Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News

The shooting of a man in Birmingham today is the fourth time a person has been shot by West Midlands Police officers in the past 20 months - two of them have been killed.

The latest incident happened in Wheeleys Lane in Lee Bank just before 05:00, West Midlands Police said.

Sean Fitzgerald, 31, was shot and killed by armed officers executing a warrant at a Coventry address in January.

Before July 2017 no-one had been shot by a West Midlands Police officer since 2000.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) said he was "monitoring the situation extremely closely" after a man was shot dead by officers in Birmingham.

A man in his 50s was shot and died at the scene, at a property on Wheeleys Lane in Lee Bank just before 05:00.

In a statement, PCC David Jamieson said: "I scrutinise the police use of force very closely.

"Officers involved in this incident were wearing body worn cameras and that footage is being reviewed.

"I can also confirm the matter has been referred to the police watchdog - the Independent Office for Police Conduct."

BBC News Travel

Disruption to train services between Shrewsbury and Welshpool's now expected to last until 15:00 after a bridge was hit., external

Transport for Wales says a vehicle collided with the structure overnight, blocking the line.

Image source, Transport for Wales

Allen Cook
BBC News

A tree's come down in the winds today in Staffordshire and blocked a road.

Police say it happened on Colliery Road, Rugeley , external

Image source, Staffordshire Police

A witness to the crash, in which two boys have died in Wolverhampton, said his son spotted two cars apparently racing towards the junction.

Image source, SnapperSK

The man, whose flat overlooks the dual carriageway leading to the crash scene, said "I didn't see it but I heard it - two cars must have been racing.

"My son ran to the window and said 'they are racing dad' and then we heard an almighty bang.

"My missus ran down to see if she could help and all the police and ambulance workers were there.

"You could see the police officers stopping the traffic were really, really distressed."

Several crashes have occurred at the site where two boys were killed, a local resident has claimed.

Two boys, one aged 23 months and the other aged 10, died in the suspected hit-and-run car crash.

Image source, SnapperSK

The resident said the traffic lights where the crash happened operated with a filter, allowing several cars at a time to turn right across the Wolverhampton-bound carriageway.

A local care worker, who also asked not to be named, said several crashes had occurred at the junction in the past 18 months because of motorists passing the lights on red.

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star is covering these stories today:

• Drug, robbery and human trafficking arrests after dawn raids in Telford, external
• Rail disruption between Shrewsbury and Welshpool after car hits bridge, external
• ‘Catastrophic’ A49 crash happened when driver fell asleep at wheel, external

A man's been shot dead by armed police during an incident at an address in Birmingham.

Officers were at the Wheeleys Lane property as part of an "intelligence-led operation", said West Midlands Police.

A man in his 50s was shot and died a short time later.

Police said bodycam footage had been downloaded and the incident had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The mother of two boys killed in a Wolverhampton crash, suffered injuries that are not life-threatening, the ambulance service said.

Image source, SnapperSK

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival ambulance staff found a number of members of the public tending to those involved in the crash."

Paramedics treated the injured children at the Birmingham New Road site, but nothing could be done to save them and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

The mother was taken to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Police have moved to reassure people in the West Midlands that the shootings at two mosques in New Zealand has led to "no increase in threat".

Assistant chief constable Matt Ward said communities "may have concerns" after 49 people have been killed and at least 20 wounded in shootings in Christchurch.

Friday is a very important day for Muslims and he said officers would be visiting mosques today in order to reassure people.

Accident investigators have been at the scene of the crash in Wolverhampton, where two boys were killed and their mother seriously injured.

A blue Audi S3 could be seen on the Birmingham New Road in Wolverhampton, with a crumpled front end as well as a white BMW which had also been extensively damaged.

Image source, SnappersSK

A man, who witnessed the aftermath, said it had been a "massive" collision.

The resident told how he heard what sounded like a "woman screaming" several minutes after the impact.

Image source, SnappersSK

"There were a few cars involved and one car had been pushed through the railings," he said.

"It's very sad to hear that children have been killed."

Birmingham Live

Some of Birmingham Live's headlines today are:

• 'Serious collision' on Birmingham New Road, external
• Bike gang convicted after lawless ‘Ride Out’ event, external
• Air India scraps all flights to and from Birmingham and Delhi, external

One man has been arrested after two children have been killed and their mother seriously injured in the crash in Wolverhampton.

Image source, SnapperSK

An Audi S3 and a BMW containing the children and their mother were involved in a crash last night on Birmingham New Road.

The driver of the Audi left the scene, police say.

Officers have arrested a 31-year-old man from a third car, a Bentley Continental convertible on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Det Sgt Paul Hughes appealed directly to the driver of the Audi to come forward.

"You may not be fully aware of the full tragic circumstances but you now need to speak to us," he said.

Two children, one aged 23 months and the other 10 years old, have died in a crash in Wolverhampton, West Midlands Police have said.

Image source, SnapperSK

The crash happened on Birmingham New Road just before 21:00 last night.

It involved an Audi S3 and a BMW containing two children and their mother, police said.

The children died at the scene, and the mother remains in hospital with serious injuries.

Police have tweeted a photo, external of the railway bridge in Shrewsbury that was struck overnight, leaving stonework on the line below.

Image source, OscarMike28

Transport for Wales said the line was closed and buses wouls replace trains between Shrewsbury and Welshpool.

Disruption is expected to continue until 13:00 at the earliest and currently services between Birmingham, Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth are also affected.

A pedestrian has been seriously injured after being hit by a bus in Stoke-on-Trent.

The 30-year-old was struck in the early hours of this morning, on Dividy Road near to the junction with Wrenchbury Crescent.

Dividy Road in Bentilee is likely to remain partially closed throughout the morning for a police investigation.

Officers investigating complaints about a social media post, following the assault on Jack Grealish during Birmingham City's match against Aston Villa, have arrested a man on suspicion of malicious communications.

Image source, PA

The 18-year-old was arrested on Wednesday, police said.

He has been bailed to an address outside the West Midlands area while enquiries continue.

Supporter Paul Mitchell was jailed for 14 weeks on Monday after admitting assault and encroachment on to the pitch.

Birmingham City have also been charged by the Football Association with failing to control their spectators.

BBC Business News

Key government contractor Interserve faces a crunch vote on Friday which could lead it into administration.

Image source, Creative Commons

Its infrastructure projects include improving the M5 Junction 6 near Worcester.

The outsourcing giant has been trying to persuade shareholders to back a rescue deal which would see 95% of the firm pass to lenders.

It reached a deal with creditors last month to prevent its collapse.

Express and Star

Some of the early headlines on the Express and Star website are:

• Pipers Row to finally reopen this summer after Metro works, external
• Behind the scenes at massive M5 Oldbury roadworks, external
• Knife arches installed at nightclub to weed out weapons, external

Four frontbenchers and a shadow ministerial aide quit to defy orders to abstain on referendum vote.