Wednesday UK's hottest day of the year so farpublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
A high of 32.6C is recorded at Heathrow, with temperatures likely to rise as the week continues.
Read MoreSummary
Woman arrested in double murder probe
'Hundreds' gather in city park amid reports of 'rave'
Man charged with murder of father-of-one
Shopping centre giant likely to appoint administrators
Police fear disorder as coronavirus lockdown eases
Updates from Friday 26 June
Wednesday UK's hottest day of the year so farpublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
Protest after death of man Tasered by policepublished at 19:38 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
People take the knee in Coventry calling for justice for those who have died following police contact.
Read MoreGirl treated after shotgun and pipe bomb attackpublished at 19:25 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
The teenager has surgery to remove pellets, after two pipe bombs were thrown at a house.
Read More'I would not have been Tasered if I was white'published at 19:07 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
A West Midlands Police officer is under investigation for the Tasering of Trevaile Wyse in Birminham back in Feburary 2020, which he says was excessive, and has damaged his health.
Read MoreEnd of live updates for Wednesdaypublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
We'll return tomorrow with the latest news, weather, sport and travel for the West Midlands.
Ferguson may leave West Brom for 'nothing'published at 18:46 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
West Brom boss Slaven Bilic fears losing teenager Nathan Ferguson "for basically nothing" if the defender moves abroad.
Read MoreMusic industry's future 'uncertain' as venues stay closedpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
BBC Radio StokeThe future of the UK's music industry looks uncertain, according to a promoter from Stoke-on-Trent.
Image source, GoogleDanni Brownshill works at The Sugarmill in Hanley, a venue which, along with other concert halls, won't be hosting live performances even as lockdown rules ease from 4 July.
The government said it would work with the arts industry on specific guidance to enable choirs, orchestras and theatres to resume live events as soon as possible.
But Miss Brownshill said, with the vast majority of venues already in debt and further funding not being announced so far, the future of the grassroots music scene looked uncertain.
"If you pull the foundations out from underneath the music industry, where does that leave us? That leaves us not able to develop the next Coldplay or Adele or Biffy Clyro or whoever it may be."
British Gymnastics makes a plan for lockdown returnpublished at 18:24 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsThe latest government plans for the return of indoor gyms and sports activities "lack clarity", according to British Gymnastics.
Image source, ReutersWith no announcement of a return for indoor sports, the group, based in Lilleshall, Shropshire, said it was taking action to support its community while lobbying ministers.
The plan, external includes a hardship fund to give £110,000 in financial support to gymnasts affected by Covid-19, discounts on coaching courses and free guides and webinars to get clubs ready to reopen.
Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said on social media , externalthat the government hoped to "reopen gyms and leisure facilities in mid-July".
Hairdressers 'could take months to see all customers'published at 18:10 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
A hairdresser says it could be September before she's fully caught up with all the customers needing an appointment post-lockdown.
Image source, ReutersThe appropriately named The Hairdressers salon in Droitwich will be reopening shortly after 4 July following the government announcing the easing of restrictions yesterday.
Having worked her way through the 45 pages of measures, owner Jo Evans says they'll all have full face shields and would be disinfecting equipment after every use., external
"We've been preparing all through lockdown as to what possible measures we have to put in place. We're ready to rock 'n' roll."
Your photos: Flowers, squirrel and shady sheeppublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
A cheeky squirrel, sheltering sheep and beautiful flowers - all in a day's work for our local BBC Weather Watchers!
These three pictures were taken by users Sal in Kinver, Staffordshire, Postman Les in Bromyard, Herefordshire and Mr Twister in Leek, Staffordshire:
Image source, Sal
Image source, Postman Les
Image source, Mr Twister'Lucky escape' as fire destroys helicopterpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
A pilot and passenger walk away from an emergency landing before the aircraft catches fire.
Read MoreAintree Racecourse chairman dies aged 63published at 17:34 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
Tributes are paid to Rose Paterson, the chairman of Aintree Racecourse, who has been found dead near her Shropshire home.
Read MoreSecond huge oxygen tank set to journey across countiespublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsA second huge oxygen cylinder will make its long and slow journey across three counties from Monday.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceLast week saw one of the tanks, measuring 49 metres long and weighing 225 tonnes, start off in Cheshire and finish at a factory in Warwickshire. , external
Along the way, it became a bit of a star, drawing crowds along the route and being photographed repeatedly on social media., external
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceStaffordshire Police said, external the second of four of the cylinders will make its journey on the same route from Monday 29 June.
Travelling at just 5mph expect long queues.
Teenagers hurt in shopping centre stabbingpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
Two teenagers are stabbed with a third suffers facial injuries in the incident in Smethwick.
Read MoreHot weather warning for people shielding from Covid-19published at 17:11 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
As temperatures soar this week, people in the West Midlands are being urged to check on residents shielding inside due to Covid-19 as well as other vulnerable groups.
Image source, Les at LargePublic Health England wants people to keep checking up on those who are vulnerable to the heat, especially those shielding due to the current lockdown advice.
Officials say it is important to keep hydrated, cool and to slow down when the weather's at its hottest, between 11:00 and 15:00., external
Up to 200 Dunlop jobs at risk as sales fallpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres, based in Erdington, has been hit by Covid-19 lockdowns a trade union says.
Read MoreMuseums 'won't be ready to reopen on 4 July'published at 16:27 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
BBC CWRTwo museums in Coventry won't be reopening on the 4 July as bosses say it'll take longer than 10 days to get them ready.
Image source, Coventry Transport MuseumYesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said museums along with cinemas, galleries and libraries, would be able to reopen as long as they followed new guidelines.
But Culture Coventry,, external which runs Coventry Transport Museum and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said neither would be ready for 4 July.
Spokesman Ruark Jon-Stevens said the transport museum was likely to reopen a few weeks later and the Herbert after that as they'd just started redeveloping the galleries.
"What we need to do is sanitise the museums and not the experience so although we will be taking some of the interactive out of use there'll be other things put in place which might be projections, more visual, those sorts of things."
Around the web: Police inquiry into city attackpublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
A few of the headlines from the Worcester News:
Your photos: Blue skies on Wednesdaypublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
Brilliant blue skies are still being photographed by our local BBC Weather Watchers across the region.
Here are examples from three of our users, My Sky Eye in Tamworth, Staffordshire, Grum in Ellesmere, Shropshire and Hedgehog in Evesham, Worcestershire:
Image source, My Sky Eye
Image source, Grum
Image source, HedgehogHelicopter 'well ablaze' after emergency landingpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 24 June 2020
A helicopter had to make an emergency landing this lunchtime after catching fire.
Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue ServiceThe aircraft was "well ablaze" when paramedics arrived at its landing site, near the Mason Arms, Long Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, the ambulance service said., external
The pilot and a passenger got out of the helicopter safely and weren't hurt in the fire or landing, it added.
Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
