Allen Cook
BBC News

Fire crews from Staffordshire and the West Midlands have been fighting a large house fire this morning.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

They were first called at 08:43 to Billy Bunns Lane, Wombourne, near Wolverhampton.

The services haven't released many details yet but a photo, tweeted by Wolverhampton fire station, , externalappears to show the roof's collapsed.

Staffordshire Police said it expected the road to be shut until at least midday., external

Plans to bring two fire services under the control of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner will be scrutinised in a two-day judicial review, starting today.

The PCC John Campion (pictured below) is proposing the merger, saying it will save £4m through "significant back office efficiencies", and the move was approved by the home secretary in March 2018.

Image source, West Mercia PCC

The plans are going to this review at the High Court because the Shropshire Fire Authority and Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority both objected, saying there was a lack of evidence to support the claimed efficiencies.

A man has been arrested after reports of an armed robbery and carjacking in Birmingham.

Image source, Google

West Midlands Police said a man went into the Tesco on Coleshill Road, Hodge Hill, yesterday afternoon brandishing what was thought to be a gun.

After stealing cash, he was then believed to have threatened a woman with a gun and a knife before taking her Vauxhall Corsa.

The force said, after a short police chase, the vehicle crashed into another car on Bradford Road, Castle Bromwich, although no-one was seriously hurt.

Officers found an imitation gun and a machete in the Corsa and arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of robbery.

BBC Sport

Wales manager Ryan Giggs has said Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen could be playing for a Premier League side.

Image source, Reuters

The 29-year-old has been playing his club football in the Championship since Stoke's top-flight relegation in 2018.

The Potters are set for another season in the division after failing to achieve an instant return.

As Allen prepares to win his 50th cap for Wales, Giggs said '"of course Joe could play at a higher level'.

"He has played in the Premier League. Since I've taken over, he's one of the most reliable players who you just know what you're going to get, both in training and in games."

BBC Midlands Today

Three boxers from the West Midlands are making their final preparations for the European Games, which take place in Belarus later this month.

Commonwealth Games champion super-heavyweight Frazer Clarke (pictured) from Burton-upon-Trent, light-heavyweight Ben Whitaker from Wolverhampton and Commonwealth Games champion flyweight Galal Yafai from Birmingham received their Team GB kit at the NEC.

Britain will compete in archery, badminton, boxing, canoe sprint, cycling, gymnastics, judo, karate, shooting, table tennis and wrestling at the event in Minsk, from 21-30 June.

BBC Midlands Today

A disabled man from Birmingham has said the council hasn't collected his recycling bin for five weeks.

Mike Goulding said, despite emailing Birmingham City Council every day, his bin remains uncollected.

The 69-year-old said he was so frustrated, he considered taking his wheelie bin to the council house.

In an email to councillors, seen by BBC Midlands Today, the council cabinet member for bins, John O'Shea, said up to 900 bin collections were reported missed every day in the city and apologised over "very serious problems" with the service.

BBC News Travel

Better news for drivers as that closure on the M6 near Stafford's been lifted within minutes by police:

BBC News Travel

Drivers are being warned of delays on the M6 southbound in Staffordshire this morning, near Stafford:

Worcester News

The Worcester News headlines this morning include:

• Police patrols upped as reports of teens smoking cannabis increase in estate, external
• County A&E teams beat national targets for reducing return mental health visits, external
• Car firm takes part in launch of historic Elgar Route in Worcester and Malvern, external

A petition opposing changes to accident and emergency services in Stafford has been set up by a borough councillor.

Louise Nixon said she was concerned about the future of County Hospital’s A&E department after health bosses announced the launch of a 12-week “public conversation” on services across the county.

Image source, Google

In 2011, County Hospital’s 24-hour A&E department was reduced to a 14-hour service each day.

Simon Whitehouse, a director of the Together We’re Better, external review, said no proposals had been put forward yet and that it was a "listening exercise".

Five councillors have broken away from Herefordshire Council's newly formed ruling group after a dispute over plans for a bypass on the eastern side of Hereford

The Independents Group said it was concerned several members of the new council were opposed to building any new roads aimed at easing congestion.

Image source, Google

Independents Group leader Bob Matthews has now formed a splinter group, barely a week after the new council leader was elected.

BBC Sport

Warwickshire will be hoping for better weather as they look to build a commanding first innings total on day three of the County Championship match with Nottinghamshire.

The Bears will resume on 311-7 after rain wiped out play from late afternoon at Edgbaston.

You can follow the match with BBC local radio commentary or via the BBC Cricket website.

BBC Midlands Today

An RAF veteran has travelled to France to take part in events to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The Battle of Normandy on 6 June 1944 was the largest military operation ever attempted and marked the start of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe.

Bert Turner, from Staffordshire, says that at the age of 95 it's probably the last time he'll make the journey.

He was a sergeant on a bomber which dropped paratroopers behind enemy lines in German-occupied France.

Express and Star

The Express and Star's top stories today include:

• 'We will do all we can for hospice': Walsall Council leader vow over Acorns centre, external
• Work begins on Sandwell's Commonwealth Games Aquatics Centre this month, external
• 'Unprecedented' rise in patients piles pressure on Walsall Manor Hospital, external

BBC News England

Each year 14 million items of plastic end up in canals and rivers in England and Wales, according to a new report.

Image source, Canal and River Trust

The Canal and River Trust worked with Coventry University to carry out the research for the report.

It took a "snapshot" of the amount of plastics and litter observed at locations including Birmingham, Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon.

More than half a million of these items reach the world's oceans annually, the trust said.

The charity said it was "on a mission to eradicate plastic" from its waterways and urged people to pick up any rubbish they find.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Mainly dry this morning with more sunshine expected, here's the full weather forecast for the West Midlands:

You can get a latest forecast at any other time for your part of the region by heading to the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

BBC Weather Watcher KarenJ's sent in this photo taken this morning in Kings Norton, Birmingham:

Image source, KarenJ

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

Pixie Jenkins was serving in the Women's Royal Naval Service when the D-Day landings began.

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings was built in 1797 and is considered a forerunner to the skyscraper.

Waterways could be plastic-free in a year if every visitor picked up one piece of litter, a charity says.