That's it from Local Live today. Join us for more news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Friday.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It's cloudy across much of the region today but are we going to turn the corner later? Lows of 8C (46F).

Watch the forecast to find out.

All the latest on the Digbeth murder investigation and the M6 gridlock that has lasted since the early hours of this morning.

Great Barr Observer

A man from Perry Barr has appeared before Walsall Magistrates today charged with theft, possession of a knife and attempted rape, external.  

BBC Travel

One lane is blocked and there is heavy traffic on the M5 northbound at the link road to M6 north carriageway because of a breakdown, drivers are warned.

Mark Savage
Music reporter

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has appointed Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla as its musical director.

The 29-year-old, who is currently assistant conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will be the only woman to lead a UK orchestra.

Her appointment makes London's orchestras look "stale and middle-aged", external, says critic Norman Lebrecht.

Image source, Nancy Horowitz

Plans for a new £22m High Speed Rail college in Birmingham have been approved. 

The three-storey building will be located on the former Birmingham Science Park and used to train engineers. It could open as early as September next year. 

It comes on the day the transport secretary officially opened the headquarters of the controversial £42.6bn HS2 high-speed rail project in Birmingham's Colmore Business District - 10 years ahead of the projected completion date for the line's first phase.

Image source, PA

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are the top stories for Birmingham and the Black Country on Thursday:

- A car driver has died in a fatal crash with a lorry on the M6, causing hours of delays

- A man shot dead in an attempted warehouse robbery in Digbeth has been named by police appealing for information about the crime

- The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has appointed Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla as its musical director - the only woman to lead a UK orchestra

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

The owner of the first diesel Land Rover Defender to roll off the production line in 1957 has put the valiant vehicle up for auction for a staggering £200,000.

Tim Hughes said he listed the Series One classic on eBay to to spark a discussion about its history.

Image source, Tim Hughes

The once iconic 4X4 does not have its original engine and is covered in rust.

Land Rover Historian Roger Crathorne said: "It's ruined. It's more likely to fetch £2,000 than £200,000."

BBC Sport

Have you ever wondered why Prince William supports Aston Villa? Or why Albion fans sing Psalm 23?

Well it turns out you are not the only one.

They are among the most commonly-asked questions about our Premier League clubs.

Image source, Getty Images

Express and Star

Tributes have been paid to a Smethwick shop owner discovered dead in the boot of his own car, external, after a murder investigation was launched.  

Image source, Express & Star

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

Nafeesa Abid, an accountant who works near the scene of the shooting of London man Akhtar Javeed, said it was very quiet last night at around 18:30 - with just one or two cars, including her own - when it would normally be busy.

She said it was "very shocking, very distressing" to hear anyone had been shot during an attempted robbery and she worried for her six employees and how it could affect them.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Bournville News

A bin lorry, described as "out of control" crashed into a hair salon on Bournville Green on Wednesday., external

West Midlands Police is appealing for information over the fatal shooting of Akhtar Javeed during the attempted robbery of Digbeth warehouse, Direct Source 3 Ltd. 

Acting Det Ch Insp Martin Slevin, from Force CID, said: “At this early stage we believe this was a targeted robbery attempt at the business premises in Rea Street South, near to the junction with MacDonald Street."

“It happened at a time when other people may have been leaving work for the day and someone may have seen what happened or have important information about the suspects," he said.

“If you have any information that could help our investigation, please get in touch as soon as possible."

The M6 northbound carriageway will be closed between junction five for Castle Bromwich and junction six for Spaghetti Junction until at least 22:00 tonight, Highways England has said, following the fatal crash we have been reporting today.

Cadbury is investigating after complaints some chocolate eggs contained no filling.

Customers have complained online after buying the company's Egg 'n' Spoon products.

The Birmingham chocolate maker has not revealed how many people contacted them about the issue but says it is a rare occurrence and will correct the issue as quickly as possible.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here is a quick recap of the news we have been reporting on Thursday so far:

- A car driver has died in a fatal crash with a lorry on the M6, causing hours of delays

- A man shot dead in an attempted warehouse robbery in Digbeth has been named by police appealing for information about the crime

- Aston Villa has appointed the former Governor of the Bank of England to its board of directors

Birmingham Mail

Widow Julia Bryson is joining a team of 24 colleagues at the BBC to run the Great Birmingham 10K in tribute to her husband Roger, external who died last July.  

Image source, Julia Bryson

Drivers are still being warned about long delays on the M6 after the northbound carriageway and two southbound lanes were closed.  

There continue to be miles of tailbacks after the fatal crash just before 02:00 this morning.

Police say the M6 northbound between junctions 5 and 6 is likely to be closed until tonight after the fatal accident in the early hours of this morning.