BBC Business News

Melrose's hostile bid for GKN, based in Redditch, took an extraordinary turn on Thursday when major customer Airbus stepped in to say it wouldn't give business to the FTSE 100 engineering group if the bid went ahead.

Image source, GKN

Rachel Reeves, chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, agreed with the rationale behind Airbus's statement, and told the Today programme: "I think there is a strong case for the Secretary of State for Business Greg Clark for calling in this takeover on grounds of national security because GKN does supply companies like Airbus and others, Rolls-Royce for example, who have defence contracts.

"There are grounds for looking at this much more closely."

You can follow further developments on the BBC Business News Live feed.

A historic locomotive trapped when a bin lorry hit a railway bridge at the beginning of the week is set to take part in a heritage steam event after arriving in Shropshire by road.

Tornado, built by a group of rail enthusiasts in 2008 at a cost of £3m, was the first steam engine to be made in Britain since the 1960s.

The Severn Valley Railway Spring Steam Gala, external starts today and runs through the wekend.

It will see trains run between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster.

A decision on whether the Coventry Half Marathon will go ahead on Sunday will be made at 14:00 said organisers.

Coventry University Students Union, which has taken over the running of this year's event, said it's been speaking to the council and the event's medical director in light of the weather warning for snow, issued by the Met Office.

The race is due to start at 09:00 on Sunday.

A yellow weather warning for snow, issued by the Met Office, external, comes into force shortly after midnight, when a band of rain is likely to turn to snow early on Saturday morning in some parts of the region.

Image source, Met Office

More widespread scattered show showers are likely through the remainder of the day and into Sunday causing some disruption to travel.

A major music festival marking 100 years since the death of French composer Claude Debussy, external will begin in Birmingham today.

The event, which is organised by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, is the largest of its kind in the country.

It will feature concerts, films and talks based on the composer's work.

The festival will involve artistic organisations across the city.

BBC Midlands Today

A women's cancer service is in danger of being split up after a 40% cut in its funding.

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals, which runs the Pan Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre, said it could no longer maintain the high quality service, so had given back the contract.

Former consultant, Charlie Chan, says he fears some patients may not receive the good treatment they previously did.

BBC News Travel

There are long delays building on the M6 southbound at J19, Highways England is warning.

The organisation says motorists should consider using the M40.

Ambulance directors have warned Worcestershire Royal Hospital that immediate action is needed to avoid a “catastrophe” over treatment delays.

A Freedom of information request revealed West Midlands Ambulance Service wrote to the trust that runs the hospital, saying A&E had "significantly deteriorated" over the last three years and patients were at risk.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals says it takes the concerns seriously and accepted that some patients’ experiences were not as good as they would like.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Early rain will be replaced with a mild day with some showers and highs of 12C (54F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

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

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

It's thought a man who's gone missing from his home in Warwickshire could be in Sussex.

Mark Summerton, who's 43 and from Rugby, was last seen in the Midlands on 10 February.

Image source, Sussex Police

His Ford Focus, with the registration FGO7 FXA, was last seen at the Boship roundabout services in Hailsham on 12 March.

It's thought he could also be in the Eastbourne area.

Image source, Sussex Police

Lucy Allan says 'many young girls' have come to her to share their experiences.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 on Friday, but keep an eye out here for more updates before then.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra's Perry Ng says he is willing to play in any position, as long as he's getting on the pitch.

The 21-year-old has filled in at four different positions this season and says he prefers playing in the middle of the pitch, if he is given a choice.

Image source, crewealex.net

Ng said "it's hard, changing positions" but that he was willing to adapt.

Coventry Telegraph

These are some of the main stories on the Coventry Telegraph website today:

• Schoolgirl forced to take refuge after abduction fears, external
• Victim relives gang attack, external
• First headliner for Godiva Festival 2018 announced, external

BBC Entertainment and Arts

Oscar-winning British short film The Silent Child is to be shown on BBC One on Good Friday, giving UK viewers the first chance to see it.

Image source, Reuters

Written and directed by ex-Hollyoaks stars Rachel Shenton, from Stoke-on-Trent, and Chris Overton, from Staffordshire, the 20-minute film tells of a young deaf girl who struggles to communicate.

Maisie Sly, a six-year-old girl from Swindon, plays the title role.

She travelled to Los Angeles earlier this month to attend the Oscars and see her film named a winner.

Plans for an Olympic-standard equestrian training centre at the Staffordshire home of Paralympian Sir Lee Pearson have been approved by Moorlands District Council.

It will be built on greenbelt land at his house in Bagnall.

Image source, Getty Images

About 200 tyres have been dumped on country lanes in the Telford area.

Environmental enforcement officers from Telford and Wrekin Council said 96 were counted on Drummery Lane, near Wrockwardine, and more than 100 along the Rodway to Kynnersley road.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

BBC School Report

Today we’ve interviewed students taking part in School Report Day at BBC Birmingham.

We’ve also tried our hand at presenting the weather, commentating and visited a radio studio.

It’s been a really enjoyable day learning about journalism – maybe one day we’ll be copycats.

BBC Sport

Shrewsbury Town's Dean Henderson and Aston Villa's Josh Onomah have both been included in England's under-21 squad for matches against Romania and Ukraine.

The first of those games will be played at Wolverhampton's Molineux stadium and has been named the Cyrille Regis International, in memory of the late West Brom footballer.

Image source, Getty Images

Henderson is on loan at Shrewsbury from Manchester United, while Onomah is a Tottenham player.