Two seven-year-old boys went missing from school when they escaped through a hole in a fence caused by a fox.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A farm fire in Staffordshire involving hundreds of tonnes of wood waste is still burning, external, 10 days after the fire service were first called to the blaze. 

This morning Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they, the Environment Agency and Cannock Chase Council were constantly monitoring it. 

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

The service says, in terms of putting the fire out, they have limited methods and "each has its own potential hazards" including affecting the local water supply. 

The MP for Cannock Chase, Amanda Milling, said this week, external it was "unacceptable" the fire had been burning for over a week and says she's meeting with the agencies tomorrow. 

Residents have also complained to the BBC that it's unpleasant to live close to - Public Health England says nearby residents should stay inside with doors and windows shut, external.

BBC Midlands Today

West Midlands Police hopes guidance in the form of graffiti on cell walls will help cut reoffending rates. 

The force is working with psychologists on various interventions, dubbed ‘nudges’, including a stenciled letter from an ex-offender that tells those kept in cells “it’s never too late” to change.

Reoffending rates among detainees who've seen the "guidance" will be compared to those held in “standard” cells.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Chief Superintendent Alex Murray said: "Small changes alone may not make a huge difference but the cumulative effect of many nudges can mean less victims of crime and that is what West Midlands Police is all about.”   

There's a warning we could be in for more flash flooding today across parts of the West Midlands.

The Met Officer has put out a yellow weather warning for rain as it says there could be thundery showers from 14:00 this afternoon.

John Egan's late strike earns Brentford a draw after Jonathan Kodjia scored with a stunning shot for his first Aston Villa goal.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

Names in frames in race to be Midlands 'metro mayor'.

The family of killed businessman Akhtar Javeed plea for information about the alleged killer.

A boy in a wheelchair dies after falling down stairs at a Birmingham school, police say.

Wolves boss Walter Zenga accuses his players of giving up during the shock midweek 4-0 home defeat by Barnsley.

Thousands of historic buildings and monuments are at risk of being lost through damage or neglect. Jules Hudson tours sites in the West Midlands to assess the level of damage, to ask what's key to helping preserve or restore them and ask if some merit the cost and effort involved. Many walking through Bubbenhall village in Warwickshire may not know about the scheduled ancient monument under the earth because even signs of it are only visible for two weeks in the year but experts say it's key to understanding our ancestors. He travels to Fazeley near Tamworth which has clusters of Grade 2 listed buildings but some have been destroyed by fire and others virtually abandoned by owners who can't afford the development work. He helps assess one of the buildings with experts from English Heritage who want to produce a database on the state of Grade 2 listed buildings. Jules also explores nearby Middleton Hall which was so neglected it was used as a motorbike track. Volunteers set up a trust and have spent 35 years bringing it back into use. However, they say their work is still not done.

Produced by Anne-Marie Bullock.

One of the first black women to be ordained in the Church of England has called for a national day of remembrance for slavery.

The daughter of a Birmingham businessman who was shot dead during a robbery has said she can't bear the thought of his killer getting away with it.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The number of people without jobs and looking for work increased in the West Midlands by 17,000 to 176,000 between May and July, external, official figures show.

It's the biggest rise, compared with the previous quarter, for any region in the UK. 

Image source, EPA

Across the country, unemployment fell by 39,000 to 1.63 million for the same period. 

The ONS said the figures, which only cover one month since the result of the EU referendum, show "continuing improvement" in the jobs market. 

BBC Sport

Wolves head coach Walter Zenga accused his players of giving up after their 0-4 home thrashing by Barnsley last night.

All four goals came in the final 17 minutes.

Image source, PA

Radio 4's The Archers has a new editor

The HS2 rail link needs a "realistic timetable", say MPs who believe the current schedule is "overly ambitious".

Britain equal their tally of gold medals from London 2012 by winning three in 20 minutes on day six of the Rio Paralympics.

Julie Walters has said she feels like a "freak" in modern-day Hollywood because she is one of the few middle-aged actresses not to have had plastic surgery.

Reading stretch their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions after a goalless draw with high-flying Birmingham City.