12/03/2017 Midlands Today

The Irish ambassador was one of the guests of honour

at the St Patrick's day parade in Birmingham today.

It was one of his last official functions before

Hundreds turned out for the event, which this year was entirely paid

The sun was almost shining, and the pipes were playing as 85,000

people took to the streets of Birmingham -

Very pro-to be Irish pro be here. The crowd really supportive and we

are enjoying ourselves. And this year they were joined

by a special guest - He's taking up a new role

in Washington later this year - but chose to spend his last

St Patrick's Day in the UK It's fantastic, as good as anything

I have seen any where in the world including Ireland and I have been

around the place and seen them all over the place. This is a very

enjoyable location and fair play to enjoyable location and fair play to

the Irish in Birmingham are putting on such a marvellous event.

Sunday afternoon in Birmingham and thousands and thousands

of people have turned out for what is one of the biggest

St Patrick's Day Parades anywhere in the world.

In fact the organisers reckon it's the third largest

after New York and Dublin - but having lost its funding

from the city council this year's event had to pay its own way.

Really happy with the way it's gone, private sponsors and pubs are all on

board. This is exactly what we wanted.

With bars and live music going on into the evening -

Birmingham's surely in for good craic.

Elizabeth Glinka, BBC Midlands Today in Digbeth.

An investigation's underway into reports that shots were fired

after problems at a birthday party in Smethwick.

Police were called to the CAP centre in Windmill Lane at around

A bullet and a shotgun casing were discovered -

but no one is reported to have been injured.

The Leader of the Labour group has called for social care

in Gloucestershire to be taken back into local authority control.

It's after the council had to step in to find new carers

when a provider went bust earlier this month.

Don and Enid Lewis in Cheltenham are now being looked

after by another firm, which means they can stay

But Councillor Williams says finances remain tight.

Somehow the county council network and the LGA need to bring it on to

central government that things need to change. They have a way of doing

it. Stoke City fans got the chance

to step back in time today, with a recreation of the team's

League Cup winning Most of the original team

were there to remember the club's 2-1 win over Chelsea in the final,

as was the original Almost all of the team of 72 were

there today to the inactive victory parade from 45 years ago. Leading

the cavalcade, the original victory bus known affectionately as this

deal. It was in March 1972 that they beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley. In goal

that day and already a World Cup winner, Gordon Banks. We were the

underdogs playing Chelsea, so to win it and bring back here to the and

people turning out and congratulate us, it was a lovely day for us.

George Eastham scored the winner that day,

and came all the way from his now home half way around the world.

I get a chance now and then to come from South Africa and CD players but

this is 45 years on. Hard to believe it. Hometown boy Denis Smith was

also on board. Unfortunately the club haven't won anything major

sense but I am hoping that will change in my lifetime. And as in

1972, they arrived at the town hall to many adoring fans. Not so many

today but still much appreciation. Make us proud and made us proud

then. The players are now enjoying an official civic reception where

they'll no doubt reminisce about that very special day 45 years ago

when Stoke won the cup. West Mercia Police are advising

people not to contribute to a fund raising website set up to collect

money in support of a campaign Her former handler, David Evans,

had wanted to keep her with him in Shropshire when he retired

but despite a petition, The force says it cannot accept

money raised like this, And here's Alex Hamilton

with the forecast. Good evening. Rather a mixed bag

across the West Midlands and today some sunshine and showers looking

set to continue but high pressure building for the working week so we

expect settled conditions on the way. We will continue to see

variable nights of clouds around and the odd shower but a mild night with

loads of around seven Celsius. And as we look towards tomorrow morning

we should start off on a bright and sunny note before the cloud builds

and from the north-west over the course of the day. Ties to model of

around 15 Celsius or in the sunshine feeling very springlike. I will

leave you with the outlook, a mixture of sunshine and showers.

I'll be back with your late news at the usual time of 10:20.

Hello, the weather was hit-and-miss today across the UK, bit of

sunshine, a few spots of rain, the skies are clearing now, particularly

in western area, and unlike the last few nights, this coming night, it is

going to turn chilly, there is a touch of frost