BBC Midlands Today

A mother from Worcestershire who weighed 38 stone (241kg) before having an NHS operation has lost half her weight within just a year.

Rachel Murray, who lives near Kidderminster, risked going blind due to her obesity.

She managed to lose seven stone by herself, before having gastric by-pass surgery at Heartlands Hospital in March.

The 33-year-old said her weight-loss had given her a new lease of life.

BBC Midlands Today

A sailor who died exactly 100 years ago today in a World War One sea battle, will be honoured in his home town of Walsall later today.

John Henry Carless was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery at sea.

He continued to operate his gun after being mortally wounded at the second Battle of Heligoland Bight, dying at his post.

A civic ceremony will be held at Walsall Leather Museum where his VC will be unveiled in front of family descendents.

A 22-year-old man is being questioned by police after being arrested on suspicion of murdering a man who died after a fatal firework attack.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Tony Nicholls's home was destroyed by fire after an industrial-sized firework was let off by a group of men that burst into the property as he and his partner ate a Chinese takeaway.

On Wednesday, a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and subsequently bailed.

Thirty of the region’s MPs have written a letter to the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, ahead of next week’s budget calling for more funding for a series of projects in the West Midlands.

Top of the list is an appeal for money to pay for the extension of the Midland Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill in the Black Country.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says he hopes the government will support the region’s devolution deal.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a chilly start it should be a bright and sunny day with some scattered cloud and highs of 9C (48F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to our live updates for Friday.

We'll bring you the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates for the West Midlands between now and 19:00.

If you'd like to get in touch to comment or share your news and photos, go to the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external, email us, or tweet @bbcmtd, external.

Hereford history kept in a "damp" vault is to see the light of day under a £75,000 project.

The ambulance service said both men were "incredibly lucky" to escape without more serious injuries.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the latest news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 on Friday.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

All day we've been asking for your thoughts on the new series of Peaky Blinders on Twitter, external and Facebook, external... But we wanted to hear it in three words.

And it seems the latest visit to the Birmingham gangsters is going down well.

Hayley Elaine Gaines, external: "Not long enough!"

Heather McIntyre, external: "One word ... bostin :D"

Warren Lloyd, external: "Best Drama Ever."

Jo Morton, external: "Need Next Wednesday!"

Oh, and this from Ron Clark, external who has "never watched it".

If you're wondering what all the fuss is about - catch-up on BBC iPlayer.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale manager Neil Aspin says he'll consider changing the formation of the team to fit in new players.

The club signed Chris Regis on a short-term deal last week and striker Anton Forrester recently returned from a long-term injury.

Image source, Port Vale FC

Aspin said he would be "silly not to have a game plan for certain teams", but he had to concentrate on what was the best shape for his team.

An inquest hears Kelly-Anne Carter killed herself two weeks after her son Lucas died in a house fire.

A Kidderminster-based carpet company has announced the £250m buyout of a Spanish firm.

Victoria Carpets is acquiring Keraben Grupo, external, which makes floor and wall tiles and has its headquarters in Barcelona.

Image source, Google

The manufacturer says it's planning to help fund the deal by selling £180m worth of shares.

The RSPCA is investigating after the animal found at a children's playground had to be put down.

Burton Mail

Here are some of the stories making the headlines on the Burton Mail website today:

• McDonald's robber from Burton records Britain's Got Talent-style audition video from prison, external
• Schoolboy touched by care on Burton children's ward hands over his Xbox, external
• Find out how what Ofsted thought of Burton and South Derbyshire College, external

The gyratory system by Shrewsbury's English bridge, which merges four busy roads, has been fully reopened today after four months of roadworks.

Image source, Shropshire Council

Workmen have been widening the pavements, making changes to the road markings and installing new traffic lights which communicate with others around the town, so they can manage traffic better at busy times.

Image source, Shropshire Council

The work is part of a £12m programme of road improvements around the town, which Shropshire Council says will reduce traffic going through the town centre.

A set of temporary traffic lights was dumped outside the headquarters of Worcestershire County Council by an anonymous protester this morning.

The four-way lights had earlier been at the junction of Station Road and Wyre Road in Pershore, and were earlier stuck on red for at least an hour this morning, with some drivers saying they were stuck for 45 minutes.

There has been a long-running battle over this junction, with residents wanting a roundabout there instead.

Worcestershire County Council said it reported the fault as soon as it became aware of it and the temporary lights outside County Hall have now been removed.

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

AFC Telford United don't expect John Marsden to be fit for the weekend, but hope he could be in with a chance for Tuesday's home game against Tamworth.

Marsden limped off after injuring an ankle in last month's win at North Ferriby and the side hasn't won since then.

Image source, Mike Sheridan

A dry night, with long clear spells means there's a risk of frost in rural spots, with the chance of some ice on windscreens in the morning.

It will feel chilly with lows of -1 (30F).

Shropshire Star

Shropshire Star's headlines today include:

• Teenagers sentenced for arson attack on historic Bridgnorth building, external
• Driver avoids injury as car overturns near Whitchurch, external
• Shropshire commuters face chaos as rail workers vote for strike action, external