Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

After a cloudy and wet start we can expect a fresher brighter afternoon, with some sunny spells and highs of 20C (68F).

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

Good morning from a rainy Birmingham.

I'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 with the BBC Local Live team, email, tweet @BBCWM, external or get in touch via Facebook, external.

See all the pictures from our hour-by-hour gallery

Guarav Kainth beat his uncle to death with a metal bar during a family holiday in Italy.

Leon Barrett-Hazle sustained multiple stab wounds while travelling on the bus in Handsworth.

When 'Ranjeep' told his family that he was gay, at first his father advised him to marry a woman.

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 and into the morning.

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

Mr Gillespie claimed Mr Barrett-Hazle repeatedly stared at him and when challenged, threw a punch, striking Mr Gillespie in the face.

The prosecution say Mr Gillespie produced a knife and "repeatedly thrust his weapon backwards and forwards into Leon Barrett-Hazle, wounding him in a number of places and cutting his carotid artery".

Mr Linehan said Kieran Gillespie then "went straight past him, never looked back at him. He didn't check on Mr Barrett-Hazle and he ran off into the night".

The court heard no knife was found on the bus and the murder weapon hasn't been recovered.

The trial is expected to conclude next week.

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

A jury's heard how a stranger stabbed another man to death on the top deck of a bus after the pair got into a row.

Leon Barrett-Hazle, 36, (pictured) from Smethwick died on board the 11A service in Handsworth in Birmingham on a Monday night in January.

Kieran Gillespie, 25, from Wellesbourne Road, Handsworth, denies murder.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Barrister Stephen Linehan QC, opening the case for the prosecution, said the stabbing followed an angry exchange of words and a confrontation between the men.

He said that when interviewed afterwards Kieran Gillespie told police he'd moved seats because he took exception to Mr Barrett-Hazle rolling a joint.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

We could see some more rain this evening, but it's going to remain warm overnight - with temperatures as high as 15C (59F).

And looks like it's going to be a wet end to the week.

Richard Wilford
BBC WM

Our top sport stories this evening include:

• Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Ahmed Elmohamady from Hull City
• Summer signing Jay Rodriguez was on target for West Bromwich Albion in their Premier League Asia Trophy match against Leicester City. The Baggies lost the game 7-6 on penalties after it ended 1-1 after 90 minutes

• In speedway, Birmingham Brummies host Stoke at Perry Barr, external

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

Theresa May says decisions to close children centres in Birmingham are down to the local council and not the Conservative government.

The Prime Minister's comments came in response to Jack Dromey, the Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington, who says the government is to blame because of cuts to local authority budgets.

Staff from Lakeside Children's Centre in Kingstanding have been to Downing Street today to hand in a petition of more than 1,000 signatures against the closure, saying it would be devastating for the local area.

Birmingham City Council says it is currently consulting on a new and fairer system for early years provision in the city.

Trespassers on the railway between Hagley and Stourbridge Junction means trains are running at reduced speed on all lines, London Midland says, external.

Aston Villa sign full-back Ahmed Elmohamady from Hull City for £1m on a three-year contract.

Nicola Beckford
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

A stretch of run down canal has been adopted and given a new lease of life by a running club.

The hot-steppers have been clearing litter and debris from the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal since March which is part of a national scheme set-up by the Canal and River Trust. , external

The group don't just pick up litter, but have also recently planted an urban orchard on another part of the canal network.

In the past four months the group have come down once a week which in-turn frees up staff from the Canal and River Trust to maintain the waterway.

Since the scene was launched two years ago nine community groups have adopted an area which they now maintain.

Police say growing numbers are coming forward after being ordered to have a heterosexual wedding.

Sarah Bishop
BBC Midlands Today

A Birmingham couple who met during World War Two are celebrating reaching their 70th wedding anniversary.

Denis Cutler was only 21 when he met his wife Anne at a dance and they married the following year.

Image source, bbc

The devoted couple, who have three children, eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren say keeping themselves active has led to a long and happy marriage.

What's their secret to a happy marriage? Doing everything together.

Great Barr Observer

A new zebra crossing is to be installed across, external a "dangerous" road in Great Barr after a two-year campaign.

Mark Jennens was cleared by a jury of killing his mother after a row over Christmas dinner.

Alex Lester
Presenter, BBC WM

The additional costs of ongoing industrial action by Birmingham's binmen, is a cause of concern to the council.

Members of the Unite union are striking over proposed changes to their working conditions.

Cllr Lisa Trickett says extra crews will be drafted in over the weekend to deal with a backlog of collections because of ongoing industrial action, which is due to continue into September.

She says: "I absolutely regret the costs this industrial action is taking on. This is not a period of time that the local authority wishes to be taking on additional costs."

Ms Trickett said the council wanted "less reliance on overtime, agency staff" and needs to change the way bins are collected.

The union says daily two-hour stoppages will be increased to three hours from 28 July after talks with the council failed.

Unite says the council are cutting over 120 jobs and claims members received their notice letters at the weekend.