Coventry Live

Some of the Coventry Live headlines today include:

• Questions raised over taxpayers' cash spent on controversial bowls plan, external
• Skilled jobs up for grabs at the Financial Ombudsman Service, external
• Severn Trent bosses 'can't apologise enough' for Nuneaton water loss, external

Paramedics have been called to a crash involving a cyclist and a car on the Longshoot in Nuneaton.

Emergency workers are still at the scene between A5 Watling Street and the A4254 Eastboro Way.

The crash happened shortly after 08:30.

The driver of a car that hit barriers in West Bromwich has been taken to hospital.

Image source, West Midlands Police

It's thought his injuries are not serious, said the ambulance service.

The crash partially blocked the A41 Holyhead Road at the junction of the A4040 for a time shortly after 07:00.

BBC News Travel

A crash is causing major tailbacks on the A4600 Sky Blue Way in Coventry.

There's congestion to all inbound approaches including Binley Road, Humber Road, Walsgrave Road and the A444 heading down from Stoke Heath.

Outbound traffic along Walsgrave Road is also slow passing the scene.

Drivers are being warned to avoid the area.

Birmingham Live

Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today include:

• Cops box in suspected drug runner in huge county lines crackdown, external
• Hero cop knocked down by thug - but airline won't refund his plane ticket, external

• Friend of England fan Rob Spray who died in Bulgaria says drugs weren't involved, external

A little-known piece of British cinematic history is being celebrated later.

It's 50 years since a section of Coventry sewer was used in the filming of The Italian Job, and a plaque is going to be unveiled after a former pub landlord identified the exact location.

Kevin Conway said it had been a matter of local controversy, because nobody knew at the time of filming how big the movie would become.

A CCTV image has been released of a man officers would like to speak to in connection with a robbery.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Car keys to an Audi A1 and a handbag containing bank cards were taken from a property in Padstow Road, Erdington.

The vehicle was also stolen and a credit card was later used in a shop in Birmingham.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information about the 22 August incident to get in touch.

BBC News Travel

A safety inspection at Long Buckby is delaying rail services between Rugby and Milton Keynes Central.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Stables at a pony rescue centre devastated by a huge fire should be rebuilt before Christmas, the organisation's said.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

The blaze swept through Elverra Pony Rescue, near Eccleshall, in August although no animals were harmed. , external

Staffordshire Fire Service blamed a faulty generator , externaland people donated thousands of pounds to rebuild the shelter.

The centre says work should start "in the near future" with the stables being up by the end of next month., external

Shrewsbury Town striker Steve Morison retires to take up an Academy coaching role with his first club Northampton Town.

Express and Star

Some of the early headlines in the Express and Star include:

• 29 burglaries in 10 days as masked gang steps up Black Country raids, external
• Outside operator to run Wolverhampton Civic Halls when it finally reopens, external
• Black Country speeding fine hotspots revealed, external

BBC News Travel

The A41 Holyhead Road in West Bromwich is partially blocked following a crash.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The road is partially blocked at the junction of the A4040 Island Road. Police say drivers can get round the crash site but there are delays.

Buses are being diverted away.

A burst water main affecting properties in Bramcote and Wolvey in Warwickshire has been repaired, said Severn Trent.

Image source, Severn Trent

The pipe burst on Gypsy Lane on Wednesday morning with a second leak discovered on Thursday, said the water company.

The repairs were "more difficult than normal due to the location," it added.

The company said all customers should now have water.

BBC News Travel

A crash involving three vehicles has closed two lanes of the M6 southbound in Birmingham.

There's five miles of queuing traffic up to the crash site between J10 and J9.

Three lanes have also been closed from J5 to J4A on the southbound carriageway due to a crash.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Some of the latest stories from the Local Democracy Reporting Service include:

• There could be fewer places for people to vote in Wolverhampton during elections as the city gets set to conduct a money-saving review of polling stations.
• A specialist gin bar and distillery that fuses British and Indian cultures to create a range of flavoured gins has been given the go-ahead to open in Wolverhampton city centre.
• One of Wolverhampton’s leading education chiefs has this week outlined his main priorities for improvements in the city’s schools for the forthcoming year.

Drugs gangs have been targeted by police forces across the region as part of a national week of action against county lines heroin and crack cocaine networks.

West Midlands Police made 73 arrests and seized almost £20,000 cash and drugs.

There were five arrests in Warwickshire and 32 across the West Mercia police region.

County lines involves gangs from big cities expand their dealing into smaller towns, often using young and vulnerable people to move or sell drugs.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

It will be a mostly cloudy day with some bright spells and highs of 13C (55F).

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.

You can get in touch via email,Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.

A week of raids across England and Wales netted cocaine, crack and heroin worth over £400,000.

Lionesses Kumari and Kiburi, along with male Iblis, have been exploring their sprawling new habitat.