We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Tuesday.

Enjoy the bank holiday.

BBC Midlands Today

Armed police and extra security will be at a number of events across the region this bank holiday weekend.

Seen as the unofficial start of the festival season, security measures are being stepped up at events across the region.

In Birmingham, West Midlands Police say a "large number" of officers, specials and staff will be on hand to keep visitors to the city's Pride event, safe.

Our reporter Ben Sidwell will have more on BBC1 from 18:30.

Lisa Wright
Journalist, BBC News Online

A man who raped a woman in a doorway as she made her way home from her 21st birthday celebrations has been jailed.

Florian Lupu dragged the woman, who was with two friends, across a road before the "sickening" attack, police said.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Lupu fled when her friends shouted at him. He was arrested by officers three months later.

The 29-year-old, of Headingley Road, Handsworth admitted raping the woman in Birmingham last July and was jailed for five years and four months.

At Birmingham Pride,, external which is due to go ahead on Saturday and Sunday, security arrangements have been reviewed and a remembrance silence will be held before the start of the festival's Carnival Parade in Victoria Square.

Organisers say: "Birmingham is a great city and, like Manchester, we shall be showing the world our true spirit of love, unity, and support for one another whilst honouring the victims of Monday night's attack."

Image source, BIRMINGHAM PRIDE

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray, of West Midlands Police, said they were expecting tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

"I appreciate that people planning to attend may feel a sense of nervousness - I would like to take this opportunity to give you some reassurance that a full policing operation is in place and is subject to ongoing reviews," he added.

"We will have a large number of police officers, specials and police staff on hand to keep the public safe - this isn't only for the Pride event, but also for anyone visiting the city to enjoy all it has to offer."

BBC Weather Watchers

BBC Weather Watcher Di's Walk has been out in sunny Sutton Coldfield.

Even these cows need to take a moment to cool down.

Image source, Di's walk

If you have a picture you'd like to share, sign up here.

Image source, Di's walk

The BBC is running an election panel, asking voters for their thoughts ahead of 8 June.

We wanted to know: What should we be doing to address the need for more low cost housing? Does any party have policies you think would help?

Image source, Getty Images

Tarz, Birmingham: "Use up all avaliable brownfield sites. If landowners do no build within three years of purchase, then the councils should buy them back at the price that was paid. The council then gets houses built on the sites. This stops land-hoarding. Trouble is, each individual is responsible for his/hers situation, and should not rely on others to house them. All parties talk the talk then do sod all when in power."

Beatrice, Shrewsbury: "Use greenbelt areas to build more houses, decrease demand."

Carol, Stoke: "I think derelict buildings could be used. They could be renovated and either rented or sold at a reduced rate to people who would benefit from low cost houses. There are some old derelict factory buildings near where I live, they have been unused for years now, but could be put to good used if turned into flats."

Five school children from Birmingham have had their artwork featured on railway timetables and at Birmingham Moor Street station.

They have been announced as winners of a competition run by Chiltern Railways to design the cover of the 2017 summer/autumn timetable.

The winners are:

• Daream Adu, 10
• Hafsa Anwar, 11
• Rizwan Sattar, 10
• Rebecca Whitehouse, 10
• Kshaf Javed,13

Image source, Chiltern Railways

A presentation took place at Birmingham Moor Street station on Wednesday.

Image source, Chiltern Railways

The winners' work can be seen in a temporary exhibition at the station for the next six months.

Birmingham Mail

A young man was hit in the head with a shovel during a mass brawl in an Acocks Green street, external - with one watching neighbour suffering a suspected heart attack.

Florian Lupu 'steered' the woman, on her way home, away from her friends and raped her in a doorway.

Highways England have suspended 150 miles of roadworks across the West Midlands in anticipation of today's Bank Holiday getaway.

The RAC are warning drivers to expect the busiest spring bank holiday weekend for traffic in four years.

It estimates that 16.5m leisure journeys will be taken between today and Monday because of soaring temperatures.

An undercover officer accused of planting a pipe bomb to frame the alleged "Three Musketeers" terror cell has been described in court by his friend and colleague as "absolutely professional, honest and committed".

The anonymous officer, known only as Vincent, was cross-examined for days over his role in the discovery of an explosive device in the car of convicted terrorist Naweed Ali.

Image source, JULIA QUENZLER

Vincent has repeatedly denied the allegation of Mr Ali's defence team that he planted the incriminating evidence in the car before MI5 arrived to bug it.

The officer, who has around 35 years of experience in law enforcement, told jurors he had never been involved in any impropriety or had any disciplinary findings against him.

Mr Ali and Mr Hussain, 25, both of Sparkhill in Birmingham, and Mohibur Rahman, 32, and Tahir Aziz, 38, of Stoke-on-Trent, deny preparing terrorist acts. The trial continues.

Extra security measures in place following Manchester bomb attack.

The BBC is running an election panel, asking voters for their thoughts ahead of 8 June.

We asked:

What should we do about defence? Do you support Trident? Which party’s policies do you think best look after our defence needs?"

Image source, PA

Shah, Birmingham: "I don't support Trident. None of the party's have any viable long term financially savvy solution."

Barry, Telford: "Trident must be supported and we should have four submarines and not just three please do not let corbyn near them."

Harold, Coventry: "I would oppose Trident if there is a viable alternative. It's difficult to say which party best looks after our security but I would go with Labour."

Daniel, Walsall: "I support a strong defence but am not an interventionist. I don't find much to like in Labour's mixed stance on the nuclear deterrent but do not like how the Conservatives have steadlily cut the military either. No party really fully reflect my views I don't think."

Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says the Prevent programme, aimed at stopping people becoming involved in extremism, must be reviewed.

The ex-Redditch MP was involved in strengthening the programme in 2008, but told BBC WM one of its main aims is still not happening.

Image source, PA

Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer

A decision to build a classroom which has remained on a Sutton Coldfield school's site without planning permission for nine months , external(and counting) has been slammed by a councillor from the town.

BBC News Travel

Train services between Redditch and Birmingham are facing delays and possible cancellations due to a points failure, which has left some lines blocked, operator London Midland says, external.

Richard Wilford
BBC WM

Olympic champion Laura Kenny has told BBC WM she expects to be back competing in the velodrome at Tokyo 2020.

The 25-year-old is taking a break from the sport as she's expecting her first child later this summer.

Speaking on a visit to St Matthew's Church of England Primary School in Nechells, Kenny says she has one very important hurdle to get over before preparations for Tokyo begin.

BBC Midlands Today

Thanks to Birmingham photographer Tim Cornbill for this sunset shot over the city last night.

Image source, Tim Cornbill

Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today

West Midlands Police say a "large number" of officers, specials and staff will be on hand to keep visitors safe at the city's Pride event on Saturday and Sunday.

Security measures have also been stepped up at festivals in Staffordshire, Shrewsbury and Hay-on-Wye.

Catch my report on BBC One at 13:30.

BBC Midlands Today

Anu, the seven-year-old girl who has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world, has won another fan.

Paralympian Kadeena Cox raced against the little girl at school in Shirley, Birmingham, after seeing a video posted by BBC Midlands Today on social media of Anu showing off her new pink sports blade to friends.

It was because of last year's successful Paralympic games, that a fund was set up to pay for specialist prosthetics to help children like Anu, but that funding is due to run out next March.