It's not just fires that firefighters deal with, they're busy today coming to the rescue of pets adrift.

This "stray" dog was rescued from the canal in Tividale in Sandwell this morning. Firefighters said it was "a good job he had his big coat on".

Image source, Oldbury Fire Station

Crews in Solihull were also on hand to rescue this dog from a frozen pond in Knowle Park in Solihull.

The service has asked that owners keep their pets away from ice and open water, unless their pet is a penguin, external.

Image source, Solihull Fire

Roads have been affected by more than just snow in Staffordshire today as police say falling trees are an issue now in the Cannock area:

Many bin collections across the West Midlands are now suspended as the weather worsens:

The Sentinel

The Sentinel are looking at these stories today:

• Plans revealed to complete last section of city centre ring road, external
• Motorist was over drink-drive limit when he killed woman crossing the road, external
• Drug dealer 'off his head' when he drove double the speed limit through city estate, external

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A village in Staffordshire says it's "cut off" by the snow in the county.

The Twitter account for Fradswell, near Stafford, tweeted today that some snow drifts in the area were "waist deep"., external

They added that main roads in the area are bad but farmers have cleared an emergency route to the village's care home.

A neighbour found 74-year-old Anne James collapsed at her home with suspected knife injuries.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

There won't be a game tomorrow for Port Vale fans:

Giuliano Casadei films outside his home near Newport which is surrounded by huge snowdrifts.

BBC News Travel

There are now no CrossCountry trains between Birmingham New Street and several main cities in the UK, due to the wintry weather., external

The operator says there's no service between the Midlands city and Cardiff or the South West.

There's also no service to Southampton or Bournemouth beyond Reading.

It adds that there's a reduced service to Newcastle Upon Tyne and an hourly one to Manchester.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after 74-year-old Anne James was found dead at her home with knife wounds on Wednesday.

Image source, Family handout

West Midlands Police said she was found collapsed by a neighbour at about 18:15 on Wednesday in Doveridge Place, Highgate, Walsall. The force suspects she was attacked between late morning and 17:00 the same day.

A post-mortem examination will take place later today to establish the exact cause of Ms James's death.

Det Supt Tom Chisholm said police have made "significant progress" in their investigation, and will be questioning the 25-year-old today.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A number of flights to and from Birmingham Airport are cancelled or delayed this morning, but the airport itself remains open.

Passengers are being advised to check with their airline and allow extra time to travel to the airport., external

More roads in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are being reported as impassable or very difficult by the emergency services.

They include the A4137 in Herefordshire, external and Offerton Lane in Worcestershire., external

Image source, Herefordshire Council

Meanwhile, Sandwell Council say that, through gritting all this week, they have put down more than 550 tonnes of salt on roads in their area., external

All bin collections in Birmingham have been suspended today, external with the city council saying it's due to current weather conditions.

They say they will collect on people's next scheduled collection date and will allow a "reasonable" amount of bagged waste by bins.

The University of Birmingham has said the campus is open despite the snow, however it will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day.

The estates team said it had been ploughing the snow and gritting the campus in the early hours of this morning.

An open day for applicants, due to take place tomorrow, may be disrupted.

The university will release further updates here, external.

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star are looking at these stories:

• Plea to Secretary of State in Shropshire Council allowances row, external
• Hundreds of schools shut as snow blocks Shropshire roads, external
• Oswestry water fountains call to cut back on plastics use, external

BBC News Travel

There are delays on the M6 southbound in Cheshire this morning as a trailer became detached from the lorry pulling it., external

Cheshire Police says there are a number of breakdowns between junctions 19 and 18.

Image source, Cheshire Police

BBC News Travel

More rail services have been suspended this morning, this time between Stourbridge Junction and Worcester., external

West Midlands Trains says there will be replacement buses between the stations.

A man who admitted taking two hostages with a sawn-off shotgun and a samurai sword in a four-hour siege at a bowling alley is due to be sentenced later.

David Clarke, 53, was arrested on October 22 after entering MFA Bowl on St Davids Way, Bermuda Park, Nuneaton, demanding to speak to his ex-girlfriend.

Members of the public were threatened by Clarke with knives to their throats and a shotgun to the back of the head.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Children as young as five were present in the building at the time of the attack and some people were told to obey orders or "you are not going to see tomorrow".

Clarke, of Ryde Avenue, Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment, possessing a prohibited firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possessing a samurai sword and a knife.

Image source, PA

Snow ploughs are out clearing paths but many rural areas and side roads are treacherous.

The amber weather warning for snow's now been lifted by the Met Office for part of the West Midlands.

However, the organisation still has a yellow alert in place for snow and ice which is set to run until just before midnight tonight.

Image source, Met Office

The Met Office says that means there could still be snow showers today or longer spells of snow at times., external