BBC News Travel

The police incident on the M6, which blocked it both ways from J10 to 10A, is over, says Highways England:

BBC News Travel

The M6 in both directions is blocked between junctions 10 and 10A, external because, Highways England says, of a police incident.

They say delays are already building in the area.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The number of unemployed people in the West Midlands region rose by 6,000 to 155,000 in the three months to November, official figures show., external

Image source, Getty Images

The Office for National Statistics said the region's unemployment rate for the period is 5.5%, compared to 4.3% for the whole of the UK.

But, compared to the same period in 2016, the number of jobless in the West Midlands fell by 6,000.

The restoration includes a new play area, sports courts, water fountains and pathways.

BBC Sport

Kidderminster Harriers beat FC United of Manchester 4-0 at Aggborough last night.

All four goals came in a 25-minute spell in the second half and their opponents ended the match with 10 men.

Image source, Getty Images

They are up to sixth place in the National League North table, four points off the play-off places.

Alec Blackman
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

A mother from Coventry says a mistake by the city council's led to her becoming homeless.

Sara Brown told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire the authority stopped paying her housing benefit, thinking she'd moved out of her home.

She says she was told it started with a prank phone call claiming she'd relocated.

Image source, Google

Sara says she hadn't but has now been given notice to quit by her landlord because the rent's not been paid.

The city council says it's aware of the issue and looking at it as a matter of urgency, adding it will do all it can to help.

Birmingham Mail

The Birmingham Mail has these top stories today:

• Man sleeping rough is given fresh start by someone who passed him every day, external
• The areas of Birmingham among worst in UK for child poverty, external
• Restaurants and takeaways could be left to rate their own kitchens for hygiene, external

BBC News Travel

A fallen tree's blocking the train line this morning between Worcester's Shrub Hill station and Oxford:

Andy Giddings
BBC News

The search is resuming this morning for a man who has been missing since a serious house fire in Shropshire on Monday night.

The house at Oreton, near Cleobury Mortimer, was seriously damaged and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service says it fears the shell of the building could collapse - it may call in a structural engineer later.

West Mercia Police says the cause of the fire is currently unknown, but is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

A Worcestershire fish and chip shop owner is competing in the final of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year, external competition in London.

Theo Ellinas, from the Golden Carp in Redditch, is in the national final representing the Midlands and has to give a presentation in front of judges today, to explain why he thinks his chippy is the best.

Image source, Getty Images

The award winners are due to be announced at a ceremony tomorrow.

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

Three flood warnings are still in place for Hereford this morning , externalwith the Environment Agency saying flooding is expected in the area.

Image source, Environment Agency / Dave Throup

They're all for the River Wye and the water level is expected to peak later today.

The agency's also issued a number of flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible - for parts of the West Midlands and you can see a full list here., external

The A5 southbound was closed at Chirk, near Wrexham, for about eight hours but has now reopened.

It's been a very wet start for many of us in the West Midlands, with a band of heavy rain passing over the region.

BBC Midlands Today's Joanne Malin captured the scene at about 08:30 in Bromsgrove:

Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke-on-Trent-born writer of The Silent Child film says the news it's been nominated for an Oscar still hasn't sunk in.

Image source, Getty Images

Rachel Shenton co-wrote the movie with fellow former Hollyoaks actor Chris Overton and it's one of five to be shortlisted for the Live Action Short award.

Their film tells the story of a profoundly deaf four-year-old girl Libby.

Express and Star

The Express and Star has these main headlines on its website today:

• Mylee Billingham: Community hailed for support over pink ribbon campaign, external
• Work starts on ‘garden city’ creating 450 homes in Bilston, external
• YouTube prankster fined after filming group illegally scaling bridge, external

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

The mother of a man who was stabbed to death in Birmingham has told BBC WM she will continue her fight against knife crime.

Alex Leonard, 22, was killed in Woodgate Gardens last year after confronting Cameron Martin-Leon, 17, who was drunk.

Image source, Family handout

Police said Martin-Leon, from Bartley Green, had stabbed him in the chest after a "minor disagreement escalated". He died later in hospital.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Martin-Leon was convicted of murder and sentenced a minimum of 14 years in prison.

BBC News Travel

Part of the A5 on the Shropshire/Wales border is still closed this morning after a lorry load of cheese overturned, police say.

It's happened on the southbound side which is closed between the A483 and the Gledrid roundabout.

Police say the load of cheese was shed by the lorry at about 01:00 but it's now been removed - however the road may need to be repaired.

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

Shrewsbury Town are within 90 minutes of a Wembley final after beating Oldham last night in the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy.

Image source, Getty Images

Stefan Payne (pictured) fired Shrewsbury ahead after just 16 seconds with his 11th goal of the season.

Oldham equalized midway through the second-half but Alex Rodman won the game with a curling effort in the dying minutes.

BBC Midlands Today

Three of the 10 worst areas in the UK for child poverty are in Birmingham, according to a report published this morning by the End Child Poverty Coalition., external

It says in Ladywood and Hodge Hill, more than half of all children there live in poverty.

Its definition of poverty is households with an income below 60% of the UK's average.

In contrast in the research, neighbouring Sutton Coldfield has one of the lowest rates in the country.

BBC Midlands Today

An 11-year-old girl who chased a burglar out of her family home has been presented with a bravery award by West Midlands Police.

The force says Robyn Birdsell found him filling a rucksack with valuables at her home in Sutton Coldfield in June and chased him into the garden. , external

The audience at last night's ceremony heard how he escaped, but because of her evidence, the force says he was later jailed.