge had occurred days earlier, South West Water and the Environment Agency said it was unlikely to have caused the outbreak, and an inquest returned a verdict of misadventure without identifying the source. Maughan says water companies continue to release sewage illegally during dry weather, while Surfers Against Sewage reports thousands of hours of dry spills in 2025. She urges holidaymakers to use the Safer Seas and Rivers Service app, avoid unsafe waters and protect cuts and open wounds.

A large grassland fire broke out at Barr Beacon in Great Barr on August 2, prompting the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service to deploy eight crews. Beacon Road was closed in both directions between the B4151 Beacon Hill and Bridle Lane, and the public was asked to avoid the area. Drone footage captured the blaze spreading through the field.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow heat health alert for the West Midlands from 9am on 3 August to 9am on 5 August, with temperatures expected to reach around 30–32°C. The alert warns of increased risks to older people, those with health conditions and vulnerable residents, as well as pressure on health and social-care services and a rise in water-related incidents. The Met Office forecasts hot, humid conditions and possible heavy showers on Monday, followed by cooler and fresher weather from Wednesday. The RNLI advises people to use lifeguarded beaches, swim between marked flags and follow its Float to Live guidance if they get into difficulty in cold water.

The Environment Agency has classified Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire as notably low after declaring the West Midlands in drought, with persistent above-average temperatures and high demand causing reservoir storage to fall across England. South Staffs Water and Severn Trent Water are urging customers to conserve water, although no hosepipe ban is currently in place in the region. The Met Office expects mostly dry conditions over the weekend, followed by an increasing chance of showers from Monday to Wednesday, but says the expected rainfall is unlikely to make up the summer shortfall.

Thousands gathered across Birmingham for Ozzy Day, marking one year since Ozzy Osbourne’s death with live music, public art, performances and exhibitions celebrating his legacy. Fans from across the UK attended, while family members shared emotional tributes. Cultural organisations, city officials and local businesses collaborated to honour the Black Sabbath frontman’s influence on Birmingham and global music, highlighting his enduring impact on the city where his career began.

A charter flight carrying several England players landed at Birmingham Airport after the team secured third place at the World Cup, their best finish since 1966. Jordan Pickford, Ezri Konsa, Elliot Anderson and Jordan Henderson were seen disembarking as fans gathered to welcome them. Some squad members remained in the United States for holidays or family visits after the flight from Fort Lauderdale.

Warm weather in the West Midlands has led to increased sightings of flying ants as colonies release winged males and queens to mate and establish new nests. Swarming provides protection from predators and enhances reproduction, typically occurring on warm, humid days in mid to late summer. Most flying ants in the UK are harmless black ants, and swarms usually last from a few hours to a couple of days before queens shed their wings and establish new colonies.

Bodycam footage captured John Davies throwing boiling water over a police officer and assaulting another during an attempted arrest in Birmingham. Officers were responding to a disturbance and had been told Davies possessed a knife. He attacked a man at the scene, punched one officer and scalded another with a recently boiled kettle, causing serious burns. Davies admitted multiple offences and received a 14‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence plus an extended licence. Both injured officers have since returned to work, and police condemned the severity of the attack.

A macaque at Uluwatu Temple in Bali stole Telford resident Oliver Lloyd’s phone and disappeared into the forest, prompting a search with help from temple guards. Using the Life360 tracking app on his girlfriend’s phone, the group located the monkey and recovered the device after more than an hour. The phone was found filled with selfies and a video taken by the monkey.