One of the best known motorway junctions in the UK has won celebrity praise ahead of its 50th anniversary.

Work started on Spaghetti Junction - officially named Gravelly Hill Interchange - on the M6 in 1968 and took four years to complete.

Highways England says this month marks the anniversary of the start of that work and has released a video of celebrities singing its praises. , external

They include record producer Pete Waterman saying seeing it makes him "think of the record industry" and award-winning chef Glynn Purnell saying it reminds him of "home".

Relegated Stoke City release Stephen Ireland and Glen Johnson as they prepare for life in the Championship.

Worcestershire have lost their one-day match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, after failing to chase down a target of 203.

The hosts were bowled out for 202 with nearly five overs still to be bowled, but only four Worcestershire batsmen were able to get into double figures in their reply and they were bowled out for 164.

Their next game is at home to Northamptonshire on Sunday.

BBC News Travel

Rail lines between Oxford and Worcester Shrub Hill were shut earlier following a fault with the signalling system , externalcaused by severe weather, the Network Rail website reports.

The lines have since reopened and services are beginning to recover; however, they may still be delayed by up to 20 minutes or terminate / start at Worcester Shrub Hill.

Things should be back to normal by approximately 18:30.

Coventry Live
Coventry Live

Here are three stories from the Coventry Telegraph today:

• Arsonists' trail of destruction in Coventry, external
• Driverless cars to be tested on Coventry roads, external
• Road closures for Coventry MotoFest 2018, external

The heavy rain this afternoon might not have lasted long, but it's brought some flash flooding to parts of the region.

These photos were taken in Shrewsbury earlier, where the emergency services had to deal with flooded roads and cars became stuck in the deep water.

Image source, Chris Bainger

Image source, Kevin Quigley

Nine Cadbury's chocolate bars dating back 103 years are to be sold at auction next week, after being discovered among the mementos of a World War 1 soldier.

The Colonies Gift Tins were sent to troops serving in the trenches in France at Christmas 1914.

Image source, Eddisons Auctioneers

The tin was made by Barringer Wallis & Manners of Mansfield and the collection is expected to sell for about £2,000.

The collection of items belonged to a Leicestershire Regiment soldier called Richard Bullimore.

The organisers of this weekend's Coventry MotoFest say they're expecting more than 100,000 people to attend.

It says it aims to be the "largest urban automotive festival in the world", and be the city's equivalent of the Edinburgh Festival.

Image source, Jamie Gray

Organisers have previously described Coventry as the "spiritual home" of the UK motor industry.

In 1950 there as many as 12 manufacturers based in the city - Alvis, Armstrong Siddeley, Daimler, Hillman, Humber, Jaguar, Lanchester, Lea-Francis, Singer, Standard, Sunbeam-Talbot and Triumph.

This weekend's event combines motorsport demonstrations, static displays and races, with some city centre streets closed off for the two days.

BBC Business News

Shares in Sutton Coldfield based funeral provider Dignity have sunk 10% on news that the sector is facing two investigations into pricing.

Image source, PA

The Competition and Markets Authority is to investigate the market to ensure people are getting a good deal, while the Treasury is considering tightening up regulation of the pre-paid funeral market amid concerns consumers are being "ripped off" when they are at their most vulnerable.

Shares in Dignity had halved in January when the company warned on profits and slashed the cost of its "simple" funeral to just under £2,000 amid growing competition.

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

The new Shrewsbury Town manager John Askey says he's grateful to be given the chance at the League One club.

He joins them from Macclesfield Town and added he hopes to repay the faith of the Shrewsbury board.

Askey will look to improve on the success of Paul Hurst, who led the team to third place in the division and the League One play-off final.

Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM

The USA's new trade tariffs on European steel and aluminium will put 4,300 jobs at risk in the West Midlands, a union claims.

Image source, Reuters

Yesterday, the US decided to impose a 25% tax on steel and a 10% tax on aluminium from the EU, Mexico and Canada, from midnight, US time.

The GMB says its total, external for the region includes not only those working to produce steel, but also manufacture items from steel.

In response to the tariffs, the EU has issued a 10-page list of tariffs on US goods ranging from Harley-Davidson motorcycles to bourbon.

A Wellington schoolgirl who designed a duck sculpture that was vandalised in Ironbridge says she's delighted the piece has been repaired.

Artist Nickie Meechan restored the "Peace Duck" for Amber Whitaker after it was pulled from its plinth and thrown in the river.

The duck is one of 10 which form a trail through the Ironbridge gorge, stretching from Jackfield to Dale End Park.

The vandalised duck had been on display outside the Bedlam Furnace.

Port Vale sign midfielder Manny Oyeleke on a one-year contract from National League side Aldershot.

Joanne Malin
BBC Midlands Today

A campaign is being launched in a bid to reverse a decline in the number of swifts in Shropshire.

The Shropshire Wildlife Trust says there's been a nationwide fall of 45% in their population in the last 20 years.

The trust is working with developers to put special "swift bricks" (pictured) into new buildings so the birds have somewhere to nest.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

After the grey start, we've been treated to some sunny spells in the West Midlands this afternoon.

Here's how the forecast is looking for your weekend.

If you want to get a more up-to-date forecast across the weekend for your part of the West Midlands, head to the BBC Weather website.

Keeping Worcester’s old Sansome Walk swimming pool secure has now cost almost £200,000.

It shut in December 2016, but the former leisure centre still hasn’t been sold off by the city council.

Image source, Google

As well as providing security, the authority also had to pay for business rates as well as surveys.

Demolition is now scheduled for August.

A man has needed hospital treatment after reportedly being stabbed.

Image source, Google

Police say they were called to Washwood Heath Road, Ward End, Birmingham, last night.

A man in his 20s was taken to hospital with a back wound which officers say is not thought to be serious.

Matt Lee
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

One of Port Vale's main transfer targets, Chesterfield striker Kristian Dennis, has chosen to sign for League Two rivals Notts County.

It's not known how much they paid, but Vale had a bid for him, believed to be around £100,000, turned down.

Image source, Getty Images

Port Vale are still hoping to sign the former Crewe striker Billy Waters and a deal is being worked on, with the hope if could be completed early next week.

West Bromwich Albion's teenage forward Jonathan Leko signs a new, improved deal with the Championship club.

BBC News UK

A visiting motorcyclist has been fined after admitting riding his bike along closed roads at the Isle of Man TT.

Jason Horn, 44, from Stoke-on-Trent, admitted overtaking the roads open car - which checks the road before it is reopened to the public - following Tuesday's practice session.

Image source, Manx Scenes

Magistrates fined him £400 with costs of £50 at Douglas courthouse.

The court heard Mr Horn handed himself into police after seeing a publicised appeal about the incident.

Speaking after the sentencing, he told Manx Radio he was lucky not to have been jailed.