Live updates from Monday 2 January to Friday 4 January
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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.
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
Here's how the weather is looking for the rest of today and tomorrow.
Shefali Oza
You can get a latest forecast for your area at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.
BBC Sport
Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam would be "open" to a return to Scotland this month.
Adam has only made three appearances this term and his deal with the English Championship club expires this summer.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 33-year-old has been linked with a moves to Hearts, former club Rangers and home-town side Dundee.
"I've had no contact from any clubs - it's only speculation at the moment. If clubs want to speak, then great," Adam told BBC Scotland.
"But at the moment there's nothing there and we'll see where we are when the window closes."
Bullets were found in a box that was donated to a charity shop, police in Bournville in Birmingham say.
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Volunteers are using their own experiences of homelessness to help get others off the streets.
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Cheshire Live - Crewe
From the Cheshire Live - Crewe website today:
BBC WM Sport
New Walsall loan signing Matt Jarvis has "fully recovered" after a "bad couple of years injury-wise", boss Dean Keates says.
Image source, Rex FeaturesThe Saddlers have signed the former Wolves and West Ham winger from Championship club Norwich on loan until the end of the season.
He has trained fully for the last "two or three months" and will be in the squad for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie at Bolton, his new manager says.
Keates told BBC WM: "He gets balls into the box and I think that'll suit us and.... it'll suit the forward players.
"He's looking sharp and he'll be pushing now to go and play games. He wants to play games. It's a challenge for him."
BBC Midlands Today
A canal tunnel in Birmingham is closing for several months from today as work continues on the extension of the Midland Metro tramline in the city.
Officials say the Broad Street bridge-strengthening work is being carried out in winter to try to reduce disruption for canal users. , external
They say it'll be finished in early spring and will allow Metro services to link the city centre with a new terminal on Hagley Road.
The Hereford Times has these headlines today:
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Kerry Ashdown
Bin collectors calling in sick have cost taxpayers nearly £155,000 in part of Staffordshire.
Image source, Newcastle-Under-Lyme CouncilLatest figures show Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council's refuse collectors took 1,275 days off between April and the middle of November 2018.
The statistics were revealed at the authority’s economy, environment and place scrutiny committee.
Nearly 1,000 of the absences were down to long-term sickness, with more than £113,000 spent on the cost of cover.
Councillors were told the authority is looking at preventative measures like training around cleanliness and potentially flu jabs for staff.
Aston Villa, external head coach Dean Smith says he has "no idea" if they've "made a bid for anyone", following speculation Wolves have accepted an offer from Villa for defender Kortney Hause (pictured below).
Image source, Getty ImagesSmith told BBC WM: "We identify players and we look at players and then Suso (sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch) and Christian (chief executive Christian Purslow) will get down to details.
"But we don't really speak about any players unless we've signed them, so at the moment we haven't signed anybody."
Villa striker Tammy Abraham took his goal tally for the season to 16, when he scored twice in the 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers yesterday.
Living room in Dudley house wrecked after car reverses into it
Read MoreLocal Democracy Reporting Service
Kerry Ashdown
Plans for a new crematorium in Staffordshire have been approved this afternoon., external
Image source, Getty ImagesThe proposals for Norton Road, Cannock, included memorial areas, parking and a garden of remembrance. , external
Currently, bereaved families have to travel into Stafford.
Today, Cannock Chase District Council members approved the plans, subject to conditions which include installing amphibian-friendly drainage for toads.
Rail fares have increased by an average of 3.1% in England and Wales despite a raft of problems on the network in 2018.
The price of some annual season tickets has gone up by more than £100, including Gloucester to Birmingham which sees a leap from £4,108 to £4,238.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe price hike was called "yet another kick in the wallet" by campaign group Railfuture.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the government had made a "record investment" in rail.
BBC WM Sport
Birmingham City manager Garry Monk says it's been a "massive achievement" for his side to stay unbeaten over the Christmas period.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday yesterday means the Blues have three draws and two wins since 15 December.
Those results leave them eighth in the Championship; four points off the last of the play-off places.
Quote MessageI think [Sheffield Wednesday] was a very good point and to go unbeaten through this period is a massive achievement for the squad and the club."
Garry Monk, Birmingham City manager
The Express and Star has these stories today:
BBC Midlands Today
A 16-year-old from Sutton Coldfield is preparing to lead the National Youth Orchestra for the first time., external
Violinist Kynan Walker has been picked out of more than 700 musicians from across the country who auditioned for a place in the orchestra.
Friday’s performance at Warwick Arts Centre , externalmarks the start of the season which includes a debut performance at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York.
Quote MessageThe level of music is definitely really high and it's so fun to create music with other people who are really passionate about music."
Kynan Walker, Teenage violinist
Birmingham Live
From Birmingham Live:
A bus firm says it's planning to spend £22m on new double-decker vehicles this year., external
Image source, National Express West MidlandsNational Express West Midlands says the vehicles will have extra leg-room, free wi-fi and USB chargers.
The company also says it's freezing the cost of fares bought with cash.
It is unknown whether the man will "ever fully recover" from his injuries, police said.
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