:00:07. > :00:09.The Irish ambassador was one of the guests of honour
:00:10. > :00:11.at the St Patrick's day parade in Birmingham today.
:00:12. > :00:13.It was one of his last official functions before
:00:14. > :00:17.Hundreds turned out for the event, which this year was entirely paid
:00:18. > :00:28.The sun was almost shining, and the pipes were playing as 85,000
:00:29. > :00:29.people took to the streets of Birmingham -
:00:30. > :00:47.Very pro-to be Irish pro be here. The crowd really supportive and we
:00:48. > :00:48.are enjoying ourselves. And this year they were joined
:00:49. > :00:51.by a special guest - He's taking up a new role
:00:52. > :00:54.in Washington later this year - but chose to spend his last
:00:55. > :01:06.St Patrick's Day in the UK It's fantastic, as good as anything
:01:07. > :01:09.I have seen any where in the world including Ireland and I have been
:01:10. > :01:11.around the place and seen them all over the place. This is a very
:01:12. > :01:15.enjoyable location and fair play to enjoyable location and fair play to
:01:16. > :01:18.the Irish in Birmingham are putting on such a marvellous event.
:01:19. > :01:20.Sunday afternoon in Birmingham and thousands and thousands
:01:21. > :01:22.of people have turned out for what is one of the biggest
:01:23. > :01:24.St Patrick's Day Parades anywhere in the world.
:01:25. > :01:27.In fact the organisers reckon it's the third largest
:01:28. > :01:29.after New York and Dublin - but having lost its funding
:01:30. > :01:37.from the city council this year's event had to pay its own way.
:01:38. > :01:46.Really happy with the way it's gone, private sponsors and pubs are all on
:01:47. > :01:48.board. This is exactly what we wanted.
:01:49. > :01:51.With bars and live music going on into the evening -
:01:52. > :01:53.Birmingham's surely in for good craic.
:01:54. > :01:55.Elizabeth Glinka, BBC Midlands Today in Digbeth.
:01:56. > :01:57.An investigation's underway into reports that shots were fired
:01:58. > :01:59.after problems at a birthday party in Smethwick.
:02:00. > :02:03.Police were called to the CAP centre in Windmill Lane at around
:02:04. > :02:05.A bullet and a shotgun casing were discovered -
:02:06. > :02:12.but no one is reported to have been injured.
:02:13. > :02:15.The Leader of the Labour group has called for social care
:02:16. > :02:18.in Gloucestershire to be taken back into local authority control.
:02:19. > :02:20.It's after the council had to step in to find new carers
:02:21. > :02:22.when a provider went bust earlier this month.
:02:23. > :02:25.Don and Enid Lewis in Cheltenham are now being looked
:02:26. > :02:27.after by another firm, which means they can stay
:02:28. > :02:42.But Councillor Williams says finances remain tight.
:02:43. > :02:50.Somehow the county council network and the LGA need to bring it on to
:02:51. > :02:51.central government that things need to change. They have a way of doing
:02:52. > :02:52.it. Stoke City fans got the chance
:02:53. > :02:55.to step back in time today, with a recreation of the team's
:02:56. > :02:57.League Cup winning Most of the original team
:02:58. > :03:01.were there to remember the club's 2-1 win over Chelsea in the final,
:03:02. > :03:17.as was the original Almost all of the team of 72 were
:03:18. > :03:22.there today to the inactive victory parade from 45 years ago. Leading
:03:23. > :03:28.the cavalcade, the original victory bus known affectionately as this
:03:29. > :03:34.deal. It was in March 1972 that they beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley. In goal
:03:35. > :03:39.that day and already a World Cup winner, Gordon Banks. We were the
:03:40. > :03:46.underdogs playing Chelsea, so to win it and bring back here to the and
:03:47. > :03:51.people turning out and congratulate us, it was a lovely day for us.
:03:52. > :03:53.George Eastham scored the winner that day,
:03:54. > :03:56.and came all the way from his now home half way around the world.
:03:57. > :04:03.I get a chance now and then to come from South Africa and CD players but
:04:04. > :04:10.this is 45 years on. Hard to believe it. Hometown boy Denis Smith was
:04:11. > :04:13.also on board. Unfortunately the club haven't won anything major
:04:14. > :04:18.sense but I am hoping that will change in my lifetime. And as in
:04:19. > :04:27.1972, they arrived at the town hall to many adoring fans. Not so many
:04:28. > :04:32.today but still much appreciation. Make us proud and made us proud
:04:33. > :04:34.then. The players are now enjoying an official civic reception where
:04:35. > :04:38.they'll no doubt reminisce about that very special day 45 years ago
:04:39. > :04:41.when Stoke won the cup. West Mercia Police are advising
:04:42. > :04:43.people not to contribute to a fund raising website set up to collect
:04:44. > :04:46.money in support of a campaign Her former handler, David Evans,
:04:47. > :04:50.had wanted to keep her with him in Shropshire when he retired
:04:51. > :04:52.but despite a petition, The force says it cannot accept
:04:53. > :04:56.money raised like this, And here's Alex Hamilton
:04:57. > :05:13.with the forecast. Good evening. Rather a mixed bag
:05:14. > :05:16.across the West Midlands and today some sunshine and showers looking
:05:17. > :05:21.set to continue but high pressure building for the working week so we
:05:22. > :05:24.expect settled conditions on the way. We will continue to see
:05:25. > :05:29.variable nights of clouds around and the odd shower but a mild night with
:05:30. > :05:34.loads of around seven Celsius. And as we look towards tomorrow morning
:05:35. > :05:38.we should start off on a bright and sunny note before the cloud builds
:05:39. > :05:42.and from the north-west over the course of the day. Ties to model of
:05:43. > :05:47.around 15 Celsius or in the sunshine feeling very springlike. I will
:05:48. > :05:49.leave you with the outlook, a mixture of sunshine and showers.
:05:50. > :05:53.I'll be back with your late news at the usual time of 10:20.
:05:54. > :06:14.Hello, the weather was hit-and-miss today across the UK, bit of
:06:15. > :06:18.sunshine, a few spots of rain, the skies are clearing now, particularly
:06:19. > :06:22.in western area, and unlike the last few nights, this coming night, it is
:06:23. > :06:23.going to turn chilly, there is a touch of frost