Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
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.
Summary
Stepfather admits murdering toddler in Wolverhampton
Mosque says Katie Hopkins' Twitter claims 'total rubbish'
Knife attack victims to be buried together in coffin
Natalie Putt: Police urge man to contact them over 'crucial information'
Updates from Wednesday 7 June 2017
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Harry Redknapp backed by Blues coachpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
BBC WM SportBirmingham City coach Kevin Hitchcock has backed Harry Redknapp to bring in high quality players this summer to push the club where they want to be.
Hitchcock has confirmed he's staying on at St Andrew's after originally being brought in under Gianfranco Zola and says Redknapp has the experience needed to get Blues up the league.
Image source, Getty Images'Nothing found' in Natalie Putt graveyard searchpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
West Midlands Police have concluded their search of a graveyard as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Natalie Putt.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceThe search of the graveyard near to where Ms Putt was last seen in Lower Gornal revealed nothing of interest and graves have now been resealed and restored to their original condition.
Det Insp Ian Illife said: "Unfortunately we found nothing which could give us any clues to Natalie’s whereabouts."
Ms Putt disappeared nearly 14 years ago. Her sisters released a statement saying they "have never given up hope of finding her safe and well".
Watch: Your weather for tonight and tomorrowpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayFor most places today has been dry and sunny - here's how tonight is looking and the start of Thursday.
Keep updated with the BBC Weather website.
Media caption, Shefali Oza
Wilkinson funeral: Father and daughter say a final farewellpublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special CorrespondentPeter Wilkinson, who was seriously injured in the stabbing at his home in Oldswinford, Stourbridge which killed his wife and son, has said a final farewell with his daughter Lydia to his murdered family members.
The funeral for Tracey and Pierce Wilkinson was taking place today at St Mary's Church in Oldswinford.
The mother and son are being buried in one coffin.
Daughter Lydia spoke of her love for her "gorgeous" mother and "happy" brother.
Police officer stabbed in leg at Asda storepublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
A police officer is recovering at home after being stabbed in the leg when responding to an incident at Asda, in Dudley, last night.
Image source, GooglePolice were called to the store, in High Street, at 20:20 following reports of a woman with a knife.
A 19-year-old woman was detained and arrested on suspicion of wounding.
Sgt James Harrison was stabbed in the leg and is now recovering at home after being checked over at hospital.
Travel: Delays to trains between Stafford and Wolverhamptonpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
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End of twitter postCricket: Bears look to T20 warm-up gamespublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
BBC SportWith no county championship games until 19 June, Warwickshire's one-day side will be getting some T20 practice this week, with two friendly games against Shropshire.
The matches are being played back-to-back on Friday at Bridgnorth cricket club, with the first one starting at 11:00.
Image source, Stuart DunnThe Bears are due to start their T20 Blast campaign away to Worcestershire on 7 July.
Katie Hopkins is 'doing terrorists works for them' says West Midlands PCCpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Chris Blakemore
BBC WMDavid Jamieson, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, has said tweets from Katie Hopkins, external accusing West Midlands Police of not allowing its officers into the Birmingham Central Mosque is like "doing the terrorists' work for them".
Asking for a "formal request" on the claims, Ms Hopkins shared the accusations with her 776,000 followers which has so far been retweeted more than 3,400 times.
Police said there was "simply no truth" in the rumour and the mosque's chairman said it was "total rubbish".
Image source, Birmingham Central MosqueQuote MessagePeople like Katie Hopkins, what she is saying by making out that other people have said certain things, she is trying to drive us apart and she is doing the terrorists' work for them."
David Jamieson, West Midlands Police and Crime Comissioner
BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Rainbows appear after rainfallpublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
It may have chucked it down with the rain yesterday in Staffordshire but, when things cleared up, it led to some lovely BBC Weather Watcher pictures of rainbows.
These two are from users Dandy in Wombourne and Happy Spaniels in Barton under Needwood.
Image source, Dandy
Image source, Happy SpanielsDaughter gives emotional tribute to killed mother and brotherpublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Lydia Wilkinson has paid an emotional tribute to her mother Tracey and brother Pierce, who died after being stabbed at their home in Oldswinford, Stourbridge.
The 18-year-old said: "I'm so proud of my happy family. My dad and I will miss them for the rest of our lives."
Of her mother, Tracey, she said: "My mum was gorgeous, not only in terms of looks and fashion but she had a beautiful soul. She was an inspiration."
She described her younger brother Pierce as "simply the best brother I could ask for. He'll always be my baby brother, and I'll never forget the fantastic times we had together."
Missing teen's father 'wants closure'published at 15:27 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Police are digging up graves after a tip-off about Natalie Putt's disappearance.
Read MoreStabbed mother and son were 'inseparable'published at 14:52 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Lydia Wilkinson pays tribute at the funeral of her mother and brother who were stabbed to death.
Read MoreKnife attack mum and son buried togetherpublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Tracey and Pierce Wilkinson died after being stabbed at their home.
Read MoreSingh targeting more Warwickshire gamespublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Warwickshire left-arm spinner Sunny Singh targets more first-team cricket after his maiden five-wicket haul.
Read MoreBishop thanks police for terror responsepublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
The Bishop of Birmingham hand-delivered a giant card to West Midlands Police in recognition of their work following recent terror attacks.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceRt Revd David Urquhart said: “It is a difficult and dangerous time for the police. Their work can go unnoticed and we may take it for granted, but these people make a vital contribution to our security and wellbeing."
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray said: “This is a really lovely gesture from Bishop David.
“The support we’ve had from members of the public has been a real boost to everyone at West Midlands Police.”
Toddler faced 'regime of brutality'published at 14:19 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
The toddler was found by police and paramedics at an address in Wolverhampton in November.
Read MoreBallet star to perform for patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospitalpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
BBC Midlands TodayPatients and staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham will be treated to a live dance performance.
Principal dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet Iain Mackay, seen above performing in The King Dances in 2015, is leading a new pop-up dance company.
They'll stage three original performances outside the main entrance of the hospital throughout today.
Mr Mackay says the idea is to take ballet to places you wouldn't expect to see it.
Birmingham Central Mosque dismisses Hopkins tweets as 'total rubbish'published at 13:54 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Birmingham Central Mosque's Chairman, Mohammad Afzal, has said the mosque is "really shocked" at the tweets posted by broadcaster Katie Hopkins, external earlier claiming it is a "no-go area" for police.
He said: "We have a very close relationship with West Midlands Police," adding they were expecting officers at the mosque on Friday and the claims in the letter tweeted by Hopkins were "total rubbish".
Image source, Birmingham Central MosqueImage caption, The mosque said "pictures speak louder than words"
West Midlands Police has also released a statement saying there is "no truth" in the rumours it discourages officers from going there.
Toddler 'spent short life terrified'published at 13:33 British Summer Time 7 June 2017
Chevase McGregor and Sindyann Laverne Regis are due to be sentenced on 23 June.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceMcGregor is convicted of murdering Jeremiah Regis-Ngawah, who died from peritonitis after suffering a traumatic blow to the stomach inflicted by his stepfather.
Regis, Jeremiah's mother, pleaded guilty to allowing the death of her son.
Det Insp Warren Hines said: “Parents are duty bound to care for children and to nurture them into adulthood.
"The home should be a sanctuary of safety, reassurance and happiness, not a place where they are brutalised and beaten.
"Jeremiah must have spent his short life absolutely terrified.”
