Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

West Mercia Police says tackling knife crime in the area "is a priority" after the latest figures showed an increase in offences of nearly 70% in the past four years.

Image source, Getty Images

In the 12 months to the end of March, the Office for National Statistics says , externalthere were 452 knife offences recorded by the force, compared to 267 in 2013-14.

The force says cases of people being a victim of knife crime from a stranger on a street "are very rare" but it has set up specialist teams to tackle the rise.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Taxpayers will not be asked for more money to fund the West Midlands Combined Authority, external, at least for the time being, the Metro Mayor says.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Street said while he has the power to ask for a precept to be added to council tax bills, he won't until at least May 2020.

That's because of extra funding from the government, potential investment deals and future EU funding returning to the West Midlands.

Alec Blackman
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Adverts for foods and drink that are high in salt, sugar and fat could be banned from being displayed outside schools in the West Midlands.

Image source, PA

The idea's being discussed by a West Midlands Combined Authority committee this morning, external, as it looks to cut childhood obesity levels across the region.

The report being examined today, external says it's a growing issue which, as well as affecting health, can also lead to bullying of children and leave them with low self-esteem.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A man's had his entire business destroyed after an unattended cardboard fire spread to a workshop, the fire service says., external

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Dozens of firefighters had to be called out to the Hixon Industrial Estate, near Stafford, on Monday night, external after the blaze ripped through the building and 15 vehicles on the site.

The service says they've all been destroyed and the man's lost his whole business.

They say he'd been burning cardboard just outside his workshop and went inside while it was still alight.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

From the Stoke-on-Trent Live page:

• Junior football manager, 37, loses brave cancer fight, external
• Mum's heartbreak as schoolgirl, 12, dies suddenly, external
• Thug brandished knife before stabbing man in the stomach, external

A football coach who worked hard to change attitudes to do with children and sport has died, a football club says.

Kidsgrove Athletic tweeted that under-eights manager Russ Powell from Sandyford died on Monday night., external

The 37-year-old, who had cancer, had a blog which contained Russ's Rules, all about playing fair and not gloating about a win.

He wanted children to enjoy sport while they were young.

He was "a truly remarkable person that touched the hearts and inspired so many," the club said.

BBC Midlands Today

Broadcaster Channel Four is expected to make a decision today about where it'll be basing its staff for its new national headquarters.

Birmingham is in the running, along with Greater Manchester and Leeds.

The company wants to move 300 of its 800 staff out of London to a national headquarters and two "creative hubs".

The three locations are also in the running to house a new creative hub, alongside Bristol, Cardiff and Glasgow.

Express and Star

From the Express and Star:

• Wolverhampton college will move to city centre by 2021, external
• West Midlands Police arrests drop by a third despite huge rise in crime, external
• Mother condemns attackers who ripped out deaf son's hearing aid, external

BBC Sport

Nigel Clough said it is "special" to have guided League One Burton to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

It's the first time they have reached the last eight which they did after a 3-2 victory over Championship opponents Nottingham Forest.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Saidy Janko's own goal and strikes from Scott Fraser and Jake Hesketh secured the win for Burton, who were forced to hold on in injury time after substitute Arvin Appiah added to Lewis Grabban's effort to give Forest hope of forcing penalties.

"To get to the last eight as a League One club is pretty special," Clough told Sky Sports. "We can't wait for the draw. We reached the semi-finals with Sheffield United, so it is possible. You need a bit of luck, like we had tonight."

Meanwhile, in League Two action last night, Crewe Alexandra were beaten 3-0 at home by Mansfield Town, leaving them 17th in the table.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Another cold, frosty start to the day - here's how the rest of Wednesday's weather is looking:

You can also keep up-to-date on the latest weather for your part of the West Midlands at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.

BBC News England

The owners of a house in Birmingham is facing a third day of police activity at their home as forensic teams comb a garage outside the property in the hunt for missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh.

Image source, PA

Miss Lamplugh, from London, disappeared in July 1986 aged 25.

Searches began at the house in Sutton Coldfield on Monday, with police focusing on an area to the rear.

Owner Phillip Carey bought the Shipton Road home from the mother of murder suspect John Cannan.

Miss Lamplugh's body has never been found and she was declared dead, presumed murdered, in 1994.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

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.

Andrea Reynolds had to overcome prejudice when she started in the police 24 years ago.

Danny Wright smashes a penalty over the bar and Solihull Moors must settle for a goalless draw with FC Halifax Town.

Timi Elsnik fires in a first-half double for Mansfield who extend their unbeaten run to eight games with a comfortable 3-0 win at Crewe.

Second-half goals from Corey Whelan and Shaun Miller earn Crewe their second win in three games as the Railwaymen see off Grimsby.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow.

Teenagers have been learning from family members about the days when racism was "normal".

BBC WM

Blues' leading scorer Lukas Jutkiewicz says it's flattering to be mentioned in the same breath as Kevin Phillips after he matched the ex-player's record of scoring in four successive home games for the club.

Saturday's win over Sheffield Wednesday was also a fourth victory in a row and Jutkiewicz said he could see the confidence growing in the squad.

Image source, Getty Images

The team has extended its unbeaten run to eleven games and travels to Derby on Saturday.

A jury has found Ian Palamountain not guilty after Terri Webb was recovered from the river Wye in 2016.