The Tory mayor says the region's jobs have taken a "horrible hit" from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Residents are asked to close doors and windows as demolition takes place following the Telford fire.

A woman who suffered post-partum psychosis inspires thousands to help new mothers.

Conservative John Dwyer returns as the police and crime commissioner five years after being ousted.

Peter Nutting lost to Lib Dem Rob Wilson, but his party keeps control of Shropshire Council.

Despite losing some seats, including leader Peter Nutting's Copthorne ward, the Conservatives have been able to maintain their ruling majority on Shropshire Council.

The party needed 38 seats to keep control of the authority.

They've managed to cross that threshold with just four wards left to be declared.

They expect to announce the winner of the final ward, Whitchurch south, by 20:15

Image source, Shropshire Council

The Tories also increase their majorities in Warwickshire and Rugby, and made a gain in Coventry.

Labour's Simon Foster takes over from David Jamieson, who has retired after seven years in the role.

Labour's Simon Foster has won the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner election, defeating his Conservative rival Jay Singh-Sohal after second preference votes were counted.

He will succeed Labour's David Jamieson who decided to stand down from the role.

The Tory incumbent beats Labour's Liam Byrne to retain the position he has held for four years.

Andy Street has been giving his reaction and looking ahead to his second term as mayor of the West Midlands.

After paying tribute to his rivals and his campaign team he said: "There is no question that the West Midlands faces serious challenges after the impact of Covid."

Image source, PA Media

But Mr Street added: "There is no question that the West Midlands will bounce back strongly, and that we will create the dynamic, meritocratic, inclusive society we all crave."

He closed by saying: "And together we can show Britain that something very special is being made in the West Midlands.”

Rain affects Saturday's County Championship fixtures, with six games abandoned without a ball bowled.

BBC Radio CWR

Liam Byrne has been generous in defeat to his Conservative rival Andy Street.

In his speech he paid tribute to the work he has done in a difficult year in which Mr Street lost his mother.

And he said she would have been proud of what he has achieved.

Image source, Getty Images

In the end he was not able to make up the 55,309 vote-shortfall after the first round of voting, picking up just 600 votes in Wolverhampton, around 300 in Walsall and around 5,000 in Birmingham.

Andy Street has won the race to be West Midlands Mayor.

The Conservative candidate beat Labour's Liam Byrne by 314,669 votes to 267,626 after second preference votes were cast,

This is not good news for Labour's Liam Byrne.

We've just seen the results of the second preference votes from the Wolverhampton area and it's pretty much an even split between them, with 1,719 for him and 1,144 for the Conservative candidate Andy Street.

If that trend continues he won't be able to make up the gap of 55,309 between them on the first preference votes.

Although we're counting second preference votes in the West Midlands Mayor and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections, we came very close to getting results in the first round.

The Conservative candidate, Andy Street, received 49% of the votes in the first round of the mayoral election, leaving him just short of the 50% needed.

And with only half of the ballot papers listing a second preference it seems likely Andy Street will win that one once the second preference votes are all counted.

Image source, Labour Party

Simon Foster came very close to winning the PCC election too, and was just 4.5% off the 50% he needed in the first round.

So we could come out of these elections in the same situation we entered them, with a Labour PCC and a Conservative mayor.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner vote has gone to a second round after none of the candidates reached the target for victory in the first round.

The Labour candidate Simon Foster was ahead after first preference votes were counted, with 276,743 votes.

The Conservative candidate, Jay Singh-Sohail was in second place with 239,288 votes.

Behind them were Liberal Democrat Jon Hunt with 38,594, Independent Julie Hambleton 27,664, Reform UK candidate Mark Hoath with 18,002 and Desmond Jaddoo from the We Matter Party who received 7,745 votes.

BBC Radio WM's Kath Stanczyszyn, who is in Birmingham, explains what is happening now in the vote count.

The council has gone from no overall control to a majority Conservative leadership.

Olivia Lyons hails win as Conservatives take 12 of the 13 wards up for contention.