Comedian Al Murray - famous for alter ego The Pub Landlord - has been made an Honorary Doctor of Social Science by the University of Wolverhampton.

It's in recognition of his contribution towards "military history and his passion in raising its profile to the younger demographic".

More than 2,400 staff work for London Midland, but no jobs are at risk after it was announced the firm lost the franchise to West Midlands Trains.

The roles will pass to the new operator when the franchise is taken over, a spokesperson for Abellio confirmed.

The company has also pledged to invest £13m on staff training and development and will create more than 900 new apprenticeships over the course of the franchise.

West Midlands Trains Ltd said the new franchise would bring "much welcomed investment in new services and extra capacity across the network".

A crowd-funding appeal launched by the families of victims of the Birmingham pub bombings to pay for legal costs has hit its £10,000 target.

It's to fund a High Court challenge to overturn a coroner's ban on naming suspects at forthcoming inquests into the deaths of 21 people.

Earlier today we told you of a new rail franchise company, West Midlands Trains Ltd, that will take over from London Midland.

Here's what some of you made of the announcement...

Image source, Twitter

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It's going to be a cloudy night, but it should stay dry for most of us and temperatures will fall no lower than 8C (46F).

Tomorrow, we could see some rain blowing over from the west in the morning, but it should clear as the day goes on.

West Midlands Police say the officer who was bitten in a police station required emergency surgery.

BBC Weather Watchers

Here's a couple of lovely pictures taken by our BBC Weather Watchers.

This first one was taken in Lapworth by Chris n Ginny, featuring a lovely baby blue sky.

Image source, Chris n Ginny

Knowle is the setting for this picture taken by Dammo.

You can send us your weather pictures here.

Image source, Dammo

Alex Homer
News Online

Sixteen out of 24 Championship clubs in 2016 spent more than 100% of their turnover on staff costs, including their players, coaches, management and administrators, the BBC has found.

Among them was Birmingham City, on 104%.

The BBC has been looking at the growing difference in average turnovers between Premier League and Championship clubs in each season from 2014-16, with increasing numbers of clubs in England's second tier spending beyond their means.

According to data, a £100m gap opened up between Premier League and English Football League (EFL) clubs before a record TV rights deal even took effect.

Image source, Getty Images/BBC

A rail consortium's promise of £1bn investment in the West Midlands network has been welcomed by an industry expert.

More services, more carriages, more seats for passengers along with free wi-fi has been promised after West Midlands Trains Ltd was awarded the franchise.

It takes over services currently run by London Midland in December. However, it could be some time before we see new carriages on the network.

The routes cover many trains coming into Birmingham, external, and services to Liverpool and London.

A new trial date will be set in the case of a Muslim convert allegedly stopped on his way to Syria.

Aston Villa left-back Jordan Amavi signs for Marseille on loan, with Leandro Bacuna also set to leave the Championship club.

The Birmingham bin strike is set to ramp up tomorrow.

Refuse collectors have already been striking three hours a day, but the latest action is due to be carried out in three separate hour-long blocks, spaced out across the shift.

In each hour, workers are set to return to their depot, which they'll also do for breaks.

The dispute between the council and members of union Unite is over changes to working practices.

Follow BBC local radio commentary as Lancashire host Birmingham in the T20 Blast.

Aston Villa have confirmed left back Jordan Amavi has joined Marseille on loan.

Villa tweeted the move happened with a view to a permanent transfer.

A house sale firm is investigated after a man complained of getting less than half of what his home sold for.

A 19-year-old man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with murdering Ryan Passey, 24, who was stabbed in a nightclub.

Mr Passey suffered a wound to the chest and died in hospital after the attack at Chicago's in Stourbridge in the early hours of Sunday.

Image source, Family handout

Kobe Murray, of The Broadway in Dudley, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court via video-link earlier.

The nightclub has had its licence temporarily suspended pending a full hearing later this month.

Birmingham Mail

The Air Ambulance was scrambled to Solihull this afternoon after a car crashed into a pillar inside an Marks and Spencer , externalmulti-storey car park.

Police have named a suspect in their investigation into a fatal stabbing in Solihull.

The victim was Callum Lees, 20, who was found in the street with a stab wound to the neck on Sunday morning. He died later in hospital.

West Midlands Police wants to trace 21-year-old James Atherley of whom they've released photos. He's formerly of Wells Road, Solihull.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Three men aged 21, 20 and 18 arrested in connection with the stabbing have been bailed while enquiries continue.

BBC Midlands Today

Today marks 100 days since the election of the first Midlands "Metro Mayor".

Andy Street was voted in after promising to eradicate youth unemployment, build 25,000 new homes and improve public transport.

We'll be taking a look back at his first months in office and speaking to him live in tonight's programme.

Watch Midlands Today from 18:30 on BBC One.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, say police.