National Grid Electricity Distribution has opened winter community grants for groups across the West Midlands, including Birmingham.

Registered charities and non-profits can apply for up to £5,000, and groups without a charity number for up to £2,000, from a £500,000 fund.

The money supports warm spaces and energy efficiency improvements to community buildings.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, 16 October.

Households needing extra help during power cuts can also join the free Priority Services Register.

Flight cancellations at Birmingham Airport rose by around 72 per cent in the first half of 2026, according to an analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data.

Some 686 flights were cancelled between January and June, up from 399 a year earlier.

Birmingham's cancellation rate rose to 1.53 per cent, the sixth-highest of 25 UK airports, with a rise almost four times the national trend.

The airport says many cancellations are outside its control.

Meanwhile, easyJet will launch new routes to Milan and Tivat in Montenegro in spring 2027.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called Jaguar Land Rover and the West Midlands automotive sector the jewel in the crown of the UK economy.

He said mass car production still has a future in Britain and that the government is working with the EU so new rules do not disadvantage UK makers.

JLR suppliers, however, have warned in an open letter that the supply chain faces long-term decline.

They called JLR's planned 4,000 job cuts a first crack in a chain supporting about 183,000 manufacturing jobs, and asked for help to move into aerospace and defence.

The PM says he will consider their proposal.

The CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2027 lists 118 West Midlands pubs, including 14 new entries.

Birmingham gains four newcomers.

They are The Anchor in Digbeth, a traditional pub dating back to 1793, and The Indian Brewery Company in the Jewellery Quarter.

Also new are Society, a craft beer-led food hall at One Colmore Square, and Andy's Brew House, a micropub in Streetly.

Entries are chosen by volunteer CAMRA members, making a listing a valued badge of quality for independent pubs.

Birmingham New Street will close for five days over Christmas, from Thursday 24 December to Bank Holiday Monday 28 December 2026.

No local, regional or long-distance trains will use the station during the shutdown.

Engineers are replacing overhead line equipment dating from the 1960s as part of a three-year, £13 million programme to improve reliability.

Similar closures are planned for Christmas 2027 and 2028.

Christmas timetables and travel advice are expected from early October, with rail replacement buses likely.

Birmingham's Black History Month programme will be launched on Monday, 28 September, at Jamaya on Colmore Row.

Events run throughout October, marking the 35th year of the celebration in the city.

Highlights include the Birming-Strong music exhibition at the Custard Factory from 3 to 12 October and Thinktank's BlackSTEAM festival on 31 October and 8 November.

The programme is produced by the Blackstory Partnership with support from the city council and major cultural venues.

Brochures are available at the Library of Birmingham, the Hippodrome, the REP, Midlands Arts Centre and South and City College.

West Midlands Metro is now issuing £100 penalty fares to passengers travelling without a valid ticket or pass.

Conductors were removed from trams on 13 September under the new Buy Before You Board system, and tickets can no longer be bought on board.

Revenue Officers spent several weeks advising passengers but have now moved to full enforcement.

Tickets can be bought at machines at every stop, through the MyMetro app, or with Swift cards including Swift Go.

Tickets must also cover the correct time and zones, so passengers should check before they travel.

Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market returns from Thursday, 5 November to Christmas Eve 2026, running for 50 days across New Street and Victoria Square.

It opens 11am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, until 9.30pm on Fridays, 10am to 9.30pm on Saturdays and 10am to 9pm on Sundays.

Remembrance Sunday opening is delayed until 1pm.

More than 100 stalls, free live music and around 5.5 million visitors are expected.

Seasonal jobs are also on offer at £13.45 an hour, with no experience needed and training provided.

Warwickshire are the 2026 County Championship winners after beating Leicestershire by an innings and 79 runs at Edgbaston on Saturday.

It is the Bears' ninth title and their first since 2021.

Sam Hain hit 142 and captain Ed Barnard made 88, before Ethan Bamber took five wickets to finish the job.

Bamber ended the season as the country's leading Championship wicket-taker with 69 wickets.

The triumph caps a remarkable turnaround after a slow start and a late change of captain, with five wins in the last six games.

A serious house fire on Drayton Road in Kings Heath drew ten fire engines and a hydraulic platform on Saturday night, 26 September.

Some neighbours were evacuated as a precaution and the road was closed in both directions.

The fire was still classed as active on Sunday morning, when crews dealt with a flare-up at around 8.20am.

West Midlands Fire Service says it is too early to know the cause, and there has been no confirmation of any injuries.

Residents are asked to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed while crews finish their work.