Forty-two years ago today, 21 people were killed and 222 injured when bombs exploded in two Birmingham pubs.

At 17:45 today, a service and vigil at the city's St Philip's Cathedral will remember the 21 and their families, who learned in June this year that inquests into the deaths are to be reopened.

The events of 21 November 1974 are recalled in this video below.

A West Midlands Police recruitment drive opens today as the force looks to enlist 1,150 staff, including 800 officers by 2020.

More than 10,000 people have already registered their interest. 

The force says it hopes people from all different backgrounds will apply so it can better reflect the diversity of the region. 

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A woman whose car crashed on the M42 near Tamworth "has the safety barrier to thank, external" for not ending up 70ft (21.3m) below in a river. 

West Midlands Ambulance Service say the single vehicle collision happened this morning on the northbound side of the motorway between junctions 10 and 11. 

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

They say the car had hit the barrier which had kept it on the motorway and suffered "significant damage". 

Paramedics say the fire service cut her free and they took her to hospital with a head injury.

Heavy rain has caused a ceiling to collapse, leaving a woman needing treatment for a head injury.

The 37-year-old woman's husband called 999 following the incident in Woodlands Street, Smethwick, at about 10:15.

An ambulance service spokesman said: "We were told the ceiling had fallen and some of the rubble had landed on the woman."  

She was taken to Birmingham's City Hospital as a precaution but the injury was thought to be minor.

Image source, Google

Dominic Casciani
Home Affairs Correspondent

Rasheed Benyahia was a "loving, gentle" boy from a Birmingham suburb, who enjoyed football and free running. 

Then one day he disappeared to join the so-called Islamic State in Syria.

His mother Nicola has told the BBC what it's like to lose a son to extremists and how she's trying to stop their story being repeated by other families.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23s were due to take on Stoke City in a match tonight. 

The club says the game has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. 

BBC Travel

Police are advising motorists to avoid Oxford Street in Bilston due to a crash. 

Flooding has forced the closure of a school in Wolverhampton.

Springdale Infant School on Warstones Drive will be shut tomorrow. 

Here's the dramatic scene that confronted M6 motorists today - a recovery lorry on fire.

It was filmed by a passenger in a car that passed by the scene near Junction 8 in the Black Country earlier this afternoon. 

Highways England said West Midlands Fire Service was able to "control" the blaze.

The affected lane has re-opened.   

BBC Weather Watchers

How's the weather looking where you are? We can probably guess.

Harborne is no exception to the gloominess that's around. 

Send in your weather pictures via, email, Twitter, external or the BBC WM Facebook page, external.

Image source, piggywiggy

West Midlands Ambulance Service issued the following advice earlier, accompanied by an image of big, fat raindrops.

Image source, Twitter

Follow live text coverage from the KCOM Stadium as Hull face West Brom in the Premier League.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

Heavy rain is taking it's toll across the country.

In Smethwick, a woman was injured when rain brought down the ceiling.

We'll bring you more during the afternoon.

BBC WM

Proposals for a quarry works in a village outside Dudley have been withdrawn.

Hundreds of people in Swindon had campaigned against the plans, saying it would spoil the countryside and the roads wouldn't cope. 

Now the company says it's not going ahead with it. 

A mother of two is unhappy at being offered a high-rise council flat because she says one of her sons is afraid of heights.

She's been engaged in a legal battle, claiming Birmingham City Council had treated her unfairly over the offer of an eighth-floor home as her 11-year-old's "extreme fear" amounted to a disability. 

A county court judge had ruled in her favour but three Court of Appeal judges have now sided with the council. 

They heard she had not made clear the issue when completing paperwork.

Lord Justice Beatson suggested that council bosses might review standard forms and letters given to members of the public and make them simpler and clearer.  

Aston Villa have announced former Scotland international Colin Calderwood as their assistant manager., external

The 51-year-old former Swindon and Spurs defender, who played at Villa towards the end of his career, joins Stephen Clemence and Gary Walsh on Steve Bruce’s backroom staff.

Reaction and analysis as West Brom move up to ninth in the Premier League table after hammering Burnley 4-0.

BBC Travel

London Midlands has warned its customers that speed restrictions are in place, potentially causing delays on train services. 

Sophie Calvert
Newsreader, BBC WM

This afternoon's headlines for Birmingham and the Black Country include: 

- The Freedom of Birmingham is to be awarded to the 21 people who died in the pub bombings 42 years ago today

- Aston Villa name Colin Calderwood as assistant manager

- Proposals for a quarry works in a village outside Dudley have been withdrawn

Clare Lissaman
BBC News Online

The Birmingham Pub Bombings "remained a deep wound" on the city, a gathering at a memorial to the 21 dead was told today - 42 years after the attacks.

Rev Canon Nigel Hand from St Philip's Cathedral said this morning's wreath-laying outside the venue had become an annual "act of remembrance" for those affected.

A minute’s silence was held at the memorial this morning and prayers were said for the victims and their families.  

A service and vigil is planned at the cathedral in the heart of the city this evening.