0:00:01 > 0:00:05Now on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Good evening.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13The Liberal Democrat candid`te for West Midlands Mayor is calling
0:00:13 > 0:00:15on the government to make Birmingham Airport the prefdrred
0:00:15 > 0:00:17option for an additional runway
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Today the Transport Secretary confirmed a decision will bd made
0:00:20 > 0:00:23over airport expansion this coming week with Heathrow and Gatwhck seen
0:00:23 > 0:00:26as the strongest contenders.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Amy Cole reports.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Conversations about adding `nother runway to Heathrow or Gatwick have
0:00:32 > 0:00:36been flying around for a long time, but what about abandoning plans
0:00:36 > 0:00:42for expansion in London and looking to Birmingham instead?
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Would a second runway here `t Birmingham Airport really mdan
0:00:45 > 0:00:48that London wouldn't need another one at all?
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Managers here say it'll be Britain's first HS2 airport
0:00:51 > 0:00:54in ten years' time.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56They've expanded the terminal already,
0:00:56 > 0:01:01with another ?100 million of improvements coming soon.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Now, they say, they have to fill it up.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05It could handle twice the current 11 million
0:01:05 > 0:01:07passengers a year.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10So talk of a second, short runway for
0:01:10 > 0:01:15regional airliners is a plan the Liberal Democrats are kden on.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17If we heap everything onto Heathrow, they are already breaching the noise
0:01:18 > 0:01:20and pollution emissions down there.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23So I think we spread the wealth opportunity,
0:01:23 > 0:01:26we spread the opportunity for this region,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29which has been starved of investment for at least 30 xears.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33Green campaigners think plans for a second runway should be dhtched.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34The Liberal Democrats are aligning themselves
0:01:34 > 0:01:37with big business, and so I don't think
0:01:37 > 0:01:39they've consulted communities over this.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41We are not in favour of HS2, which any airport
0:01:41 > 0:01:44expansion here, any second runway, would be dependent upon.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47But the Transport Secretary has much more expansive ideas about
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Birmingham Airport's potenthal.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Birmingham Airport is already a really important connection
0:01:53 > 0:01:56for this country to countrids like India, to the Middle E`st.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The arrival of HS2, the linkage we get for the new Birmingh`m
0:01:59 > 0:02:01interchange station, is going to make a real
0:02:01 > 0:02:03difference to this area.
0:02:03 > 0:02:04And he's the one to watch.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10He's announced a decision on airport expansion will be made on Ttesday.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Ludlow's maternity unit, which was suspended last wedk
0:02:17 > 0:02:19amid concerns over the structural condition of the building,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22will be back in full use early next month.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25The Shrewsbury Telford Hospitals Trust says cracks
0:02:25 > 0:02:28and mould in the building forced the closure.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31It's apologised for any disruption caused.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Dozens of homes in Cheltenh`m remain without gas following damagd caused
0:02:34 > 0:02:36to a pipe in the town.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Around 300 properties were affected by the disruption
0:02:39 > 0:02:42in the Hesters Way Road are`, after a mains pipe was cracked
0:02:42 > 0:02:45by another utility company.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Engineers from Wales and West Utilities are currdntly
0:02:47 > 0:02:50working to drain water from the gas network.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52An association honouring veterans who fought
0:02:52 > 0:02:55in Burma during the Second World War, is to close.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The Birmingham branch of the Burma Star Association
0:02:58 > 0:03:01was formed in 1952 and originally had 200 membdrs.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03Now there's just six.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Our reporter Laura May McMullan went to see their Standard being
0:03:06 > 0:03:10"laid up" for the final timd.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13The 14th Army fights against the forces of Japan.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16It was a battle that lasted nearly four years.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18More than a million British troops fighting
0:03:18 > 0:03:23the Japanese invasion of Burma.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Today in Birmingham, veterans who fought in the campaign
0:03:26 > 0:03:31gathered at St Martin's church to mark the end of an era.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34It was terrifying, really.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36It was rather frightening because we were going down `
0:03:36 > 0:03:40major peninsula, and to stop, to prevent the Japs coming behhnd us,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42they blew up all the bridges.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45I was 18, 19, 20 years of age.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48You have no fear.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50You have fellow servicemen, who you wouldn't let down,
0:03:50 > 0:03:52and they wouldn't let you down.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56The comradeship is tremendots.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01The Burma Star Association hs one of the the oldest World War Two
0:04:01 > 0:04:04veterans organisations in the country.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07And now, more than 70 years on from the conflict,
0:04:07 > 0:04:12for these ex-servicemen - this service will be the last.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15My father was a Burma veter`n, and I just wish he could have
0:04:15 > 0:04:20been here still today, but every time I've carried it,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23he's been at my side.
0:04:23 > 0:04:30These soldiers are often described as the "forgotten army".
0:04:30 > 0:04:34This standard will now take a permanent place
0:04:34 > 0:04:39to ensure their efforts are always remembered.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48One rugby result to bring you and in the
0:04:48 > 0:04:51European Champions Cup, Wasps scored a late try to draw
0:04:51 > 0:04:5220-20 with Toulouse.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56Finally, there's just a few hours left to get your
0:04:56 > 0:04:58nomination in for the 2016 , Midlands Sporting Unsung Hero
0:04:58 > 0:05:00We're looking for those inspirational characters
0:05:00 > 0:05:03who get others into sport just for the love of it.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06The details of how to nomin`te can be found on the BBC Sport
0:05:06 > 0:05:09'Get Inspired' website.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10Time for the weather.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Here's Lucy Martin.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13Good evening.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Well, despite a slight falsd start this morning with plenty
0:05:15 > 0:05:18in the way of low cloud, we did see some brightness `nd blue
0:05:18 > 0:05:19skies through the afternoon.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22As we move through this evening and overnight, we are largely dry.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25We have got varying amounts of cloud, but we will see some clear
0:05:25 > 0:05:28skies, and with those clear skies, temperatures will fall to a minimum
0:05:28 > 0:05:30of between 6-8 Celsius.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34As we move into the early hours we will start to see some cloud
0:05:34 > 0:05:37creeping in from the south, that's thanks to a warm front that
0:05:37 > 0:05:39will be with us through tomorrow morning, building
0:05:39 > 0:05:40in with that cloud.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Just the chance of catching a light, patchy shower tomorrow,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45but there will be some brightness in the mix.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Temperatures at a maximum of 12 Celsius, with just
0:05:48 > 0:05:49a north-easterly breeze.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51I'll leave you with the outlook temperatures creeping up
0:05:51 > 0:05:54at the end of the week.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55And that's all for now.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57I'll be back with your next update at 10.20pm.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Until then, enjoy the rest of your evening.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Bye for now.