About 5.6 million people are thought to be planning trips by car in the UK over the weekend.

People gathered to watch two people boxing at the playing fields near Cannon Hill Park.

We will be back tomorrow from 08:00 with the latest for the West Midlands.

PC Michael Darbyshire, 55, was accused of rape and five counts of sexual assault against two women.

BBC Weather Watchers

Plenty of people - and the odd squirrel - have been enjoying another day of warm, sunny weather by the look of the photos coming from our BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from users Shaun in Gnosall, Staffordshire, Findyourrainbow89 in Halesowen, Dudley and Springer Spaniel in Leek Wootton, Warwickshire:

Image source, Shaun

Image source, Findyourrainbow89

Image source, Springer Spaniel

Police are seeking a man who they say walked past a house in Worcester where a woman was found dead at a key moment.

The 69-year-old - who has not been named by the West Mercia Force - was found dead on Green Lane on 9 March.

Detectives say the man is not a suspect, but they believe he may have potentially witnessed something when he passed the property at about 10:30 that morning.

"He is not suspected of any wrongdoing but we believe he may have walked past the property in Green Lane at the relevant time and we wish to speak with him in case he saw or heard anything that may assist with the investigation," Det Sgt Grant Lawrence, from West Mercia Police, said.

Forty-nine-year-old Jessica Craine, of Hillside Close, is in custody after being charged with the woman's murder earlier this month.

People have been urged by a council not to "ruin the progress we’ve made", after crowds gathered in parks in Birmingham on Tuesday.

Birmingham City Council cabinet member for street scene and parks John O’Shea said it wanted residents to use its parks "safely and with respect for other users and for the park itself".

He added: "Most people do, but some don’t.

"The police have the resources and powers to deal with any breaches of Covid regulations or other criminality. We’ll work with them and support them in what they do."

Mr O’Shea said the council did not "approve or condone yesterday’s gatherings in parks in Birmingham - ones replicated across the country".

He stated the authority would ask people to meet in line with the law and Covid-19 advice, adding: "Let’s not ruin the progress we’ve made by putting people at risk."

Deborah Cadman will be Birmingham City Council's acting chief executive for the next year.

Coroner David Reid previously concluded neglect contributed to Rachel Johnston's death in 2018.

Coventry Live

Here are some of the stories on the Coventry Live website:

• Council contractors caught up in fight on Upper Precinct, external
• Giant industrial estate plans for Exhall resubmitted, external
• Coventry's Covid-19 rate hits six month low - but one area in Warwickshire remains West Midlands' highest, external

After crowds gathered in parks in Birmingham yesterday, the council said it has suspended its grass cutting service due to the litter left behind.

Thousands gathered at Holders Lane playing fields, in Moseley, and flyers were shared on social media regarding another gathering for students in the city's Cannon Hill Park.

West Midlands Police said officers had been sent to Cannon Hill but "did not need to issue any fines".

Other councils reported large gatherings in parks in Nottingham, Leeds as well as Brighton beach as the warm weather drew people outside as restrictions on people gathering were lifted.

Two parks close as people gather in open spaces in England to enjoy March's hottest day in 50 years.

Mahwish Rani was stopped about a mile away by members of the public, West Midlands Police say.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

More than 100 people have been protesting peacefully in Hereford today.

The 'Right to Protest' rally was organised by the local branch of Extinction Rebellion and the organisers said they wanted to voice their concerns about the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

The new laws would increase police powers to control protests and the group said it was "peacefully gathering for the rights to our freedom of speech."

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue's chief officer is to retire in the autumn, she has announced.

Rebecca Bryant said she felt "very privileged" to have been part of the changes that have happened within the service during her 29 years there.

Staffordshire Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, said: "Becci has dedicated nearly three decades of her life to the fire and rescue service and keeping people safe.

"I know she has always strived to make a real difference and is driven by the need to protect and improve lives – a duty she takes very seriously."

Atif Ayub, 25, is jailed for 12 months after driving the wrong way on a dual carriageway.

A great-grandfather who wants to rollerskate 90 laps of a courtyard before his 90th birthday has raised nearly £25,000 for charity.

Image source, John Wilcock

Inspired by both Captain Sir Tom Moore and Marcus Rashford's school meals campaign, John Wilcock, from Warwick, said he had not skated for around 70 years.

Using his wife's rollator frame for balance, he wants to do two laps a week until his birthday in January.

The money raised is going towards food charity FareShare.

Posting on his fundraising page, Mr Wilcock said: "It was lovely to find so much interest in what I am trying to do".

BBC Midlands Today

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition opposing three planning applications which could see hundreds of lorries driving through a village as part of the HS2 scheme.

Campaigners say the applications ask for up to 800 additional lorry movements daily along roads in Balsall Common, near Solihull.

They say the journeys could be entirely avoided if HS2 used an alternative route.

Work is already underway on the first phase of the high-speed rail project between London and Birmingham.

A HS2 spokesperson says they are building an alternative "haul road" but until it is built they need to use existing roads.

Birmingham Live

Some of today's stories from Birmingham Live include:

• Speeding hit-and-run driver killed 13-year-old and only stopped when other motorists chased her, external
• Police pin crazed driver against tree after 80mph chase through busy city streets, external
• Mugger 'jailed' but allowed to walk free before serving one full day in prison, external

A motorcyclist has died after he was involved in a collision with a car.

Image source, Google

West Mercia Police is appealing for information , externalabout the crash which happened in Felhampton, a hamlet near Craven Arms, at about 13:00 BST on Tuesday.

The force said the incident happened on the road between Craven Arms and Church Stretton when the motorcycle, which was travelling towards Shrewsbury, was in collision with a red Ford Focus travelling in the opposite direction.

The motorcycle also collided with another car, a Red VW Polo, police added.

The man, aged in his 70s, was taken to hospital, where he later died.

The drivers of the other two cars received less serious injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene.