A Wednesfield shopkeeper has died after a crash involving a car and a van in Wolverhampton, West Midlands Police says., external

The victim is Balvinder Singh, 59, the force says, appealing for witnesses to Thursday's collision on Cannock Road which happened at about 08:20.

Mr Singh, the van's driver, was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries.

Image source, West Midlands Police

His family said he was "the most loyal and hard-working family man, with three children and five grandchildren who were his everything. He was loved throughout the community".

The driver of the car involved in the collision was treated for minor injuries and is helping officers with their inquiries. 

A new study has been launched to see whether giving blood rather than clear fluid to air ambulance patients saves more lives.

The problems with trains being diverted away from Birmingham International following a train fire in Warwickshire are being compounded by a trespass incident.

Ten people are evacuated as a test train going through Kenilworth catches fire

A test train has burst into flames at an old railway station, causing diversions for services bound for Birmingham International.

Ten people were evacuated when smoke was seen billowing out of the three-carriage train at the old railway station in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, earlier.

Image source, Fraser Pithie

National Rail's website says trains will not run between Coventry and Leamington Spa for the rest of the day.

Services between Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth will divert via Solihull and not call at Birmingham International and Coventry.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Fifteen geese and three ducks have been taken in a raid by thieves on a smallholding in Staffordshire, external, that saw them escape with the birds in a wheelbarrow.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say they were taken from the site opposite Squirrels Hollow on Chorley Road, Burntwood on the night of 20 December. 

Officers say the thieves forced entry to the pen and they want to know if anyone was offered any geese or ducks for sale just before Christmas.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

Have you ever wondered whose image is captured by the tiny statue on top of the Welcome to Ladywood sign in Birmingham?

Online reader John Davies got in touch to ask: "What is the significance of the jester or medieval dancer statue on Ladywood Middleway near Five Ways? Is there a story behind it?"

The statue Mr Davies described is a 3m (9.8ft) high figure standing 4.5m (14.7ft) high on a concrete pedestal on the central reservation of the Ladywood Middleway opposite the junction to St Vincent Street West. Find out more.

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is prepared to let striker Rudy Gestede go to Middlesbrough, to help fund new players.

You have been using Your Questions to ask about the West Midlands. Here are some of our answers.

BBC WM Sport

Birmingham City's new boss Gianfranco Zola has told us he has identified the areas he would like to strengthen at Blues in January, but won't be signing any "average players".

Meanwhile he expects David Cotterill to be available for the trip to Barnsley after a chest infection.  

A teenage pedestrian is run over and killed in Wolverhampton.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

We've been answering your questions sent to us via our website.

Among the latest queries is "was Solihull ever part of Birmingham? If so, when"?

We can tell you it was not.

Image source, Google

Solihull's borough council told us, external: "It was previously Solihull Rural District Council from 1894-1932, then Solihull Urban District Council (part of Warwickshire) 1932-1954, then it became a borough, becoming a metropolitan borough in 1974."

Ask us more questions here.

West Brom's Republic of Ireland midfielder James McClean signs a new contract committing him to the club until 2019.

BBC WM Sport

Republic of Ireland winger James McClean has become the latest Baggies man to extend his stay at the Hawthorns.

The club says McClean’s new-and-improved contract sees him now committed to the club until 2019, with the option of a further year.

Head Coach Tony Pulis said: "For what we paid, he's been a terrific signing for us. He's a good lad. He's not been in the team lately but his attitude in training and around the place...he's just a great kid.

"He's scatty but that's James, he's a good lad with it."

Image source, Getty Images

Two men have appeared before Wolverhampton Crown Court charged with murdering a man who was shot dead in a car.

Mohammed Humza, 19, and Vikesh Chauhan, 24, both of no fixed address, appeared via video link.

In addition to murder, they both face a charge of attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of a prohibited object.

They are next due to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on January 26. 

The victim was shot in West Bromwich on Tuesday afternoon.

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

Two men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a man shot dead in a car. We will bring you the latest on the case.

And a trial to test whether giving blood to patients on board air ambulances will save more lives has begun in the West Midlands.

More on these stories and others on the Midlands Today on BBC One at 13:30.

The BBC has taken a tour of some hidden architectural gems around England.

Many people who live and work in Birmingham will have walked past the Singers Hill Synagogue, external in the city centre, but few will be aware just how special it is inside.  

Image source, Charles Davis

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are the headlines on Friday so far:

- Two men accused of murdering a man shot in the head in West Bromwich have appeared in court

- A second £5 note engraved with a tiny portrait of Jane Austen and said to be worth up to £50,000 has been found

- Gianfranco Zola has ruled out signing any "average players" for Blues in January while BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson says Albion should bring in talent

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

The second of four special £5 notes engraved with a tiny portrait of Jane Austen - rendered by a micro-engraver from Birmingham - has turned up in a Christmas card. 

Graham Short from Bournville came up with the idea of engraving a 5mm portrait of the Pride and Prejudice author - on the transparent part of the new plastic fivers - to mark the 200th anniversary of her death next year.

It's thought they could be worth up to £50,000 each. One was found at a café in Wales earlier this month and the second was found inside a Christmas card in Scotland on Thursday.  

Image source, Ferguson Media

A 13-year-old boy has died after being hit by a car in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, according to police, external.

The collision happened at about 14:00 yesterday in Lakefield Road at its junction with March End Road and Wednesfield Road, closing the street for several hours.

The teenager, from Bushbury, Wolverhampton, was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries. Officers have not revealed his name.

West Midlands Police said the driver of the car - who is helping with its inquiries - was taken to hospital and treated for shock.