Coventry Live

These are some of Coventry Live's headlines this morning:

• Nearly £3m homelessness overspend in Coventry as body warns of 'breaking point', external
• FA Cup tickets go on sale as increased allocation given for Coventry City v Blues, external
• Fatal flat fire murder trial hits delay, external

Jaguar Land Rover boss Ralf Speth will step down from his role in September, the company has announced. , external

Image source, Reuters

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer will maintain his relationship with the company becoming non-executive vice chairman, it said.

The 65-year-old engineer has been chief executive since 2010, when Tata purchased the business from Ford.

Mr Speth said: “I feel very honoured to have worked with so many dedicated and creative people, both inside and outside of Jaguar Land Rover.

"We have elevated Jaguar and Land Rover. I want to say thank you for all their support and commitment.”

Birmingham Live

These are some of Birmingham Live's early headlines:

• Policeman used 'inside knowledge to pass information to friends' court told, external
• Coronavirus scare as student taken off campus with 'flu-like symptoms', external
• Building work begins at sprawling new Birmingham secondary school, external

Earlier this month, a councillor leading a review of the project said it had only a 50:50 chance of going ahead.

Ex-England half-back Matty Smith wants success for Widnes after reviving his career with the Championship club.

UK car production sank to its lowest in almost a decade in 2019, with output forecast to continue falling this year.

Image source, Getty

In the West Midlands and north east, automotive accounts for more than one in six manufacturing jobs.

Factories produced 1.3 million units last year, down 14.2% on 2018 and the third consecutive year of decline, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturing and Traders (SMMT).

Structural changes in the industry, Brexit uncertainty, and weak exports were all factors, the trade body said.

SMMT boss Mike Hawes called the worst figures since 2010 "a grave concern".

Hundreds of people are expected to sleep at Birmingham New Street Station later in an effort to raise cash and highlight child homelessness.

Nine stations across the country are taking part in the initiative organised by the Railway Children charity, working with homeless children in the UK, India and East Africa.

"Thousands of vulnerable children pass through UK railway stations every day," it said, who "face dangerous risks such as child sexual exploitation, trafficking and drug running".

Express and Star

These are some of today's early headlines from the Express and Star:

• Outdoor education centre The Towers facing the axe, external
• Anger over litter and highways clutter after M5 Oldbury Viaduct works, external
• Former Cannock Royal British Legion bedsit plans, external

BBC Business News

The famous British motorbike company Norton Motorcycles has gone into administration.

Image source, Getty Images

Founded in Birmingham, Norton began making motorbikes in 1902 and soon became associated with races such as the Isle of Man TT.

The administration puts about 100 jobs at its Castle Donington factory in question.

Lee Causer, of administrators BDO, said: "We are taking all necessary steps to ensure that customers, staff and suppliers are supported through the administration process.

Sajid Javid has decided to throw his support behind HS2 ahead of a key meeting with Boris Johnson later.

Image source, PA Media

The chancellor is expected to tell the PM he supports the controversial London to Birmingham rail link after studying Treasury analysis of its impact on regional development and rail capacity.

A leaked report has suggested the project could cost almost double the £56bn originally expected in 2015.

Mr Johnson has said MPs can expect a decision "very shortly".

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

It will be a cloudy day with some patchy drizzle and highs of 12C (54F).

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

Jamie Hallam and his fiancée lost £9,000 when robbers who posted fake eBay adverts ambushed them.

Gillingham extend their unbeaten League One run to 10 games with a 2-0 win as Shrewsbury lose three days after their FA Cup draw with Liverpool.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

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

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Thousands of pounds have been collected through fines for drivers straying into a bus lane on a road in Solihull.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said, in 2019, Solihull Council issued 3,209 penalties to those caught on camera along the Lode Lane corridor.

And a total of £66,433 has been raised as a result of the enforcement action taken against motorists over the 12-month period, although 612 fines were cancelled.

Image source, Google

The council did say the total sum could still change, given that appeals were being considered for the November to December period and some fines were still outstanding. But any money raised is kept in reserve to help meet running and maintenance costs.

Cllr Ken Hawkins, cabinet member for the environment and highways, said his message to motorists was not to duck into the lane to try and avoid “a bit of traffic”.

“It’s there for a purpose,” he said. “The vast, vast majority of drivers abide by these rules, the same way most people don’t go across red traffic lights. The rules are there for a reason."

The Midland Metro tram extension to Dudley is expected to open to passengers in 2023.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Malvern Hills District Council has set a target of making the district carbon neutral within the next 30 years.

It comes after it declared a climate emergency last July.

The district council's Operation Zero plan has outlined a vision for reaching carbon neutrality as soon as possible, but by 2050 at the latest.

Image source, Getty Images

It's aiming for a reduction of at least 50% by 2030.

More than 50 steps have been listed in the plan, including the planting of more than 200,000 trees, increasing the number of electric vehicle charging points, and expanding a local electric bike loan scheme.

It also wants to encourage homeowners to make their own properties more energy efficient.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The Crewe manager, David Artell, said their 2-0 win over Leyton Orient last night wasn't a "vintage" performance, but thought his players were "terrific defensively".

He went on to explain there are "teams in this league that are set up to be hard to beat", but said his philosophy was to out-score the opposition.

Image source, Getty Images

And he wanted the fans to appreciate the quality of their defensive performance, instead of complaining that they had to wait until the 88th minute to seal the win with a second goal.

Worcester News

Here are three of the stories found on the Worcester News website today:

• Cafe broken into just days after opening, external
• Police appeal for witnesses after sexual assault, external
• Man rescued from river, external