About 50 firefighters have been tackling a factory fire on Canal Side Industrial Estate in Brierley Hill since the early hours.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

The fire service tweeted shortly before 07:00, external to say the fire was out and it was "looking to reduce the number of appliances in attendance".

Andy Giddings
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 , externaland Facebook., external

Coventry's cycling champion is hoping to lead a pedalling revolution in the city.

The cost of cremations in the UK has continued to rise despite reduced services on offer during the pandemic.

Birmingham City boss Pep Clotet leaves the club after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Swansea City.

He is charged with four counts of attempted murder after a suspected arson attack in Redditch.

John Egan scores with a dramatic 93rd-minute header to give Europe-chasing Sheffield United victory over Wolves at Bramall Lane.

The Canal and River Trust says there has been an increase in fly-tipping along canals during lockdown.

Lotus Cars' steel fabrication and lightweight structures manufacturing will take place in Norwich.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow.

The Whiteleaved Oak in the Malvern Hills is thought to have had spiritual significance.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans have been submitted for an 80-bed Premier Inn, a Miller and Carter restaurant and a Costa drive-through on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.

The Battlefield Roundabout site already has a Travelodge, pub, petrol station, Starbucks and Burger King and the planning application estimates up to 97 jobs would be created.

Image source, Google

The developer, Maximus Aequus, also wants 222 parking spaces and electric car charging points at the site, which is also close to Shrewsbury's cattle market.

Agents acting for the company said traffic is expected to grow, once Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road is built.

Birmingham City Council says the £72m Commonwealth Games work is on schedule and on budget.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• Murder victim's family pay tribute to 'loving son and brother', external
• Man arrested in people smuggling investigation, external
• Landowner hits back at MP's criticism of 'gigafactory' plan, external

Robert Clive is widely credited with engineering British colonial rule in India in the 18th Century.

The transport operator First Group, which runs a number of bus and train services in the West Midlands, has issued a warning about its future viability.

The company reported a loss of more than £150m for the year to the end of March, compared with a profit of almost £10m for the previous 12 months, and blamed a huge fall in passenger numbers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, Getty Images

First Group runs Great Western Railway services as well as First Bus in Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

More staff at Wyre Forest District Council could be workign from home in the future.

Staff, the unions and managers are being consulted on the issue.

Image source, Google

The local authority will also consider selling or renting out its offices at Wyre Forest House or Green Street.

The council’s Deputy Leader, Fran Oborski, said there was now a massive opportunity to reduce the carbon emissions of those travelling to work.

BBC Shropshire

A Telford taxi driver who was beaten up when he picked up passengers in the town in the early hours of Sunday morning said he wanted his attacker jailed.

Amir Sajjad Malik told BBC Radio Shropshire said he was attacked and racially abused after insisting he was paid in advance.

Image source, Amir Sajjad Malik

West Mercia Police said Mr Malik, who is in his 30s had been called to Sorbus Avenue to take three men to Admaston and described the man who attacked him as bald, in his twenties and wearing dark clothing.

Mr Malik said he believed he was attacked because of the colour of his skin.

BBC Weather Watchers

All around the West Midlands we're seeing photos of grey cloud and rain.

These pictures were taken by BBC Weather Watchers in Lower Broadheath, Cardington and Birmingham.

Image source, Mikesnapper

Image source, Peter Steggles

Image source, Timbo

This autumn, for the first time since 1987, the top four floors of Shrewsbury's historic flax mill will be open to tenants again.

Historic England has spent more than £20m on the restoration of the 220-year-old building and said it would offer a "unique work space for businesses and individuals".

Later in the year, Historic England also plans to find an operator for a cafe inside the building.

Image source, Historic England

The flax mill is the worlds' first iron-framed building and the techniques used in building it later enabled the construction of the first skyscrapers.

For years, it was named the heritage building most "at risk" by Historic England.

The organisation, then known as English Heritage, bought it in 2005 and has been carrying out renovation with the help of money from the National Lottery.

Image source, Historic England

Historic England said it is also looking for developers willing to build homes on the surrounding land and to "invest in the development of the remaining historic buildings."