BBC News England

A number of roadworks across the region will remain in place over the Easter weekend.

Here's some which might hamper the big bank holiday getaway:

• M6 Junction 2 to 4, near Coventry - Narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit - 11.8 miles
• M6 junction 8 to M5 junction 3, near Oldbury, West Midlands - Reduced speed limit - seven miles
• M5 junction 5 to 4a (northbound), near Bromsgrove, West Midlands - Reduced speed limit - 2.6 miles

Image source, BBC/Getty

The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries in Wolverhampton city centre.

The Melrose Industries takeover of Redditch-based GKN has been described as a "bleak day" for British industry.

Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington, said after the GKN takeover vote: "Today is a bleak day for British industry.

Image source, Labour Party

"Britain's takeover rules are in desperate need of reform. Yet again, as in the Kraft takeover of Cadbury's, we have seen a jewel in the crown of British industry sold off because its shares were bought up by hedge funds."

He's called on the government to intervene and not let a "259-year-old British engineering icon like GKN" be taken over.

Worcester News

Some of today's main stories on the Worcester News website today are:

• School evacuated after four schools receive threatening email, external
• Burst water main affecting traffic near Upton, external
• Maundy money from the Queen, external

BBC Business News

Melrose Industries has won control of the UK engineering giant GKN, which is based in Redditch.

The investment company said it had the support of approximately 52.43% of GKN investors.

Melrose, which specialises in turning around manufacturing companies, had offered £8.1bn for the company.

BBC Weather Watchers

Here are a couple of lovely pictures taken by the BBC Weather Watchers.

Thornhill Watch sent this one in from Hednesford.

Image source, Thornhill Watch

Laura and Glenn took this photo in Delph.

Send us your weather pictures here.

Image source, Laura and Glenn

A train travelling at 85mph (137km/h) almost struck the driver of a stationary train at Stafford station, while he was out of his carriage looking at a brake fault.

Image source, Virgin Trains

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is examining the circumstances of the near miss, external which happened on 2 March.

The driver was between the "up and down Stafford fast lines" when almost struck by the train travelling northbound, it said.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Wasps and Coventry Rugby will meet in a pre-season friendly at the Butts Park Arena, it's been announced.

The match, on 25 August, is the first time the two clubs have played since the Premiership club's moved to the city.

Express and Star

Here are some of the stories being covered in the Express and Star today:

• 'I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone': Parents whose baby boy died of a brain injury at Russells Hall Hospital, external
• The father and son who raided 94-year-old woman’s home after, external conning their way in
• Wolverhampton councillors remain the region's lowest , externalpaid

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Figures show that businesses in Coventry city centre received a major boost from the pilot Shop Front Festival held last Friday and Saturday.

Image source, Andrew Moore

More than 70 performances were staged in shops, cafes, and public spaces as well as disused units by 36 artists or companies.

Footfall across the two days was up by almost 20,000 on the same days the previous week, said Coventry Business Improvement District.

Image source, Andrew Moore

The festival was presented by Chris O’Connell and Julia Negus, of Theatre Absolute, and included involvement from more than 100 young people.

Image source, Andrew Moore

Two men are in custody following a police chase in Stoke-on-Trent in the early hours of this morning.

Officers immobilised the Renault Clio using a stinger on King Street, in Longton, at about 02.30 after it was spotted on the A50 with a headlight and identified as having no insurance.

The pair, both in their 20s and of no fixed address, were arrested for aggravated vehicle taking. One was also arrested for driving without insurance.

Stourbridge News

Some of the main stories in the Stourbridge News today are:

• Primary school removes toilet paper from pupil bathrooms, external
• Homeless man died due to alcohol intoxication, inquest hears, external
• Vows to help art students who must redo coursework, external

Image source, Stourbridge News

Antonia Payne Cheney needs life-saving surgery, so her friends hope the stunt will raise awareness.

A Coventry-based energy firm has been ranked as the worst performer for customer services by the charity Citizens Advice.

Image source, Getty Images

Economy Energy scored just 1.2 stars out of a possible 5 for its customer services between October and December.

The new ranking of energy companies raised "serious questions" about licensing rules for smaller firms, the consumer organisation warned.

An Economy Energy spokesman said the company was "disappointed" and figures related to a period "when we were relocating our outsourced offshore operations to a new £4m contact centre in Coventry".

Citizens Advice said the number of new and smaller suppliers at the bottom of the table was "further evidence of the need for Ofgem to tighten its licensing rules".

A driver suffered serious injuries when his car crashed and ended up in a ditch near Rugby, Warwickshire, last night.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Mere Lane, in Copston Magna, shortly before 23:30.

The man was taken to hospital where his condition was described as critical.

Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, commissioned for the consecration of Coventry Cathedral, will be performed in the city, external to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

Image source, Coventry Cathedral

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with accompanying choirs will perform the piece as part of the Cathedral's Plumb Line Arts Festival in November.

The requiem was first performed at the cathedral in May 1962.

It was also played as part of the the cathedral's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Stoke manager Paul Lambert tells Ibrahim Afellay to stay away from the club so the Dutch forward will play no further part in their battle to avoid relegation.

A three-year-old girl has a suspected broken leg after a crash involving a bin lorry, police say.

A woman in her 30s has also been taken to hospital with "serious injuries" after the collision near Princes Square, Wolverhampton, West Midlands Police said.

The crash scene is close to the Grand Theatre in the city centre. Nearby Lichfield Street has been cordoned off while investigations are carried out.

Image source, Express and Star

The force said it happened at about 11:00 this morning and traffic is being diverted.

Det Sgt Paul Hughes, said: "This investigation is in its early stages and we are trying to establish exactly what happened, and are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to contact us."

A Stafford woman taking part in the Commonwealth Games says she's enjoying being part of a "crazy bunch" of people.

Beth Cobden is part of the Netball squad that will compete at the games in Gold Coast, Australia.

The 25-year-old is currently with 400 other athletes and coaches at the camp in Brisbane.

The Sentinel

Here are some of the stories The Sentinel is looking at today:

• 18-year-old arrested after hoax threats sent to schools, external
• Super fan gran-of-24 fulfills dream to, external meet Tom Jones
• Landlady taken to court after kicking, external out tenants in rent row