BBC News Travel

A crash involving a lorry and two cars has closed three lanes of the M6 northbound close to Birmingham.

Six miles of queuing traffic is being reported after the northbound crash between J5 and J6.

A man is in hospital after he was found on a main road in Stoke-on-Trent with a knife wound, police said.

The 35-year-old was discovered on Sandon Road in Meir at the junction with Waterhead Road during rush hour last night

A 22-year-old from the city has been arrested in connection with the investigation and being held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Express and Star

Some of the headlining stories on the Express and Star website today are:

• Cannock roadworks set to get worse - and last for 72 weeks, external
• Man 'pushed or kicked down stairs' at West Bromwich nightclub, external
• Demolition of former market site in high street under way, external

The West Midlands Combined Authority board will meet later to decide whether to merge the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) with the metro mayor.

Image source, West Midlands Combined Authority

The authority is hoping to combine the two positions in time for the 2020 mayoral elections, meaning proposals must be put to the Home Office by March at the latest.

The current PCC, Labour's David Jamieson, has objected to the plan, claiming it wouldn't benefit the region.

Walsall Council has also outlined concerns.

Organisers behind a Remembrance Sunday service say they're devastated after discovering four generators needed for Sunday have been stolen.

Image source, Google

It's believed thieves broke into the compound at Queen's Park, Longton, where the generators were stored, overnight.

Staffordshire Police says an investigation has been launched and officers are currently checking CCTV pictures.

In a post on Facebook, the Queen's Park Partnership says , externalthe theft means they're also going to have to scale back how many events they hold next year.

A move to put Shropshire's main hospitals into special measures should be welcomed, according to the chair of health commissioners in the county.

Dr Julian Povey said the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) hadn't been sent a copy of health Secretary Matt Hancock's letter, but wasn't surprised at the move given the "wave of problems".

The trust is being investigated over a number of baby deaths.

It is also reporting to a watchdog over maternity and emergency services care at both Royal Shrewsbury and The Princess Royal hospitals.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after a teenager was stabbed in the chest on a bus in Birmingham.

It happened in the Kingstanding area yesterday afternoon.

A 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening, said West Midlands Police.

Birmingham City's Lukas Jutkiewicz has been named Championship Player of the Month for October.

Image source, Getty Images

The striker scored five goals in five matches last month, including a hat-trick against Rotherham.

Birmingham City manager Garry Monk said: Lukas' worth to the team since we've come in has been immense.

"People talk about the goals, but it's not just that it has been his all-round contribution this month and those months previously - phenomenal."

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a celebration of the life of a student who was found dead in the River Severn almost two months ago.

Image source, Family handout

Thomas Jones, 18, who had just started at the University of Worcester, disappeared after a night out and was missing for nine days before his body was found in the River Severn.

His family have said there will be screens showing the service at Redditch Crematorium for those who want to come and remember him.

Hospital bosses in Staffordshire say their winter preparations may mean they won't be forced to use a community hospital to cope with overspill.

Last winter, beds were opened at Bradwell Hospital in Newcastle-under-Lyme as more than 200 patients at other hospitals were waiting to be discharged.

Two new modular wards are due to open early next year creating 64 more beds for the county.

A barn fire overnight, close to Much Wenlock in Shropshire, is being investigated by police.

Image source, Shropshire Fire Service

About 25 firefighters tackled the blaze in Shipton, after being called to the scene just after midnight.

About 100 tonnes of straw was destroyed in the incident, said Shropshire Fire Service.

Image source, Shropshire Fire Service

Image source, Shropshire Fire Service

Ten major projects aimed at tackling congestion are likely to be approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority today.

Funding worth £43m from the government's Transforming Cities Fund would be used to support a range of road, rail, tram, bus and cycling projects.

The money would be split into grants and will target known bottlenecks and highways as well improving public transport for commuters.

The great and the good from the world of football are expected to attend the funeral of Sir Doug Ellis today.

Image source, Getty Images

The former Aston Villa Chairman died last month after leading the club for 31 years over two separate spells.

The 94-year-old was knighted in 2012 for his services to charity and has buildings named after him at both Birmingham University and Aston University after making substantial donations to both institutions.

His funeral cortege is expected to pass Villa Park this morning.

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It will be rather cloudy today with some bright spells before heavy rain and strong winds arrive towards evening with highs of 13C (55F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

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.

Food companies worried about a "no-deal" Brexit are storing away supplies at warehouses, a boss says.

Ian Naude, accused of raping a 13-year-old girl, tells a court "she told me she loved me".

Inquest into death of five men told of 'shift in wall's angle seconds before it collapsed'.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

The hospital trust in Shropshire is already subject to a review into a series of maternity deaths.