BBC Midlands Today

One of the region's largest social housing providers is reassuring its tenants that fire safety checks are carried out annually in its tower blocks.

The WM Housing Group, external owns 38 high rises in Coventry and Birmingham.

It says it's double-checked records and none of its buildings have cladding like the type used in Grenfell Tower in West London, where at least seventeen people were killed in a fire.

Chris Blakemore
BBC WM

A performance of Love Letters at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre in November has been cancelled.

It's because the Hollywood lead, Ryan O'Neal, needs to have back surgery and time to recover from the procedure. Ali McGraw - who appeared with O'Neal on screen in the 1970 movie Love Story - was due to also star.

Image source, Google

The theatre says it'll contact people who've bought tickets.

Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today

A crowd of heavy metal and rock fans turned out last night for BBC Radio Stoke's unveiling of a blue plaque for the Motörhead founder and frontman Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister.

He was born in Burslem in 1945 and went on to become a legendary figure within the music industry.

For BBC Music Day, a blue plaque was unveiled at Port Vale as the club has adopted Motorhead's song Ace of Spades as its unofficial anthem.

The unveiling honours went to Lemmy's friend, Birmingham-born Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.

BBC Midlands Today

More than 200 Birmingham teenagers will today mark the start of a UK-wide weekend of celebrations of the life of the murdered MP Jo Cox.

The 14 and 15 year olds from Ninestiles School and Cockshut Hill School will form a large heart-shaped chain and spell out her name.

The Labour MP was murdered by a far right extremist days before the EU referendum last year.

DIY SOS is heading to West Bromwich next month and it needs the help of tradespeople and suppliers who can donate their time or supplies and materials.

If you can help, all the details are below.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Some bright and some cloudy times today, with the potential for sunny spells at times and top temperatures of 22C (72F).

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

Good morning from the BBC WM newsroom. It's got the makings of another gorgeous day here in Birmingham City Centre.

We'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'd like to get in touch, you can reach us on Facebook , externalor tweet @BBCWM, external.

Sean Caffrey, 25, admits stealing hundreds of user accounts from the US Department of Defense.

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

Keep an eye out here for more updates and breaking news before then.

BBC News England

Councils are blocking plans for hundreds of new "ugly and unwanted" phone boxes while they seek a change in the law.

In the last 12 months, 104 applications have been made in Birmingham for new phone boxes.

Image source, Google

Birmingham City Council deputy leader Ian Ward said "open access wi-fi and widespread mobile phone use" made the kiosks "redundant".

But he said he anticipated more coming, "because city centres offer a highly lucrative market for advertising and there's no restriction on how many can be installed".

Five men and a woman have been arrested in the West Midlands and the South of England as part of an investigation into suspected alcohol fraud and money laundering amounting to £440m.

Over 100 officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), with officers from the National Customs Judicial Service (SNDJ) and local police, searched seven private and six business addresses in Birmingham, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, London and Surrey areas this morning.

Computers, business records and cash were seized during the operation with all six arrested remaining in custody.

Those arrested were a 44-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman from Wolverhampton, a 33-year-old man from Birmingham, a 38-year-old man from Stourbridge.

Satnam Rana
BBC Midlands Today

A mini prison, which held notorious criminals including the Peaky Blinders - is to throw open its doors to the public.

Steelhouse Lane Custody Suite, opened in 1892 and was operational until the beginning of this year.

The public opening is part of a project called Hidden Spaces which reveals places, histories and stories around Birmingham.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After some evening sunshine it will stay dry tonight, with clear spells developing.

The winds will ease but it will feel cooler than recent nights - lows of 14C ( 57F).

Alice Rosenthal
BBC WM

A 25-year old computer hacker from Sutton Coldfield has pleaded guilty to stealing the details of more than 800 people on a US military communication system.

Sean Caffrey admitted an offence under the Computer Misuse Act.

He hacked the system in 2014 and was arrested in 2015.

It cost nearly $630,000 to fix the problems he caused. He will be sentenced next month.

Tamworth Herald

Vandals who daubed graffiti onto the ancient walls and doors of Tamworth's oldest church have been branded a disgrace., external

Olivia Morley
Journalist, BBC WM

The Labour Party Councillor for Washwood Heath, Mariam Khan, external, organised a collection of donations to take to London to help people affected by the London tower block fire.

Ms Khan shared the plea, external for donations on social media and contributions began pouring in.

Image source, Mariam Khan

St John's House became the drop-off point and people were so generous that two vans were needed to take the donations to London.

Ms Khan delivered the donations to a number of centres and said it was very "emotional".

Image source, Mariam Khan

Caroline Gall
BBC News Online

The M6 Toll, which the BBC has learnt had been sold, was originally launched as a way to cut congestion on the M6.

Image source, Getty Images

- It opened in 2003 with the 27-mile route running from Cannock to Coleshill

- Costing £900m, it bypasses the most congested parts of the M6, starting at junction 3a and rejoining at junction 11a

- Latest figures show, external average daily traffic of 44,942 in January and March - up from 42,045 for the same time last year

- The weekday price for cars is currently £5.50 and £11 for HGVs

- It was put up for sale for nearly £2bn last year

Rebecca Woods
Senior Broadcast Journalist, BBC News Online

A short film written by and starring care leavers will be screened in Birmingham this week in a bid to raise awareness of the challenges they face.

Figures from the government in 2016 suggest there are 9,240 looked after children in the West Midlands and according to Barnardo’s, care leavers are more likely to face challenges such as finding work and a home.

Called 'Hidden Faces', the film explores some of these difficulties, including isolation, low self-esteem and self-harm, through a range of fictional characters and scenarios.

Housing charity Bournville Village Trust say they hope the film will raise awareness of the issues care leavers face and tackle some of the myths associated with being in care.

Alison Wilkinson from the trust said: "There are many harmful stereotypes about care leavers. From the presumption they have problems with drugs to hurtful accusations that they’re some way responsible for being in care.

"The truth is there are many reasons young people enter care but with the right support many go onto live successful and happy lives."

BBC Weather Watchers

We've been blessed with amazing weather the last few days, here's a couple of our favourite pictures taken by our BBC Weather Watchers.

Orion sent this one in from Dorridge, Solihull of the gorgeous fluffy clouds.

Image source, Orion

Laura and Glenn sent in this rather arty shot from Delph.

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

Image source, Laura and Glenn

BBC WM Sport

One bookmaker has suspended betting on former Chelsea skipper John Terry joining Birmingham City.

Image source, PA

It follows Blues boss Harry Redknapp telling a national radio station the club have made an offer to the central defender.

The former England captain is a free agent after leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, and has said he'll decide on his future after his summer holiday.