Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Three masked men are still being hunted by police, more than a week after they forced their way into a house and threatened people inside with knives. , external

Staffordshire Police says the burglary happened on 11 July on Liberty Court, Cheslyn Hay.

Image source, Google

They say two of the three had knives and stole cash after threatening the occupants, making off in a blue Audi A3.

Officers say no-one was hurt but the victims were left very shaken.

Dudley News

Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy is no fan of the trademark haircut , externalhis character sports in the hit series.

Joanne Writtle
BBC Midlands Today

One ordinary street in West Bromwich, with one extraordinary task underway.

The BBC DIY SOS team are building an extension for grandmother Sandra so she can bring up her two grandchildren who came to live with her after their mum, Crystal, died of cancer two years ago.

Sandra, her son Ziggy and the two children live in her two bedroom house (pictured).

The family said goodbye to their neighbours earlier this week – they’ll stay with friends until the build is finished in 10 days time.

And if you want to get in touch and volunteer your time - you can email or get in touch via Twitter @diysos, external.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

A woman is being treated for a serious head injury after a crash in Birmingham earlier.

Two cars collided on Shenley Lane.

A 20-year-old woman in one of the cars was helped by an off duty doctor and police officers and was then was taken to the QE Hospital's trauma centre.

The 54-year-old driver of the other car was unhurt.

Lauren Sullivan probably won't be up at this hour as she works late shifts at the Actress and Bishop bar in Birmingham.

At weekends she works till 05:30 and then works out. "I go to the gym because it helps me get to sleep. Everyone thinks I'm a bit insane," she said.

She's in our 24 hours in England feature - where we take a look at people going about their lives.

Use #24HoursInEngland on social media to share your stories.

Passengers travelling between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton are warned to expect severe delays.

Train operator London Midland says services will be delayed or cancelled due to a signalling fault.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Thundery showers pushing north early this morning, with some bright, warm and humid sunshine elsewhere.

Further heavy thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon, with a risk of hail, strong winds and torrential downpours, mainly across north counties. Highs of 25C ( 77F).

Shenley Fields Road in Northfield is closed following a crash, say West Midlands Police.

Officers haven't released anymore details but are warning drivers to avoid the area.

Diversions are in operation.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Good morning.

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.

Measures including 24/7 fire warden patrols are being taken at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

That's it for Tuesday - join us again from 08:00 on Wednesday.

The first black woman to be elected as an MP in the West Midlands has made her first speech in parliament.

Eleanor Smith, Labour, represents the Wolverhampton South West constituency.

She told the Commons that the area had come a long way since the 1960s when the controversial Enoch Powell was its MP.

The full design of the new plastic £10 note featuring Jane Austen will be revealed later.

The currency marks the 200th anniversary of the author's death.

It follows the polymer £5 note into circulation and is likely to be in use in September.

From Wednesday, the Library of Birmingham will open a display looking at the 19th century novelist.

Emma Thomas
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

Five years ago this month 23-year-old Tom Kirwan was stabbed to death outside a Wolverhampton nightclub.

Despite a police investigation and a £15,000 reward, his killer has never been identified.

Today his sister, Martine Johnson, has told the BBC she wants to see a change in the law to prevent more families living with the “heartache” knife crime has caused her.

She’s calling on the government to match the sentences for offenders found in possession of a knife to those who carry guns.

Under current legislation, possession of a knife carries a maximum jail term of four years, compared to seven years for possession of a firearm.

You can see Martine’s story on BBC Midlands Today at 18:30.

Image source, bbc

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A band of heavy thundery showers will push northwards with a risk of hail.

Some places staying dry, but where thunderstorms occur there could be some torrential downpours and frequent lightning. Lows of 18C (64F).

Rob Gurney
BBC WM Sport

Here are the sports stories we're covering on BBC WM this afternoon:

• West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis says he is trying to add more players to his squad before the start of the season
• Birmingham City are reported to be among several Championship teams interested in signing the Villa centre-back Tommy Elphick
• Wolves speedway rider Kyle Howarth has been released from hospital after suffering concussion and bruising in a fall against the Poole Pirates last night

The chief executive of the trust running a Wolverhampton hospital where building material from an inpatient unit failed an NHS fire safety test says inspectors are satisfied with precautions in place.

The sample submitted for checks came from New Cross Hospital's Heart and Lung Centre and contained Aluminium Composite Material (ACM), according to David Loughton of Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

Image source, Google

He said: "We have since been inspected twice by local fire safety inspectors who have confirmed they are satisfied with the precautions we are taking.

“There are high standards of general fire precautions in the Heart and Lung Centre, well-trained staff available 24 hours a day and other security measures in place."

Two weather warnings for the West Midlands have been issued by the Met Office., external

Thundery showers are expected across the south of the region, including Herefordshire, Worcestershire and parts of Warwickshire, from 17:00 today.

Just after midnight they are expected to turn into scattered thunderstorms, with intense downpours affecting the whole region.

In both cases the Met Office says there is a chance of localised flooding.

Building material from an inpatient unit at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton has failed a fire test, the NHS says.

Image source, Google

NHS organisations have been carrying out fire safety checks following the Grenfell Tower blaze, with six submitting samples of material that went on to fail a combustibility test.

Patients at the unit will continue to be treated at the site, but measures, including 24/7 fire warden patrols, will be introduced.

The five other sites' samples were taken from buildings that do not house patients overnight.

Michael Hayes told the BBC he was a participant in the Birmingham pub bombings that killed 21 people in 1974.