Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

After a dry start, with some bright spells, a cloudy day with showers possible this afternoon and highs of 9C (48F).

You can find a detailed weather report for your area here.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Hello Friday.

It's almost the weekend, but first things first...

I'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country between now and 18:00.

If you want to share your views on the news or send us your pictures from around our region,  email us  ,  tweet us, external  or visit our  BBC WM Facebook page, external  .

An appeal over the picture of the 24 Irish workers prompted calls from across the world.

John Ingram said he underwent the operation after being told he was "on the road to developing breast cancer".

BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson takes on boxer and Manchester United fan Anthony Crolla in this week's Premier League predictions.

That's it from us on Thursday. Please join us again from 08:00 on Friday for more news, sport, travel and weather updates.

Keep an eye out here for breaking news before then.

Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

A multi-million pound plan to prevent overcrowding on trains in the West Midlands has gained the government's backing. 

Sandwell Council says plans for a new £200,000 travellers site in Smethwick, should help reduce the number of illegal camps being set up across the West Midlands.

And West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jake Livermore is a surprise inclusion in the latest England squad.

More on these stories and others on Midlands Today on BBC One from 18:30.

Pupils from Moreton Community School in Wolverhampton starred in their own radio play at the BBC in Birmingham.

They were shown how sound effects were created before stepping up to the mic to play the characters.  

Three students from John Henry Newman Catholic College have been going behind the scenes at the BBC in Birmingham to find out what it's like to be a reporter. 

George, Isagani III and Jack said it was interesting to do something different and thought prospective journalists needed to be confident and good at English.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

We're going to have some rain moving in from the north overnight and there could be some showers tomorrow too.

Check out the latest forecast for your area .

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

I've spent the morning with pupils and teachers from Aston Manor Academy at Birmingham City University's city centre campus.

The children picked some weighty topics to investigate.

A group comprised of Mariam and Alisha suggested interviewing people across a range of ages about so-called "fake news".

Meanwhile pupils Tayef, Munir and Ceeydrus interviewed their peers on their views on Brexit, with Simra considering why it was important for people to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

The children later tested their presenting skills at the university's studios, reading a news bulletin in a live TV scenario.

Their efforts are due to be shared on the school's website., external

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

A man is living in near-constant pain akin to "having a cigarette held" to the nipple following an "unnecessary" double mastectomy, a court has been told.

The court heard John Ingram, a health worker, was told by surgeon Ian Paterson he was "on the road to developing breast cancer".

Mr Paterson is accused of wounding him and nine other women, which he denies.

Image source, Trinity Mirror

The court heard that Mr Paterson recommended one of Mr Ingram's breast be removed in May 2006 at the private Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, despite Mr Ingram's "phobia" of going under the knife.

Mr Paterson said a tissue sample showed "pre-cancer," according to Mr Ingram who said he was told the initial surgery "went well", but on returning for results, was met with "grim faces" and a double mastectomy was recommended.

Jurors heard Mr Ingram learnt after the surgery other treatment options had been available.

Paterson, 59, of Greater Manchester, was formerly employed by Heart of England NHS Trust and practised at Spire Healthcare. He denies 20 counts of wounding with intent. The trial continues. 

A woman, 22, has appeared in court charged with making threatening phone calls to nurseries and schools across the West Midlands.

Rebecca Cooper, of Parkhill Street, Dudley, is accused of making the calls yesterday.

She appeared before magistrates in Dudley charged with eight counts of malicious communications and a further charge of racially-aggravated behaviour towards a police officer.

The allegations in part are in connection with an incident at ABC Nursery in Rochester Road, Earlsdon, Coventry, yesterday during which staff oversaw an evacuation of the premises which remained in place for four hours.

BBC News School Reporters ask Rony about how his life has changed since leaving Syria.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Cannabis plants with an estimated street valuie of £10,000 have been seized , external by police officers. 

Staffordshire Police say they were searching a house on Market Street, Cannock yesterday afternoon but found nothing at that address.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

However, the force says, while they were there, officers smelt cannabis from a nearby house.

They searched that place and found 15 cannabis plants, adding that a man found there is "helping police with ongoing inquiries".

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Waseem Raja Azram admitted violent disorder and was jailed for two years.

A married couple who have presented for BBC radio deny outraging public decency over allegations they had sex against a tree in front of a group of boys.

Tony and Julie Wadsworth, aged 69 and 59 respectively, have today also pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of indecent assault against seven boys. 

The offences of which they are accused are alleged to have been committed during a seven-year period in the 1990s.

Image source, PA

Julie Wadsworth, who uses the name Mayer on air, pleaded not guilty to five counts of outraging public decency and not guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault. Mr Wadsworth also denies outraging public decency and has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges of indecent assault in which he allegedly "kept watch" for his wife during her alleged assaults.

At Warwick Crown Court earlier, a trial for the pair, of Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, who have been granted bail, was set for May. They have presented for BBC WM in Birmingham, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, and BBC Radio Leicester.

The BBC in Birmingham has been hosting pupils from eight schools for School Report News Day .

Here's a flavour of what they've been up to.

A road has been closed in Wolverhampton after reports an air rifle damaged a window, police said.

West Midlands Police said it was looking into reports that a weapon was fired at a house in Denmore Gardens at about 04:00 today.

No-one was injured.

The scene was cordoned off this morning while forensics experts examined the scene. 

Image source, Google

Judge says "sensitive" evidence from two prosecution witnesses will be for jurors' "ears only".