An adventure playground and sensory centre has had to close after excrement was smeared on a wall and thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused in an attack. 

The Old Fallings Adventure Playground in Low Hill, Wolverhampton, was hit in what police say is the fifth incident they are investigating there since April.

The latest vandalism prompted the city's cabinet member for children and young people, Val Gibson, to speak out and appeal for information.

Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council

Sensory equipment, doors and windows, polytunnels and fruit beds in the grounds were smashed and a fire was also started.

The council says it has been forced to closed the building due to the "severity" of the damage.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here is a recap of our headlines in the past few hours on Wednesday:

- Paul Gascoigne has denied a charge of racially-aggravated public order during a Black Country show

- Two men have denied shooting dead a businessman outside a warehouse in Birmingham

- Around 50 vehicles were affected by a fire at a car auction site which began with one car bursting into flames in Castle Bromwich

The Turkish flag is flying at half-mast at Birmingham City Council in memory of the victims of yesterday's terror attack at Istanbul's main international airport. 

Turkish officials believe Islamic State militants were behind the attack, in which at least 41 people were killed. 

Three men began shooting outside and inside the terminal then blew themselves up after police fired at them.

Sutton Coldfield Local

There is less than two weeks to go until the Sutton Coldfield Community Games, external and the excitement is mounting.  

Image source, Sutton Coldfield Local

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

Changing room mirrors are being covered in some of Birmingham's Bullring stores as part of a customer trial.

Research by retail giant Hammerson, which owns the shopping centre, showed 71% of British women are put off buying clothes after they have tried them on in front of a changing room mirror, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Thomas, regional marketing manager for Hammerson, told the Telegraph, external: "We want to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and confident when trying on clothes, so that's why we're trialling banning the mirrors."

Walsall Advertiser

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is trying to locate the family of two of its hospital patients, external.

Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today

The BBC has learned that the region's biggest bus company, National Express West Midlands is to invest millions of pounds to allow passengers to use contactless bank cards and smartphones on all of its 1,500 buses. 

Passengers have often complained that the company does not give change when buying a ticket. 

More on this story and others on BBC Midlands Today on BBC One at 13:30.

David Lumb
BBC News Online

The fire at a car auction site in Castle Bromwich overnight began in one car in the compound, the business has said.

British Car Auctions said: "We understand from the Fire Brigade’s initial assessment that the source was a single vehicle in that area.  

"Around 50 vehicles experienced fire damage of varying degrees as a result and the company is currently liaising with those customers affected.

Firefighter Steve Horsely said: "We've ruled out arson. We now believe it was accidental damage."

BBC Sport

Rain has delayed the start of play on the final day of Warwickshire's County Championship match against Nottinghamshire. 

The visitors trailed by 159 runs after both first innings at Edgbaston. Notts will resume on 81/2, still 78 runs behind.

Follow this game and other scores.

A businessman and a student have denied murdering a company director who was shot dead at a warehouse in Digbeth. 

Suraj Mistry, aged 26, and co-accused 18-year-old Lemar Wali entered not guilty pleas over a video-link during a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court. 

Both have been charged in connection with the death of 56-year-old company director Akhtar Javeed in a shooting in February.

Image source, West Midlands Police

They have also denied charges of conspiracy to rob and two counts each of possession of a handgun with intent to cause fear or violence. 

A third man, 25-year-old Asif Aurangzaib, of Leacroft Road in Derby, also pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to rob the warehouse.

Former England football star Paul Gascoigne is to stand trial later this year after denying a racially-aggravated public order offence. 

The former Newcastle, Tottenham and Rangers midfielder is alleged to have used "threatening or abusive words" towards a security guard during An Evening With Gazza show in Wolverhampton in November last year.

The 49-year-old ex-footballer, who lives in Dorset, was granted unconditional bail at Dudley Magistrates Court until a trial on 19 September. 

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

Recycling food waste will be the focus for Birmingham City Council as it sets out its new plan for removing rubbish and recycling in the city. 

The authority says it wants 30% of all household and municipal waste to be recycled by 2030 - it also wants to get rid of landfill sites by 2035. 

A 25-year contract for the Tyseley incinerator will end in 2019. 

The cabinet member in charge of waste Lisa Trickett has this morning ruled out fortnightly rubbish collections from the 420,000 households across the city.

Have your say in the council's consultation here, external.

Lichfield Mercury

Media reports that Stephen Sutton's mother Jane has cancer are "not true, external".

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

Ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne was approached by fans asking for a shirt and memorabilia to be signed as he arrived at Dudey Magistrates Court to face a charge of alleged racially-aggravated abuse during a stage show.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) previously said it initially declined to charge him following the show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on 30 November.

That decision was later overturned after a request to review evidence.

The case has been adjourned until 19 September.

Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent

Witnesses are being urged to come forward with information, after a bottle of flaming liquid was thrown at a shopkeeper and gutted a halal butchers shop in Walsall.

The victim says he is in "a state of shock" and "lucky to be alive".

I spoke to Bashir Hussain at the scene of the attack in Wednesbury Road, in Pleck, yesterday. His brother Jamil owns Kashmir Meat & Poultry, but was not there at the time.

West Midlands Police is keeping an open mind about the motive for the attack, but says it is investigating the possibility it was "racially-motivated".

Nominations open today in the Conservative leadership contest to replace David Cameron. 

The Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb has announced he's running on a joint ticket with the Bromsgrove MP and Business Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured). 

No-one was injured in the fire at British Car Auctions, in Castle Bromwich, overnight, West Midlands Ambulance Service says.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC WM

A record number of children in the West Midlands are being raised by their grandparents - that's more than 10,000. 

The region is proportionately the second-highest in the UK, according to the Economic and Social Research Council. 

Jonk Watts, from Birmingham, is the full-time carer for his grandson.

Those stuggling to deal with drug and alcohol addictions or mental health issues often find their own parents stepping in. 

Mr Watts took early retirement three years ago so he could be around for his grandson after his alcoholic daughter could not cope.

Make sure you take your brollies out with you as we have more wet weather on the way.

It starts off dry though. Highs of 15C (59F).

Find out more.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are our top stories on Wednesday so far:

- A car auction site in Castle Bromwich has been hit by fire - with 40 cars on its forecourt engulfed in flames overnight  

- A record number of children are being raised by their grandparents in the West Midlands

- Bilking - fuel thefts where drivers fill up and leave without paying - is at a UK-high in the West Midlands