The latest election news from councils across the region.

Kammi Bassi also pretended to be a nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and chiropractor.

Our live updates have finished for the day, but we'll be back from 22:00 for special election coverage through the night.

We'll bring you all the results as they come in.

Eleven councils in the West Midlands are expected to declare results by 06:00 on Friday, with a further 15 later on Friday.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It will be a largely dry night with the odd shower and lows of 5C (41F).

A drop-in centre for homeless and vulnerable people in Shrewsbury has closed due to safety concerns about the building.

Image source, Google

Chairwoman Karen Higgins said the building on Castle Foregate was not in danger of collapsing, but it would not be appropriate to remain open.

The Ark says it will extend its outreach services so clients are still supported during the closure.

The new assistant chief constable of Warwickshire Police has been named as Ch Supt Debbie Tedds.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

During the recruitment process she demonstrated "exceptional qualities and experience, which I know will be of huge value to Warwickshire," said force chief Martin Jelley.

Tedds joined the force in 1989 and has served in a variety of roles and departments, becoming the first female officer in Warwickshire to achieve the rank of detective inspector.

She said she was "dedicated and committed" to protecting the communities of Warwickshire.

Rob Gurney
BBC WM Sport

The EFL has announced that the first leg of the 5th v 4th place Championship play-off semi-final, likely to be Aston Villa against West Bromwich Albion, will be at 12:30 a week on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

If Albion pip Leeds to third place on Sunday, then The Baggies' semi-final first leg will be at 17:15, also on 11 May.

Should it be Albion against Villa in the second leg, then that'll be on Tuesday 14 May at The Hawthorns, kicking off at 20:00.

For the full permutations of who might play who, visit the EFL website, external.

The GMB union says although job losses announced for Wedgwood were lower than expected, the news was "still devastating".

The world-famous pottery firm confirmed 97 manufacturing posts and six from restaurant operations will go from its Barlaston site.

Job losses were initially announced in March and at the time about 145 posts were expected to go.

GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing called the job losses a "scandal" and demanded a £5m government grant given to Wedgwood in 2014 be returned.

"This is a company that received more than £5m of taxpayer cash to create and keep jobs in the potteries...it's a scandal of epic proportions."

Fiskars Group, which runs Wedgwood, said it had had to make "diifficult decisions to strengthen the long-term health of the business and improve the competitiveness of the Wedgwood brand".

It added it recognised and valued "the substantial contribution made by all" employees and it would continue to develop the Barlaston site "as a strong home for Wedgwood and as a visitor attraction”.

Traffic changes will come into force in Birmingham in an effort to ease congestion during the next phase of the Metro extension to Edgbaston (pictured below).

Image source, Midland Metro Alliance

The direction of traffic will be reversed in Gas Street and Berkley Street. It will mean that inbound traffic will use Gas Street, while Berkley Street will lead drivers southbound out of the city centre.

A roundabout will also be installed at the junction of Berkley Street and Gas Street.

Work is set to start on 13 May and is expected to last about four weeks. The changes will come in once construction is complete.

The first phase of the works, to open for passenger service later this year, will see the route extended from Grand Central to Centenary Square.

BBC News has looked at the new routes for the trams in the West Midlands in the future.

Former Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson lost Theresa May's confidence, MPs told.

A flat battery recharge scheme for stranded electric vehicles is to be introduced in Birmingham.

The RAC said it was introducing the patrols to help stranded EV drivers at the roadside with a power boost.

The technology has been created in response to growing demand for battery-powered models the organisation said.

Six initial patrol vans will hit the roads in Birmingham, London and Manchester in June.

The GMB calls it a scandal but the pottery firm owner's say its necessary to strengthen the business.

The body of the woman in her 80s was found in a house in Hall Green on Wednesday.

Shahan Mir admitted putting some laxative in a trainee's water bottle but is cleared of intent.

Dudley News

Here are some of the headlines on the Dudley News website this evening:

• Girl injured after being hit by car outside Tesco, external
• 135 new homes to be built in Cradley Heath, external
• Lollipop man keeping kids safe - on the Oldbury road he was nearly killed as a child, external

Tamworth's Dave Gilbert leads John Higgins 5-3, after the first session of their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible in Sheffield.

It's the best of 33 frames, so the first to 17 wins.

Gilbert missed the chance of a 147 break in frame six when he potted 15 reds and 14 blacks, but lost position on the 15th black.

Judd Trump meets Gary Wilson in the other semi-final.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
David Irwin

More than 100 homes are set to be erected in Solihull as part of the latest phase of a major new housing development at Blythe Valley Park.

Image source, Bloor Homes

Bloor Homes has now submitted detailed plans for 124 homes on one of several parcels of land which have been earmarked for development.

The scheme includes properties with between one and four bedrooms and a quarter are classed as affordable.

The proposals are set to be considered by the committee in the coming months.

A fruit tree, descended from an ancient pear, which is due to be chopped down to make way for the HS2 high-speed rail line, has been planted at a nature reserve.

Image source, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

The Cubbington pear tree is believed to have been growing near the Warwickshire village, close to Leamington Spa, for more than 250 years.

In 2015 it was selected after attracting more than a third of 10,000 votes for the best tree in England, beating nine other finalists to the title.

Image source, Frances Wilmot

After successfully taking a graft cutting from the tree, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust was able to plant the sapling at Brandon Marsh nature reserve.

BBC News Education

Universities must "accelerate efforts" to close a gap in degree attainment between white and black, Asian and minority ethnic students, a study says.

"To make sure our gap closes, there need to be initiatives," says Aston University student Amna Atteeq.

"And we are more than happy to get involved," says Amna, who contributed to the Universities UK and NUS research.

Port Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown signs a one-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2021.