Andrew Dawkins
BBC News

The wait is almost over - the new series of Peaky Blinders starts tonight at 21:00 on BBC Two.

But who were the real Peakies? What do we really know about them?

The first series was set after World War One, but author of The Real Peaky Blinders, Birmingham historian Carl Chinn, says the story of the actual gang begins in the late 19th Century.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

In the last 10 years 28,262 children have been reported missing to the West Mercia and Warwickshire police forces, external, with nearly a third of them recorded as being in care.

Police also recorded that a rising number of those children were feared to be the victims of child sex exploitation, although added that this could be down to better understanding and recording of the crime.

Image source, Getty Images

More than two thirds of the children were reported to have gone missing from their homes.

The number of children reported missing each year has remained roughly the same, although the numbers were up in 2016-17.

BBC Sport

Chris Woakes took six wickets as England were made to field all day by a Cricket Australia XI in their final Ashes warm-up match.

The Warwickshire all-rounder took four wickets for eight runs either side of lunch to help reduce CA XI to 118-5, but the hosts stubbornly reached 249-9 at the close.

Image source, Getty Images

"It's nice to get wickets in any game. A week away from the first Test, it's nice to hit a bit of form," said Woakes.

"I felt that it came out nicely today, which gives me a little bit of confidence. I'll continue to work and hopefully be ready for next week."

Sean Fogarty
Producer, BBC Shropshire

A 35-year-old man from Ellesmere has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill, criminal damage and a public order offence following an incident in the town last night.

Police were called to a property on Scotland Street just before midnight, following reports of disorder and criminal damage.

The property was evacuated for about two hours, and the public were warned to stay clear of the area, while the incident, which is not thought to be terrorism-related, was dealt with.

The man remains in police custody whilst the investigation continues.

Coventry Telegraph

Here are some of the stories appearing on the Coventry Telegraph website this morning:

• Miracle baby boy delivered at 24 weeks who survived against, external all the odds
• "I did not need rescuing" - Restaurant worker's anger over anti-slavery raids, external
• Why have holes appeared in several of Earlsdon's, external streets?

New figures show that unemployment fell by 8,000 across the West Midlands to 155,000 between July and September.

The Office for National Statistics says the national unemployment rate remains unchanged at 4.3%, after dropping from 59,000 to 1.42m.

Image source, Getty Images

Nationally, workers' earnings, including bonuses, rose 2.2% compared with a year ago, which still lags inflation of 3%.

A rare Jaguar E-Type, owned by music producer Pete Waterman, is expected to raise about £140,000 when it goes to auction later today.

The Series III 2+2-seater Jaguar E-Type has been owned by Waterman since the late 1980s and is so rare the car was referred to as a "ghost" as it was presumed lost for 30 years.

Image source, PA

Both the E-type and Waterman himself were born in Coventry.

The Jaguar, never made available to the public, will go on sale at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

A man has been charged with firearms possession after a handgun and sawn-off shotgun was found at a Birmingham home.

The 47-year-old faces two counts of possessing firearms and one of possessing ammunition.

The arrest followed an operation run by the Birmingham Organised Crime and Gangs Team in West Midlands Police.

Carol and Tommy McMillan say the scheme is helping to "slowly turn around" their part of Stoke.

It's a typical November morning judging from the pictures sent in by our BBC Weather Watchers.

This leafy shot was taken in Newport by Tay.

Image source, TAY

Malvern Wells is the setting for this misty picture taken by Equi-geek.

Send us your weather photos here.

Image source, Equi-geek

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Coventry Bees owner Mick Horton says he's reached a deal , externalthat'll see the Bee's race at the Leicester Lions from next season.

But it will be in the third tier of speedway the National Development League.

Jeff Davies from Save Coventry Speedway isn't happy at the situation they find themselves in.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Midlands Today

Researchers at the University of Birmingham are calling for a clinical trial to investigate whether vitamin D supplements can improve birth rates following IVF treatment.

Image source, Thinkstock

Studies have shown a strong link between low vitamin D in women and lower birthrates compared with women who have the right amount.

Doctors say only a trial would prove whether added vitamin D would improve a woman's chance of conceiving under IVF.

Some of the world's leading companies in the field of humanoid robots are in Birmingham today for an international conference.

Experts in artificial intelligence and robotics will be exhibiting their latest projects.

It will feature a leading example from the British firm Shadow Robots.

The Birmingham REP will also be hosting representatives from NASA and university researchers.

There's been a fire at a former Gala bingo building in Harborne.

The fire service said there was a "quick response" and crews are on the scene "damping down".

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

BBC Shropshire

New plans have been drawn up to redevelop a building in Shrewsbury called The Stew.

The 18th Century industrial building next to the Theatre Severn in Frankwell, has been derelict for years.

Plans to demolish it and build a hotel were refused two years ago, and also failed at appeal.

Its owner has now submitted plans to keep three quarters of the original building, add a storey on top, and an extension to the side.

The plans will also create a coffee shop, spa, offices and apartments.

Sophie Calvert
BBC WM

About 70 properties have been affected for more that 12 hours in Wolverhampton due to a burst water pipe.

Severn Trent has told me water supplies are now sorted.

Express and Star

Here are some of the stories making the headlines on the Extpress and Star website today:

• Bin collection misery to last for weeks across Walsall after depot blaze , external
• End in sight for roadworks hell with route to reopen ahead of schedule , external
• Pub landlord tied up and 'threatened with gun' during raid on The Black Bear in Gornal, external

MPs from across the West Midlands have met the policing minister amid concerns about funding.

It comes as a leaked budget document says the force is the smallest it has ever been, but demands are growing and it needs more cash.

It also reveals that the government is considering allowing West Midlands Police to put up the tax it charges households by £10 a year.

Some critics say that’s not enough as figures show many types of serious crime were up significantly last year.

Image source, Getty Images

Thousands of trees are to be planted across the West Midlands as part of a major project by the Woodland Trust to restore native woodland.

Image source, Getty Images

The trust has sent out half a million saplings to schools and community groups nationally, with more than 46,000 being planted in this region.

The project is being backed by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

There are problems with the water supply in part of Wolverhampton with repairs to a burst pipe taking longer than first anticipated, Severn Trent says.

The firm is providing bottled water to customers affected by the burst on Lower Prestwood Road.