BBC News Travel

The A441 northbound in Worcestershire is likely to remain closed for a number of hours after a serious accident between Bittell Farm Road and Lea End Lane.

Failures during the general election in Newcastle-under-Lyme will be discussed later.

A report found 1,000 people were unable to vote in June and 500 had problems with postal votes.

Newcastle Borough Council's chief executive and its head of audit and elections are both suspended pending an investigation by the Association of Electoral Administrators.

Labour's Paul Farrelly narrowly won the seat - with a majority of just 30 votes over Conservative Owen Meredith.

A computer hacker who admitted a series of crimes, including attacks on Google and Skype, has been warned he could face jail.

Image source, PA

Alex Bessell, from Liverpool, has admitted nine offences including receiving £50,000 from proceeds of a website he set up to sell malware and botnets.

He admitted the crimes at Birmingham Crown Court following an investigation by police in the West Midlands.

The judge told Bessell, who was given bail, that he would be sentenced on 5 January.

The new electric black cabs, manufactured in Coventry, are taking their first fares in London today.

Image source, LEVC

It's expected there'll be 9,000 electric taxis, roughly half of the current black cab fleet, on London’s roads by the end of 2020.

All will be manufactured by the London EV Company, formerly known as the London Taxi Company.

BBC Sport

Wolves stretched their lead at the top of the Championship to four points with a 1-0 win over Birmingham City at St Andrew's

Image source, Getty Images

A first-half strike from Leo Bonatini was enough to give the visitors the three points.

Blues had Harlee Dean sent off late in the game.

Two men have been arrested after cannabis with an estimated street value of £900,000 was seized from a van stopped on the M6.

Image source, West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police say they found three pallets with 36 boxes containing between 10 and 15 500g bags last week when the vehicle was stopped near junction 10, Walsall.

The men, from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area, have since been released on bail.

A man is due to appear before magistrates charged with the murder of a woman who was stabbed to death.

The 68-year-old victim was found dead at a house in Cavendish Road, Tile Hill, Coventry, on Friday evening.

Thomas Westwood, 46, of Rosemary Close, Tile Hill, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with murder, a police spokesman said.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

A largely cloudy day is in store with the chance of one or two bright spells and highs of 8C (46F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Tuesday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external

The 68-year-old victim died after sustaining multiple stab wounds, police said.

The 21-year-old hacker from Liverpool admits online attacks against Skype and Google.

That's it for live updates on Monday. We'll be back from 07:00 with the latest news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It will be mostly dry tonight with some clear spells and lows of about 3C (37F).

A teenager has been found in Stratford-upon-Avon with a leg injury believed to have been caused by a firearm, police say., external

The 17-year-old was taken to hospital shortly after 04:00 this morning with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

An area of Brookside Road in the town has been cordoned-off for a forensic examination to take place.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen three men who are believed to have left the area on foot between 03:30 and 04:00.

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the headlines on the Shropshire Star website today:

• Shrewsbury Toys R Us store to close in nationwide cull, external
• Police officer from Market Drayton denies raping girl, 13, external
• River Severn death: Police appeal for witnesses after body found in Shrewsbury, external

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

London Midland has apologised after free cake it handed out at Birmingham New Street this morning had the wrong date printed on it.

The rail operator is preparing to handover the franchise to another company at the end of the week.

Though following the tweet, many saw the funny side:

• "You had me at cake..."
• "cake? Where?"
• "Like I noticed. But thanks anyway. All the best."

In a later tweet,, external London Midland reassured people: "It is perfectly edible and there isn't even a soggy bottom in sight!".

We've been sharing your supermoon photos taken in the West Midlands over the past 24 hours.

This is a great photo taken by Andrew Fusek Peters over Clun Castle in Shropshire.

Image source, Andrew Fusek Peters

Three Toys R Us stores in the West Midlands are among 26 it plans to close across the UK, the chain has confirmed.

The firm said the stores at St. Andrews Retail Park in Birmingham, Shrewsbury and Tamworth, were set to go in spring 2018.

Toys R U said the plans would cause "no disruption for customers" over Christmas and New Year and efforts would be made to redeploy staff.

Image source, Google

Managing director Steve Knights said the chain's "warehouse style stores", which it opened in the 1980s and 1990s, had become "too big and expensive to run in the current retail environment".

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

Cheshire East Council has suspended its chief operating officer.

Peter Bates has been under investigation alongside two other senior managers. A special panel of councillors convened in April to look into concerns over the conduct of Mr Bates plus the authority's chief executive and chief legal officer.

The BBC understands the way the council awarded contracts is one element being investigated.

Image source, Cheshire East Council

Mr Bates' two colleagues were suspended some months ago, but he remained at work with reduced responsibilities.

The panel has now reviewed its previous decision but says Monday's suspension is a "neutral act".

A rail operator is to take families from Birmingham Children's Hospital for a day out in London with Father Christmas on one of its trains that's been given a festive makeover.

Image source, PA

The Chiltern Rail's "Santa train" will feature on the Chiltern line throughout Christmas.

Image source, PA