Specialist equipment has been used to help bring the fire under control at a tyre factory in Tyseley.

Incident commander Neil Griffiths said "good progress" had been made with containing the fire, and some crews would be remaining on site throughout the day.

A number of nearby businesses had been "saved" he said.

At its height, more than 100 firefighters tackled the blaze on Wharfdale Road, Tyseley.

Express and Star

Here are some of the stories making the early headlines on the Express & Star website:

• Prisons hiring criminals and gangsters as guards, external
• Trains could be running directly between Walsall and Wolverhampton by 2021, external
• Ex-Wolves youth footballer avoids prison after 110mph M54 chase, external

Fire crews attending the tyre factory fire in Tyseley are being scaled down.

Image source, West Midlands Fire

At its height, more than 100 firefighters tackled the blaze on Wharfdale Road, with 20 fire engines called to the scene.

The first crews arrived within two and three minutes, after being called at 02:56, said the fire service.

Remaining crews are expected to be at the scene for several hours, it said, along with fire investigators.

A man convicted of murdering a nightclub reveller amid a row over the venue's electronic punchbag, is set to be sentenced later.

Image source, Family handout

Daniel Baird (pictured) died after a dispute between two groups of men spilled on to the street outside the Forge Tavern in Digbeth, Birmingham, in July 2017.

Carlton Donaldson, 24, of Minstead Road, Erdington, was also convicted of wounding with intent, attempted wounding, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

He'll be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court later.

West Midlands Police says officers are helping at the scene of the fire in Tyseley.

Redfern Lane is now closed, along with Wharfdale Road and Rushey Lane.

The severe factory blaze, at a tyre centre in Tyseley, Birmingham is now under control, said the fire service.

More than 100 fire staff were called the site on Wharfdale Road shortly before 03:00.

Crews will remain at the site throughout the day, the fire service said.

Residents living close to the severe factory fire in Tyseley, Birmingham are being advised to keep all windows and doors shut.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

More than 100 firefighters have been working to contain the blaze at the single-storey factory unit on Wharfdale Road.

The fire is in a unit near the Royal Mail office close to the junction with Redfern Road.

Nearby Tyseley railway station remains open, but people are being advised to avoid the area.

Bin workers in Birmingham resume their industrial action today after a one-day suspension.

More than 300 workers started a series of walkouts over claims of "secret payments" made to non-striking GMB staff after a dispute in 2017 - claims denied by both the council and the GMB

Talks between the union and council broke up at about 23:00 on Wednesday.

The council and GMB previously have said the payments were "properly made, for a failure to consult during the talks that ended the 2017 dispute".

There are currently two road closures in place following the fire at a factory in Tyseley, Birmingham.

Wharfdale Road and Rushey Lane are closed in both directions.

The nearby Tyseley Railway station remains open, said the city council.

People are being advised to avoid the area.

More than 100 firefighters have been called to deal with a severe blaze at an industrial estate in the Tyseley area of Birmingham.

Crews were first called to the factory on Wharfdale Road just before 03:00.

Crews prevented the fire spreading to surrounding businesses, the fire service said.

There are no reports of injuries.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a chilly start, with some bright spells, cloud will build bringing showers and rain with highs of 11C (52F).

Not since the 1960s has Birmingham experienced so much redevelopment - but will the boom benefit everyone?

Inquests into the blasts which killed 21 people in Birmingham hear further tributes to the victims.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
David Irwin

Housing officials have admitted they "fell short" when they evicted a family on a freezing cold afternoon in Solihull.

Image source, Google

Solihull Community Housing (SCH), which manages the council’s housing stock, told its board this week that it has reviewed its procedures and made improvements.

It said there were concerns with this case about the very low temperatures on the day in question and the timing of the decision.

When it was then flagged up to senior management, the family - who had been housed in temporary accommodation – were provided with somewhere to stay.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

A clear start to Wednesday night but it won't stay that way, here's the full forecast for tonight and tomorrow for the West Midlands:

Get a latest forecast at any other time from the BBC Weather website for your part of the West Midlands.

BBC Politics

The prime minister's waded into the Birmingham bin row and urged the city council to "get a grip" of the situation.

Talks have been taking place today between the union Unite and the authority to try to break the deadlock.

Image source, Getty Images

More than 300 workers started a series of walkouts over claims of "secret payments" made to non-striking GMB staff after a dispute in 2017 - claims denied by the council and GMB union.

This afternoon, responding to concerns from Solihull Conservative MP Julian Knight in the Commons, Theresa May blamed the strikes on failures by the Labour-run council.

The local authority says it's in everyone's interests to end the row before tomorrow to avoid it going to court.

Daniel Baird was stabbed to death amid a "stabbing spree" sparked by a row at a Birmingham pub.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two brothers who were killed in the Birmingham pub bombings were celebrating news of a pregnancy when they died, their inquests have heard.

Image source, Family Handout/PA Wire

Desmond and Eugene Reilly (pictured left to right) were in the Tavern in the Town when one of two bombs planted by the IRA on 21 November 1974 exploded.

Their older brother, Sean Reilly, told the inquests into the atrocity, which started this week, that his brother Desmond had at the time been "in great spirits" at news that his wife was pregnant.

His was one of a number of emotional "pen portrait" tributes read at the outset of the new hearings.

Mr Reilly added that the bombers "took away our brothers' futures and part of our future too" and "part of us died with them on the day they died".

West Midlands Police Chief Constable says 'blunt action' to be taken on knife crime