Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 on Tuesday.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

Any of the odd showers which have developed today should fade away this evening - here's the full weather forecast for tonight and the start of the weekend in the West Midlands:

You can keep up to date with the latest forecast for your area by heading to the BBC Weather website.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Herefordshire Council has appointed an Independent as its new leader.

David Hitchiner was backed by It’s Our County and the Green Party along with his own Independent group.

Image source, Google

Another Independent, Sebastian Bowen, was unanimously elected as chairman of the council.

Mr Hitchiner said: “I’m excited to be taking on this challenge and responsibility, tinged by occasional self-doubt.”

The authority has 25 new councillors.

Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Burgess joins Warwickshire, initially on loan, then on a two-year deal until 2021.

BBC Weather Watchers

It looks like the sunny weather is coming to an end soon, but the BBC Weather Watchers have been out making the most of it while they can.

These photos were taken at Alton in Staffordshire and Kingswood in Warwickshire.

Image source, Terry Eyre

Image source, Silver Lady

An underwater drone is being used to monitor wildlife in pools fed by the Montgomery Canal.

A section of the canal between Crickheath and Queens Head near Oswestry will soon re-open for the first time since 1936 and conservationists want to monitor its effect on the creatures and plants in the pools.

The large pools have been dug to help wildlife survive when boats start using the canal again.

And the Canal and River Trust says the drone, which has a camera mounted on the front, will be used to make sure the right sort of plants are growing.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The new owners of Port Vale say their management team of John Askey and Danny Pugh share their values.

Kevin and Carol Shanahan (pictured below) took control earlier this month and moved quickly to give new deals to the pair, who guided the club out of relegation trouble last season.

Carol Shanahan said chief executive Colin Garlick was also a man who shared their philosophy and believed the three-year contract they've given Askey would allow them to build on their success.

BBC News UK

More than 44 years after the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings killed 21 people, an inquest into the deaths was re-opened.

The inquest jurors concluded there were no errors in the way police responded to an IRA warning call and their actions did not contribute to the loss of life.

Several weeks on, Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine died in the bombings, has told Hardtalk’s Stephen Sackur why she believes obstacles put in front of her legal fight to get justice for her sibling is evidence of a cover-up by the British authorities.

The senior counsel to the coroner had told the inquest there was no evidence of any state agent or informant having knowledge of the bombings.

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times has these stories this afternoon:

• Drink pests banned from Hereford city centre, external
• Bikers hit out after being barred from restaurant, external
• Twinning towns come together to remember the fallen, external

In the last four days, 33 parking tickets have been handed out to drivers who park illegally outside schools in the Coleshill area.

Warwickshire Police said it had been "tolerant with parking around schools for some time", but had decided to take action because "some drivers who park illegally just aren't getting the message".

Image source, Thinkstock

The force said some parents who received tickets "kicked off with our officers, which will lead to further issues for them", and added the enforcement action would continue until the situation improved.

Officers are focusing on schools around Coleshill, Water Orton and Kinsgbury.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

A theatre's started a £600,000 fundraising drive , externalto revamp its building in time for Coventry being UK City of Culture in 2021.

Image source, Google

The Belgrade Theatre needs a total of £4.8m for its 2020 Redevelopment Project and has secured most of that from the city council and other groups.

But it's still £600,000 short and has pleaded for supporters and local businesses to back it.

The plans are in three stages and would include refurbishing the main auditorium and turning the nearby Jaguar pub into a "creative talent hub".

Funfair ride artwork showing naked women has been banned from future May Fairs in Hereford amid concerns over "pornography" at this year's event.

Some people had complained to Herefordshire Council, saying they thought the images were pornographic and over-sexualised women.

The local authority says it's working with fair organisers to make sure displays depicting full nudity won't be allowed again, and that any artwork on rides is appropriate.

League Two side Port Vale sign Bury midfielder Scott Burgess on a one-year deal.

Coventry Live

From Coventry Live:

• Six fire crews battle massive house fire, external
• Derelict pub site near Coventry sells for nearly £700,000, external
• Coventry food bank has busiest day in its history, external

BBC Business News

Aston Villa and Derby County compete in the Championship Play-Off final at Wembley on Monday, with Deloitte calling it "the most lucrative one-off match in world football".

Image source, Getty Images

Its Sports Business Group says promotion to the Premier League will see the winner increase revenue by at least £170m, rising to a minimum of £300m if they avoid relegation in their first season.

Deloitte's Dan Jones said: “This season’s Championship has been tremendously competitive at the top-end of the table, and the play-off games so far have provided great entertainment for neutral football fans.

“This winner-takes-all clash will once again be a great advertisement for the Championship, with the winner guaranteed to see a significant boost to their revenues."

Allen Cook
BBC News

Several pets have died in a severe house fire which almost spread to neighbouring homes., external

Image source, Warwickshire Fire Service

Warwickshire Fire Service said a passer-by spotted the blaze last night on Tresillian Road, Exhall, near Coventry.

More than 30 firefighters battled the blaze which quickly enveloped the house and sent toxic smoke into the air.

The fire service said the resident of the home was out but their pets - a dog, cat and birds - were inside and died in the fire.

The blaze's cause hasn't been discovered and investigators say the home is structurally unsafe and they can't get inside.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A planned housing development is causing concern over a potential impact on the River Wye.

Developers want to build two homes in a field on Broad Oak Meadow, in Broad Oak, near Ross-on-Wye.

The scheme lies within the catchment of the River Wye special conservation area and ecology officers have raised fears it could harm it.

Residents have until 5 June to comment on the proposals which are expected to be considered by Herefordshire Council before 24 June.

Protesters vow to carry on opposing the teaching of LGBT issues to primary school children.

BBC WM

A boy was "seriously hurt" when he was hit by a car in Walsall this morning., external

Image source, Google

The ambulance service said it happened on Walstead Road, just before 08:30.

He's been taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital for treatment after suffering several serious injuries, a spokesperson says.

It is richest game in football, but will the Championship play-off between Derby and Aston Villa leave one club facing financial strain?