'It was like Fast and Furious, just in Saltley'

Plus Blues' Jordan James attracts the Italians

Good morning readers — welcome to Friday’s Dispatch.

It’s a short and sweet one from me today with a nice little note from a new member and a reminder that if you haven’t joined yet, you can by hitting the button below. Your Brum in Brief is below — look out for our weekend read on Saturday morning!

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Brum in Brief

🚨 Police in Wales are investigating a hate incident in which a letter called the Birmingham accent “vomit inducing”. It also contained a derogatory term for the Traveller community. "An offensive note was left outside a property that has caused distress to the occupants," the police spokesperson added.

🚘 Drag racers have been filmed illegally cruising down a major Birmingham city centre street with onlookers saying it happens most weekends. An anonymous rail worker shared the footage of the cars on the A47 stretch approaching the Saltley Viaduct. He said: "It was like Fast and Furious, just in Saltley."

⚽ 19-year-old Birmingham City mid-fielder Jordan James is in demand by an Italian football club who have offered €5 million plus bonuses for the player. Blues is reportedly holding out for €10m from Bergamo-based club Atalanta.

✈️ Flights from Birmingham to Derry have returned for the first time since 2014. Ryanair will begin twice weekly flights to the Irish city in April. Demand for the Birmingham route has been growing in recent years, City of Derry Airport's managing director Steve Frazer said.

🎨 This exhibition at the Midlands Arts Centre sounds fascinating. Incarcerated: Contemporary Arts from the Victorian Prison — an exhibition of drawing, sculpture, crafts and writing by people serving time in prisons that were built nearly 200 years ago. It opens on Saturday and runs until 8 February. Free entry.

📖 This daytime, monthly reading group sounds very welcoming. Join the group at The Hive in the Jewellery Quarter at noon on Fridays. This month’s book is Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons In Chemistry — and you can join even if you’ve only read a few pages.