birminghammail--2020-08-12--Live updates - briefing after £500m athletes village plan is scrapped

Two years before Commonwealth Games 2022 begin , Birmingham City Council has confirmed it has scrapped plans to house athletes in a £500m village in Perry Barr .
Although early work was under way , delays during the Covid-19 pandemic have pushed the timetable for finishing the ambitious project to breaking point .
Building of new homes in the heart of Perry Barr - a key part of the legacy promise for the city - will still go ahead , supported by central Government funding , partners have pledged .
But the plans will now be revisited following the announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be too risky now there are just 715 days to go before the games which are due to be held from Thursday , July 28 to Monday August 8 , 2022 .
Athletes will now be based on student campuses at the University of Birmingham and University of Warwick - the first time that such a major games will have been staged without the stars of the show having purpose-built accommodation .
Meanwhile , the UK has slipped into recession .
Even though the economy grew by eight per cent in June , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20.4 per cent .
Where all of this shock news leaves the city 's plans for a showpiece games was the the subject of a briefing being held today ... .

Two years before Commonwealth Games 2022 begin, Birmingham City Council has confirmed it has scrapped plans to house athletes in a £500m village in Perry Barr.
Although early work was under way, delays during the Covid-19 pandemic have pushed the timetable for finishing the ambitious project to breaking point.
Building of new homes in the heart of Perry Barr - a key part of the legacy promise for the city - will still go ahead, supported by central Government funding, partners have pledged.
But the plans will now be revisited following the announcement.
The plan has been deemed to be too risky now there are just 715 days to go before the games which are due to be held from Thursday, July 28 to Monday August 8, 2022.
Athletes will now be based on student campuses at the University of Birmingham and University of Warwick - the first time that such a major games will have been staged without the stars of the show having purpose-built accommodation.
Meanwhile, the UK has slipped into recession.
Even though the economy grew by eight per cent in June, it contracted from April to June by 20.4 per cent.
Where all of this shock news leaves the city's plans for a showpiece games was the the subject of a briefing being held today....


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Watch as passenger plane is caught in dazzling lightning storm over Brum

This is the moment a passenger plane was caught in an epic lightning storm high in the skies above Birmingham .
Footage shows a bolt of lightning worryingly close to striking the aircraft as it flew over Sutton Coldfield late on Tuesday - August 11 .
The plane had been travelling over the city at the same time a bizarre 'silent lightning ' storm tore through the skies , during a scorching UK-wide heatwave .
The video shows the aeroplane as it flies towards what appears to be the eye of the storm - in what must have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The incredible scenes were captured by weather watcher Mario Dimitriou , of Facebook group Severe Weather and Snow Updates from his home in Sutton Coldfield .
On Tuesday night , as many Brummies struggled to sleep in the stifling heat , many grabbed their cameras and captured the moment the evening sky was lit up by lightning bolts .
Even the emergency services got in on the action - Birmingham Airport Police tweeted a video and wrote : `` Impressive lightning display in the sky above Birmingham Airport this evening . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ease the sweltering heat , with Birmingham set for another day of searing sunshine today - August 12 .
More storms are also expected - with a Met Office yellow weather warning for thunder and lightning this afternoon .
So is there anything to be concerned about if you 're due to fly during lightning ?
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo , pilot Chris Foster said aircraft are built to withstand being struck by lightning and other weather interference .
Pilots also use tools and instruments , such as weather radar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being hit by lightning is remote .

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This is the moment a passenger plane was caught in an epic lightning storm high in the skies above Birmingham.
Footage shows a bolt of lightning worryingly close to striking the aircraft as it flew over Sutton Coldfield late on Tuesday - August 11.
The plane had been travelling over the city at the same time a bizarre 'silent lightning' storm tore through the skies, during a scorching UK-wide heatwave.
The video shows the aeroplane as it flies towards what appears to be the eye of the storm - in what must have been a nerve-wracking experience for the passengers on board.
The incredible scenes were captured by weather watcher Mario Dimitriou, of Facebook group Severe Weather and Snow Updates from his home in Sutton Coldfield.
On Tuesday night, as many Brummies struggled to sleep in the stifling heat, many grabbed their cameras and captured the moment the evening sky was lit up by lightning bolts.
Even the emergency services got in on the action - Birmingham Airport Police tweeted a video and wrote: "Impressive lightning display in the sky above Birmingham Airport this evening."
Tuesday night's dazzling weather did nothing to ease the sweltering heat, with Birmingham set for another day of searing sunshine today - August 12.
More storms are also expected - with a Met Office yellow weather warning for thunder and lightning this afternoon.
So is there anything to be concerned about if you're due to fly during lightning?
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, pilot Chris Foster said aircraft are built to withstand being struck by lightning and other weather interference. Pilots also use tools and instruments, such as weather radar to avoid bad weather - so the chance of being hit by lightning is remote.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Nuno uses heartbreak to make his point & Jota's huge challenge

Lucas Ocampos ’ s late header clinched a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League for Sevilla and left Wolverhampton Wanderers devastated on Tuesday night .
Wolves defended heroically for 88 minutes before one lapse in concentration allowed Ocampos to flick home Ever Banega ’ s cross .
Nuno Espirito Santo ’ s side had the chance to take the lead in the 12th minute through Raul Jimenez but the Mexican striker missed from the penalty spot for the first time in old gold .
Nuno , along with owners Fosun , will now reflect on 2019/20 and plot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which starts next month .
Here ’ s our analysis from Wolves ’ agonising defeat in Germany : There 's a quick and easy way to stay on top of all the Wolverhampton Wanderers news with our daily newsletter .
Delivered straight into your email inbox each day , the bulletins will feature the latest Wolves news , views , gossip and opinion .
All you have to do is punch your email in at the top of the article - it looks just like this ... And what 's more , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get all the latest updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter .
We also have a free app which you can download .
It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region .
Google Play Store and App Store The man who replaced Jonny Castro Otto at the MSV-Arena , Ruben Vinagre , was absolutely superb .
So much was made of his defensive deficiencies in the build-up but Vinagre acquitted himself tremendously well against Sevilla ’ s dangerous duo of Suso and Jesus Navas .
Vinagre is ordinarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have much opportunity to show those talents with Wolves penned inside their own half for the majority of the game .
It ’ s no slight on Vinagre but Jonny ’ s absence forced Nuno to revert to 3-5-2 and Wolves barely offered an attacking threat as a result .
A tie against Sevilla was always going to be difficult , without the criminally underrated Jonny it was verging on mission impossible .
Diogo Jota was given just 10 minutes in Duisburg and barely managed a touch of the ball .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t drop Jota but the Portuguese ’ s poor form means he ’ s now fourth choice winger .
That can quickly change with Jota famous for his ability to end a rotten run of form with a spectacular 90 minutes , but you get the feeling that 2020/21 will be a defining season for the 23-year-old .
He ’ s no longer a young player and needs to follow the lead of his close friend and compatriot Ruben Neves who has discovered an incredible level of consistency over the last 12 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season ends with 16 goals in 48 games but he scored in just 10 separate matches , with back-to-back Europa League hat-tricks at Molineux favourably skewing his figures .
Nuno isn ’ t the sort to say things in the heat of the moment and regret it the next day .
He ’ s a measured character , on the touchline and when he ’ s in front of the media .
He used his post-match press conference to make it clear that the late lapses Wolves have suffered in recent weeks need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that by filling out his squad with new , quality additions .
“ Players that can make us stronger , ” were his exact words .
A club which plans to compete in Europe in the long-term can ’ t go into a quarter-final against a top class side with only 13 players to use - and that ’ s the position Wolves found themselves in on Tuesday .
If Wolves want to compete for a place in the top four next season , they need to start acting like the clubs they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months have been joyous , unusual and heartbreaking in equal measure .
Nobody would have thought a European season which began on July 25 against Crusaders would finish 13 months later in Germany .
The coronavirus pandemic has ruined life as we knew it and it ’ s a tragedy that Wolves ’ supporters weren ’ t in Duisburg to watch the conclusion of the longest season in history .
From Belfast to Duisburg - and everything in between - it ’ s been one helluva journey .

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Lucas Ocampos’s late header clinched a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League for Sevilla and left Wolverhampton Wanderers devastated on Tuesday night.
Wolves defended heroically for 88 minutes before one lapse in concentration allowed Ocampos to flick home Ever Banega’s cross.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had the chance to take the lead in the 12th minute through Raul Jimenez but the Mexican striker missed from the penalty spot for the first time in old gold.
Nuno, along with owners Fosun, will now reflect on 2019/20 and plot their assault on a Premier League season which starts next month.
Here’s our analysis from Wolves’ agonising defeat in Germany:
Wolves daily newsletter. Free. To your inbox There's a quick and easy way to stay on top of all the Wolverhampton Wanderers news with our daily newsletter. Delivered straight into your email inbox each day, the bulletins will feature the latest Wolves news, views, gossip and opinion. All you have to do is punch your email in at the top of the article - or sign up here. And what's more, it's absolutely free! You can also get all the latest updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter. We also have a free app which you can download. It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region. Google Play Store and App Store
Wolves limited by Jonny’s injury
The man who replaced Jonny Castro Otto at the MSV-Arena, Ruben Vinagre, was absolutely superb. So much was made of his defensive deficiencies in the build-up but Vinagre acquitted himself tremendously well against Sevilla’s dangerous duo of Suso and Jesus Navas.
Vinagre is ordinarily an attack-minded wing-back but he didn’t have much opportunity to show those talents with Wolves penned inside their own half for the majority of the game.
It’s no slight on Vinagre but Jonny’s absence forced Nuno to revert to 3-5-2 and Wolves barely offered an attacking threat as a result.
A tie against Sevilla was always going to be difficult, without the criminally underrated Jonny it was verging on mission impossible.
A huge month for Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota was given just 10 minutes in Duisburg and barely managed a touch of the ball.
There was a time when Nuno wouldn’t drop Jota but the Portuguese’s poor form means he’s now fourth choice winger.
That can quickly change with Jota famous for his ability to end a rotten run of form with a spectacular 90 minutes, but you get the feeling that 2020/21 will be a defining season for the 23-year-old.
He’s no longer a young player and needs to follow the lead of his close friend and compatriot Ruben Neves who has discovered an incredible level of consistency over the last 12 months.
Jota’s tally for the season ends with 16 goals in 48 games but he scored in just 10 separate matches, with back-to-back Europa League hat-tricks at Molineux favourably skewing his figures.
Nuno’s message is clear
Nuno isn’t the sort to say things in the heat of the moment and regret it the next day. He’s a measured character, on the touchline and when he’s in front of the media.
He used his post-match press conference to make it clear that the late lapses Wolves have suffered in recent weeks need to stop and he plans to do that by filling out his squad with new, quality additions. “Players that can make us stronger,” were his exact words.
A club which plans to compete in Europe in the long-term can’t go into a quarter-final against a top class side with only 13 players to use - and that’s the position Wolves found themselves in on Tuesday.
If Wolves want to compete for a place in the top four next season, they need to start acting like the clubs they are up against.
What a journey
The last 12 months have been joyous, unusual and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Nobody would have thought a European season which began on July 25 against Crusaders would finish 13 months later in Germany.
The coronavirus pandemic has ruined life as we knew it and it’s a tragedy that Wolves’ supporters weren’t in Duisburg to watch the conclusion of the longest season in history.
From Belfast to Duisburg - and everything in between - it’s been one helluva journey.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Two taken to major trauma centre & third injured in crash

A woman suffered serious injuries and together with a man was taken to a major trauma centre after a three-vehicle crash on a main Worcestershire road .
A lorry and two cars crashed on the A4440 Parsonage Way in the Warndon area of Worcester at around 5.50pm .
Ambulance , fire and police crews rushed to the scene , including two air ambulances .
West Midlands Ambulance Service sent three ambulances , a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Strensham , both with doctors on board .
A non-emergency patient transport service ambulance crew that came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene .
A woman was given ‘ advanced trauma care ’ after suffering ‘ serious injuries ’ and two men were also treated by paramedics .
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said : “ On arrival , ambulance crews found two cars with significant damage and a lorry further down the road .
“ There were two people trapped in the first car .
The woman driver was rapidly extricated and given advanced trauma care at the scene before being taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The doctor and critical care paramedic from the Strensham aircraft travelled with the patient .
“ The man in the front passenger seat also had to be extricated .
He was taken by ambulance to the same hospital as a precaution due to the serious nature of the crash .
His injuries were less serious .
“ The man driving the second car had managed to get out himself .
He was assessed at the scene for potentially serious injuries .
He was taken by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital .
Four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crews also attended – two from Worcester and two from Droitwich attended and they got a woman , who was ‘ medically trapped ’ and a man out of one car .
The road was shut off while the emergency crews dealt with the incident .
The fire service closed off the incident at 7.48pm .
West Mercia Police ’ s Worcestershire Operations Patrol Unit tweeted shortly after 6pm and said : “ A4440 Parsonage Way , Worcester full road closure both ways .
**NO ACCESS** .
” The road remained closed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Highways & Travel team .

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A woman suffered serious injuries and together with a man was taken to a major trauma centre after a three-vehicle crash on a main Worcestershire road.
A lorry and two cars crashed on the A4440 Parsonage Way in the Warndon area of Worcester at around 5.50pm.
Ambulance, fire and police crews rushed to the scene,including two air ambulances.
West Midlands Ambulance Service sent three ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Strensham, both with doctors on board.
A non-emergency patient transport service ambulance crew that came across the incident also assisted at the scene.
A woman was given ‘advanced trauma care’ after suffering ‘serious injuries’ and two men were also treated by paramedics.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance crews found two cars with significant damage and a lorry further down the road.
“There were two people trapped in the first car. The woman driver was rapidly extricated and given advanced trauma care at the scene before being taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham with serious injuries.
"The doctor and critical care paramedic from the Strensham aircraft travelled with the patient.
“The man in the front passenger seat also had to be extricated. He was taken by ambulance to the same hospital as a precaution due to the serious nature of the crash. His injuries were less serious.
“The man driving the second car had managed to get out himself. He was assessed at the scene for potentially serious injuries. He was taken by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
“The lorry driver was not injured.”
Four Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews also attended – two from Worcester and two from Droitwich attended and they got a woman, who was ‘medically trapped’ and a man out of one car.
The road was shut off while the emergency crews dealt with the incident. The fire service closed off the incident at 7.48pm.
West Mercia Police ’s Worcestershire Operations Patrol Unit tweeted shortly after 6pm and said: “A4440 Parsonage Way, Worcester full road closure both ways. **NO ACCESS** .”
The road remained closed at 8.20pm according to Worcestershire County Council’s Highways & Travel team.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Aston Villa learn Ollie Watkins update after registering interest

Ollie Watkins prefers a move to Aston Villa if he leaves Brentford this summer , according to reports .
Watkins is expected to make a switch to the Premier League before next season after Brentford missed out on promotion from the Championship .
The 24-year-old was joint top scorer in the division with 26 goals and is believed to be on Villa 's radar as the club prioritise attacking reinforcements for Dean Smith 's squad .
It had been reported that Watkins was available for £18m due to a clause in his contract triggered when Brentford lost in the play-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign up ?
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It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region .
Google Play Store and App Store But he is likely to fetch around £25m with a number of top-flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sky Sports , Villa hold an advantage because Watkins is 'keen ' to reunite with Smith should the opportunity come about .
As Brentford manager , Smith signed Watkins from Exeter City three years ago and helped oversee his development before being appointed at Villa Park .
Smith was on pundit duty for the play-off final at the start of the month and said : `` Young Ollie Watkins - I tried signing him a year earlier from Exeter City but he wanted to stay another year .
`` I like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on loan to Weston Super-Mare and scored 14-odd goals there at a young age .
He 's got a great attitude and he does n't stop working .
He 's a joy to work with . ''
He added : `` I played him a few times at striker .
I always said to him he 'd be a striker , he likes playing off the left and we felt that was the best area for him to go and get goals - but we played him at centre-forward at Bristol City away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Neal ] Maupay came on and scored the winner and Ollie was disappointed that he did n't score .
That 's the sign for me of a top striker , he 'll do well . ''

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Ollie Watkins prefers a move to Aston Villa if he leaves Brentford this summer, according to reports.
Watkins is expected to make a switch to the Premier League before next season after Brentford missed out on promotion from the Championship.
The 24-year-old was joint top scorer in the division with 26 goals and is believed to be on Villa's radar as the club prioritise attacking reinforcements for Dean Smith's squad.
It had been reported that Watkins was available for £18m due to a clause in his contract triggered when Brentford lost in the play-off final to Fulham.
Aston Villa daily newsletter. Free. To your inbox In our daily Aston Villa bulletin, we'll be bringing you the latest breaking news, transfer features and comment pieces, as well as the key talking points for fans. How do you sign up? It's easy and only takes seconds. Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit sign up. And that's it, you're all set. You can also sign up here. If you decide later that you no longer wish to receive the emails, simply follow the unsubscribe link in one of the newsletters - but we don't think you'll want to. And what's more, it's absolutely free! You can also get all the latest updates by following us on social media here Facebook and Twitter. We also have a free app which you can download. It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region. Google Play Store and App Store
But he is likely to fetch around £25m with a number of top-flight clubs interested in a deal.
According to Sky Sports, Villa hold an advantage because Watkins is 'keen' to reunite with Smith should the opportunity come about.
As Brentford manager, Smith signed Watkins from Exeter City three years ago and helped oversee his development before being appointed at Villa Park.
Smith was on pundit duty for the play-off final at the start of the month and said: "Young Ollie Watkins - I tried signing him a year earlier from Exeter City but he wanted to stay another year.
"I like that at even a young age he went on loan to Weston Super-Mare and scored 14-odd goals there at a young age. He's got a great attitude and he doesn't stop working. He's a joy to work with."
He added: "I played him a few times at striker. I always said to him he'd be a striker, he likes playing off the left and we felt that was the best area for him to go and get goals - but we played him at centre-forward at Bristol City away and he ran them ragged.
"[Neal] Maupay came on and scored the winner and Ollie was disappointed that he didn't score. That's the sign for me of a top striker, he'll do well."


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Aston Villa rival Leeds United in transfer pursuit for Rico Henry - report

After a number of injury setbacks , Rico Henry is finally delivering at Brentford - and is now a target for Premier League clubs including Aston Villa .
Henry played a key part for Brentford as Thomas Frank 's Bees competed for promotion .
However , the clubs is facing an exodus of key players - with Henry seemingly set to join Said Benrahma and Ollie Watkins in leaving the club after the team fell in the play-off final to Fulham .
And Henry could end up joining the forward duo at his next destination - if everything lines up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a transfer target for Villa , Leeds United , Olympiakos and PSV Eindhoven .
Sign up for our Villa newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here Henry played over fifty times last season as the Bees finished third in the Championship , and has been identified by a number of club as an option .
For Villa , he would compete with Matt Targett and Neil Taylor for a slot at left-back under a manager he is very familiar with .
Current Villa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside Watkins and Benrahma - and brought the left-back in over from Walsall for a record fee for the club at the time , having previously managed the up-and-coming full-back during his own spell at the Bescot Stadium .
Full-back is n't Villa 's most pressing need during the current transfer market as the club search for a striker and front-three reinforcements .
However , talents like Henry at full-back are available for cheaper fees - with low offers being circulated for Wigan star Antonee Robinson as well .
There is value to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depth options at full-back - including Henry .

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After a number of injury setbacks, Rico Henry is finally delivering at Brentford - and is now a target for Premier League clubs including Aston Villa.
Henry played a key part for Brentford as Thomas Frank's Bees competed for promotion. However, the clubs is facing an exodus of key players - with Henry seemingly set to join Said Benrahma and Ollie Watkins in leaving the club after the team fell in the play-off final to Fulham.
And Henry could end up joining the forward duo at his next destination - if everything lines up.
The Daily Mail state that Henry is a transfer target for Villa, Leeds United, Olympiakos and PSV Eindhoven.
Sign up for our Villa newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here
Henry played over fifty times last season as the Bees finished third in the Championship, and has been identified by a number of club as an option.
For Villa, he would compete with Matt Targett and Neil Taylor for a slot at left-back under a manager he is very familiar with.
Current Villa boss Dean Smith managed Henry at Brentford alongside Watkins and Benrahma - and brought the left-back in over from Walsall for a record fee for the club at the time, having previously managed the up-and-coming full-back during his own spell at the Bescot Stadium.
Full-back isn't Villa's most pressing need during the current transfer market as the club search for a striker and front-three reinforcements. However, talents like Henry at full-back are available for cheaper fees - with low offers being circulated for Wigan star Antonee Robinson as well.
There is value to be found with a smart bid for depth options at full-back - including Henry.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Unwanted Wolverhampton offices to be turned into student bedsits

Disused offices that have lain empty in Wolverhampton city centre for several years are set to be converted into a block of bedsits .
City of Wolverhampton Council planning officers have given the thumbs up to the proposal put forward by applicants AAJ Property Management to convert the Grade II-listed building on Queen Street .
The building is said to be starting to fall into disrepair and the fairly small size and lack of parking facilities are given as reasons for why it is unattractive for office-based businesses .
The new facility will consist of nine self-contained bedsits with students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted tenants .
A previous application featured seven self-contained bedsits and two with shared facilities but this has now been amended and approved .
The application said : `` The current condition of the building is dated and below average .
`` There are signs that deterioration of the building is beginning to worsen .
`` As time has passed there have been some alterations internally to the building .
However that said there is also a lot of features which have been retained .
`` All floors of the building are currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some time .
`` Consideration needs to be given to this unoccupied building eliminating the waste of floor space within the city centre and the condition that this unused Grade II-listed building will end up in if not used and better use of this space being made by changing its usage . ''
It added : `` Due to the lack of facilities that the building has to offer as an office and the general run down condition , it is going to be very difficult to let .
`` With all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an ideal use for the building would to be a conversion to residential status , in the form of a house of multiply occupation .
`` This would introduce new tenants , the majority of these would be either students or professionals working in the city centre , both of which often do not have cars . ''

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Disused offices that have lain empty in Wolverhampton city centre for several years are set to be converted into a block of bedsits.
City of Wolverhampton Council planning officers have given the thumbs up to the proposal put forward by applicants AAJ Property Management to convert the Grade II-listed building on Queen Street.
The building is said to be starting to fall into disrepair and the fairly small size and lack of parking facilities are given as reasons for why it is unattractive for office-based businesses.
The new facility will consist of nine self-contained bedsits with students coming to the city university among the targeted tenants.
A previous application featured seven self-contained bedsits and two with shared facilities but this has now been amended and approved.
The application said: "The current condition of the building is dated and below average.
"There are signs that deterioration of the building is beginning to worsen.
"As time has passed there have been some alterations internally to the building. However that said there is also a lot of features which have been retained.
"All floors of the building are currently unoccupied and have been unoccupied for quite some time.
"Consideration needs to be given to this unoccupied building eliminating the waste of floor space within the city centre and the condition that this unused Grade II-listed building will end up in if not used and better use of this space being made by changing its usage."
It added: "Due to the lack of facilities that the building has to offer as an office and the general run down condition, it is going to be very difficult to let.
"With all of this in mind, the owners feel that an ideal use for the building would to be a conversion to residential status, in the form of a house of multiply occupation.
"This would introduce new tenants, the majority of these would be either students or professionals working in the city centre, both of which often do not have cars."


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Sevilla boss issues warning after Wolves - and makes Man Utd claim

Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui says his side are facing 'the biggest team in the world ' after knocking Wolverhampton Wanderers out of the Europa League .
The La Liga club take on Manchester United in the semi-final having edged past Wolves at the MSV-Arena in Duisburg .
Wolves , whose journey in the competition began back in July last year , missed a golden chance to go ahead when Raul Jimenez saw his penalty kick saved in the 13th minute .
Nuno Espirito Santo 's side were made to pay with Lucas Ocampos heading home two minutes from time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay on top of all the Wolverhampton Wanderers news with our daily newsletter .
Delivered straight into your email inbox each day , the bulletins will feature the latest Wolves news , views , gossip and opinion .
All you have to do is punch your email in at the top of the article - it looks just like this ... And what 's more , it 's absolutely free !
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We also have a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region .
Google Play Store and App Store Sevilla - who extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 19 matches - face United in Dusseldorf on Sunday .
`` We are going to play against Manchester United in the next match - they 're the biggest team in the world but we 're going to be prepared for them , '' Lopetegui said after full-time .
`` We 're focused on the next game , against a top , historic side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the sport who are in great form .
`` We will give our best as we always do .
To play against them will be really tough , but we 'll go into it believing we can beat them . ''
He added : `` I think we deserved the win today .
The key was to chip , chip , chip away , have patience and wait until the right moment .
`` I am very proud of my players because we were against a very good team .
We needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistakes because they have very fast forwards .
`` We played very well against a good team .
We had to be very concentrated . ''

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Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui says his side are facing 'the biggest team in the world' after knocking Wolverhampton Wanderers out of the Europa League.
The La Liga club take on Manchester United in the semi-final having edged past Wolves at the MSV-Arena in Duisburg.
Wolves, whose journey in the competition began back in July last year, missed a golden chance to go ahead when Raul Jimenez saw his penalty kick saved in the 13th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side were made to pay with Lucas Ocampos heading home two minutes from time.
Wolves daily newsletter. Free. To your inbox There's a quick and easy way to stay on top of all the Wolverhampton Wanderers news with our daily newsletter. Delivered straight into your email inbox each day, the bulletins will feature the latest Wolves news, views, gossip and opinion. All you have to do is punch your email in at the top of the article - or sign up here. And what's more, it's absolutely free! You can also get all the latest updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter. We also have a free app which you can download. It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region. Google Play Store and App Store
Sevilla - who extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 19 matches - face United in Dusseldorf on Sunday.
"We are going to play against Manchester United in the next match - they're the biggest team in the world but we're going to be prepared for them," Lopetegui said after full-time.
"We're focused on the next game, against a top, historic side, one of the best in the history of the sport who are in great form.
"We will give our best as we always do. To play against them will be really tough, but we'll go into it believing we can beat them."
He added: "I think we deserved the win today. The key was to chip, chip, chip away, have patience and wait until the right moment.
"I am very proud of my players because we were against a very good team. We needed to have the ball and not make mistakes because they have very fast forwards.
"We played very well against a good team. We had to be very concentrated."


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Watch: Bizarre 'silent lightning' storm illuminates city as temperatures soar

This was the incredible moment lightning illuminated the skies above Birmingham as temperatures soared to a scorching 34C .
But this was n't any normal storm - the sudden bright flashes of light were bizarrely not followed by thunder or rain .
The strange weather phenomenon is known as 'silent lightning ' or 'heat lightning ' and means Brum was too far away from the storm to hear the thunder .
On Tuesday night , as many Brummies struggled to sleep in the stifling heat , weather-watchers grabbed their cameras and captured the moment the evening sky was lit up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some rumbles of thunder and a short blast of rain , the lightning continued well into the night .
Watch our compilation video of the spectacular phenomenon above .
But the dazzling weather did nothing to ease the sweltering heat , with Birmingham set for another day of searing sunshine today - August 12 .
Silent lightning is also sometimes referred to as non-stop lightning , summer lightning , dry lightning and heat lightning .
The phenomenon regularly occurs during the summer months .
According to the Met Office , when you see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you were not near enough to the storm , as it is impossible for lightning to strike without thunder .
You can only hear thunder within ten miles of a storm , but a flash of lightning can be seen up to 100 miles away .
The hot and sunny weather is set to continue in Birmingham today ( August 12 ) .
Much of the UK is blanketed by a yellow weather warning , with severe thunderstorms expected in the afternoon .
In Birmingham , widespread storms are likely to develop from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miss them altogether and stay sunny .
Temperatures are expected to reach 32C , says the Met Office .
Thunderstorms and sunny spells will continue into the evening and it will be another muggy night .
Thursday will be another warm day , with some showers in the afternoon .
Temperatures will peak at 27C .
Friday will be noticeably less hot .

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This was the incredible moment lightning illuminated the skies above Birmingham as temperatures soared to a scorching 34C.
But this wasn't any normal storm - the sudden bright flashes of light were bizarrely not followed by thunder or rain.
The strange weather phenomenon is known as 'silent lightning' or 'heat lightning' and means Brum was too far away from the storm to hear the thunder.
On Tuesday night, as many Brummies struggled to sleep in the stifling heat, weather-watchers grabbed their cameras and captured the moment the evening sky was lit up by lightning bolts.
While there were some rumbles of thunder and a short blast of rain, the lightning continued well into the night.
Watch our compilation video of the spectacular phenomenon above.
But the dazzling weather did nothing to ease the sweltering heat, with Birmingham set for another day of searing sunshine today - August 12.
What is silent lightning?
Silent lightning is also sometimes referred to as non-stop lightning, summer lightning, dry lightning and heat lightning.
The phenomenon regularly occurs during the summer months.
According to the Met Office, when you see lightning without thunder, it often means you were not near enough to the storm, as it is impossible for lightning to strike without thunder.
You can only hear thunder within ten miles of a storm, but a flash of lightning can be seen up to 100 miles away.
Weather forecast
The hot and sunny weather is set to continue in Birmingham today (August 12). Much of the UK is blanketed by a yellow weather warning, with severe thunderstorms expected in the afternoon.
In Birmingham, widespread storms are likely to develop from around 3pm, but some areas will miss them altogether and stay sunny. Temperatures are expected to reach 32C, says the Met Office.
Thunderstorms and sunny spells will continue into the evening and it will be another muggy night.
Thursday will be another warm day, with some showers in the afternoon. Temperatures will peak at 27C. Friday will be noticeably less hot.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--West Bromwich Albion's biggest transfer saga of the summer is far from over

Nathan Ferguson is now a Crystal Palace player - but there 's still a way to go before the transfer saga finally ends for West Bromwich Albion .
Ferguson left Albion following the expiration of his contract , but had been set to join Palace in January before the move fell apart following Ferguson 's medical at the London club .
A fee of around £12 million - including add ons - was agreed before the deal collapsed , but Palace got their man in the end .
Sign up for our WBA newsletter with your email in the box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ click here As is the course with players under the age of 23 , West Brom are due a compensation payment for Ferguson - developed by the clubs academy - with the exact fee determined by a tribunal .
However , according to the Express and Star , Palace have made a fresh bid for Ferguson to avoid further payments .
The Baggies have turned down this refreshed attempt by Palace to settle the score , believing that a tribunal will rule in their favour as the club push for the biggest fee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £12 million agreed in the winter window and Palace 's lowball offer .
Albion will use their ( rejected ) contract offer to Ferguson as evidence of how valued the player was to the club , as well as Palace 's bid in Janaury to help the tribunal make their mind up .

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Nathan Ferguson is now a Crystal Palace player - but there's still a way to go before the transfer saga finally ends for West Bromwich Albion.
Ferguson left Albion following the expiration of his contract, but had been set to join Palace in January before the move fell apart following Ferguson's medical at the London club.
A fee of around £12 million - including add ons - was agreed before the deal collapsed, but Palace got their man in the end.
Sign up for our WBA newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here
As is the course with players under the age of 23, West Brom are due a compensation payment for Ferguson - developed by the clubs academy - with the exact fee determined by a tribunal.
However, according to the Express and Star, Palace have made a fresh bid for Ferguson to avoid further payments.
The Baggies have turned down this refreshed attempt by Palace to settle the score, believing that a tribunal will rule in their favour as the club push for the biggest fee possible that will land somewhere between the £12 million agreed in the winter window and Palace's lowball offer.
Albion will use their (rejected) contract offer to Ferguson as evidence of how valued the player was to the club, as well as Palace's bid in Janaury to help the tribunal make their mind up.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Aston Villa transfer news live: Rashica update offered, Grealish sends message

Hello and welcome to Wednesday 's LIVE Aston Villa coverage from BirminghamLive .
We will be keeping you informed on all the key developments across today as Villa 's transfer window gathers pace and the new season draws closer with the 2020/21 campaign just a month away tomorrow .
We will be adding all the latest Villa news , views and rumours to our live blog throughout the day , with new signings and transfers continually linked to the club .
Brentford duo Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma remain top targets for Villa following the Bees ' play-off final defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping a close eye on the situation concerning those two .
There will be plenty on the likes of Odsonne Edouard and Callum Wilson too , while , today , one-time target Daniel Sturridge has issued a come-and-get-me plea to clubs in the Premier League .
There 's also some fallout from the Copenhagen fixture in the Europa League earlier this week given Johan Lange 's connections while we 've taken a look at why Villa will be forever grateful to James Chester following his free transfer to Stoke City which was confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for today 's blog , below , and be sure to check back for all the latest Villa transfer news and opinion .

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Joseph Chapman, Richard Cusack)

Hello and welcome to Thursday'sAston Villa coverage from BirminghamLive.
We will be keeping you informed on all the key developments across today as Villa's transfer window gathers pace and the new season draws closer.
We will be adding all the latest Villa news, views and rumours to our live blog throughout the day, with new signings and transfers continually linked to the club.
Brentford duo Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma remain top targets for Villa following the Bees' play-off final defeat to Fulham - so we will be keeping a close eye on the situation concerning those two.
There will be plenty on the likes of Odsonne Edouard and Callum Wilson too, while, today, one-time target Daniel Sturridge has issued a come-and-get-me plea to clubs in the Premier League.
There's also some fallout from the Copenhagen fixture in the Europa League earlier this week given Johan Lange's connections while we've taken a look at why Villa will be forever grateful to James Chester following his free transfer to Stoke City which was confirmed on Monday.
So stay with us for today's blog, below , and be sure to check back for all the latest Villa transfer news and opinion.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Fresh update in Aston Villa's transfer pursuit of Milot Rashica

Milot Rashica will cost Aston Villa €25 million to sign him from Werder Bremen , according to reports in Germany .
Weser Kurier , via Sport Witness , say RB Leipzig remain keen on the attacker but activating the €38m release clause in his contract is a long way off .
Villa , meanwhile continue to be linked and speculation was fuelled by midfielder Marvelous Nakamba 's Instagram post of a picture of him and Rashica during their time at Vitesse together .
Rashica has also been linked with Liverpool and Villa head coach Dean Smith will be looking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beef up the squad ahead of a second campaign back in the Premier League .
Sign up for our Villa newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here Villa have been linked with Rashica for a while and now Bremen could be prepared to accept less than they would have done in January as the economic impacts of the coronaviorus pandemic start to take hold .
Rashica was left out of Bremen 's friendly with Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday because of the possibility of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kurier claims that Villa , among others , made an offer for Rashica in January .
`` There are always clubs that find Milot interesting when it comes to football , '' Frank Baumann , Bremen 's sporting director is quoted as saying .
`` There was definitely interest from many . ''
Rashica scored eight goals and registered seven assists in the Bundesliga in 2019-20 .
He has been capped 27 times for Kosovo .

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Milot Rashica will cost Aston Villa €25 million to sign him from Werder Bremen, according to reports in Germany.
Weser Kurier, via Sport Witness, say RB Leipzig remain keen on the attacker but activating the €38m release clause in his contract is a long way off.
Villa, meanwhile continue to be linked and speculation was fuelled by midfielder Marvelous Nakamba's Instagram post of a picture of him and Rashica during their time at Vitesse together.
Rashica has also been linked with Liverpool and Villa head coach Dean Smith will be looking for reinforcements this summer as they look to beef up the squad ahead of a second campaign back in the Premier League.
Sign up for our Villa newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here
Villa have been linked with Rashica for a while and now Bremen could be prepared to accept less than they would have done in January as the economic impacts of the coronaviorus pandemic start to take hold.
Rashica was left out of Bremen's friendly with Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday because of the possibility of an injury scuppering a transfer.
The Weser Kurier claims that Villa, among others, made an offer for Rashica in January.
"There are always clubs that find Milot interesting when it comes to football," Frank Baumann, Bremen's sporting director is quoted as saying.
"There was definitely interest from many."
Rashica scored eight goals and registered seven assists in the Bundesliga in 2019-20.
He has been capped 27 times for Kosovo.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--'Number 22' - Man United fans react to Kaveh Solhekol's Jude Bellingham tweet

Manchester United fans have been left bemused by a tweet from Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol about their side , Borussia Dortmund and Jude Bellingham .
Bellingham , who completed a move to Dortmund from Birmingham City last month , was wanted by United but the 17 year-old decided to go to Dortmund instead .
The Stourbridge youngster is treading the path of another top English talent in Jadon Sancho , who left England for Germany at the same age .
He is the subject of a transfer tussle between United and Dortmund , with the latter making it clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no desire to depart the Westfalenstadion .
Sign up for our Blues newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here Solhekol sent out a tweet earlier tonight referencing the Sancho situation but , curiously , disabled replies to it and only allowing retweets .
It read : `` Borussia Dortmund have set Manchester United a deadline of 10 August 2026 to pay their €300m asking price for Jude Bellingham . ''
And that has left some United fans confused .
`` Why would you do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Just boredom really , '' another said .
`` Manchester United have assigned the shirt number 22 ahead of the arrival of Bellingham , '' a third said , referencing Blues ' decision to retire the number 22 worn by Bellingham in his single senior season as the club .
`` What on Earth is this ? ''
asked another .
`` The sad thing is this will actually happen , '' said a fifth fan .

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Manchester United fans have been left bemused by a tweet from Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol about their side, Borussia Dortmund and Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham, who completed a move to Dortmund from Birmingham City last month, was wanted by United but the 17 year-old decided to go to Dortmund instead.
The Stourbridge youngster is treading the path of another top English talent in Jadon Sancho, who left England for Germany at the same age.
He is the subject of a transfer tussle between United and Dortmund, with the latter making it clear earlier this week that Sancho has expressed no desire to depart the Westfalenstadion.
Sign up for our Blues newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here
Solhekol sent out a tweet earlier tonight referencing the Sancho situation but, curiously, disabled replies to it and only allowing retweets.
It read: "Borussia Dortmund have set Manchester United a deadline of 10 August 2026 to pay their €300m asking price for Jude Bellingham."
And that has left some United fans confused.
"Why would you do that?" One fan asked.
"Just boredom really," another said.
"Manchester United have assigned the shirt number 22 ahead of the arrival of Bellingham," a third said, referencing Blues' decision to retire the number 22 worn by Bellingham in his single senior season as the club.
"What on Earth is this?" asked another.
"The sad thing is this will actually happen," said a fifth fan.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Jack Grealish teases Aston Villa fans with Tammy Abraham photo

Jack Grealish has driven Aston Villa supporters into overdrive with his latest Instagram post in which he is pictured on holiday with Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham .
The Lions skipper has teased the idea that the pair may be reunited at Villa next term .
Abraham spent the 2018-19 campaign on loan at Villa Park and scored 26 goals as the Lions burst back onto the Premier League scene .
Following the appointment of Frank Lampard as the new boss at Stamford Bridge , Abraham - along with Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount - was given a chance in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and for club and country , Abraham rewarded that faith with 19 goals in that last campaign .
Chelsea , though , have already significantly strengthened their forward line since the end of the seasonw with the signing of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig .
It ’ s cast doubt over how much playing time Abraham can expect to get next term , and inevitably there has been talk about where his future lies .
Villa captain Grealish , who is good friends with Abraham and is currently relaxing in the close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fuelled that speculation with a cheeky post to his followers in which he is seen enjoying some down-time with his old teammate .
He captioned the photo with : “ That ’ s my brother y ’ naaa # SecretAgent.
” The hashtag certainly has got Villa fans excited at the prospect of Abraham returning - never mind the fact that it would indicate Grealish ’ s desire to stay put , too .
Villa have already outlined a desire to strengthen their forward line ; Wesley Moraes is making his way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been released .
Mbwana Samatta and Keinan Davis both struggled in front of goal following the restart .

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Jack Grealish has driven Aston Villa supporters into overdrive with his latest Instagram post in which he is pictured on holiday with Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham.
The Lions skipper has teased the idea that the pair may be reunited at Villa next term.
Abraham spent the 2018-19 campaign on loan at Villa Park and scored 26 goals as the Lions burst back onto the Premier League scene.
Following the appointment of Frank Lampard as the new boss at Stamford Bridge, Abraham - along with Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount - was given a chance in the Blues first team.
In all competitions, and for club and country, Abraham rewarded that faith with 19 goals in that last campaign.
Chelsea, though, have already significantly strengthened their forward line since the end of the seasonw with the signing of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig.
It’s cast doubt over how much playing time Abraham can expect to get next term, and inevitably there has been talk about where his future lies.
Villa captain Grealish, who is good friends with Abraham and is currently relaxing in the close season in the attacker’s company, fuelled that speculation with a cheeky post to his followers in which he is seen enjoying some down-time with his old teammate.
He captioned the photo with: “That’s my brother y’naaa #SecretAgent.”
The hashtag certainly has got Villa fans excited at the prospect of Abraham returning - never mind the fact that it would indicate Grealish’s desire to stay put, too.
Villa have already outlined a desire to strengthen their forward line; Wesley Moraes is making his way back from injury, while Borja Baston has been released.
Mbwana Samatta and Keinan Davis both struggled in front of goal following the restart.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Met Office warns of 'danger to life' thunderstorms with flash flooding

Several parts of the country could be hit be severe flash flooding when thunderstorms and heavy rain hit later on tonight , The Mirror reports .
The Met Office has issued an amber 'danger to life ' weather warning today ( Wednesday August 11 ) .
It has warned that a great stretch of the country including Birmingham are in for more potentially ferocious weather for the rest of this evening .
Millions of Brits could find themselves at risk of flash flooding .
People in the affected areas are advised to be particularly careful when travelling and to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach places have been warned that they may be cut off if the flooding is particularly bad .
Earlier today Chief meteorologist Steve Ramsdale said certain areas could see “ exceptional rainfall totals could be seen of 60 millimetres in an hour with a very small chance of 150 millimetres of rainfall in three or four hours ” .
Last night ( Tuesday , August 11 ) lightening was seen in parts of the West Midlands , as the region was hit with thunderstorms .
This morning , The Environment Agency has five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas around Birmingham .
Similar weather conditions continues through tonight into Thursday which will have a downgraded yellow weather warning .
It will be another hot day with more showers expected in the afternoon .
Temperatures will peak at 27C .
Friday will feel much cooler in comparison .
Overall in the UK , The Met Office has warned : • There is a chance that fast flowing/deep water could suddenly occur , bringing a danger to life and extensive flooding of homes and businesses • Damage to buildings/structures from lightning strikes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If flooding occurs , road closures with long delays and cancellations to bus and rail services are possible • Power and other essential services , such as gas , water , mobile phone service could be lost • Communities might be completely cut off , perhaps for several days What do yellow and amber warnings mean ?
A yellow warning , means the Met Office is predicting storms .
This is the prediction for the West Midlands on Thursday .
An amber warning means people should be on alert for flash flooding and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hailstones .
Delays to public transport , difficult driving conditions and possible road closures could also follow , and deep and fast-flowing floodwater could be a threat to human life .

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Milo Boyd, Sanjeeta Bains)

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Several parts of the country could be hit be severe flash flooding when thunderstorms and heavy rain hit later on tonight, The Mirror reports.
The Met Office has issued an amber 'danger to life' weather warning today ( Wednesday August 11).
It has warned that a great stretch of the country including Birmingham are in for more potentially ferocious weather for the rest of this evening.
Millions of Brits could find themselves at risk of flash flooding.
People in the affected areas are advised to be particularly careful when travelling and to avoid unnecessary journeys.
Communities in difficult to reach places have been warned that they may be cut off if the flooding is particularly bad.
Earlier today Chief meteorologist Steve Ramsdale said certain areas could see “exceptional rainfall totals could be seen of 60 millimetres in an hour with a very small chance of 150 millimetres of rainfall in three or four hours”.
Last night (Tuesday, August 11) lightening was seen in parts of the West Midlands, as the region was hit with thunderstorms.
This morning, The Environment Agency has five flood alerts posted for possible flooding in areas around Birmingham.
Similar weather conditions continues through tonight into Thursday which will have a downgraded yellow weather warning.
It will be another hot day with more showers expected in the afternoon. Temperatures will peak at 27C.
Friday will feel much cooler in comparison.
Overall in the UK, The Met Office has warned:
There is a chance that fast flowing/deep water could suddenly occur, bringing a danger to life and extensive flooding of homes and businesses
Damage to buildings/structures from lightning strikes, hail, strong winds may occur
If flooding occurs, road closures with long delays and cancellations to bus and rail services are possible
Rapidly changing, dangerous driving conditions from spray, sudden flooding, standing water and/or hail might occur
Power and other essential services, such as gas, water, mobile phone service could be lost
Communities might be completely cut off, perhaps for several days
What do yellow and amber warnings mean?
A yellow warning, means the Met Office is predicting storms. This is the prediction for the West Midlands on Thursday.
An amber warning means people should be on alert for flash flooding and building damage from lightning strikes, floodwaters and hailstones. Delays to public transport, difficult driving conditions and possible road closures could also follow, and deep and fast-flowing floodwater could be a threat to human life.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Where are they now: West Brom's last Premier League side

When Slaven Bilic was appointed West Bromwich Albion boss in June 2019 , the message from the club was pretty clear : take us back to the Premier League .
Fast forward 14 months and the Croatian has achieved his goal - but the work does n't stop there .
West Brom ’ s most recent season in the Premier League was disastrous with Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew both being dismissed before the club finished bottom .
Much has changed in the proceeding two years , so here , we take a look at where the 2017/18 West Brom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the last of Foster ’ s seven years at The Hawthorns .
The former Manchester United stopper was virtually ever-present between the sticks , appearing in all but one of the 38 league games in 2017/18 .
Following the Baggies ' relegation to the Championship , Foster returned to Watford on a two-year having spent two years at Vicarage Road on loan from United between 2005 and 2007 .
Foster instantly became the Hornets ’ first-choice stopper in the league while Heurelho Gomes was preferred during the club ’ s run to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foster , 37 , has suffered his third relegation with a third different club , having also suffered that fate with Birmingham City in 2011 .
The Cameroonian right-back ended his three-year stint with the Baggies when he joined Getafe in 2019 .
The 32-year-old has featured 25 times for the Spaniards , who have again been the surprise package in La Liga this season with the club on course to secure another top-six finish .
Gibbs was one of Pulis ’ summer signings with the left-back joining from Arsenal on a four-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prominently during his first two seasons but injuries have curbed his progress this term , limiting him to just 14 appearances .
Evans captained West Brom through their troubled 2017/18 campaign before joining Leicester City in the summer of 2018 .
And the 32-year-old Northern Irishman has become a major figure at the King Power Stadium , too , forming a solid partnership with Caglar Soyuncu during Leicester ’ s chase for Champions League qualification .
Evans ’ fellow Northern Irishman left the club in 2018 and joined Rangers before retiring in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departed after nine years in 2019 to join Foster at Watford .
And Dawson proved to be surprisingly influential in attack in the final weeks , scoring against Leicester and Norwich City , but he ultimately suffered the same fate as Foster .
The Egypt international was unable to guide the club to safety during his first season at The Hawthorns .
Hegazi joined on a permanent basis in December 2017 and was a mainstay during the 2018/19 season .
This year , however , he managed only 14 starts , the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaging defeat at Huddersfield .
A regular during his six years at West Brom , the Argentine joined Nottingham Forest in 2018 .
However , he decided to leave the City Ground after just one year and returned to South America with Uruguayan club Nacional .
A Baggies stalwart , Morrison was part of the club ’ s promotion campaigns in 2007/08 and 2009/10 .
The Scot only made four appearances during the 2017/18 season and retired in October 2019 after leaving the club in the summer .
Morrison is now the club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a £10m arrival in January 2017 and went on to make 34 Premier League appearances during the relegation campaign .
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder remained a regular fixture under Bilic , a key cog in the midfield that helped the Baggies to promotion .
Phillips managed only two goals in 30 appearances when the Baggies went down but , like Livermore , he remains a regular at the Hawthorns , with seven goals and six assists before the season was out .
The winger extended his stay this past season , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brunt suffered relegation for the second time in 2018 .
In June , it was confirmed that the Northern Irishman will end his 13-year association with the club when the current season concludes .
After a difficult final year at West Brom , McClean joined Stoke City in the summer of 2018 for £5million .
The Republic of Ireland international , along with new boss Michael O'Neill , helped to steer the Potters away from relegation to League One .
He scored on the final round of games in the win at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baggies on a short-term loan deal from Liverpool in January 2018 .
However , the former England international was unable to fire West Brom to safety - he failed to find the net in six appearances .
Sturridge joined Trabzonspor in 2019 but was released in March .
He remains unattached .
Regarded as a winger of immense promise , Burke joined West Brom for £13m from RB Leipzig in 2017 , breaking his own record as the most expensive Scottish footballer .
However , he failed to have the desired impact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an injury-hit first year at the club .
After a loan spell at Celtic , Burke has enjoyed plenty of game time on loan at Alaves in La Liga this season .
He returns with two years still left on his contract .
The former England midfielder joined West Brom in 2017 after three years at Everton .
He was released in July 2019 but re-signed in November until the end of the current campaign - now , though , Barry is contemplating retirement .
Rodriguez was another relatively big-money acquisition for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joining from Southampton for £12million .
Seven goals represented a decent return , but he proved to be someone who stuck around following relegation .
After scoring 22 times for the Baggies during the 2018/19 Championship campaign , he left to sign for Burnley .
Krychowiak was one of Albion ’ s higher profile names during the relegation season , but he did n't hit the heights expected over the course of the campaign .
The midfielder featured for Poland during the 2018 World Cup before joining Lokomotiv Moscow , helping his new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first season .
The Belgian winger was a high-profile £13million capture from Tottenham in the summer of 2016 .
Chadli struggled with injuries , however , which restricted him to only five league appearances in 2017/18 .
He chose not to stick around for life in the Championship and signed for Monaco on a three-year deal before spending this season back in his native Belgium with Anderlecht .
The young midfielder made 10 league appearances during the 2017/18 season and struggled to nail down his place last year before joining Charlton Athletic on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales , Robson-Kanu struggled to produce fireworks for Albion after joining the club after that his tournament exploits in France .
The former Reading man managed only two goals in 2017/18 but has better luck under Bilic , with 10 to his name this past season .
Rondon finished the relegation campaign as Albion ’ s joint top scorer with Rodriguez on seven goals .
His muscular approach to leading the attack attracted Newcastle United , who signed him on loan for the 2018/19 season .
There , the Venezuelan proved a hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before reuniting with former Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez at Chinese club Dalian Yifang in July 2019 .

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Matthew Gault, Joseph Chapman)

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When Slaven Bilic was appointed West Bromwich Albion boss in June 2019, the message from the club was pretty clear: take us back to the Premier League.
Fast forward 14 months and the Croatian has achieved his goal - but the work doesn't stop there.
West Brom’s most recent season in the Premier League was disastrous with Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew both being dismissed before the club finished bottom.
Much has changed in the proceeding two years, so here, we take a look at where the 2017/18 West Brom team are now.
Ben Foster
This proved to be the last of Foster’s seven years at The Hawthorns.
The former Manchester United stopper was virtually ever-present between the sticks, appearing in all but one of the 38 league games in 2017/18.
Following the Baggies' relegation to the Championship, Foster returned to Watford on a two-year having spent two years at Vicarage Road on loan from United between 2005 and 2007.
Foster instantly became the Hornets’ first-choice stopper in the league while Heurelho Gomes was preferred during the club’s run to the FA Cup final last term.
Foster, 37, has suffered his third relegation with a third different club, having also suffered that fate with Birmingham City in 2011.
Allan Nyom
The Cameroonian right-back ended his three-year stint with the Baggies when he joined Getafe in 2019.
The 32-year-old has featured 25 times for the Spaniards, who have again been the surprise package in La Liga this season with the club on course to secure another top-six finish.
Kieran Gibbs
Gibbs was one of Pulis’ summer signings with the left-back joining from Arsenal on a four-year deal.
The 10-time England international featured prominently during his first two seasons but injuries have curbed his progress this term, limiting him to just 14 appearances.
(Image: Adam Fradgley/AMA)
Jonny Evans
Evans captained West Brom through their troubled 2017/18 campaign before joining Leicester City in the summer of 2018.
And the 32-year-old Northern Irishman has become a major figure at the King Power Stadium, too, forming a solid partnership with Caglar Soyuncu during Leicester’s chase for Champions League qualification.
Gareth McAuley
Evans’ fellow Northern Irishman left the club in 2018 and joined Rangers before retiring in 2019.
Craig Dawson
West Brom’s long-serving centre-back departed after nine years in 2019 to join Foster at Watford.
And Dawson proved to be surprisingly influential in attack in the final weeks, scoring against Leicester and Norwich City, but he ultimately suffered the same fate as Foster.
Ahmed Hegazi
The Egypt international was unable to guide the club to safety during his first season at The Hawthorns.
Hegazi joined on a permanent basis in December 2017 and was a mainstay during the 2018/19 season.
This year, however, he managed only 14 starts, the most recent of those being in the almost damaging defeat at Huddersfield.
Claudio Yacob
A regular during his six years at West Brom, the Argentine joined Nottingham Forest in 2018.
However, he decided to leave the City Ground after just one year and returned to South America with Uruguayan club Nacional.
James Morrison
A Baggies stalwart, Morrison was part of the club’s promotion campaigns in 2007/08 and 2009/10.
The Scot only made four appearances during the 2017/18 season and retired in October 2019 after leaving the club in the summer.
Morrison is now the club's U23s assistant boss.
Jake Livermore
Captain Fantastico, Captain Magnifico.
Livermore was a £10m arrival in January 2017 and went on to make 34 Premier League appearances during the relegation campaign.
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder remained a regular fixture under Bilic, a key cog in the midfield that helped the Baggies to promotion.
Matt Phillips
Phillips managed only two goals in 30 appearances when the Baggies went down but, like Livermore, he remains a regular at the Hawthorns, with seven goals and six assists before the season was out.
The winger extended his stay this past season, too.
Chris Brunt
West Brom’s long-serving captain, Brunt suffered relegation for the second time in 2018.
In June, it was confirmed that the Northern Irishman will end his 13-year association with the club when the current season concludes.
Brunt has made 421 appearances for West Brom, scoring 48 times.
James McClean
After a difficult final year at West Brom, McClean joined Stoke City in the summer of 2018 for £5million.
The Republic of Ireland international, along with new boss Michael O'Neill, helped to steer the Potters away from relegation to League One. He scored on the final round of games in the win at Nottingham Forest.
Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge signed with the Baggies on a short-term loan deal from Liverpool in January 2018.
However, the former England international was unable to fire West Brom to safety - he failed to find the net in six appearances.
Sturridge joined Trabzonspor in 2019 but was released in March. He remains unattached.
Oliver Burke
Regarded as a winger of immense promise, Burke joined West Brom for £13m from RB Leipzig in 2017, breaking his own record as the most expensive Scottish footballer.
However, he failed to have the desired impact, failing to score in 15 appearances during an injury-hit first year at the club.
After a loan spell at Celtic, Burke has enjoyed plenty of game time on loan at Alaves in La Liga this season. He returns with two years still left on his contract.
Gareth Barry
The former England midfielder joined West Brom in 2017 after three years at Everton.
During that season, Barry made a record-breaking 633rd Premier League appearance, surpassing Ryan Giggs.
He was released in July 2019 but re-signed in November until the end of the current campaign - now, though, Barry is contemplating retirement.
Jay Rodriguez
Rodriguez was another relatively big-money acquisition for the Baggies ahead of the 2017/18 season, joining from Southampton for £12million.
Seven goals represented a decent return, but he proved to be someone who stuck around following relegation. After scoring 22 times for the Baggies during the 2018/19 Championship campaign, he left to sign for Burnley.
Grzegorz Krychowiak
Krychowiak was one of Albion’s higher profile names during the relegation season, but he didn't hit the heights expected over the course of the campaign.
The midfielder featured for Poland during the 2018 World Cup before joining Lokomotiv Moscow, helping his new side to the Russian Cup in his first season.
Nacer Chadli
The Belgian winger was a high-profile £13million capture from Tottenham in the summer of 2016.
Chadli struggled with injuries, however, which restricted him to only five league appearances in 2017/18.
He chose not to stick around for life in the Championship and signed for Monaco on a three-year deal before spending this season back in his native Belgium with Anderlecht.
Sam Field
The young midfielder made 10 league appearances during the 2017/18 season and struggled to nail down his place last year before joining Charlton Athletic on loan.
Hal Robson-Kanu
A Euro 2016 hero for Wales, Robson-Kanu struggled to produce fireworks for Albion after joining the club after that his tournament exploits in France.
The former Reading man managed only two goals in 2017/18 but has better luck under Bilic, with 10 to his name this past season.
Salomon Rondon
Rondon finished the relegation campaign as Albion’s joint top scorer with Rodriguez on seven goals.
His muscular approach to leading the attack attracted Newcastle United, who signed him on loan for the 2018/19 season.
There, the Venezuelan proved a hit with the Geordies, netting 11 goals before reuniting with former Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez at Chinese club Dalian Yifang in July 2019.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Perseids meteor shower peaks tonight - what direction to look for shooting stars

There 's a welcome chance to take our mind off the earthly worries of coronavirus and the economy tonight with some spectacular stargazing .
The Perseids - the biggest and best display of shooting stars all year - is peaking tonight ( Wednesday August 12 ) and into the early hours of Thursday ( August 13 ) .
The cosmic display happens when the Earth ploughs through debris trailing behind the Swift-Tuttle comet , has always been the most popular of the annual meteor showers .
That 's because up to 100 shooting stars can be seen every hour , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all night outside in the hope of seeing one .
And the even better news is that it looks like the weather wo n't get in the way .
The Met Office forecast for Birmingham is clear skies from 11pm tonight , with some cloud appearing in the early hours around 2am but then returning to clear skies from 4am through to Thursday 's sunrise at 5.47am .
What are the Perseids ?
These meteors come from the debris in the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet , which orbits the sun once every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the tail of the comet , some of the rock and dust is knocked out of place and falls towards us , burning up in the atmosphere as so-called shooting stars .
They 're not actually stars , of course , but they appear similar because of the light emitted as they hit the Earth 's atmosphere .
Most of them are only about the size of a grain of sand .
None of them ever reach the ground .
Each year , the Perseid meteor shower arrives sometime between July 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Perseids are expected to be visible each night from July 17 to August 24 , peaking on the nights of Wednesday August 12 and Thursday August 13 .
The best sightings are usually in the early hours before dawn .
In 2016 they were at their most spectacular since 2009 because Jupiter ’ s gravity pulled the comet 's debris closer to Earth and there was a meteor storm with as many as 200 per hour .
Catholics call the phenomenon The Tears of St Lawrence .
The saint was roasted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for giving away the Church ’ s treasures to the poor and it ’ s said the shooting stars are the sparks from that fire falling back to Earth .
American singer John Denver saw the Perseids on a family camping trip in Colorado and wrote about them in his hit Rocky Mountain High , when he sang : `` I ’ ve seen it rainin ’ fire in the sky . ''
Greek astronomer Ptolemy said that when Zeus and the other gods occasionally peered down at the Earth from atop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes knocked a star out of place and caused it to fall .
This is said to be the origin of making a wish when you see a shooting star .
It 's a great time to do it because the gods are looking down and paying attention .
In other cultures , shooting stars have also been thought to be fallen angels , the tears of angels , souls on the way to the afterlife , or omens of good luck , bad luck , sickness or death .
What direction should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to radiate outwards from the constellation Perseus .
The constellation is rising in the north-east of the night sky , so that is a good starting point .
But the shooting stars are moving away from that point as they shoot across any part of the heavens so do n't fixate on the NE of the sky all night .
Moonlight could reduce visibility of the Perseids a little this year .
The moon is currently waning as it heads towards being a crescent on August 13 and then the total darkness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So there will still be some moonlight when the Perseids are at their peak , meaning the sky is n't pitch black .
Thankfully , the Perseids are bright and very frequent , so it should n't obscure them too much .
We can still expect to see 40 or 50 shooting stars per hour , maybe more .
To prevent any other glare getting in the way , it 's best to escape the light pollution of urban areas .
To guarantee a good view of the Perseid meteor shower , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space with a clear view of the sky that isn ’ t obscured by trees or tall buildings .
Rather than just standing out in the back garden , go somewhere where the sky is as dark as possible .
Birmingham is very well placed for good views of the celestial spectacle because it has more than 8,000 acres of parks and open spaces , more than any other European city .
But it also has more trees than Paris , so there is a possibility your view will be obscured by lush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right spot .
The Clent Hills and Lickey Hills near Birmingham would make good places to go .
No special equipment is needed , as the meteors will be visible with the naked eye .
But allow 15 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark .
Remember to be patient - bring a reclining chair or a blanket so you can lie back and look up without getting a stiff neck .
As they radiate mainly from Perseus , a constellation in the northern part of the sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northern Hemisphere .
But you could spot them anywhere across the sky .
Some can be seen whizzing past before midnight but they are more visible in the hours before dawn .
A few - known as Earth-grazers - don ’ t plunge into the atmosphere but skim across it like a pebble across the surface of a pond .
They enter the atmosphere briefly , causing long bright trails or fireballs before leaving again to fly off into space .
Those arriving later , between dawn and noon , normally can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glare of daylight .
A spokesman for the National Space Centre at Leicester said : `` The Perseids are usually one of the best .
If people find that at around midnight they can see some sky and stars then it might be worth a look .
No special equipment is needed - just sit back and enjoy . ''
How to take photos of the Perseids 1 .
Go to a place where the skies are dark , away from the light pollution of urban areas .
2 .
Set up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommend a wide-angle lens which covers a large area of the night sky and this is probably the best option for photographing the current ‘ outburst ’ of meteors .
Other experts suggest focusing on a smaller area of sky to get a nice close-up shot of a meteor that happens to be whizzing past but this reduces your chances of capturing anything .
3 .
Leave the camera in the same position so you can later create a time-lapse video as well .
Aim it somewhere between the NW and NE .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the point where the meteors are expected to radiate from or they ’ ll be seen head-on - try to look to the side of that so you can see the trails of the shooting stars .
4 .
Set the focus to make distant objects as sharp as possible .
Some recommend turning the focus to infinity ( to its fullest setting on the wheel ) , others say it ’ s better to set the focus manually by looking at a bright star in the sky .
5 .
Pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it opens wide and lets in lots of light .
You need to make those meteors show up as much as possible on your pictures .
An ISO setting around half or a quarter of the top value is a good option .
6 .
Select an exposure time of 30 seconds and go for continuous shooting mode so the camera keeps taking lots of pictures when you press the button .
A shutter release cable is essential for this type of photography .
7 .
Try the settings out on the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back of your camera to see if any adjustments are needed .
8 .
Have extra storage cards and spare camera batteries with you , just in case .
So will Earth ever collide with the comet the Perseids come from ?
Swift-Tuttle - the comet whose trail of debris creates the Perseids - was described as the biggest threat known to humanity by American astronomer Gerrit Verschuur in his 1997 book Impact !
The Threat of Comets & Asteroids .
If it collided with Earth , its impact would release about 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wiped out the dinosaurs .
That asteroid was six miles ( 10km ) across , while the Swift-Tuttle comet is 16 miles ( 26km ) across .
But thankfully the comet has a stable orbit around the sun and won ’ t be any threat for at least the next 2,000 years or so .
It will have a close encounter with Earth in September 4479 , but even then it 's been calculated there is only a 0.0001 per cent probability of it hitting our planet .
We won ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to worry .

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There's a welcome chance to take our mind off the earthly worries of coronavirus and the economy tonight with some spectacular stargazing.
The Perseids - the biggest and best display of shooting stars all year - is peaking tonight (Wednesday August 12) and into the early hours of Thursday (August 13).
The cosmic display happens when the Earth ploughs through debris trailing behind the Swift-Tuttle comet, has always been the most popular of the annual meteor showers.
That's because up to 100 shooting stars can be seen every hour, making them easy to spot without spending all night outside in the hope of seeing one.
And the even better news is that it looks like the weather won't get in the way.
The Met Office forecast for Birmingham is clear skies from 11pm tonight, with some cloud appearing in the early hours around 2am but then returning to clear skies from 4am through to Thursday's sunrise at 5.47am.
(Image: PA)
What are the Perseids?
These meteors come from the debris in the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet, which orbits the sun once every 133 years.
When the Earth passes through the tail of the comet, some of the rock and dust is knocked out of place and falls towards us, burning up in the atmosphere as so-called shooting stars.
They're not actually stars, of course, but they appear similar because of the light emitted as they hit the Earth's atmosphere.
Most of them are only about the size of a grain of sand. None of them ever reach the ground.
Each year, the Perseid meteor shower arrives sometime between July 17 and August 24.
For 2020, the Perseids are expected to be visible each night from July 17 to August 24, peaking on the nights of Wednesday August 12 and Thursday August 13.
The best sightings are usually in the early hours before dawn.
In 2016 they were at their most spectacular since 2009 because Jupiter’s gravity pulled the comet's debris closer to Earth and there was a meteor storm with as many as 200 per hour.
(Image: PA)
Catholics call the phenomenon The Tears of St Lawrence. The saint was roasted to death over hot coals in 258 AD for giving away the Church’s treasures to the poor and it’s said the shooting stars are the sparks from that fire falling back to Earth.
American singer John Denver saw the Perseids on a family camping trip in Colorado and wrote about them in his hit Rocky Mountain High, when he sang: "I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky."
Greek astronomer Ptolemy said that when Zeus and the other gods occasionally peered down at the Earth from atop the lofty summit of Mount Olympus, they sometimes knocked a star out of place and caused it to fall.
This is said to be the origin of making a wish when you see a shooting star. It's a great time to do it because the gods are looking down and paying attention.
In other cultures, shooting stars have also been thought to be fallen angels, the tears of angels, souls on the way to the afterlife, or omens of good luck, bad luck, sickness or death.
What direction should you look in?
The Perseids appear to radiate outwards from the constellation Perseus.
The constellation is rising in the north-east of the night sky, so that is a good starting point.
But the shooting stars are moving away from that point as they shoot across any part of the heavens so don't fixate on the NE of the sky all night.
Moonlight could reduce visibility of the Perseids a little this year.
The moon is currently waning as it heads towards being a crescent on August 13 and then the total darkness of a new moon on August 18.
So there will still be some moonlight when the Perseids are at their peak, meaning the sky isn't pitch black.
Thankfully, the Perseids are bright and very frequent, so it shouldn't obscure them too much.
We can still expect to see 40 or 50 shooting stars per hour, maybe more.
To prevent any other glare getting in the way, it's best to escape the light pollution of urban areas.
To guarantee a good view of the Perseid meteor shower, it’s best to find an open space with a clear view of the sky that isn’t obscured by trees or tall buildings.
Rather than just standing out in the back garden, go somewhere where the sky is as dark as possible.
Birmingham is very well placed for good views of the celestial spectacle because it has more than 8,000 acres of parks and open spaces, more than any other European city.
But it also has more trees than Paris, so there is a possibility your view will be obscured by lush greenery if you don’t pick the right spot.
The Clent Hills and Lickey Hills near Birmingham would make good places to go.
(Image: Harlan Thomas)
No special equipment is needed, as the meteors will be visible with the naked eye. But allow 15 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
Remember to be patient - bring a reclining chair or a blanket so you can lie back and look up without getting a stiff neck.
As they radiate mainly from Perseus, a constellation in the northern part of the sky, the meteors are mostly seen in the Northern Hemisphere. But you could spot them anywhere across the sky.
Some can be seen whizzing past before midnight but they are more visible in the hours before dawn.
A few - known as Earth-grazers - don’t plunge into the atmosphere but skim across it like a pebble across the surface of a pond. They enter the atmosphere briefly, causing long bright trails or fireballs before leaving again to fly off into space.
Those arriving later, between dawn and noon, normally can’t be seen because of the glare of daylight.
A spokesman for the National Space Centre at Leicester said: "The Perseids are usually one of the best. If people find that at around midnight they can see some sky and stars then it might be worth a look. No special equipment is needed - just sit back and enjoy."
(Image: Alfonso Cuchi)
How to take photos of the Perseids
1. Go to a place where the skies are dark, away from the light pollution of urban areas.
2. Set up a DSLR camera on a tripod - some recommend a wide-angle lens which covers a large area of the night sky and this is probably the best option for photographing the current ‘outburst’ of meteors.
Other experts suggest focusing on a smaller area of sky to get a nice close-up shot of a meteor that happens to be whizzing past but this reduces your chances of capturing anything.
3. Leave the camera in the same position so you can later create a time-lapse video as well.
Aim it somewhere between the NW and NE. But Don’t point it directly at the point where the meteors are expected to radiate from or they’ll be seen head-on - try to look to the side of that so you can see the trails of the shooting stars.
4. Set the focus to make distant objects as sharp as possible. Some recommend turning the focus to infinity (to its fullest setting on the wheel), others say it’s better to set the focus manually by looking at a bright star in the sky.
5. Pick the lowest f-number for the lens so it opens wide and lets in lots of light. You need to make those meteors show up as much as possible on your pictures. An ISO setting around half or a quarter of the top value is a good option.
6. Select an exposure time of 30 seconds and go for continuous shooting mode so the camera keeps taking lots of pictures when you press the button. A shutter release cable is essential for this type of photography.
7. Try the settings out on the night sky and check the image on the back of your camera to see if any adjustments are needed.
8. Have extra storage cards and spare camera batteries with you, just in case.
So will Earth ever collide with the comet the Perseids come from?
Swift-Tuttle - the comet whose trail of debris creates the Perseids - was described as the biggest threat known to humanity by American astronomer Gerrit Verschuur in his 1997 book Impact! The Threat of Comets & Asteroids.
If it collided with Earth, its impact would release about 27 times more energy than the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs. That asteroid was six miles (10km) across, while the Swift-Tuttle comet is 16 miles (26km) across.
But thankfully the comet has a stable orbit around the sun and won’t be any threat for at least the next 2,000 years or so.
It will have a close encounter with Earth in September 4479, but even then it's been calculated there is only a 0.0001 per cent probability of it hitting our planet. We won’t be here then anyway, so no need to worry.


birminghammail--2020-08-12--Shock footage shows gang attack that left boy, 12, knifed in head

This is the disturbing moment a gang batter and knife a 12-year-old boy at a Dudley park .
The shocking @ @ @ @ @ shared by West Midlands Police – shows the group attacking the victim in Netherton Park @ @ @ @ @ 24 .
Cops say the victim suffered three knife wounds to the head , a @ @ @ @ @ phone was also taken during the violence .
They have since described the robbery as @ @ @ @ @ the footage in a bid to trace one of the suspects .
Anyone who recognises @ @ @ @ @ forward .
PC Emily Wallin , from force CID at Dudley , said : `` @ @ @ @ @ but fortunately the knife wounds were not serious .
`` He was left with a @ @ @ @ @ experience was extremely traumatic for him .
I would urge anyone who can help our @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Contact us via Live Chat or by calling 101 .
Quote crime reference @ @ @ @

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This is the disturbing moment a gang batter and knife a 12-year-old boy at a Dudley park.
The shocking clip – which has been shared by West Midlands Police – shows the group attacking the victim in Netherton Park at around 5pm on June 24.
Cops say the victim suffered three knife wounds to the head, a fractured arm, and his phone was also taken during the violence.
They have since described the robbery as 'nasty' and have issued the footage in a bid to trace one of the suspects.
Anyone who recognises him is urged to come forward.
(Image: WMP)
PC Emily Wallin, from force CID at Dudley, said: "This was a nasty attack but fortunately the knife wounds were not serious.
"He was left with a fractured arm and the whole experience was extremely traumatic for him. I would urge anyone who can help our enquiries to get in touch.
"Contact us via Live Chat or by calling 101. Quote crime reference number 20DY/146748P/20."