BBC WM Sport

Former Albion manager Ron Atkinson has told BBC WM Darren Moore should be kept at the club even if he's not given the manager's job full-time.

Image source, Getty Images

Moore has been nominated for manager of the month after an impressive spell in caretaker charge, but the papers are suggesting former Walsall boss Dean Smith and former Baggies coach Michael Appleton are in the running too.

Atkinson said the final decision would be down to the board, but Moore should "certainly be kept around the first team".

BBC News Travel

There are still long delays on the M6 this morning in Cheshire after the multi-vehicle crash southbound.

However Highways England says all lanes between J17 and J16 are now fully open, external after three lorries, a van and a car were involved in the crash.

John Bray
BBC News

A couple are quitting their life in Shropshire to fulfil their dream of setting foot in every country in the world.

Chris Fisher will join his wife Marianne on the global journey - after the 50-year-old donated her kidney to her best friend last year.

Event rider Oliver Townend will begin his attempt at Badminton today to become the third person ever to win the equestrian Grand Slam.

Image source, Getty Images

The 35-year-old, from Dudleston Heath in Shropshire, has already won the Burghley and Kentucky titles this season.

It carries a £255,000 prize and is awarded to any rider who wins consecutive Burghley, Kentucky and Badminton crowns.

A regimental badge, cut into the hillside by soldiers from the Midlands who fought at the Somme, has been restored by villagers in Wiltshire.

Image source, Sutton Mandeville Heritage Trust

The Duke of Kent will officially unveil the badge of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Sutton Mandeville today.

It was scored into the chalk hill by troops encamped in nearby fields while training for the Western Front a hundred years ago.

An original script of the first episode of Doctor Who that was owned by William Hartnell, the first actor to play the role, goes under the hammer in Dudley today.

It features hand-written notes by Hartnell before the series' debut in 1963.

Antiques Roadshow expert Chris Yeo described it as "the DNA of Doctor Who" the "genesis" of the programme.

Birmingham Live

Here are some of the headlines on the Birmingham Live website this morning:

• Revealed: How crack police team smashed deadly new city gangs, external
• Police hunt gunman who stole cash and sweets from Moseley newsagents, external
• Every parent's worst nightmare as newborn baby stops breathing, external

BBC News

People are heading to polling stations across the region to cast their vote in local elections. But what can and can't you do in there - BBC News has been taking a look.

Image source, Getty Images

A search will be launched in Birmingham today for thousands of volunteers to help run the Cricket World Cup next year.

Image source, Getty Images

It's 20 years since England last hosted the men's tournament, when three matches were played at Edgbaston.

They included the famous tied semi-final between Australia and South Africa.

Warwickshire will host five of the biggest fixtures next year including England's game against India

Two emaciated ponies have been found abandoned at Bilston near Wolverhampton.

Image source, RSPCA

One of the ponies had collapsed and was so dehydrated she was shaking uncontrollably, the RSPCA said.

It is appealing for help in tracing whoever was responsible for leaving them in a field without water.

The charity has revealed that the number of rescued horses has reached a four-year high.

A motorcyclist has died in a crash in Stoke-on-Trent, when his bike hit a car on the A500.

Emergency services were called to the southbound carriageway, between the Stoke Road and City Road interchange, at 20:40 yesterday.

A 33-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, has been released pending further investigations.

A schoolboy whose life was in jeopardy when a bone marrow donor couldn't be found, has been sent home from hospital with a clean bill of health.

Tako Ngambi, 11, from Coventry, has spent the last 10 months in Birmingham Children's Hospital after being diagnosed with the rare disease aplastic anaemia, which means the bone marrow and stem cells do not produce enough blood cells.

A transplant from his mother failed but a pioneering technique meant his father's unmatched bone marrow could be used.

The amount of money being spent on locum doctors by NHS trusts across the West Midlands has almost doubled in recent years, an investigation has found.

Five years ago, the costs of agency doctors amounted to £67m. By last year that was up to £121m - an increase of 81%.

It's being blamed on a number of factors including visa difficulties facing doctors from overseas.

Polling stations have just opened across the West Midlands for council elections.

In all, fifteen councils across the region are holding elections today, but in many just a third of seats are going before voters.

Some results will be declared overnight on Friday, including Coventry, Dudley, Worcester and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

The rest, including Birmingham, Redditch and Rugby are being counted during the day on Friday with results expected during the afternoon.

Polling stations close at 22:00 today.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a chilly start, it should stay dry today with some bright or sunny intervals and highs of 14C (57F).

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

Chris and Marianne Fisher sold their belongings and home is now a van they have named Trudy.

Noel Conway, who has motor neurone disease, is appealing to change the law on assisted dying.

Callum Cartlidge would not have survived even if he had gone to a nearby hospital, an inquest hears.

Nightclub events aimed at under-18s were targeted by known child abusers from Telford, a report finds.