Pete Durnell of UKIP, Sion Simon representing Labour and Conservative Andy Street are among the six candidates who have confirmed that they are standing in the West Midlands Metro Mayor election.

The polls open on Thursday 4 May.

The deadline to register to vote is 13 April. If you haven't registered yet - you can do it online., external

Green party's James Burn, Lib dem candidate Beverley Nielsen, and communist Graham Stevenson.

Spencer Stokes
Journalist, BBC News

Eight years in captivity and he's now adjusting to being a free man.

Janusz, not his real name, was trafficked from Poland to the West Midlands picking vegetables from fields, as well as working at a a recycling plant for 12 hours a day, six days a week. 

Figures show the number of potential victims of slavery and people trafficking in the UK has risen to 3,805 in 2016 - a 118% increase in three years.

Many that are rescued are taken to safe houses run by the Salvation Army.

Janusz was freed after a police investigation and now lives in one of these safe houses.

Anne Read from the organisation says: "They are often trapped, not by keys or padlocks but by threats which we are seeing continually."

See more on this story on BBC Midlands Today at 18:30.

A traditional tea party, with cakes and bunting, is being held at a mosque this weekend.

Birmingham Central Mosque is opening its doors to all on Saturday in response to claims the English Defence League and counter demonstrations will be being held elsewhere in the city.

Image source, PA

Chairman Muhammed Afzal said: "Our mosque is open to all and we thought the best response to the demonstrations would be to invite our neighbours round for a cup of tea.”

The party begins at 11am.

Bromsgrove Advertiser

Plans to build 335 new homes and a village hall in Cofton Hackett , external have been blocked by district planners, over fears the council is being "hoodwinked".  

It showcases the engineering story behind the car built at its Solihull plant.

John Platt
BBC WM

The top sport stories that we're covering this afternoon include:

• West Bromwich Albion could move to within two points of equalling their best ever tally in the Premier League if they win at Watford tonight
• Villa take on QPR at home - fresh from a 2-nil victory over Norwich
• Blues take on one of Championship's most in-form teams tonight  as they head to the south coast to face Brighton
• Wolves attempt to make it five wins on the trot when they take on Nottingham Forest at Molineux tonight

You can hear full match build-up and commentary on BBC WM from 18:00.

Six candidates are standing for mayor in the West Midlands Combined Authority election , external . The polls open on Thursday 4 May: 

• James Burn – Green Party
• Pete Durnell – UK Independence Party (UKIP)
• Beverley Anne Nielsen – Liberal Democrats
• Sion Llewelyn Simon – Labour and Co-operative Party
• Graham John Stevenson – Communist 
• Andy Street – Conservative Party

Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands Today

Birmingham had a record number of tourists last year according to the latest figures by Marketing Birmingham.

Image source, Getty Images

About 39m people visited the city in 2016 with tourism revenue hitting an all-time high of £6bn. 

The region has attracted increasing numbers of tourists from India, the US, and the Netherlands supporting more than 70,000 jobs, the firm says.

Image source, Getty Images

Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer

Police are appealing for information after a pensioner was attacked , external in his wheelchair by a gang at an Erdington retirement village.

Plans to build hundreds of new homes on the site of a former car plant in north Worcestershire have been deferred. 

At a planning committee meeting last night, district councillors in Bromsgrove called for further consultation on two applications to build 150 and 185 houses plus a community centre on part of the former MG Rover works near Cofton Hackett.

Image source, Google

Ian Paterson failed to explore if antibiotics would help the woman instead, a court hears.

A dog invaded the pitch and halted play in the EvoStik Premier League clash between Halesowen Town and Skelmersdale United.  

The beagle took to the Grove ground during the first half of Saturday's game and play had to be suspended for six minutes.

Dave Hawley, Halesowen Town's commercial manager, said: "It was crazy - everyone was trying to get it and it kept running off."

Eventually its owner, Halesowen defender Asa Charlton, successfully tackled it so the match could resume.

Halesowen ended up winning 1-0.

Birmingham Mail

Cadbury has come under fire from the Church of England., external

The Bournville-based chocolate giant has been accused - along with the National Trust - of "airbrushing faith" by omitting references to Easter from egg hunts.

Follow live text, images and social media as West Brom host Southampton in the Premier League.

A rise in car jackings across Birmingham has led police to launch a specialist investigative team.

In February a woman was attacked with a stun device in Birmingham, and her car taken from her.

West Midlands Police said there were six reports of alleged assaults involving "small stun devices" in Moseley, Kings Heath and Acocks Green.  

Image source, Getty Images

Jeetan Patel is back at Warwickshire County Cricket Club after international duty with New Zealand ready to resume what the club is calling his "Indian summer".

The 36-year-old spinner needs only 20 more wickets to reach 700 in first-class cricket - at 680, he stands sixth in the all-time wicket-taking list of New Zealanders.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC News Travel

Drivers are being warned to expect delays on the M6 northbound at junction 6-7 after a lorry broke down on the carriageway.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Acapella group The Sons Of Pitches sang their hearts out across BBC Local Radio last night on Georgey Spanswick's show.

They did a fabulous rendition of Ed Sheeran's Shape of You. If you missed it - check it on BBC Georgey Tonight Facebook Live video., external

The gents from Birmingham rose to fame after winning in Gareth Malone's Naked Choir  quitting their jobs and going full-time. Remember this?

You can listen to the programme again on the iPlayer Radio.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

The former Bishop of Birmingham John Sentamu has spoken out against Cadbury and the National Trust which have failed to use the word Easter in its egg hunt events.

It's got you talking on the BBC WM Facebook page, external . Here's some of the comments we've received;

Nigel Trueman: Easter is about the resurrection not about chocolate. I have no issue with Easter egg hunts etc but the reason for the celebration should not be lost either after all without Christian faith you wouldn't have Easter anyway

And from the Midlands Today, external page: Eliza Johnson: No its being inclusive in encouraging non-christians to join in and share the fun! Very few children relate the hunt to religion anyway....so let it go C of E!!! 

The PM has joined the argument, she told ITV News;

Image source, Cadbury

Join the conversation and have your say on Facebook., external

Bromsgrove Advertiser

Runners are being urged to lace up for a brand new fun run in Barnt Green, external .