David Jennings, the head of local and regional programmes for BBC West Midlands, said: "Ed was a broadcasting giant loved by generations of radio listeners in the West Midlands."

He was speaking after Mr Doolan died on Tuesday morning.

"On his daily show, he was the people's champion - tireless in his pursuit of truth and fairness for all.

"Ed faced dementia with indomitable spirit and bravery, raising awareness of the condition and continuing to broadcast on BBC WM every week."

The Australian-born local radio presenter had been suffering with vascular dementia.

You've been sharing your memories of Ed Doolan on the BBC WM Facebook page., external

Peggy Thomas:, external "Can't believe this. RIP Mr Doolan, you were the peoples champion, thank you for your love of everyone. Condolences to your beautiful wife."

Richard Dunn:, external Such sad sad news - Ed has been the key broadcaster in this area all my life. His consumer show will never be beaten. Love to Christine and his family and friends.g’day g’day Ed - RIP"

Joanna Peace: , external"So sad what a great man, loved listening to his lunch time show, respect to Ed Doolan did more for midland people then any MP, RIP big man x"

John C Rea: , external"This man helped so many people out....including me.... from all walks of life and if you said you were going to get in touch with Ed Doolan radio WM 9 times out of 10 the problematic company would come to a compromise rather than let this man get involved because he always stood up for the underdog in many cases. This man is a legend....RIP Ed Doolan and my condolences to the family x"

Pay tribute to the broadcaster on the BBC WM Facebook page, external - you can also listen live as Caroline Martin takes your calls on your memories of Ed.

Former Home Secretary and Redditch MP Jacqui Smith remembers constituents coming to see her and threatening to go to Ed Doolan if she could not help.

"Sometimes they'd say to me that's it, I'm going to go to the media now to see if they can help me, and most of the time I thought: you'll be lucky because you're not going to get very far with that.

"Unless they said to me I'm going to phone Ed Doolan's programme, and then I thought to myself: well if anybody can sort out this problem with some authority somewhere - not doing what they should do - or not providing the services they should, then Ed Doolan's the person that can sort it."

He was well known for his local radio consumer affairs programme on BBC WM in Birmingham.

Ed Doolan passed away in his sleep at home this morning, his family said.

His wife Christine was with him.

Paul Vaughan, Ed Doolan's agent since 1978, said: "We have lost a great champion and a truly skilled and popular broadcaster and newspaper columnist.”

During his 40-year broadcasting career Ed Doolan presented more than 9,000 radio shows for the BBC.

He held some the country's biggest politicians to account and interviewed some of the most well-known names in show business.

He has interviewed most prime ministers since Harold Macmillan with the exception of Harold Wilson.

Broadcaster Ed Doolan has died at the age of 76.

He became famous as a consumer champion presenting on BBC WM and BBC Midlands Today.

Despite being diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012 he continued his career by hosting a weekly radio show.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Coventry Cathedral welcomed by dozens of people who queued outside to catch a glimpse of them.

The prince wished welcoming dignatries a happy new year.

A nightclub in Coventry is to accept the crypto-currency Bitcoin as payment from next month.

Image source, Google

The owner of S7VEN , externaland Daddy Cools, external, in Spon Street, claims it is the first club in the UK to make the move.

Payments will be accepted for entry, drinks and private hire from February.

More information will be posted on the venue's Facebook pages soon.

Bitcoin, created in 2009, is not tied to any physical currency and is accessed via computers and mobile devices.

Some retailers in the UK already accept it as payment.

For more information on what Bitcoin is, click here.

The family of Cyrille Regis has issued a statement thanking people for the "love and support" shown since his death.

In a tweet sent from the former football player's account they said they would be reading "every one of them".

The former England, West Brom and Coventry player died on Sunday.

Crowds are waiting for the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Coventry.

Rain later could turn to sleet and snow, causing travel delays and icy roads and pavements, across parts of the West Midlands, the Met Office is warning., external

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place until 11:00 Wednesday with a warning of very strong winds in place between 21:00 Wednesday and 13:00 on Thursday.

Image source, Met Office

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

The Shrewsbury Town captain, Abu Ogogo, says the expected 30,000 crowd at West Ham's London Stadium will inspire his team to lift their game.

They go into the FA Cup replay as underdogs, but Ogogo believes that will take the pressure off them.

Ogogo also says the Shrewsbury players will enjoy playing in a big stadium, against international players.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will begin their trip to the city by visiting the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, destroyed by bombers during the Second World War.

They'll hear about the history of the cathedral before taking part in the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation.

The Litany is said daily in the cathedral.

Worcester News

These are three of the stories in the Worcester News today:

• Pensioner wants cyclists banned from pavements, external
• Warning of strong winds, sleet, snow and hail, external
• Medical negligence costs hospitals £46 million in the last five years, external

Around 3,000 Shrewsbury Town fans are travelling to London hoping to see their team pull off a shock result in the FA Cup.

Shrewsbury face a replay at West Ham after drawing 0-0 at home to the Premiership club.

The League One side's 10-game unbeaten run was ended at Blackburn on Saturday but Paul Hurst has no new injury problems.

West Ham are likely to be without forwards Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll for their FA Cup replay.

Up to 35 firefighters tackled a "severe" fire in Walsall last night.

Roads were closed for a time during the fire in a shop on Corporation Street in the Caldmore area of Walsall.

The shop had accommodation over it but there have been no reports of any injuries so far.

Crews are still there this morning. A witness said it looked like the shop had been ruined.

BBC Business News

Firms working for failed construction giant Carillion on purely private sector deals will only have two days of government support, Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington has warned.

The Wolverhampton-based company spent £952m with local suppliers in 2016 and used an extensive network of small firms, who are now waiting to learn if they will be paid.

Employers' groups are trying to assess the exposure of small firms, but said many faced financial hardship.

Critics want a review into the crisis.

Some lines are blocked between Leamington Spa and Birmingham.