BBC Shropshire

A tawny owl has had a "remarkable" escape after getting stuck inside a wood burner. , external

The RSPCA says officers were called to a house in Criftins, Ellesmere on Sunday and found the bird "completely trapped" inside the burner's flue.

Image source, RSPCA

They say the homeowners only knew the owl was there as they heard scratching.

When he was rescued after 90 minutes, they say he was completely covered in black soot and was taken to a vet who found he wasn't seriously hurt.

Express and Star

Here are some of the stories featuring on the Express & Star website today:

• 'Help us to find our Matthew' - Heartbroken family make fresh bid, external to trace missing Stourbridge man
• Staffordshire Police foot £400,000 bill , externalafter terror attacks
• Wolverhampton Civic halls revamp, external to cost extra £21m – with new roof needed

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Drivers are experiencing delays of up to 45 minutes around the Holloway Circus area.

A combination of roadworks, out of order traffic lights and lane closures on Suffolk Street, Queensway is causing queues of up to 45 minutes in the surrounding areas.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Birmingham has seen decorated owls and bears, and wolves dotted the streets of Wolverhampton this summer. Now Ironbridge is getting ready to go quackers.

Twelve larger-than-life ducks are going to descend on the town next year to raise money for Severn Hospice and Jayne Sargent Foundation.

Telford Council says the idea comes as it celebrates 50 years of the town., external

West Midlands Police says it continues to search for the driver of a car involved in the collision.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

The comedian Russell Brand met staff and service users at the Burton Addiction Centre where he is a patron.

Brand was in town to sign copies of his book and is donating a percentage of the sales to the running of the centre.

The book is about the comedian's recovery from addiction.

He said: "I am signing copies of my book, Recovery and I am meeting with loads of people that are at various stages of addiction."

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

Could the Birmingham bin strike deal soon be over? A special cabinet meeting has been called at the city council to discuss waste management in the city.

We know there have been talks going on between Birmingham City Council and the Unite union since September when the High Court granted an interim injunction on making bin workers redundant.

The clock is ticking as the High Court trial over the bin strike dispute is due to start next week.

The new leader of Birmingham City Council Ian Ward says there's been "meaningful progress" but union sources tell me that they don't recognise that.

I understand there were last-ditch talks on Monday - some kind of deal may have been discussed though many are staying tight lipped. It's no surprise considering what happened when John Clancy had to resign over promises he made.

A special cabinet meeting has just been added to the council's schedule on waste management, external, which means a report will go before the council which we won't see until the last minute - 13.30 on Friday.

How close is it to the original deal? We'll find out on Friday.

Image source, Reuters

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

The cyclist hit by a car in the early hours of this morning in Walsall has died.

West Midlands Ambulance Service say the man died on Midland Road in Darlaston after he was hit by a car at about 03:20.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the driver failed to stop.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A Birmingham man is due to be sentenced later after being found guilty of using an axe to murder his wife.

Nyasha Kahari was found with "catastrophic head injuries" in a car outside a Lidl store in Tile Cross, Birmingham on 30 January.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Norbert Chikerema , 42, from Overdale Road, in Quinton, confessed to killing the 35-year-old mother-of-four, but claimed he was not of sound mind at the time, and denied her murder.

Det Insp Paul Joyce from West Midlands Police said: "It was a pure jealousy based on a perceived infidelity between the two and that's what led him to develop this jealous compulsion which led him to kill her."

Andy Giddings
BBC News

An injured lamb has been given a set of wheels to help her get around.

Alistair and Les Jenkin from Market Drayton in Shropshire adopted Lamby from a nearby farm, saying they couldn't bear to see her lying on the floor, unable to move.

After experimenting with a wooden wheelchair, they bought her a walking frame designed for dogs.

They also have a number of rescued horses, a three-legged cat and a big white rabbit who was unwanted, because she's albino.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A body discovered in a park is believed to be a man from Staffordshire who was reported missing more than a month ago.

Concerns were raised about Alan Muir when he was reported missing from his home in Talke Pits on 15 October.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Yesterday afternoon a body was found in Kidgrove's Bathpool Park, and officers now say they believe it to be the 46-year-old.

The death isn't thought to be suspicious.

Tyler Roberts and Daniel Agyei score late on as Walsall hit back to beat Fleetwood and move clear of the relegation zone.

A man is being treated in hospital with a serious head injury after he was hit by a car in the early hours of this morning.

Police say, external it happened on A462 Midland Road in Darlaston at about 03:30.

Image source, Google

As a result, the road is closed between Empress Way and The Green.

Anyone who saw what happened is asked to contact the police.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Villa Park and a world-renowned whistle-making firm, external during a series of engagements in the West Midlands today.

The couple will also be given a tour of the assembly line at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull factory, and meet mountain rescue volunteers who use the company's off-road vehicles.

The royal couple will also drop in at Aston Villa to watch apprentices taking part in a project to nurture the next generation of sports coaches.

Greg Leigh scores the only goal of the game as bottom club Bury beat League One leaders Shrewsbury Town.

BBC Midlands Today

Green belt land in the Midlands could be developed if the government goes ahead with plans to relax planning laws, so more new houses can be built.

The move's expected to be announced in today's budget, giving more freedom to developers who are reluctant to fund the clean-up of brownfield sites.

Telford and Wrekin Council is building on cleaned-up land thanks to a grant from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Burglars who stole more than £30,000 of jewellery from a Solihull home have been caught on CCTV., external

Image source, West Midlands Police

The pictures have been released by police as they try to identify the men.

Family heirlooms taken include Indian bangles, a headpiece and necklaces.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

It will be very mild and mostly dry today, though some patchy rain is possible in the far west.

It will become very windy everywhere during the afternoon, especially on hills, where gusts of 60mph are likely - highs of 15C (59F).

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to our live updates for Wednesday.

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.

Perry Ng's superb 85th-minute strike gives Crewe Alexandra victory over fellow League Two strugglers Morecambe.