River levels are still expected to stay high in Worcestershire and Herefordshire over the next few days and residents are being warned more rain is forecast before the weekend.

Image source, Step Counter

There are no flood warnings in the West Midlands this morning, external but there are more than a dozen flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible - dotted around the region.

Most are along the usual hotspots including the River Severn around Worcester and Shrewsbury and the rivers Wye and Lugg in Herefordshire.

In Worcestershire, Eckington Bridge is shut this morning due to flooding, the county council said., external

BBC News Travel

A fault with the signalling system between Rugby and Coventry is delaying rail services.

BBC Sport

Warwickshire's Dom Sibley has batted through the morning session of the third Test between England and South Africa to help his side reach 61-0.

Image source, Getty Images

The opener is 30 not out alongside Zak Crawley who has 20.

The sides are currently 1-1 in the four Test series and you can follow the rest of today's play on the BBC Cricket live page here.

Coventry City and Birmingham City will share a near 50:50 ticket allocation for the FA Cup fourth-round tie at St Andrew's on 25 January.

Coventry Live

Some of today's Coventry Live headlines include:

• Police searching for suspect after launching murder investigation, external
• Mum's damning words to son's killer, external
• Hospital staff fined for parking at work could have money taken from pay, external

BBC Business News

Halfords says it is on track to meet profits forecasts after strong sales of bicycles over the last three months.

Bike sales rose 5.9%, with a record number of kids' cycles leaving the shops, the Redditch-based retailer said in a trading update, external.

Image source, PA Media

The firm's autocentres also "performed strongly". For the full-year 2020, the company said underlying pre-tax profit would be £50m to £55m, in line with guidance.

However, there was a note of caution. Chief Executive Graham Stapleton said: "Though pleased with our performance, market conditions remained subdued and we are not anticipating a near-term improvement."

Police have cordoned off a section of road near the canal at Brewood in Staffordshire this morning.

There is police tape up near the Bridge Inn on Cresswell Lane.

Staffordshire Police hasn't revealed the nature of the incident, but people living nearby said it appeared to be centred around the canal.

BBC Sport

Wolves are out of the FA Cup after losing their third round replay 1-0 to Manchester United.

The team had an early Pedro Neto strike ruled out by the video assistant referee for a handball in the build-up.

After the game, Wolves captain Conor Coady said: "It's constant, all we are talking about is VAR. It's ridiculous, it's stupid.

"You can't celebrate. Raul Jimenez didn't even know he had hand-balled it. We have to get used to it."

BBC News Travel

A fault with the traffic lights on the motorway island at the A444 Bedworth bypass is causing severe congestion in the area.

There's queuing traffic to Griff Island heading down from Nuneaton.

Birmingham City midfielder Agus Medina rejoins Spanish club UE Cornella on loan until the end of June.

Birmingham Live

From Birmingham Live:

• Mum-of-two suddenly died a day after liposuction surgery, external
• Burglars snatch pedigree bulldogs leaving owners heartbroken, external
• Tip chaos over shock number of Brum binmen calling in sick, external

BBC News Travel

Flooding has closed Eckington Bridge over the River Avon in Worcestershire.

It's closed between Roman Meadow and New Barn Road.

Buses are being diverted away from the area.

BBC News Travel

Part of Tachbrook Road in Leamington Spa remains cordoned off after a fatal stabbing on Wednesday.

Some bus services are being diverted away from the area.

British number one Dan Evans has been beaten at the quarter-final stage of the Adelaide International.

Image source, Reuters

The Birmingham player got to the last eight before losing 6-4 3-6 6-3 to Russian Andrey Rublev.

The tournament is a warm-up for the Australian Open - the first Grand Slam of the year - which takes place between 20 January and 2 February.

Pet owners are being warned not to leave their animals in the kitchen alone after two cats were killed in a fire at the weekend.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Staffordshire fire crews were called to Maxwell Place in Hartshill in the early hours of Sunday and rescued four cats and four dogs from a property.

Despite being given oxygen at the scene, two of the cats died, said the fire service. , external

A fire investigation found the blaze started in the kitchen and the most likely cause was one of the pets jumping up and turning on the electric cooker.

"This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder to avoid leaving pets in the kitchen and if you must shut them in there, ensure the cooker is switched off at the main switch," a spokesperson said.

Officers are continuing to search for a suspect after a man was killed in a stabbing on Wednesday.

A second man was left in a critical condition after the attack on Tachbrook Road, Leamington Spa.

Warwickshire Police arrested a 33-year-old man from the town on suspicion of murder and is looking for a second suspect.

He is described as a young black man who is believed to have sustained a leg injury and was last seen at about 11:30 on Emscote Road, at the junction with Fosberry Close, in Warwick.

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It will be a windy day with some heavy rain at times with highs of 8C (46F).

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

Alfred Critchley, 99, has had faeces and dirty water flooding his garden in Birmingham for three months.

Louise Lawford is accused of losing at least five dogs in her care last June in woods in Staffordshire.