Telford plants 170,000 daffodils to mark its 50th birthday, one for every resident.

The US space agency's Tess satellite has launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on a mission to find thousands of new worlds beyond our Solar System.

Image source, NASA

Bill Chaplin, Professor at the University of Birmingham's School of Physics and Astronomy, who's working on the mission in Florida said the launch went "perfectly".

"Tess is now in orbit and we're looking forward to getting great data from the mission," he said.

The university is part of an international collaboration which is going to be using data from Tess to study stars, and any planets discovered.

Kevin Reide
Reporter, Midlands Today

A team of scientists from the Midlands have developed machinery for planting daffodils on difficult terrain.

It's the first time the process has been mechanized and is part of a project at Harper Adams University in Shropshire.

Daffodils produce more of a special chemical when planted on hillsides which can be used to make medicines for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

BBC Business News

Shopping centre owner Hammerson, owner of Birmingham's Bullring, is no longer urging its shareholders to vote in favour of its acquiring rival Intu, which owns the Merry Hill and Potteries shopping centres.

Image source, Getty

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, told BBC 5Live Wake Up to Money that Hammerson thought the deal was good and that it was "getting a bargain" but he added "clearly shareholders have pushed back on the deal".

"As soon as Hammerson mentioned it, Hammerson's shares went down," he said.

"I think investors were worried that Hammerson was doubling down on UK retail at a time when there are lots of questions about bricks and mortar versus online and lots of questions over whether Brexit will be good for the UK economy or not."

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Stephen Topping

There are no plans to introduce mandatory 20mph speed limits on roads across parts of Cheshire, the local council says, despite fresh calls to improve road safety.

National campaign group 20's Plenty for Us has repeated its call to Cheshire East Council to lower the speed limit in built-up areas.

There are already advisory 20mph limits outside 160 of the borough's schools, but the group wants them to be mandatory and cover a much wider area.

The council says it's not planning to have blanket limits, but will keep an eye on the issue of speeding along with police.

Residents living in a 10-year-old block of flats in Coventry are being forced to move out because the building is unsafe.

Philmont Court, a shared ownership scheme run by Whitefriars Housing association, needs urgent structural work.

The work on the 44-flat block, in the Tile Hill area of the city, could take up to 40 weeks to complete.

The repairs are being carried out under the National House Building Council guarantee (NHBC).

Whitefriars said it would be "unsafe" for residents to remain in their homes during the work and the NHBC was working with residents to help provide financial support during the move.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Blue skies and sunshine will continue across the whole region today with highs of 24C (75F).

Vanessa Pearce
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.

The US space agency's Tess satellite lifts off on a mission to find thousands of new worlds.

Lynsey Kelly is running the London Marathon to raise money for mental health after suffering PTSD.

Yeovil Town claim their first point of the season and deny Birmingham City the chance to go third in WSL 1.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

BBC Sport

Brighton defender Gaetan Bong says his conscience is clear after his claim of racial abuse against West Brom's Jay Rodriguez was found "not proven".

Image source, PA

Cameroon international Bong said the incident took place during the Baggies' 2-0 win at The Hawthorns on 13 January.

In his evidence to the Football Association, Bong said he was "100% certain" Rodriguez, 28, had racially abused him, but the West Brom player denied he had used racist language.

The FA concluded its investigation into the allegation on 13 April and said it was "completely satisfied" Bong's complaint was made "in absolute good faith".

Following the decision, Rodriguez told the BBC "the truth always comes out".

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Aled Thomas

The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) "effectively ignored" a higher potential offer of £300,000 for a rare number plate, a scrutiny group has concluded.

The AB1 plate, which traditionally went on the chief constable’s staff car in Worcestershire, was removed from sale last year, just three days after being first advertised in a national newspaper.

PCC John Campion sold it to former Chief Constable Paul West for £160,000, leading to accusations that he had undersold the item.

Just a day after it was sold, an offer of about £300,000 was made for the number plate.

Mr Campion had argued that he thought he was legally bound to accept the offer from Mr West.

Today, the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel, external decided he didn't act dishonestly, but made a "serious error" to end the sale process so early.

BBC Weather

Warm with spells of sunshine for the rest of the day, and a high of 21C.

Dry and clear tonight, with a low later of 10C. Check your local weather report here.

Oswestry & Border Counties Advertizer

The Oswestry and Border Counties Advertizer is covering these stories today, among others:

• Faulty second-hand electrical goods could cost lives, warns council, external
• Oswestry woman to take part in Icelandic challenge for mental health awareness, external
• War stories wanted by library to mark centenary, external

Mike Taylor
BBC WM

Wolves, who have recently been promoted to the Premier League, have unveiled their prices for next season, showing a rise of up to 30% for some season tickets.

For 2018-19, season tickets will range from £429 to £549, depending on seats, external. The Cullis/Hayward stand will see prices rise from £345 to £449.

The details have been widely welcomed by fans on social media looking forward to their team playing in the top flight.

However, the cost per game is set to rise more markedly with fans paying for only 19 home matches next year, rather than the 23 in the Championship this season.

Managing director Laurie Dalrymple told Wolves TV: "We’ve taken a number of things into consideration with our ticket strategy for next year, not least evaluating the league we’re going to be in and understanding the opposition we’re going to be playing.

"We also have one eye on the fact we’re going to continue to make significant investment, which won’t just be restricted to the playing side, but every aspect of the club."

BBC Weather Watchers

We hope you're all enjoying the warm weather, it seems like many of you are about and about taking in the sun.

The BBC Weather Watchers have even found time to send in some gorgeous pictures, these have been sent in by Shropshire Lass in Compton Verney, postman Les in Bromyard and Ray in Trench.

Image source, Shropshire Lass

Image source, postman Les

Image source, Ray

Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today

A former captain in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment has today been buried with full military honours., external

It's after Henry John Innes Walker's remains were found a century after his death during World War One.

He was a New Zealander fighting with the British Army when he came under enemy fire in West Flanders in Belgium.

I'll have more on BBC Midlands Today this evening from 18:30.

BBC News Travel

A few journeys home may be delayed due to breakdowns on the railway system.

A fault on a train at Birmingham Snow Hill is causing disruption to journeys through the station, the Network Rail website says, external.

Trains may be delayed by up to 45 minutes.

Image source, Google

And a fault with the signalling system at Leamington Spa is causing cancellations and delays of up to 20 minutes.

Some CrossCountry services between Birmingham and Leamington Spa via Coventry will be diverted via Solihull.

Disruption is expected until 19:00