Good eveningpublished at 18:00
That's it for live updates. BBC Local Live will be back from 08:00 on Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Birmingham and the Black Country.
Summary
Updates for Wednesday 6 January 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume on Thursday
Good eveningpublished at 18:00
Watch: Overnight forecast for the West Midlandspublished at 17:58
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayAfter a dry but rather cloudy evening, a band of rain, heavy at times, will move northeastwards affecting all parts by midnight.
Winds strengthening as rain approaches with lows of 3C (37F).
Travel: Lane blocked on M6 southboundpublished at 17:55
BBC TravelOne lane's blocked on the M6 southbound at J10 for Wolverhampton and Walsall due to a broken down vehicle.
'Think twice before visiting A&E' warns trustpublished at 17:52
Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley is calling for people, external only to go to Accident and Emergency if it's a real emergency as it's facing extreme pressure after the festive period.
The trust which runs it says yesterday there was a 50% increase in the number of patients being admitted.
Killer traced by stolen mobile phonepublished at 17:49
A 24-year-old man, jailed for 10 years for admitting killing a father-of-six, was traced by a stolen mobile phone, found hidden in a slow cooker, police said.
Stephen Phillips's body was discovered in his flat on Dudley Road in Blakenhall in March 2014.
Officers realised the 54-year-old's mobile phones were missing and were able to trace one of them to an address in All Saints Road where Lewis Thornton (pictured) had been staying.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceQuote MessageOnce we had determined the movements of the phone we were then able to track both men on CCTV on the night of the robbery. The exact location of the attack remains unclear to this day but we were able to build a strong case against Thornton regardless.
Detective Inspector Justin Spanner, West Midlands Police CID
Dusty the kitten gets stuck in binpublished at 17:41
Read more on BBC News about the scavenging stray cat who was rescued by firefighters and the RSPCA after getting stuck in the drainage duct of an industrial bin.
Image source, RSPCAWatch: How to make an animation filmpublished at 17:34
Satnam Rana
BBC Midlands TodayDrew Roper of Yamination studios in Birmingham has spent the last three years bringing a puppet called Bartholomew to life.
Now his short film of the wannabe Hollywood star will be premiered on SkyArts tonight with repeats over the next two years.
I went went along to meet him and to find out how it all works.
IVF clinic wins licence renewal appealpublished at 17:24
A fertility clinic twice refused a new licence has won the right to continue operating, following a successful appeal.
Dr Jude Adeghe, who runs the St Jude's Women's Hospital, said: "The decision in the report more or less is validation for what we do, so we just wish to look forward.
"We're not bitter as difficult as it has been... and look forward and do what we do best, helping couples out there to make more babies."
Four trapped as van smashes into tree in 'serious' crashpublished at 17:15
Four people were left trapped after a serious crash in Dudley, external this afternoon.
Emergency services remain at the scene in Clee Road, near the Scotts Green roundabout.
Image source, Express and StarGun crime spike 'concerning'published at 17:06
Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News OnlineA recent spike in gun crime in Birmingham is "very concerning", the police commissioner has said.
Firearms offences had dropped over the past 10 years but the problem was back, said David Jamieson.
Dave Thompson, Deputy Chief Constable for West Midlands Police, said he had never known shootings to be as regular.
Official statistics show overall gun crime figures dropped from 524 in 2014 to 357 in 2015.
But a recent spate of attacks in areas such as Handsworth, Lozells and Hockley were causing concern, said police.
Bogus fire extinguisher sales in Solihull, warns fire servicepublished at 16:56
West Midlands Fire Service is warning residents in Solihull not to buy fire extinguishers door-to-door.
Solihull Fire says it's received reports that a woman claiming to be from the fire service is selling them on people's doorsteps.
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End of twitter postMan jailed after killing dad-of-sixpublished at 16:45
A man has been jailed for 10 years after admitting killing a father-of-six by punching him in the head, causing him to fall and fracture his skull.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceThe death of Stephen Phillips, 54, at his Wolverhampton flat was at first not thought to be suspicious, but tests proved he was struck before he fell.
Lewis Thornton, 24, went on trial for manslaughter and robbery but changed his pleas to guilty.
GP surgeries choose to stop taking new patients, says Birmingham medical committeepublished at 16:31
Birmingham's local medical committee has been "particularly proactive" in telling GP surgeries they can choose to stop taking new patients, its chairman says.
Dr Robert Morley, chairman of the Birmingham Local Medical Committee, which represents the area's GPs, said practices could decide to stop taking on new patients, without the approval of NHS England.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe said in Birmingham, the local medical committee had been "particularly proactive" in pointing this out to practices, making them "feel empowered to take appropriate measures".
Wolves: Bids for Benik Afobe deniedpublished at 16:14
BBC WM SportWolves have denied receiving any bids for top scorer Benik Afobe (pictured), despite reported interest from Crystal Palace and Derby.
Image source, Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Kenny Jackett has confirmed he wants to take a look at returning loanees Lee Evans, Tommy Rowe and George Saville before deciding if they'll be allowed out again.
The future of Rajiv van la Parra is still unclear; he spent the last month with Brighton but there's been no interest yet in extending the deal.
Generous care service donate selection boxes to Tamworth Foodbankpublished at 15:57
A care service made a kind gesture over the festive period – donating selection boxes to Tamworth's Foodbank, external.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldAnimator's short film premieres on TV tonightpublished at 15:37
A Birmingham animator is to have his short film premiered on TV.
Drew Roper, of Yamination Studios,, external has been in the business since 2009.
The film At-Issue is based on a character called Bartholomew (pictured) who dreams of Hollywood and makes a last-ditch attempt to become a star.
It will be aired on Sky Arts this evening at 16:50., external
Local football games in Sandwell cancelledpublished at 15:21
All football matches on council pitches are cancelled this weekend due to poor grass conditions.
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End of twitter postAvtar Dhensa named locally as fatality in Penn house firepublished at 15:05
The man killed in an explosion and fire at a house in Wolverhampton has been named locally as Avtar Dhensa (pictured).
The fire, which the emergency services say was started by petrol vapours, broke out shortly before 15:15 on Tuesday.
Image source, Supplied by familyRolex watch and Royal chair found in Sutton Coldfield fetch £5,200 at auctionpublished at 14:49
Royal Sutton Coldfield ObserverA luxury watch and a rare item of Royal memorabilia which were both found in Sutton Coldfield , externalhave fetched thousands of pounds at auction.
Wolverhampton house explosion 'caused by petrol vapours'published at 14:39
An explosion at a house in Wolverhampton, which killed a man, is believed to have been caused by a build up of petrol vapours the fire service says, external.
The fire started shortly before 15:15 and the victim has been named locally as Avtar Dhensa.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceWest Midlands Fire Service said it wasn't being treated as suspicious. A report is being prepared for the coroner.
