A major police operation is taking place in Worcester this morning.

The West Mercia force says officers are conducting a number of pre-planned warrants across the city as part of an ongoing investigation.

Kevin Purcell, the Policing Commander for South Worcestershire says the warrants are not related to terrorism and there's no wider risk to the public

Six giant animal statues are being installed in Shrewsbury, to encourage people to come to the town despite street closures caused by major roadworks.

The Shrewsbury Business Improvement District group has brought them in, to sit at the bottom of Wyle Cop, where work is taking place.

Image source, West Mercia Police

The group said they would remain there for the next fortnight.

The West Midlands as a whole has seen personal debt rise by almost 30% between 2013 and 2017.

That's despite average wages growing by just 6%.

The data published by UK Finance covers 60% of personal loans made by banks and building societies in the UK - it excludes student loans, credit cards and payday lending.

Coventry has seen one of the biggest rises in the amount of unsecured personal debt anywhere in the UK, new figures suggest.

Data published by UK Finance shows it's gone up 38% in the last four years.

Figures show the value of outstanding personal loans in Great Britain has grown four times faster than wages.

More than half of postcode areas in Great Britain have seen unsecured lending amounts increase by more than 25%.

A lung and transplant surgeon at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital is being appointed an MBE at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace today.

Image source, University Hospitals Birmingham

Majid Mukadam has spent the last six years encouraging the Asian community to join the organ donor register.

An estimated 25,000 people have signed up to the donor register from talks he has given in the local community.

He'll be joined by singers Emeli Sande and Sandie Shaw, who were all recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours last year.

Fencing has been erected around the clock at Priorslee's clock tower roundabout in Telford.

Telford and Wrekin Council said it made the move after concerns were raised about its condition.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

Discussions are under way with a view to carrying out repairs and securing its future.

Coventry's Godiva Festival will take place on August bank Holiday instead of the more familiar summer date, the city council has announced.

Image source, Coventry City Council

The festival has been moved to 31 August in order for the park to host the BBC's Biggest Weekend in May.

The three-day-event is one of the UK's biggest free music festivals.

A Birmingham MP is to hand over a petition to the leader of the city council calling for traffic calming measures on Belgrave Middleway.

Image source, Getty Images

Preet Gill, who represents Edgbaston, is calling for speed cameras and a central reservation to be put in.

Six people died in a multi-vehicle crash on the underpass in December 2017.

The petition has now reached more than 28,000 signatures.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Following a dry and cold start it is expected to be milder and cloudy today with some outbreaks of rain this afternoon and highs of 9C (48F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

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 "For My Wife" Valentine card costs £2, while the equivalent for husbands sold for £2.50.

That's it for our live coverage today, but look out for more news, sport, travel and weather updates published through the night.

We'll be back from 07:00 on Thursday.

A motion has been put forward by Conservative councillors in Birmingham to scrap parking charges at Cannon Hill Park.

The fees were introduced by the Labour-run authority last October, but the Conservative councillor for Northfield, Debbie Clancy, says she's worried about they're impact on families.

Image source, Google

The council says cuts to their parks budget is part of wider, much-publicised funding reductions which mean they need to find the money for essential works such as surface improvements, CCTV and lighting.

Responding to comments from Telford's MP about railway stations in "little Shropshire villages", Telford and Wrekin Council has said it wants "to see a service delivered which suits all communities".

Its cabinet member responsible for transport, Angela McClements, said the authority had held a meeting with West Midlands Railway last week, to discuss the future of the line and that the meeting was "very productive".

Image source, Google

Mrs McClements also said "the council would not support a move which reduced trains to smaller stations".

She added: "Shifnal is a town which is seeing major growth, and Cosford holds major events every year and residents rely on services to help them attend.

"We have got to support use for those as well and develop services for all communities.”

Warwick Courier

Here's some of the headlines in the Warwick Courier today:

• Greggs’ branch in Kenilworth has been named the best in the West Midlands, external in a national competition
• Taxpayers will have to pay almost 5% more towards public services provided by Warwickshire County Council, external
• The A46 near Warwick and Kenilworth will be closed to drivers overnight as major resurfacing work lasting more than three months starts, external

Another Shropshire maternity unit is set to close overnight.

Services at Oswestry Midwife-Led Unit (MLU) will be temporarily suspended from 20:00 until 08:00 Thursday because of staff sickness

Women who are due to give birth at the hospital will be contacted directly by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust.

Image source, Google Maps

It is the second MLU to close this week, with the unit at Bridgnorth Hospital closed overnight on Tuesday, also due to staff sickness.

During the closure, women will be able to give birth at other county MLUs or the Consultant-Led Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford

A man from Burton-upon-Trent has been jailed for two years and eight months for an attack on a police officer on Christmas Day.

Staffordshire Police said Aaran Birks (below, left), 23, from Greaves Lane in the Hanbury area broke Sergeant Nigel Roberts's leg while resisting arrest.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Birks had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm at a previous hearing and was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court earlier today.

The force said Sgt Roberts needed surgery and won't be able to return to full duties until the summer.

Sikh Federation says there should be an independent inquiry into the "unnecessary" prosecutions.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

Largely staying dry through tonight with clear spells and a little more cloud at times. Chilly once more with a frost developing. Minimum Temperature -3C to 0C (27-32F).

Find out what the next few days have in store.

A secondary school has banned students from growing their nails no longer than 1.5cm (0.5in)

Rawlett School in Tamworth, Staffordshire, said the new "nail legislation" was brought in following requests from parents for consistency.

"Students were involved in drawing up the guidance and since it was issued we've had no further issues.

"It remains in place. A number of parents have contacted us to say they appreciate that the guidance was introduced."

Image source, Chris McGrath/Getty Images

But some people who disagree with the rule have commented on the school's Facebook page.

James Mortimer, who says he was a former head boy at the school, said: "Once again, The Rawlett School has proven that it cares more about how the students look than their actual education.

"There is nothing wrong with looking smart but when I was there, and I know others that feel the same, some members of staff seemed to focus more on your uniform than actually delivering quality education - it is a shame."

While Rachel Edney wrote: "What a silly rule about the nail length. Everyone has different size nails - mine are longer than that without any extra nail at the end."