As Brexit dominates the work of MPs and MEPs, how seriously should voters take the European elections?

A huge fire on board a bus in Birmingham is being treated as an arson attack, police say.

Image source, Twitter / @LA_168_

Fire crews were called to the blaze on the double decker bus, outside a coach station in the Digbeth area shortly before 11:40, the fire service said.

No one is believed to have been injured.

Riders say they hope they can reach an agreement for the continued shared use of a woodland.

The European Commission says it is currently assessing a complaint it has received in connection with the sale of Coventry's Ricoh Arena to Wasps.

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City's owner Sisu has taken its legal complaint to Europe after the Supreme Court threw out its appeal over a judicial review into the sale by Coventry City Council.

Sisu claims the Ricoh was undervalued by £28m, and is asking the European Commission to see if the deal breaks state-aid rules.

The European Union has rules on how much government money can be given to commercial enterprises to ensure one does not get an unfair advantage over another.

An EU spokesperson said: "The Commission has received a complaint regarding the sale of the Ricoh Arena to Wasps Rugby Club and is currently assessing it in line with its standard procedures."

Coventry City had been in talks to stay longer at the Ricoh Arena, but Wasps chief executive Nick Eastwood said the club had "entered such discussions in good faith" and that because the case had been taken to the EU, its conditions for negotiations hadn't been met.

English Football League clubs will discuss the issue on 29 May.

The 21-year-old's injuries are not thought to be life threatening, police say.

Express and Star

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

• HS2 threatened due to 'out of control' costs, report warns, external
• Delight at Wolves' ambitious Molineux expansion plans, external
• Apartments plan backed for former Stourbridge Police Station, external

A man remains in hospital after being shot in the Alum Rock area of Birmingham on Wednesday night.

Image source, SnapperSK

The 21-year-old suffered injuries to his back and arm that are not believed to be life-threatening, said West Midlands Police.

Image source, SnapperSK

Officers were called to Belchers Lane, at the junction with Cotterills Lane, just before 23:00.

Image source, SnapperSK

The force is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information to come forward.

Hundreds of letters have been sent to primary schools across England complaining about lessons which raise the issue of same-sex relationships, the BBC has found.

Teaching pupils about LGBT issues at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham was paused in March after protests by parents.

Several other schools in the city followed suit amid claims from some parents the lessons were age-inappropriate and incompatible with their faith.

The BBC's Newsnight programme has found that opposition to the teaching has now spread to other cities, including Bristol, Northampton and Manchester.

Ibrahim Mogra, from the Muslim Council of Britain, told the programme the parents should collaborate with schools, rather than threaten to withdraw their children.

A 21-year-old man was shot in Birmingham last night, police say.

Image source, SnapperSK

Officers were called to Belchers Lane in the Alum Rock area of Birmingham just before 23:00.

The area remains cordoned off this morning.

We'll bring you more information as we get it.

The Government has given a further £28m to an electric car battery development centre in Coventry.

Business Secretary Greg Clark is set to announce the funding for the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, which is on top of an £80m initial investment.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said the centre was a "major coup" for the city and the wider West Midlands.

The cash is part of the Local Industrial Strategy to boost the region's economy.

Three men have been arrested after the death of a man in Stoke-on-Trent.

Police were called to Wood Street in Longton on Wednesday afternoon after receiving reports of a man armed with a hammer.

A man was detained and taken to hospital where he later died, said Staffordshire Police.

The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the force added.

BBC News Travel

A van on fire has closed two lanes of the M6 northbound in Staffordshire.

Smoke is blowing across the road at J12, said Highways England, with queuing traffic back to J11A.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a fine start it will a dry sunny day with some cloud and highs of 17C (63F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

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

Members of The Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club share their stories.

Oritse Williams is accused of raping the woman at a Wolverhampton hotel in December 2016.

The 15-year-old was "coerced" into sex acts with men, a trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

The Stoke City striker has been disqualified from driving for 30 months and fined £75,000.

A judge rules against a 71-year-old man who claimed he designed Wolves' club badge as a schoolboy.

Hampshire fast bowler Kyle Abbott takes 4-43 - including a burst of three in 13 balls - to reduce Warwickshire to 184-7.