Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Ballot papers in Walsall and Rugby are being wheeled in...

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

Latest polls suggest Labour will have retained those councils they currently hold, but may struggle to gain much new ground.

This in itself would pose serious questions for Jeremy Corbyn’s party at a time in the electoral cycle when those parties that are in opposition at Westminster need to demonstrate significant support in local government as a platform for the build-up towards the next general election.

The Conservatives will hope to limit the damage in some places and gain ground in others in order to offset expected losses elsewhere in the country, especially in London.

The Green Party have again been mounting a concerted challenge. They were the official opposition in Solihull’s outgoing council and have fielded more candidates than UKIP across our region as a whole.

Laura Francis
Broadcast Journalist, BBC WM

I'm in Walsall tonight at the University of Wolverhampton.

I met Steve Chapman, the Bloxwich team leader, who has worked on local elections for more than 30 years.

Steve monitors between five and seven polling stations which he says are checked three times a day.

Power cuts, floods and problems with ramps - Steve has seen it all.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

It's not just about Birmingham.

Several of our other councils are on an electoral knife-edge. In Dudley, Labour need just two more seats for an overall majority that would overturn the minority Conservative administration.

And in Walsall, Labour need just three more seats for a majority. Here, as elsewhere around the Black Country, much will depend on which of the two biggest parties benefits more if people who supported UKIP the last time these seats were contested four years ago were now to switch their votes elsewhere.

Worcester is another key contest. The Conservative minority administration needs just one more seat for a majority. But Labour need just two more for a majority of their own, albeit they require a bigger swing.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

...and the first box has arrived at Walsall for the Paddock Ward.

And in Nuneaton and Bedworth votes for the Poplar ward have arrived.

In Wolverhampton - no sign yet.... but volunteers are poised.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

They're not counting in Birmingham until Friday but it is the first time in 14 years all seats at the council have been up for election.

These have been among the most unpredictable elections for many years. It may prove difficult to identify coherent trends because I expect both the Conservatives and Labour to make progress in some places and to sustain losses in others.

The one certainty is that Birmingham’s new council will look very different, whatever has been happening in the polling stations.

The number of councillors is reduced from 120 to 101 but the number of wards increases, and they’ll have new boundaries too.

In the outgoing council, Labour held almost twice as many seats all the other parties put together, so the Conservatives will hope to make at least some progress in Britain’s biggest local authority.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Good evening from the BBC Birmingham newsroom. The polls have just closed and we are here to bring you all the latest news and results.

Fifteen councils have held elections today.

Counts taking place tonight are at:

• Cannock Chase
• Coventry
• Dudley
• Nuneaton & Bedworth
• Rugby
• Sandwell
• Tamworth
• Walsall
• Wolverhampton
• Worcester.

Some councils aren't counting ballot papers overnight, therefore results for Newcastle-under-Lyme, Birmingham, Solihull, Wyre Forest and Redditch will come in Friday.

BBC journalists and reporters will be keeping us up to date with results and what's going on at the counts throughout the next 24 hours.

If you'd like to get in touch with us - here's how to do it:

• Tweet @BBCMTD, external
• Facebook, external
• Email

Michael Smith and Premier League debutant Rob Cross secure their places in this season's Premier League Darts play-offs.

Warwickshire and former England batsman Jonathan Trott is to retire at the end of the 2018 season.

Honey Ball was bitten on her left index finger trying to remove the bat from her kitchen.

Harry Boniface, who has "profound" learning difficulties, had to leave the show his father was in.

Wayne Madsen hits 144 as Derbyshire finish day one of their Championship match against Warwickshire on top.

That brings to an end our usual coverage for the day, but the Live team will be back from 22:00 tonight with coverage of the local elections in the West Midlands.

Anna Russell
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

A village has come together to celebrate the birthday of its oldest resident.

Gwen Palmer's turned 105 today and she's lived in Cookley, near Kidderminster, in Worcestershire since she was born in 1913.

She's been described by residents to BBC Hereford and Worcester as a "servant to both the village and the church".

Today, her local church, St Peter's, held a special birthday service in her honour.

Warwickshire and former England batsman Jonathan Trott has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2018 domestic season, his county says, external.

He said: "Choosing to retire at the end of the season is something that I have spoken about at length with my family and this is now the right time to look at the next chapter of my career."

Ashley Giles, sport director of Warwickshire CCC, said: “Trotty will be remembered as one the greatest batsmen to have played for Warwickshire and England in the 21st century."

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra have confirmed Callum Ainley has signed a new contract at the club., external

Image source, Crewe Alexandra FC

The 20-year-old has agreed a three-year deal and joins Charlie Kirk and James Jones, who both signed new contracts earlier this week.

Ainley is set to make his 100th appearance for Crewe on Saturday.

Two HMP Birmingham prisoners photographed themselves in officers' helmets during the disturbance.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Thousands of pounds have been stolen in two distraction burglaries this afternoon., external

Image source, Google

Police said in both cases the offenders pretended they were doing work and followed the victims into their homes to be paid.

They say they then got hold of keys to safes at the homes on Wolverhampton Road and Boscomoor Close, Penkridge, and stole cash.

Officers say two men, aged 20 and 23, and a 15-year-old boy, all from Coventry, have been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Warwickshire teenager Henry Brookes took four wickets as Derbyshire were bowled out for 318 at Edgbaston today.

Image source, Getty Images

The Bears then lost Dominic Sibley for six runs before reaching the close at 32-1.

Warwickshire skipper Jeetan Patel also took four wickets but it was Brookes who finally took the wicket of Wayne Madsen who made 144 before being bowled.

Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

There are plans to build flats at Port Vale's football ground., external

Image source, Getty Images

The proposals include three apartments for players and staff to use while they look for somewhere more permanent to live.

If they get the go-ahead, they would be on the corner between the Lorne Street and Hamil Road stands.