Worcestershire sign Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane for this season's T20 Blast.

BBC Weather

We might get a few showers first thing this morning, but the rest of the day should be dry with some sunshine and a light breeze.

Temperatures are forecast to rise to about 12C (54F) and we should have a dry night.

Image source, RuggyNo1

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

Detectives say the woman was assaulted hours earlier and the case has been referred to the police watchdog.

That's all for our live coverage today.

We'll be back with more news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Thursday.

A Herefordshire vet has set off on a 3000-mile (4,828 km) row across the Atlantic.

Simon Lyddon, 44, who runs Vine Tree Vets in Ross-on-Wye, will spend more than five weeks among a team of 12 completing the challenge from the Canary Isles to Antigua to raise money for charity.

He took on the challenge after losing his dad, Peter, to prostate cancer before learning his wife, Mel, had breast cancer.

Image source, Gail Chalmers PR

Mrs Lyddon was treated at the Macmillan Renton Unit at Hereford County Hospital and Mr Lyddon is undertaking the challenge to raise funds for Macmillan.

The crew set off from Las Galletas marina on Monday.

“I look forward to sharing our journey with everyone but most of all I’ll be looking forward to a nice rum punch in Falmouth harbour in Antigua,” Mr Lyddon added.

Lilly Hanrahan, 21 months, suffered a "catastrophic" brain injury at the hands of Sean Sadler.

Express and Star

These are from the Express and Star's website today:

• Third wave warning as coronavirus cases creep back up in Black Country, external
• Burglary gang jailed after 100mph police chase through Black Country, external
• Colleagues pay tribute to kind councillor after Covid death, external

A hospital team has been thanked for "leading the way" in the fight against coronavirus.

Ward 117 at the Royal Stoke Hospital was the first in the hospital to treat a patient with Covid-19 at the start of the pandemic, and has since developed new procedures for treating patients with the virus and set up a drive-through testing service.

The ward team has now received a CEO award from University Hospitals of North Midlands chief executive Tracy Bullock.

Image source, University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust

Rebecca Aitken, senior sister on the ward, said: “This last year has been very challenging, it’s been mentally and physically exhausting for everyone.

"We are so extremely proud of our team; the dedication, compassion, professionalism, flexibility and resilience they have shown has been nothing short of amazing."

The teenager was taken to hospital and died shortly after arrival, West Midlands Police says.

BBC Radio WM Sport

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has been picking up tips from Harry Kane and other players while training with the England team.

He received his first call up to the senior squad to play in the next the three World Cup qualifiers, starting with tomorrow night's game against San Marino at Wembley.

Image source, Getty Images

Watkins said he asked Kane how he trains and looks after himself during the season and said he's a player who "has everything".

Twenty six people died when the IRA blew up pubs in Birmingham and Guildford more than 45 years ago.

The John Lewis store in Solihull is set to reopen in April with the branch not among the latest closures announced by the firm.

Image source, Google

The retail giant, which recently reported big losses, said eight more stores will remain closed when lockdown eases as certain locations cannot sustain a large store.

Solihull is John Lewis' only remaining location in the West Midlands after it permanently closed the branch at Birmingham's Grand Central shopping centre and a smaller outlet in Tamworth in July.

The retailer said most of its remaining 34 stores would start reopening from 12 April, subject to government guidance.

Azam Mangori, 24, says he did not sleep for four days after Lorraine Cox died in his flat.

BBC Weather Watchers

Plenty of signs of spring around from the look of the photos we have been getting from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

Here are three from users Les at Large in Wolverhampton, Colanda in Atcham, Shropshire and Angus and Me in Hednesford, Staffordshire:

Image source, Les at Large

Image source, Colanda

Image source, Angus and Me

A BBC investigation into one suspect discovers he may also have worked for British secret services.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• Burglar who stole widow's treasured ring, external is jailed
• Shifnal roads project to be 'largely completed' by 2022, external
• 85-year-old attacked at Shrewsbury cashpoint for £40, external

A consultant says Simon Foley had one of the "most horrific critical illnesses" he has seen.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The National Football Museum has said Dario Gradi's place in its Hall of Fame is "under review".

The former Crewe manager apologised last week after a review found he should have done more to check on the boys who were in Bennell's care.

Image source, Getty Images

Last week, a long-awaited report into football's biggest child sex abuse scandal detailed how the governing body and individual clubs failed to protect hundreds of boys from paedophile coaches.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Nearly 300 homes and businesses in Worcestershire will be protected by new Environment Agency flood defences costing £4m.

It's helped to install new defences in Broadway, Childswickham and Murcot which hold up to 135,000 cubic metres of water during flooding.

They will only allow a set amount of water to flow downstream at times of intense and high rainfall.

Around the country, the Environment agency has completed more than 700 projects to better protect more than 300,000 homes.