Clare Lissaman
BBC News

Normally buzzing with workers and activity, the 16-acre site in Smethwick where a new £350m hospital is being built is nearly deserted. The collapse of Carillion, the constructor behind the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, has led to uncertainty.

A Carillion worker, who did not want to be named, said there were normally some 500 sub contractors on site, but on Tuesday there were about 20 people in total.

He said he learnt of Carillion's liquidation through social media and that he would be paid this week and next and then did not know what would happen.

The hospital was originally scheduled to open in October 2018, but difficulties with the heating, lighting and ventilation systems forced a delay of the launch date to spring 2019

The hospital trust says it is working hard to “resolve any uncertainty over how this vital NHS acute hospital gets completed in 2019.”

We're forecast a bit of snow around the region this afternoon, and more this evening.

There has been a bit of a flurry in Stoke-on-Trent, but it's not settling yet.

Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Two Worcester Warriors players have been called up for their countries Six Nations squad

Gregor Townsend's named Zimbabwean born back row David Denton in his 40 man Scotland squad and wing Josh Adams is one of two uncapped players in Warren Gatland's Wales squad

Image source, Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess ended their visit to Coventry with a trip to meet the Positive Youth Foundation.

Prince William said he'd like to stay in the city a bit longer on his next visit and challenged the youngsters to "get Catherine on the ping pong table."

"She's vicious," he said.

The government has ordered a fast-track investigation into directors at the failed construction firm Carillion.

Image source, Getty Images

The business secretary has asked for an investigation by the Official Receiver to be broadened and fast-tracked.

The conduct of directors in charge at the time of Wolverhampton-based company's failure and previous directors will be examined.

Express and Star

Some of the main stories on the Express and Star website today are:

• Theresa May's cabinet meets amid fallout over collapse of Wolverhampton-based firm, external
• Suspended sentence for killer driver in mother’s Mercedes, external
• Rosedene Rescue Centre closed as dogs moved out of Walsall kennels, external

Gritters will be out across the West Midlands later as temperatures are set to drop overnight.

Showers falling as sleet, snow and hail are set to spread to parts of the region this evening and overnight, the Met Office is warning., external

Birmingham Mail

Some of the headlining stories in the Birmingham Mail today are:

• This is exactly what was seized by bailiffs from Birmingham Council House, external
• Pub sparks furious outrage with 'pornographic' wallpaper, external
• Teacher banned after inspectors, external find 'terror' leaflet by banned 'extremist'

Ibrahim Ismail was found stabbed outside a shisha lounge in Birmingham a year ago.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe's Tom Lowery says signing a new three-and-half year contract will hopefully see him repay the faith the club has shown in him.

The 20-year-old, whose previous deal was due to expire this summer, has made 29 league appearances this season.

Image source, crewealex.net

He made his debut for the club in October 2016.

Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke

New Stoke boss Paul Lambert watched from the Old Trafford stands as his third-bottom side lost 3-0 at Manchester United last night.

Caretaker manager Eddie Niedzwiecki said afterwards that Lambert had spoken to the players in the team hotel, but had left the match-preparation to him.

Image source, Getty Images

Niedzwiecki said he expects to learn about his future at the club in the next 48 hours and that he enjoyed the experience of leading the team.

He also said his plan, after conceding two first half goals, was to "stay in the game" until the last 15 minutes and then have a go at their opponents - but that plan backfired when they conceded a third goal.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have taken part in prayers in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral and have been shown the new cathedral, accompanied by Bishop Christopher Cocksworth and cathedral staff.

The royal couple are in the city as it celebrates being named UK City of Culture 2021.

Union officials are meeting bosses at General Electric today - after plans were announced to cut around 1,100 jobs from its UK power business mainly in Stafford and Rugby.

The Unite Union wants assurances over the future of the town's sites - GE says the proposed job losses are in response to a reducing demand for fossil fuel power.

Unite says the meeting , externalwill take place at the European Works Council in Paris and adds that they want assurances over the future of the two sites in Rugby and Stafford.

Best man, friend and broadcaster Les Ross has been speaking to BBC WM's Caroline Martin about his memories of Ed Doolan.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Two men who died when a light aircraft crashed have been named as flight instructor John Smith, 52, formerly based in Jersey, and student Ahmed Abdullah, 24.

Image source, Family handout

The single-engine plane was on its way to Gloucestershire Airport when it came down at Bredon Hill, near the village of Overbury on 8 January.

The plane was from a fleet belonging to Aeros Flight Training.

The cause of the crash is being looked into by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Eveline Hawkin, from Jersey Aero Club said members were "terribly saddened" to hear of Mr Smith's death.

She said the pilot learnt to fly at the club in 1997 before deciding to take it up as a career.

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

It's emerged Harriet Baldwin, the Conservative MP for West Worcestershire, tried to claim a £50 donation to a local hospice as a parliamentary expense.

It relates to a charity fundraiser in October 2013 held at St Richard's Hospice in Worcester, which cost £50 a ticket.

This morning, the Daily Telegraph reported, external that ticket was in effect a donation, and that when the MP had tried to claim it as a hospitality expense, it was rejected by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Harriett Baldwin told the BBC she doesn't dispute that outcome, and has every confidence in the way IPSA carries out its duties.

She also said she makes many donations to local charities from her own resources.

BBC Sport

York City will go fourth in National North tonight, their highest positioning of the season, if they can win at AFC Telford United.

Confidence is high at Bootham Crescent after four wins in a row, but sporting director, Dave Penney, is calling on his players to take nothing for granted.

He says Telford will see this as their biggest game of the season:

Two blades described as "Rambo knives" by Staffordshire police have been found in a stolen car in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Officers stopped the Ford Focus after a chase yesterday and then arrested two men, a 19-year-old from Warley Road, Oldbury and an 18-year-old from Causeway, Rowley Regis.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

They also recovered mobile phones, cash and a quantity of what is believed to be cocaine.

The royal couple are in the city as it celebrates being named UK City of Culture 2021.

A jury has retired in the trial of a man accused of murdering a teenager, whose body was found in a clingfilm wrapped wardrobe.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Ashley Foster, 24, denies murdering Megan Bills in a room at a hostel in Brierley Hill on Easter Sunday 2017.

He has admitted preventing the decent and lawful burial of the 17-year-old.

Mr Foster had claimed she passed out after asking to be strangled during sex, the court heard.