BBC News Travel

The closure of the M6 between junctions 4 and 4a has been lifted after a police incident ended:

BBC Shropshire

A supermarket has been criticised for refusing to serve a mince pie to a customer who didn't have ID.

A student from Harper Adams university was asked to provide ID at Asda's Donnington Wood branch, according to some newspaper reports, external.

Image source, Google

The 21-year-old wanted to taste a sample of its Luxury All-Butter Mince Pies, which contain a small amount of port and brandy, it's claimed.

An Asda spokesperson said products containing liquid alcohol are only offered to customers over the age of 18.

They went on to say they would never criticise an individual for trying to do the right thing when presented with a customer who’s lucky enough to look younger than their years.

The M6 is closed in both directions on the M6 due to a police incident.

Highways England has put diversions in place

The M6 is closed north and southbound J4-4a at Coleshill due to a police incident.

Highways England says traffic is being diverted on to the M42 carriageways.

The Budget is just getting under way in the House of Commons.

This morning, an equality campaigner from Coventry called on the government to protect public services and benefits - saying cuts to those affect women the most.

Mary-Ann Stephenson, a founder member of Coventry Women’s Voices, is co-director of the Women's Budget Group (which looks at the impact of the Budget on women's finances).

Image source, Getty Images

"Women are poorer than men, women are more likely to use public services than men, and when those services disappear women are the ones more likely to have to provide the unpaid care work," she told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.

Black and ethnic minority women are hit "the hardest of all", she says. They are more likely to be poor, and more likely to be in bigger families so will be hit by the cap on child benefit.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on the way... Quick - warm up.

Apprentices who are part of the Coach Core team, external are getting ready to welcome the royal couple who are visiting the West Midlands today.

"Head, shoulders, knee and toes...."

Former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester, Blackburn and Nigeria strikes Yakubu retires from football.

BBC Business News

Today sees Philip Hammond deliver his second Budget, with talk of investment in the country, help over the cost of living and moves to address housing shortages.

The chancellor is due to start his Commons speech at about 12:30, setting out proposed tax and spending changes, among other issues.

You can keep across all the announcements and reaction to the Budget on the BBC's Budget 2017 live page here.

BBC Radio Manchester

A Stoke-on-Trent-born footballer who scored twice before being subbed to see the birth of his son says he got the there "just in the nick of time".

Wigan Athletic's Ryan Colclough made a double strike against Doncaster before a nod from his father watching in the stands indicated his partner's waters had broken.

The 22-year-old, who was born in Burslem, said he raced down the tunnel and made it to the birth - in full kit - with 30 minutes to spare.

Both mother and his second son, Harley Thomas, who he said weighed in at 8lbs 6ozs, are "doing very well".

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The Salvation Army in Crewe has told BBC Radio Stoke it has seen a spike in the number of people being referred to it for food parcels.

Image source, Getty Images

The charity's blaming the increase on the time it takes to switch claimants to the new universal credit system, which replaces six benefits and merges them into one payment.

The organisation says, in some cases, it's taking up to six weeks and the people get no money during that time - also a worrying issue for MPs on both sides of the house.

The Department for Work and Pensions says it knows universal credit is a big change for some people and its staff offer help to those who need it.

It says if it knows someone needs an advance, they can get it within five days or on the same day if they are in urgent need.

BBC Sport

Worcestershire's Moeen Ali is thought to be in line to bat at number six for England in the first Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane.

Image source, Getty Images

England have named their XI for the match, which also features Warwickshire's Chris Woakes.

The opening Test at the Gabba starts at 00:00 GMT on Thursday and Moeen could move above wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow to number six.

On Tuesday, all-rounder Moeen said he expected to bat at seven, but Root told reporters on Wednesday to "wait and see".

Coventry Telegraph

Some of the top stories to feature on Coventry Telegraph website this morning:

• Warwickshire man spared jail after drunkenly disrupting flight and trying to bite police officer, external
• UK braced for first snow of winter as severe weather warnings issued, external
• "We are utterly devastated and heartbroken" - tributes paid to Coventry footballer Louis Cureton, external

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have made their first stop of the day in the West Midlands.

This morning they've visiting the Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing plant in Solihull.

Image source, Kensington Palace

The royal couple will also be meeting the Coach Core apprenticeship team at Aston Villa, as well as Acme Whistles.

BBC News Travel

Expect delays on the M6 southbound between junctions 10-9 after a crash involving a truck and car, Highways England warns.

Three lanes out of four are closed.

Queues around Holloway Circus have subsided after drivers experienced delays of about an hour in Birmingham city centre earlier.

There are still minor queues in the area on the Aston Expressway.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Radio Four's Today programme business team has been speaking to business leaders this morning at the Grand Central shopping centre in Birmingham.

Andy Street, the first mayor of the West Midlands (pictured right), and formerly of John Lewis, told Dominic O'Connell about his hopes for a cash boost in today's Budget.

A devolution deal in 2015 gave regions money to invest in their own infrastructure. "We're hoping a second devolution deal will be announced today," says Mr Street.

The chancellor already announced £250m for the region's metro system on Monday. Mr Street also wants help for the West Midlands to support "the new industries of the future".

"Our competition is not Manchester or London," he says. It's competing with other big export cities like Berlin or Boston.

Birmingham Mail

Here are some of the top stories being covered by the Birmingham Mail this morning:

• Cyclist killed in 3.20am hit and run tragedy - police hunt motorist, external
• Dad took own life after mental health team said he was not at risk, external
• Why Charles Bronson was refused parole days after wedding, external

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A proposed new housing development between Kidderminster and Cookley will mean investment in the local infrastructure, according to a local politician.

A number of people living near the old mental health hospital at Lea Castle on Park Gate Road have told BBC Hereford and Worcester they are worried the area won't cope with 600 new homes on the site.

Image source, Google

Wyre Forest District Council granted outline planning permission for the development , externallast night.

Today, the authority's deputy leader says any developer will have to pay money to improve road access and contribute to local services like GPs and schools.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A chapel in Stoke-on-Trent is hosting a commemoration to fallen World War One soldiers from the city.

The Friends of Bethesda Chapel, external, in Hanley, is placing a small wooden cross in the building on the 100th anniversary of each soldier's death.

In total, 39 men from Bethesda died in WW1. The last name will be added in early 2019.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The whole of the West Midlands is expected to be buffeted by high winds through today., external

Image source, Met Office

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning running until 07:00 tomorrow saying the winds could cause transport delays.

The National Trust says the Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire will shut from midday because of the forecast., external