A self-confessed a "fan of the skinhead culture and Ska music" says he had his Facebook account removed over a mistaken link to racism.

Barry Elliott discovered he was among hundreds affected, along with The Specials band member Neville Staples.

Their accounts were removed on Monday and say they believe Facebook was "generalising anyone associated with skinhead" - often linked with far-right ideology.

"A fan of the skinhead culture and Ska music for as long as I can remember. I've seen The Beat, The Specials, The Selecter all very famous multi-cultural bands," Mr Elliott said.

"The idea that myself and others are racist is ludicrous.

"There was no warning of this happening and I was just locked out losing everything with no way of getting it back."

Facebook has said the accounts were "removed in error" and were reinstated.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A "mini-tornado" or funnel cloud has been spotted over Coventry.

BBC Weather Watchers RyanD and Wolfman both took photos of the unusual weather feature over the city on Wednesday afternoon at about 13:40.

Image source, RyanD

Image source, Wolfman

The Met Office says, external funnel clouds are long fingers of cloud that reach towards the ground but don't usually touch it.

When they do reach the ground, they become a tornado, it adds.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two men have been hurt after their car hit a tree this morning in Birmingham.

The collision was on Pershore Road, Edgbaston, at around 04:30, the ambulance service said.

The men, the driver and a passenger, were taken to hospital with injuries paramedics said weren't thought to be life-threatening.

Three senior players have been released by Crewe Alexandra.

Paul Green, Nicky Hunt (pictured below) and Shaun Miller have all been let go, while all of the loan players have gone back to their parent clubs.

Image source, Getty Images

James Jones, Chris Porter and goalkeeper Dave Richards have been offered new deals.

Coronavirus could cost Coventry City Council £13m, the local authority has said.

It's been given an extra £21m by the government, but the Labour-run council says it's not enough to cover increased care and education costs, and loss of income from things like business rates.

Image source, Getty Images

The government has said it's working with local authorities to understand the pressures.

Express and Star

The Express and Star's headlines today include:

• Thousands of firms still waiting for coronavirus crisis cash across Black Country and Staffordshire, external
• Black Country and Staffordshire pubs weigh up reopening decision, external
• Work on Coseley travellers site delayed by coronavirus crisis, external

BBC Weather

We'll have some scattered showers around today and they could be heavy or thundery in places this afternoon. Turning breezy with a high of 17C/63F.

Image source, CountryMouse

Any heavy rain should fade away through the night to leave it mainly dry, cloudy and with just the chance of the odd shower later on. Low: 12C/54F.

Get the latest forecast for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

We will be bringing you developing stories, analysis, weather and travel for the West Midlands.

You can let us know about stories in your area via email,Twitter , externaland Facebook, external

Wendy Vernall now has a property to move into when she leaves The Crown Hotel.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Dozens of people have taken part in a vigil in Sandwell in memory of George Floyd.

The 46-year-old died in Minneapolis last month after a white police officer held a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

About 50 people gathered to pay their respects at Sandwell's council house on the day of Mr Floyd's funeral. Councillor Jackie Taylor organised the event and said black people didn't want special treatment but "are actually asking for equality".

The video shared online appears to show a group of supporters throwing missiles at two black men.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with more news updates from 08:00 tomorrow.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The middle of Stourbridge is going to be closed off to cars during the day as part of plans to keep shoppers safe as lockdown eases.

Image source, Google

From Monday, the government's allowing more shops to reopen and Dudley Council says it will temporarily pedestrianise the High Street between 09:00 and 16:00 each day. , external

The local authority says the move will allow shoppers to socially distance.

Car parking at council-run sites in Stourbridge will also stay free until the end of June.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's been another overcast day and there's some rain to come, looking at the clouds in these photos.

They were taken by BBC Weather Watchers in Rushbury and Bromyard.

Image source, Peter Steggles

Image source, Postman Les

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Local Democracy Reporting Service in the West Midlands has been covering these stories:

• People in parts of Wolverhampton are still complaining of poor water supply to their homes more than a week after hundreds of homes were first affected. Severn Trent says many areas have had their supply restored but there are pockets of ongoing problems with demand for water outstripping supply.

Image source, PA Media

• People in Solihull are being urged to buy face masks from DIY stores to free up medical masks for key workers. The borough council's leader, Ian Courts, is asking residents to use scarves or homemade masks to prevent a rush on medical-grade masks.
• A further £1m could be spent on gloves, face masks and other protective gear in Walsall to protect schools and care homes from Covid-19. The council's cabinet has been recommended to approve spending the money from September as services begin to return.

The watchdog said social media footage of the restraint was "not wholly representative" of what happened.

BBC Midlands Today

The Severn Valley Railway has said it expects to lose £6m in revenue this year - three-quarters of its income.

It had already seen a 75% drop in passenger numbers because of the February floods and said it needed £4,5m to pay for essential works.

An emergency appeal by the railway had raised £750,000 by 4 June, and it said its immediate future had been secured as a result.

After thousands of people signed a petition calling for Shrewsbury's statue of Clive of India to be removed, a rival petition has now been set up calling for the figure to stay where it is.

Launched through change.org, the petition, set up by Emma Dolphin, and signed so far by more than 2,300 people says "Removing statues does not change history nor help us learn from it

"Shrewsbury and Shropshire has been influenced by the actions of Robert Clive whether we condone all of his actions or not."

Image source, Getty Images

It comes after Shropshire Council agreed to discuss the statue's removal at its next full council meeting.

Videos shared online appear to show a group of supporters throwing missiles at two black men.

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A wildlife centre is still going to struggle financially even if it is allowed to reopen next week, its director's said.

Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, is a small sanctuary for exotic animals and birds of prey and has been closed to visitors during lockdown.

The government's expected to announce they can reopen from Monday as long as they follow social distancing rules.

Director Jenny Morgan told BBC Radio Stoke their weekly running costs are £1,200 and while being back open is good, it won't make a big difference.

"We are going to struggle because we are so tiny, so the amount of people we're going to be allowed to let in is going to be absolutely minute so it's not going to help a huge amount. It's some money coming in as opposed to none."