BBC Midlands Today

People are being urged to report any incidents of hate crime in the wake of the terror attacks in London and Manchester.

Armed officers are continuing to patrol key locations as the terror threat remains at severe.

Senior officers at West Midlands Police say it's important events elsewhere don't divide communities and lead to intimidation and fear.

A jury has retired to consider its verdicts in the trial of two former BBC radio presenters charged with sex offences involving under-age boys.

Image source, PA

Husband and wife Tony and Julie Wadsworth, from Broughton Astley in Leicestershire deny five charges of outraging public decency.

Julie Wadsworth, 60, also denies 11 charges of indecent assault and her 69-year-old husband denies nine allegations of indecent assault.

The trial at Warwickshire Justice Centre has heard how the Wadsworths enjoyed sexual activity outdoors close to Atherstone Golf Club.

Julie Wadsworth is alleged to have engaged in sex acts with teenage boys whilst her husband looked on.

Her defence barrister has accused prosecutors of launching a cheap attempt to paint her as "predatory" public figure.

Graves are being dug up by police investigating the disappearance of 17-year-old Natalie Putt.

Natalie Putt's sisters say the news and events regarding her disappearance is "absolutely devastating".

A statement put out via West Midlands Police says the family is "obviously very upset" about the developments and asks for them to be left in peace until they have definite news.

"In the near fourteen years that Natalie has been missing, we have never given up hope of finding her safe and well. Until we know anything to the contrary this remains the case," her family says.

"We her sisters, Becky and Lowri are together, surrounded by pictures of Natalie and have lit candles as a sign of hope."

Image source, Family handout/West Mids Police

Natalie has not been seen since she left her Lower Gornal home for the shops in September 2003.

She left behind her 11-week-old son.

Police began to dig up graves near her home earlier.

Clare Lissaman
BBC News Online

Chris Illsley was among a small gathering joiningthe minute's silence outside Birmingham City Council offices in Victoria Square.

"The reason I'm here is because I'm human," he said.

"I personally have a large family and the thought of what has happened to these families - it would tear you apart wouldn't it."

Mr Illsley is from Yorkshire and is currently working in Birmingham.

A 37-year-old man is knocked unconscious at work and taken to hospital where he dies a week later.

BBC Midlands Today

Police say they are now treating the disappearance of a teenager fourteen years ago in the Black Country as murder.

Natalie Putt hasn't been seen since she left for the shops near her home in Lower Gornal in September 2003.

Today officers have begun exhuming several graves in a Gornal cemetery.

We'll have more on BBC1 from 13:30.

Image source, Police handout/PA

Wolves end their interest in signing Derby forward Andreas Weimann on a permanent deal after Paul Lambert's departure.

BBC WM

Two women have been fined £3,000 after they tried to organise a car cruising event in Dudley.

The event, which was spotted by police on Facebook, was designed for drivers to race or show off their cars on public roads.

It breached a ban on car cruising which was brought in across the Black Country in 2015.

A 19-year-old and 25-year-old admitted breaching the injunction and were each fined £1,500.

BBC Weather Watchers

Even in the miserable June weather, the BBC Weather Watchers never fail to send us some cracking pictures.

Dammo sent in this one from Selly Park.

Image source, Dammo

This rainy snap was taken in Oldbury, by suzy.

If you have a picture you'd like to share, you can sign up to the BBC Weather Watcher site here.

Image source, suzy

A one minute's silence has been observed across Birmingham and the Black Country to remember the victims of the London terror attack at the weekend.

A taxi controller has died after he was assaulted in Nechells, Birmingham.

The 37-year-old man was knocked unconscious at Embassy Taxis on Oliver Street on 26 May.

He was treated in hospital but died two days ago.

The disappearance of a young mother 14 years ago is now being treated as a murder inquiry.

It was previously treated as a missing person case, but, due to the amount of time passed and lack of "proof of life" it is now being treated as murder.

Image source, West Midlands Police

There has been media speculation the exhumations were sparked by Natalie Putt's picture being featured on Britain's Got Talent at the weekend.

However, police said the information for this dig was older and they had been waiting for home office permissions before beginning.

A spokesman added the photo being on Britains Got Talent is "fortuitous" and information is coming in as a result.

Daz Hale
BBC WM

I've been down to the site in Gornal, Dudley where forensic officers are carrying out exhumations in connection with the search for missing mum Natalie Putt.

Paula knew Natalie from school and she told me she saw Natalie's picture shown on the final of Britain's Got Talent at the weekend.

The Missing Person's choir were performing in the final of the show on Saturday night and images of missing people, including Natalie, were shown behind the performers.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer

A number of burglaries across one Sutton Coldfield district has led to police issuing a warning to householders., external

Mikey Burrows
BBC WM Sport

Wolves legend Andy Thompson says the club should be aiming for the premier league.

A week on from the dismissal of Paul Lambert, Thompson says he's optimistic new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will be the man to get them there.

Thompson spoke to BBC WM after it was announced he'll be inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.

Image source, Reuters

The National Union of Teachers says schools in Birmingham will face the worst funding cuts in England, if the Conservatives win the election.

Image source, PA

Figures compiled by campaigners suggest schools in the city would lose around £94m between now and 2022.

The Conservatives say they would increase spending on schools.

It will take several days to carry out exhumations in the search for missing mum Natalie Putt, police say.

Ms Putt was 17 when she left her home in Thornleigh in Lower Gornal to go to a shop in September 2003. She has not been seen since.

Ian Iliffe of West Midlands Police said: "We have had no positive sightings of Natalie in all these years and there has never been any financial activity connected to her bank accounts or any access to health services across the country, which points to the fact that she is no longer alive."

Image source, West Midlands Police

He added: "Following a review of the information we have received, we have been granted permission to exhume a number of graves in Ruiton Cemetery off Duke Street in Upper Gornal.

"We also believe that at least two people know what has led us to this site and they may have further information which could assist our search. We would very much like to hear from them."

Ms Putt had an 11-week-old son.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of a young Dudley mum 14 years ago have begun exhuming several graves in a Gornal cemetery.

Natalie Putt was 17 when she left her home in Thornleigh in Lower Gornal to go to a shop in September 2003.

Image source, Police handout

She left behind her 11-week-old son and has not been seen since.

West Midlands Police say officers are acting on new information which they believe could help solve the mystery.

Lucy Martin
BBC Weather

It will be wet and windy at first but the heavy outbreaks of rain will clear.

This afternoon should be drier with some brighter intervals but blustery showers will continue with the risk of hail and thunder with highs of 15C (59F).