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The Extinction Rebellion protest that is blocking traffic in Worcester this morning has been generating a lot of debate on the BBC Hereford and Worcester Facebook page.

And not all of it was positive. Phil Ward wrote: "Making a lot of difference, drivers sat in vehicles with engines running, love the mentality of these protesters make everyone late for school and work! Great impact on the environment."

Richard Asghar-Sandys asked: "Why are they not using their time and intelligence to come up with solutions and new ways of thinking?"

Martin Clarke replied: "great point... Let's just evolve shall we? We can do that over the next few decades, it's not like it takes tens of thousands of years or anything."

David Rawlings wrote: "Worcester is semi permanently gridlocked these days. Most of the people stuck in traffic will just think it’s a normal day."

But Tony Batchelor replied: "It’s never pointless Dave. If everyone thought that nothing would change."

A climate change protest is also set to take place in Hereford today, as well as Stoke, Shrewsbury and Birmingham.

One of the organisers of the Hereford event, Cat Savage said their march was set to start after 11:00 from Hereford Sixth Form College, but was not expected to disrupt traffic.

She said a "die-in" would take place in the city centre providing a "provocative and powerful image showing the consequences of our actions - and what's going to happen if we don't change things."

"It's a very commercial area... we want to show how dangerous fast fashion is and the impact on our environment."

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

There's been a mixed reaction from drivers stuck in today's climate change protest in Worcester.

One woman stuck in traffic was quite circumspect saying "it is what it is.

"It's drawing attention to a really important cause."

But others weren't quite so generous with one motorist saying he'd been held up for about 15 minutes.

"I don't agree with it anyway," he added.

"Could they please get out of the way and let us get to work."

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Climate change protesters are slowing traffic on a bridge in Worcester.

Four lanes of traffic on the main bridge in the town and pedestrian crossings are being disrupted by about 30 to 40 protesters carrying Extinction Rebellion banners.

It's part of a day of global action with protesters from more than 150 different countries set to take part in demonstrations aiming to put pressure on governments and decision-makers to do more about climate issues.

Protesters are blocking traffic over the bridge from St John's into the town centre at seven-minute intervals - with a very mixed response from motorists.

A man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after officers were called to reports of an assault.

He was discovered with a head injury on Alcester Road South in Maypole, Birmingham, on Thursday afternoon.

BBC News Travel

There's four miles of queuing traffic on the M6 in the West Midlands after a crash involving two vans and a car.

Three lanes are closed northbound between J6 and J7, about a mile after Spaghetti Junction, Highways England says.

Congestion is also building on the southbound carriageway as drivers slow past the crash site.

BBC Entertainment and Arts

Shanika Ormsby, 23, watches Friends every day.

"My family's quite annoyed," she laughs. "They're like, 'Oh my God, again?' And I'm like, 'Yep!' I can never get enough."

She is an example of Generation Z, younger people seemingly just as in love with Friends as their parents were when the sitcom first hit screens on 22 September 1994.

It was the UK's favourite streaming show in 2018, and was Netflix's second most popular show in the US last year (behind The Office).

Image source, Shanika Ormsby

Shanika, from Birmingham, discovered the show when at university. "I was at home during the summer and at 11 o'clock every day there would be an episode on Comedy Central. Eventually I started making sure I was in front of the TV at 11. And then slowly I wanted to watch the entire thing - starting from season one. And I've been watching ever since."

You can read more of this story here.

Express and Star

Some of the Express and Star headlines today include:

• Jailed bowling benefits cheat will have to sell her house, external
• Work to cut West Bromwich A41 queues is finished, external
• Man charged over drugs offence after raid at Dudley property, external

A teenager is due in court over the murder of a 16-year-old boy in Coventry.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Jaydon James, known as JJ, was with friends in Deedmore Road, Wood End, last November when he was stabbed. He died later in hospital.

A 17-year-old boy is due at Wolverhampton Crown Court later.

The teenager is also charged with two counts of wounding.

A major road in Worcester is expected to be blocked by climate change protestors this morning.

It's one of several protests happening across the country - with demonstrations also planned for Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Kidderminster and Malvern.

Drivers are being warned to allow extra time for journeys.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Early fog and mist will disappear leaving a dry day with sunny periods and highs of 22C (72F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

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

Inspectors found "significant improvements" at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo accepts his side are underperforming and must improve quickly after losing to Sporting Braga in the Europa League.

A coroner says the family of Jonnie Meek does not "like me".

Andy Giddings
BBC News

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

Oscar's family say they need to raise £500,000 within six weeks to pay for treatment not available on the NHS.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

European criminal record checks could take 11 times as long after Brexit, West Midlands Ch Supt Richard Baker has warned.

He told a Strategic Policing and Crime Board the process of checking on the criminal history of a European national takes about six days at the moment, but that could take as long as 66 days in future.

Ch Supt Baker said: "There will be an increase in potential risk that we are carrying because we are unaware of their previous criminal history.”

The police have arrested three men after a car chase through Birmingham this afternoon.

West Midlands Police said a car suspected of being linked to criminal activity failed to stop for officers in Paradise Circus at 16:15 and after a "brief pursuit" it came to a stop on Morville Street in the Ladywood area.

The occupants attempted to run for it, but were all arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and are in custody, being questioned.

It will be a dry and clear night with lows of 7C (45F).