Firefighters remain at the scene of a blaze in Kings Heath, Birmingham, this morning after West Midlands Fire Service sent 10 crews to Drayton Road on Saturday night. Residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed and avoid the area where possible, according to a spokesperson for the service.
Meanwhile, a major incident has been declared in the village of Whelford in Gloucestershire, with a number of properties evacuated and armed officers manning a cordon near RAF Fairford, which is used by the United States Air Force (USAF). The development follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, and the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team is currently examining a number of vehicles.
Kings Heath fire and transport disruption
West Midlands Fire Service remain in Kings Heath this morning, with ten crews sent to Drayton Road on Saturday night. The cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed. Elsewhere, emergency services dealt with a 'major problem' near Five Ways resulting in train cancellations from Birmingham New Street, with updates expected as more information becomes available.
In transport news, Inrix is reporting congestion on the M6 southbound before J8 M5 coming from the M54. On the M42, there is a speed restriction of 50 mph and narrow lanes due to long-term roadworks and HS2 works in both directions between J9 A4097 Kingsbury Road (Curdworth / Coleshill) and J5A A4545 (Birmingham Airport). The hard shoulders are also restricted at times and will be until 19th December 2027 due to work to install HS2 bridges over the motorway.
Neighbourhood crime and measles cases in Birmingham
West Midlands Police has made "significant progress" in cracking down on neighbourhood crime, according to new statistics revealed in Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster's annual report, which will be presented to the region's Police and Crime Panel next week. House burglaries, personal robberies, theft and vehicle crimes fell in 2025/26 compared with two years prior, but business crime has increased in the West Midlands.
More than 80 measles cases have been confirmed in Birmingham so far this year, with latest data from the UK Health Security Agency showing a total of 1,003 cases in 2026, already more than the 960 cases recorded throughout last year. Health officials confirmed the deaths of two young children in June, followed by the death of an adult with an underlying health condition in July.
World news in brief and weather outlook
Gloucestershire Police said a number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident. A spokesperson for the USAF said its personnel based at RAF Fairford "remain vigilant".
In world news, at least 12 people were killed and dozens are missing after a vessel carrying traders capsized in Lake Kivu in DR Congo on Saturday night. In Thailand, rain has eased in Bangkok but flooding persisted, with at least eight deaths reported in the past 10 days and thousands forced into temporary shelters. Two separate mass shootings in South Africa have killed at least 27 people, police said on Sunday, with no arrests made in either case. The death toll from a ferry sinking in Indonesia has increased to 64, with 71 people still missing and presumed dead. Voters in Switzerland are deciding on Sunday on a proposal to strengthen the country's neutrality, backed by the Swiss People's Party. Two giant pandas departed Chengdu in south-western China early on Sunday for their new homes in the US as part of an agreement between the Chinese and American governments.
In local news, the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market is hiring staff to work at the annual festive attraction, running from Thursday, November 5 until Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. Staff are being sought to work alongside the German team at a range of stalls across the market, with pay above minimum wage.
Weather today is cloudy with a strengthening breeze and outbreaks of rain turning heavy and blustery at times, with a maximum temperature of 20 °C. Tonight will be chilly under clear skies with a minimum temperature of 4 °C. Monday is expected to be dry with light winds and prolonged spells of sunshine, reaching a maximum of 19 °C.
In other news, Staffordshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman in her 30s was found dead at Holts Lane in Tutbury yesterday. A 41-year-old man from Tutbury has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and is in custody for questioning. The death is being treated as unexplained while further evidence is gathered, with specialist searches and house-to-house enquiries taking place today.
West Midlands Police handed out over 40 tickets in a crackdown on 'bad parking' in the area around Newman University in Bartley Green after concerned residents reported the situation. On Wednesday September 23, BirminghamLive witnessed more vehicles receiving parking tickets in the area.
Tributes were paid to Lee O'Toole, the brother of David Spencer, who has died at 39 without finding out what happened to him. Lee had spearheaded the search to find David, 13, and his pal Patrick Warren, 11, who vanished from Chelmsley Wood three decades ago.
