We've had the turnout figures in for the West Midlands Mayor and West Midands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections - and they're both up on last time.

The mayoral turnout was 31.2%, up from 26.7% in 2017.

And the PCC turnout was very similar - 31.02%, up from 27.7% in 2016.

Elizabeth Glinka
Political Editor, BBC Midlands

It's a very tight race for the West Midlands mayor, but there's still a possibility that Conservative incumbent Andy Street will win on first preferences.

He started the race by seeking to put distance between himself and central government, but as the Conservative's popularity became clear, he began to emphasise his access to No 10.

For Labour, not getting into a second round would be a huge blow. Liam Byrne, a former cabinet minister, was thought to be a strong candidate. But Labour's support is centred in metropolitan Birmingham, which unlike the Black Country and the rest of the region, didn't have council elections alongside the mayoral vote this week, which isn't going to boost their turnout.

We should get a result this afternoon.

The incumbent West Midlands Mayor has arrived at Birmingham's count.

The election looks set to be decided on voters' first preferences, with the potential for a result at 14:00.

The region's mayor represents around 2.8 million people across seven local council areas - constituent members of the West Midlands Combined Authority - Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

So when will we get a result in the West Midlands mayoral election?

There was speculation that yesterday’s blue sweep could mean a very good day for the Conservative candidate Andy Street and he could possibly even win it from first preference votes.

Fellow-Conservative Ben Adams won the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner vote without the need to look at second preference votes yesterday.

But it was very close in the mayoral vote last time around.

In Memoriam art installation remembers Covid-19 victims and NHS pandemic heroes.

The overall number of the Army's tanks will be cut from 227 as the Challenger 2 tanks are replaced.

A High Court judge backs a council policy that stallholders said would threaten their livelihoods.

The Tories take control of Dudley Council and also take their first seats in Sandwell for six years.

Giving evidence, a witness says he saw Dalian Atkinson kicked "like you'd kick a football".

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

A lot has happened since 06:00 this morning, so let's run you through the big stories of the day so far:

• The first council to declare was in Redditch - there the Conservatives took all the contested seats - something council leader Matt Dormer said he was "ecstatic" about. His opponent, Bill Hartnett, said he felt people had voted on national issues.

• The Conservatives also took control of Nuneaton and Bedworth council - the first time they've been in full control since the 2008 election. As you can see, they were pretty happy about that...

• It was also a good night for the Tories in Dudley, who took control of the council - they gained 12 seats and Labour lost 11. Council leader Patrick Harley said it was "a great night for the Conservative party in Dudley". His opposition Qadar Zada said Labour needed to "go away and understand" why the party didn't get support from voters.

• Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the patch earlier and said it was "early days" but there had been a "very encouraging set of results so far".

• Labour kept hold of both Wolverhampton and Sandwell council.

• Over in Worcestershire, the Tories look to be on track in keeping their majority.

• More councils across West Midlands will declare results later today and the West Midlands mayoral results are due on Saturday.

Bashir Mohamed was found in Ladywood with stab wounds to his arm but later died.

Boris Johnson visited the region on Wednesday to show his support for the region's Conservative mayoral candidate Andy Street.

Mr Johnson joined the current mayor, who is seeking re-election, on one of the region's cycle-for-hire bikes which he said "looked very familiar".

Image source, PA Media

Later that day Sir Keir Starmer was in Birmingham supporting his party's candidate in the mayoral election, Liam Byrne.

He spoke to students and asked them how they'd been coping with the pandemic.

We're not expecting the results of the mayor position until Saturday.

Image source, PA Media

Results of and reaction to council, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections.

A murder trial hears a PC repeatedly stamped on the head of Dalian Atkinson after Tasering him.

Mahmood Sarwar is jailed for perverting the course of justice in connection with a fatal stabbing.

Several members of staff working for Mitie at the hospital caught Covid-19.

Great-grandmother Peggy Wright died after jumping from the window of her burning home in Birmingham.

Ciaran Morris was struck as he was being pushed by his parents on Easter Sunday.

Esa Juwara raped five women, punching one so hard during an attack she lost a tooth.

BBC Weather

Things are looking a lot drier today than they have done so far this week.

We will have some showers today, mainly towards the east of our region, but it will be mainly dry with some sunshine.

Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 12C, so still a bit cold for this time of year.