Kathryn Stanczyszyn

Residents of Perry Barr say litter, fly-tipping, food waste and visible neglect are damaging the Birmingham suburb's image ahead of the 2026 European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium. Camelia Paton-Devine and local artist Rueben Hutchinson describe poor conditions and concerns about drug use, vacant flats and the area’s wider decline. Birmingham City Council says it has deep-cleaned key routes and the area around Perry Barr station, with extra litter-picking and fly-tipping removal planned throughout the championships.

Fresh evidence submitted by West Midlands Police concerning the 2017 stabbing death of Ryan Passey is being reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service. Passey's family welcomed the development but urged a prompt decision after the Director of Public Prosecutions previously rejected a retrial based on evidence submitted in 2025. Kobe Murray was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in 2018, although a 2021 civil case found that Passey had been unlawfully killed. The family is pursuing a legal challenge over the earlier decision and continues to seek transparency, accountability and a fuller determination of what happened.

A long‑running Black Country male voice choir recorded a charity version of the Black Country Anthem at Abbey Road Studios, an experience members described as extraordinary. Written by James Stevens a decade ago, the song celebrates regional history and community, with proceeds supporting the cancer charity Maggie's. Choir members reflected on personal ties to the music and the significance of recording in the iconic studio, with some sharing stories of illness, recovery and the choir’s importance during lockdown. The session left participants feeling honoured to be part of the venue’s musical legacy.