Caroline Gall
BBC News Online

Armed police arrested six people overnight on suspicion of firearm and drug offences under what the West Midlands force dubbed its "continuing response to gun crime across Birmingham".

Officers stopped a VW Golf car in Birchfield Road, Aston around 22:00 on Wednesday. 

Three men were arrested and officers seized two loaded sawn-off shotguns and live cartridges. Also recovered were a quantity of Class A drugs, a knife and cash. One other man was arrested at an address in Holte Road. A second vehicle, a Skoda Octavia, was later stopped near Holte Road and a further two men were arrested from the vehicle. Officers recovered further amounts of Class A drugs and cash from the car. Inquiries are on-going following the operation.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

If you are just catching up on Thursday news, here are the stories we have been covering:

- Tributes are being paid to former Warwickshire fast bowler Tom Allin who has died at the age of 28

- A Stourbridge primary school head teacher has been charged with six counts of making indecent images of a child 

- A 17-year-old has been charged with the murder of Jamar Walker, who was stabbed in Smethwick last month

A busy start to 2016 for West Midlands Fire Service.

The rain will not last all day. Have a look at what the weather has in store for us this afternoon and tonight.

Nine officers from West Midlands Police have been injured while using so-called stinger devices, the BBC has learned.

Image source, Getty Images

One suffered a deep laceration to a hand and another left with "temporary hearing impairment".  

Data released to the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act revealed 49 officers from 15 police forces in the UK were injured between January 2012 and October 2015.

Here's today's front page - two Lichfield lovebirds found a unique way to literally ring in the New Year by getting engaged in the city's historic clock tower, external.

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

BBC Sport

Aston Villa's Spanish winger Adama Traore is ruled out for up to 10 weeks after breaking a bone in his foot.

Image source, Getty Images

Traore, 19, went off in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Sunderland after providing the assist for Carles Gil's goal. 

A snorkeling ban at a railway station? This unusual sign was spotted by a Twitter user yesterday. Have you seen any similarly odd warnings on your travels?

Tweet us, external or reach us on the BBC WM Facebook page, external.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

You may have read our tale of Dusty the cat who got her head stuck in a bin in Wolverhampton.

Well here she is after her adventure without a whisker out of place.

RSPCA inspector Steve Morrall who helped rescue the frightened feline says she is now looking for a new home. 

The cricket family is mourning the death of former Warwickshire fast bowler Tom Allin at the age of 28. 

Tributes have been pouring in on social media.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here is a recap of the news we've been reporting on Thursday:

- Former Warwickshire fast bowler Tom Allin has died at the age of 28

- A 17-year-old has been charged with the murder of Jamar Walker, who was stabbed in Smethwick last month  

- A Stourbridge primary school head teacher has been charged over indecent images of a child

Office construction in Birmingham is at its highest level in more than 13 years, a report has said.  

The 969,000 sq ft (90,000 sq m) of space being built was "considerably above" the 10-year average of 384,000 sq ft (35,675 sq m), Deloitte said.

Of space under construction, 32% was already let.

Workman was arrested by detectives from the force’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team on 3 November 2014, as part of an inquiry. Police said at this stage of the inquiry there is no evidence of any inappropriate contact between the teacher and pupils at the school. Letters were sent to parents at the school informing them of the investigation. 

A Dudley primary school head teacher has been charged over indecent images of a child. 

Ross Workman, 50, formerly of Stourbridge, has been charged with six offences of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and will appear before Dudley Magistrates Court on 3 February, said West Midlands Police.

He is the head teacher at Oldswinford C of E Primary School in Stourbridge, where he has been suspended.

West Midlands Police revealed this morning its officers arrested a 17-year-old, from Smethwick, who cannot be identified legally, on Tuesday and charged him with Jamar Walker's murder and a further charge of attempted murder last night. 

He is due to appear before Wolverhampton Youth Court later.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are the latest stories in the BBC WM newsroom on Thursday morning: 

- Former Warwickshire fast bowler Tom Allin has died at the age of 28

- A 17-year-old has been charged with the murder of Jamar Walker, who was stabbed in Smethwick last month

- Office construction in Birmingham is at its highest level in more than 13 years, a report says

Police investigating the death of 15-year-old Jamar Walker, who died after suffering stab injuries in Smethwick last month, have charged a 17-year-old youth with his murder.

Image source, West Midlands Police

BBC Sport

Former Warwickshire fast bowler Tom Allin has died at the age of 28.  

Allin, who played one first-class match and one List A game for the county before leaving in 2013, also represented Devon and Cardiff MCCU.  

Image source, Getty Images

Police said Allin was found at the base of a bridge near Bideford on Monday. They are investigating the circumstances of his death but are not treating it as suspicious.  

Kaye Forster
Weather Presenter, East Midlands Today

We had a breather from the rain yesterday but it has returned. Find out what the outlook is like for later today.

BBC Travel

A lane is closed on the M5 on the exit slip road northbound at J3 for Halesowen because of a breakdown, drivers are warned.