More than 90,000 people have already bought tickets to see Dippy at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website has these top stories today:

• Thug left terrified ex fearing for her life after three attacks in the space of a fortnight, external
• Funeral set to be held for biker killed in A500 smash, external
• Massive rise in patients waiting longer than 12 hours at A&E, external

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

The new train operator for the region, West Midlands Railway, has admitted performance across its services has got worse since it took over.

The number of trains cancelled or classed as being seriously late has risen from 2.9% under London Midlands to 5.1% under West Midlands Railway, external.

While punctuality went down from 90% to 85.6%.

The company, which took over from London Midland in December, admits that the honeymoon is over but is blaming a hard winter for some of its woes.

Two men continue to be questioned by officers investigating an "unprovoked" stabbing in Birmingham last week.

The attack happened at Roj Roj Fish and Chips on Smallbrook Queensway on 17 May.

The victim is still being treated in hospital for serious stab wounds to the chest and legs, police say.

Two 20-year-old men were arrested at addresses in Nechells and Edgbaston yesterday, and police have been given more time to question them on suspicion of attempted murder.

Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Worcester Warriors' Jack Singleton is among four uncapped players named in the England side against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Teammate Nick Schonert will start from the bench, but there's no place for Worcester's Ben Te'o and Ollie Lawrence.

The Barbarians have named a strong squad for the Twickenham clash, with former England winger Chris Ashton and Scotland fly-half Finn Russell part of a star-laden backline.

Visitors to the Biggest Weekend events in Coventry on Sunday and Monday are being encouraged to book parking arrangements in advance.

About 30,000 people are expected at the city's War Memorial Park on each day for the events headlined by Liam Gallagher and Nigel Kennedy.

Coventry City Council's events manager Lee House said some of the roads around the park would be fully or partially closed to allow ticket-holders access.

Parking is available on-site, as well as a local park and ride service., external

Network Rail is carrying out a major signalling project between Birmingham New Street and Coventry, so passengers are being warned of delays.

Sales of homes in England and Wales for over £1m have hit a new high. How many were sold near you?

Andre Thomas has appeared before magistrates accused of the murder of Daniel Blount.

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these top stories today:

• 'Cowardly' robbers jailed after Worcester shop raid, external
• Search for Jesse Richards' body after brutal murder nine years ago, external
• Children hurt when school ceiling collapses during lesson, external

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

Four people are believed to have been hurt, including suffering stab wounds, in a brawl which reportedly involved some masked youths. , external

Police say they got reports of people fighting on Mickelton Close, Redditch on Wednesday night.

Image source, Google

Officers believe a group of 10 or more youths attacked another group with weapons and then left in two vehicles.

Two men who were stabbed needed hospital treatment and police are carrying out extra patrols in the area.

A vehicle has crashed off the road on the B4027 between Brinklow and Coombe Abbey in Warwickshire.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Police are warning of slippery road surfaces, and say they've attended several crashes today.

BBC News Travel

Just one lane's open on the M5 southbound near Halesowen this morning due to flooding.

Police say that, while the whole motorway was shut between J2 and J3 earlier this morning, the northbound side's reopened but just one lane's open on the south side., external

A man has been charged with murder following a fatal shooting in Birmingham.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Taimoor Zaheer, 22, (pictured) was discovered in a car in Maxwell Avenue, Handsworth on Tuesday and died at the scene.

Anib Khan, 23, is due to appear before Birmingham Magistrates' Court today.

Zaheer's family said his loss had "left a void in our family that will never be filled".

A man's been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with the murder of a van driver, killed in a crash.

Daniel Blount, 31, was fatally injured in the crash on Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, on 25 April.

Andre Thomas, 25, of Cradley Croft, Handsworth, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' today, also accused of wounding two other men with intent.

He is next due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday 29 May.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A toddler has been airlifted to hospital after falling out of a first-floor window.

The ambulance service says it happened on Fearns Avenue, Bradwell, Newcastle-under-Lyme at around 17:00 yesterday.

Image source, Google

The 18-month-old girl was conscious when crews arrived, but needed emergency treatment.

Staffordshire Police says she suffered minor injuries and is in a stable condition at the Alder Hay Children's Hospital, Liverpool.

A Blue Peter time capsule that was accidentally dug up by construction workers, has gone on show in Birmingham.

The Millennium Time Capsule contains British coins, Teletubby dolls, a photograph of Diana, Princess of Wales, letters from viewers about life at the time, an insulin pen and asthma inhaler.

It has been kept in a secret location after it was unearthed 33 years earlier than planned in February last year.

It will tour around the UK - starting in Birmingham - to celebrate the famous children's TV show's 60th birthday year, before the items are finally sealed and stored in The National Archives later this year.

It will be on show at the Mailbox in Birmingham until Tuesday 5 June, and if you pop by today you might bump into some of the current Blue Peter presenters.

Allen Cook
BBC News

There's more local One-Day Cup action for Worcestershire and Warwickshire today.

The Pears are at Durham, hoping to follow up their opening two wins in the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

While Warwickshire visit Lancashire, aiming to build on their first One-Day Cup win over Yorkshire.

You can stay up-to-date on the games through the BBC Cricket website or BBC local radio commentary.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The rain today might be welcome by gardeners, but police are warning of flash flooding on roads across the West Midlands.

The Central Motorway Police Group says there's flooding on both sides of the M5 near Halesowen, between J2 and J3, blocking the northbound carriageway under the viaduct, external.

Image source, Foggy

While West Mercia Police reports, external plenty of other roads are "suffering from standing water and Worcestershire County Council says there are flash flooding reports on the A448 in Bromsgrove., external

Birmingham Live

Some of the main stories on the Birmingham Live website this morning include:

• Judes reject killer driver's appeal to cut sentence, external
• Teenage boy arrested over Small Heath road rage stabbing, external
• Signed guitar boosts charity auction for pub bomb campaign, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

The controlled explosion we told you about in Shropshire overnight was triggered by reports of a suspicious car next to a railway station car park.

Police say they were called at about 20:00 last night to the area on Station Road, Whitchurch.

Image source, Google

The force says the car was examined and a suspicious package found which was made safe by bomb disposal experts., external

However British Transport Police says that, after this, the car was then "not deemed to be suspicious" and they're making more inquiries.