Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
We're back at 08:00 tomorrow with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather, but keep an eye out here for updates through the evening and into the morning.
Summary
Nursery nurse Lisa Potts forgives school knife attacker
Travel firm closes 'due to terrorism'
Ex-MEP fake claims case 'makes no sense'
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Turkish travel agent closes downpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Nick Owen
Presenter, BBC Midlands TodayThe owner of a Turkish travel company based in Solihull has thanked his customers for their loyalty, but says the recent terrorist attacks in the country have left him with no choice than to close the company down.
Find out more on Midlands Today on BBC1 at 18:30.
Watch: Latest weather for the West Midlandspublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Sara Blizzard
BBC WeatherA fine end to the day, with some late sunshine and light winds.
Dry and clear overnight with lows of 11C (52F).
Body found in Tamworth, police have revealedpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Police said a body has been discovered in Tamworth after they closed off Fazeley Road, external to investigate an incident following a call from a member of the public.
Image source, Tamworth HeraldTeachers' strike 'politically motivated' says ministerpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Today's strike by members of the National Union of Teachers is being condemned as unjustified and "politically motivated" by Schools Minister Nick Gibb.
The NUT, which earlier held a rally in Birmingham, says schools are facing their worst funding crisis since the 1970s, resulting in staff cuts and bigger class sizes.
But Mr Gibb insists school spending is being protected and he says it's the strike action that's damaging education.
Latest: Ex- MEP fake claims case 'makes no sense'; and travel firm closes 'due to terrorism'published at 17:21 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Here's a recap of some of our headlining stories:
- Ex-MEP Nikki Sinclaire tell court she "would not make false claims after fraud briefing"
- Solihull travel firm closes over 'political instability' in Turkey
- Schools across Birmingham and the Black Country affected by teacher strike
Watch: Why We Voted To Leavepublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
BBC Panorama
Investigative TV showDid you watch BBC One last night? Adrian Chiles presented a special Panorama in the West Midlands.
He met Leave voters from both sides of the political divide to find out why Britain voted for Brexit.
A5127 closed by accidentpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
BBC TravelThe A5127 Birmingham Road in Lichfield is closed in both directions between the Falkland Road junction and Lichfield, because of an accident, BBC Travel reports.
Ex-MEP fake claims case 'makes no sense'published at 16:54 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
An ex-MEP urges jurors to consider why she would have falsely claimed expenses shortly after being warned of similar allegations about a colleague.
Read MoreDicko delays Wolves return after injurypublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Wolves striker Nouha Dicko will miss some pre-season friendlies following his return from a cruciate ligament injury.
Read MoreMore jobs set for JLR's Ryton sitepublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands TodayA £22m investment from Jaguar Land Rover will see bespoke cars made at the new Special Vehicle Operations plant at Coventry's Ryton site.
The company has already created 200 jobs with another 250 being recruited this year.
Media caption, Jaguar Land Rover building bespoke cars at Ryton
Tamworth's sporting stars revealed on underpasspublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
BBC Radio StokeTamworth's sporting stars have been depicted on a town underpass.
Image source, Tamworth Borough CouncilThe artwork shows snowboarder Adam Gendle, footballer Marc Albrighton, athlete Meghan Beesley and boxer Ryan Hatton and was spray-painted by local artists on the underpass under River Drive bridge, between the SnowDome and the bowling alley.
Last year, the Ladybridge underpass was painted with a mural based on borough history, which included Second World War hero Colin Grazier, Sir Robert Peel, Tamworth Castle, swans, a Reliant Robin and a Tamworth pig.
Birmingham hosts rally for striking teacherspublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Teachers from across the West Midlands gathered in the centre of Birmingham today for a rally as part of their one day strike.
The National Union of Teachers called the action in protest over school funding, pay and workloads which the government describes as "unnecessary."
Police committed to rooting out rogue officerspublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
There's "no hiding place" for rogue officers who abuse their positions, external, West Midlands Police say.
It's after the publication of a Disapproved Register detailing the number of UK police officers who have been sacked or resigned or retired while under investigation for serious breaches of the police code of conduct.
The total of 833 officers includes 25 dismissed by the West Midlands force for gross misconduct, along with another three who resigned before gross misconduct hearings were finalised but who were believed to have had a case to answer.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceWarwickshire's Varun Chopra to leave for a 'fresh challenge'published at 14:58 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Clive Eakin
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire SportWarwickshire Cricket Club has announced former captain Varun Chopra will be leaving at the end of the season.
The opening batsman has been at the club for seven seasons but a statement said the player and club agreed it's time for him to have a fresh challenge.
Image source, Getty ImagesWatch: 'Salon saviours' to cut domestic abusepublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Hairdressers are being recruited to help uncover domestic abuse.
The project called Salon Saviours is based on the idea many women will talk about their home lives while having their hair done.
Nearly 20,000 cases of domestic abuse were reported in the region in the past year - an increase of 12%.
West Midlands Police is launching the scheme.
Man hurt in Lichfield attackpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA man's suffered injuries to his head and hands in an attack, external in Lichfield, police have revealed.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police say the assault happened on Sunday on Stafford Road and the 41-year-old needed hospital treatment.
The force says it's now trying to find suspects who were in two vehicles.
Ex-MEP says it 'defies sense' to claim fake expenses after warning over colleaguepublished at 13:37 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
An ex-Ukip MEP has told jurors it defied sense to make fake expenses claims in the same month she was warned about a colleague later jailed over the alleged practice.
Nikki Sinclaire, who represented the West Midlands until 2014, denies submitting "significant" expenses claims that she knew to be false.
She said her expenses were submitted by her staff, and alleged that at least one claim was "deliberately corrupted" by a former aide who was acting as a spy for the Ukip hierarchy.
Image source, PAShe told Birmingham Crown Court today that it made no sense for her to start filing false claims from October 2009, as the prosecution suggests, as this was the same month Ukip briefed all its elected members about wrong-doing by then-MEP Tom Wise.
Wise admitted fiddling £36,000 of his Brussels travel expenses at his trial the following month.
Watch: Latest weather for the West Midlandspublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterAny lingering cloud should break up this afternoon, giving some good spells of sunshine lasting late into the evening. Top temperatures of 20C (68F).
On Midlands Today: Car production returns to Ryton in Coventrypublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 5 July 2016
Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands TodayCar production is to return to the former Peugeot factory at Ryton in Coventry.
It's part of a £22m investment plan from Jaguar land Rover which has already created 200 jobs with another 250 being recruited this year.
The new business will make speciality vehicles to order.
You can see my report on Midlands Today on BBC One at 13:30.
Image source, Jaguar Land Rover
