BBC Business News

Several stores across the West Midlands are being shut by retailer Carpetright as part of a restructuring plan.

Image source, PA

The firm's cutting 300 jobs and recently said it had started talks with lenders to ensure it does not breach the terms of its bank loans.

The chain is planning a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which will allow to it to shut the worst-performing stores and ask for rent concessions on another 113 sites.

The 92 stores it's closing include branches in Birmingham Stechford, Dudley, Kidderminster, Lichfield, Stafford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Telford and Walsall.

BBC Midlands Today

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner is hosting a meeting today to try and cut down on car thefts.

David Jamieson's already written to online retailers asking them to stop selling products , externalwhich he claims help criminals steal cars.

While the products aren't illegal, he says he wants access to items such as key programmers to be restricted.

Such devices work by taking information from a car's computer and allowing a key to be cloned by a thief.

Today he's challenging motor manufacturers to find solutions to combat the crime.

David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

Farmers across the Midlands are counting the cost of a very soggy start to the year.

There have been several flood alerts and warnings for the region over the past few weeks, including during the snow from the 'Beast from the East' in February and early March.

Image source, Environment Agency

Many crops are at least a month behind where they'd normally be at this time of year while other crops like barley and potatoes have yet to be planted at all.

Farmers have told the BBC that plenty of livestock are still inside winter quarters because it's just too wet to turn them out.

BBC Sport

It was silver for Evie Richards this morning in women's mountain biking at the Commonwealth Games.

Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images

The 21-year-old from Malvern was overtaken by team-mate Annie Last who scooped the gold.

Richards was 48 seconds behind her after battling with Last for much of the race after the pair had pulled clear of the field on the first lap.

BBC News Travel

An entry slip road to the M5 near Droitwich is closed this morning because a wide load's suffered a puncture., external

Highways England says it's happened on the southbound side at junction five and they're diverting traffic to the next junction down.

Image source, Highways England

BBC Sport

Wolves are now within two points of promotion to the Premier League after beating Derby County last night.

Image source, PA

Ruben Neves scored the goal of a lifetime in the 2-0 win, hammering a stunning 30-yard volley into the top corner shortly after the break to seal the win.

Earlier, Diogo Jota's neat early lob set Wolves on the way to a 15th home win of the season.

They will now secure a return to the Premier League if they beat local rivals Birmingham City on Sunday.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

It's a cloudy start for most of the West Midlands with a chance of some rain around already, here's the rest of Thursday's weather forecast:

You can get the latest weather forecast for your part of the West Midlands by heading to the BBC Weather website at any other time.

Allen Cook
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.

Ruben Neves' stunning 30-yard volley helps Wolves to victory over Derby and leaves them needing two points for promotion.

James Hurst missed a court appearance last week after being caught drink-driving in Wrexham.

Oldham and Walsall ease their relegation fears with an entertaining draw at Boundary Park which all but relegates Bury from League One.

Shrewsbury defender Toto Nsiala is to be fitted for a new mask after rejecting the one he wore at Wembley on Sunday.

A 14-year-old girl was also injured outside Villa Park after the team's win over Cardiff City.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

That's it for us this evening. We'll be back with more live news, sport, travel and weather updates from 07:00 on Thursday.

In the meantime, keep an eye on the page for more stories being published through the night and into the morning.

Fly-tippers who dumped paint tins and bags of rubbish were caught when a trail of paint led back to their home.

The householders have been fined £400 for dumping the rubbish at the top of an alleyway behind their home.

Image source, Sandwell Council

Council officers noticed a trail of pale pink splashes leading from the alleyway, through a back gate and onto the back lawn of a house.

The people living there initially denied dumping anything – but when officers looked inside their home, they could see the lounge had recently been painted the same colour.

They then admitted dumping the paint pots and rubbish bags.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

A street called Bell End in Rowley Regis will keep its name, despite calls for the "rude" road name to be changed.

A decision which has made many of you on the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external happy.

A petition was started in January by someone claiming the "offensive" name makes residents a laughing stock and children a target for bullies.

But thousands signed a counter-petition to keep the "historic" name.

Image source, PA

Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire

Three teenagers have been charged , externalafter three men were stabbed in Telford this week.

Image source, Google

It happened on the Beverley roundabout on Monday and police say the three victims, aged 14-19, have since been released from hospital.

Two 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old have each been charged with three counts of section 20 assault and one count of violent disorder.

A vigil is being held for a woman who was stabbed outside a church where she is a member.

The woman, who is in her early 30s, remains in a "critical condition", West Midlands Police said.

Rev Timothy Fox said members of the Eritrean Orthodox congregation use St Margaret's Church in Coventry to worship and were holding an Easter service, after which the woman was stabbed.

A 26-year-old from Coventry has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

In a statement, the church said it expresses its "profound sorrow and grief over the violent attack".

"We are shocked and saddened that this attack took place as the Eritrean Orthodox community met to celebrate Easter day.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim, and family, at this most difficult of times."

A prayer vigil has been organised for this Saturday at 15:00. All are welcome.

BBC Sport

Birmingham high jumper Robbie Grabarz says he's "not enjoying competing at the moment" after an underwhelming display in the final at the Commonwealth Games.

Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images

The 30-year-old high jumper failed to clear 2.21m - 16cm short of his personal best - to go out in the early stages.

The five-time British champion also struggled at the World Indoor Championships in March, where he finished ninth after failing at 2.25m.

BBC Shropshire

These are the remains of a dishwasher after it started a fire in a home today., external

Image source, Shropshire Fire Service

It happened at Cloverley Hall Farm, Calverhall near Whitchurch, Shropshire and spread to a fridge, cupboards and the ceiling of the kitchen.

Shropshire Fire Service says a woman needed treating at the scene after breathing in smoke and they found the blaze started accidentally.

Image source, Shropshire Fire Service