A recovery operation is under way to move a lorry from the M6 in Staffordshire which is blocking the carriageway between junctions 15 and 16.

It follows a multi-vehicle crash.

Traffic at a standstill in the area is expected to be released soon, Highways England says.

The men are accused of taking part in an illegal rally through Solihull and Birmingham in June 2016.

A lorry driver has been cut from his cab after a four-vehicle crash that closed the M6 between junctions 15 and 16 in Staffordshire, the fire service says.

Two cars collided with two lorries just north of Keele Services.

Worcestershire may have to move their first home game against Notts following the customary flood problem at New Road.

The M6 is expected to be closed between junctions 15 and 16 for a number of hours following a multi-vehicle crash, the Highways Agency says.

Image source, CPMG

Northbound traffic is being told to leave the motorway at junction 15 due to the incident north of Keele services in Staffordshire.

The M6 has been closed northbound between junctions 15 and 16 in Staffordshire after a crash involving two lorries and two cars.

Highways England says the collision is serious.

One of the lorries has jack-knifed, blocking the carriageway.

There are diversions in place.

Darts legend Bobby George says friend and one-time rival Eric Bristow "smoked, drank and lived on curry".

Trudy Bates' father, brother, cousin and family friend have already been jailed.

Tasmin Humphries has more than 1,600 items dedicated to the superhero.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A naked intruder fled from a house in Stoke-on-Trent after the owner returned to find him in the bath., external

Police said the man had also made himself a drink at the property in Longton, on Wednesday night.

A 36-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on suspicion of burglary but later released without charge.

Officers are calling it a highly unusual, but isolated incident and add that the man's safeguarding needs have been addressed.

David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

Farmers in the West Midlands could be wasting thousands of pounds and putting the health of their livestock at risk because they don't keep vital medicines at the right temperature.

A survey of fridges used on farms for storing vaccines revealed that none of them were set correctly.

Some were so cold they would render the medication useless.

Express and Star

Among the main stories on the Express and Star website today are:

• M6 blocked for seven hours as man seriously injured in lorry crash, external
• Firearms police hunt machete-wielding offender after man struck by car, external
• Teacher banned over messages to 14-year-old girl, external

Police officers in Warwickshire fired a Taser nine times in the last three months of 2017, according to new figures. , external

Four of them were used in incidents around Rugby, with the others in Bedworth, Atherstone and Greys Mallory in the south of the county.

Officers also drew firearms seven times, but didn't shoot.

In total, officers used force to restrain people on more than 350 occasions between October and December last year.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's been a morning for great sunrise photos and our BBC Weather Watcher volunteers haven't disappointed.

Here are three from across our region:

Image source, Jon

Image source, KarenJ

Image source, Walty

Refugees, asylum seekers and homeless people in Coventry are set to benefit from a film that's been shot in the city, charities say.

Image source, Peter Dunn

Props from the set of Christmas movie Nativity 4 have been donated to two city charities that help the needy during the festive period.

Carriers of Hope fill bags handed out to refugees and Coventry Open Christmas helps churches open their doors to homeless people.

Natasha Lees from the Open Christmas scheme said tinsel, lights and wreaths were among the goods.

"Having the shelter decorated gives the guests who wouldn't normally have any kind of Christmas a real homely feel and will make it feel like they're part of a family."

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star's main stories today include:

• Man hit shopper with axe in fight at Telford supermarket, external
• Mayor demands better new homes in Shrewsbury planning row, external
• Move to allay fears of rates shock for Shropshire community groups, external

A man who dumped a hamster in a park along with an H&M carrier bag containing sawdust was seen leaving the scene with an empty cage.

After he got rid of the hamster, the RSPCA said, he asked the "shocked" witness whether she liked animals - and offered it to her.

Image source, RSPCA

The charity said she was worried she wouldn't be able to catch the loose critter and asked the man to leave the cage - which she used to take it home before contacting RSPCA officers.

"There is never an excuse to abandon an animal like this and to dump a hamster in a park and leave him open to the elements as well as predators is almost condemning him to death," a spokesperson said.

The animal - which is set to be re-homed - was dumped in Newhall Park, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, on 3 April. The bag also contained hamster food and toys.

Image source, RSPCA

A 73-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of murder, was taken ill at the scene and is in hospital.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Worcestershire's New Road ground is still largely under water after recent heavy rain.

However, it hasn't stopped the club going ahead with its press day before the new season - having found what looks like the only patch of dry land for a team photo.

A man's been arrested on suspicion of murder after the discovery of a woman's body at a property in Solihull, police said., external

Officers were called to Coralin Close, Chelmsley Wood, shortly before 01:30 and the 51-year-old woman was pronounced dead a short time later.

The man, 73, who was also at the address, was taken to hospital after being taken ill.

Officers say they are treating the death as an "isolated domestic incident" and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.