Vanessa Pearce
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

Two teenage boys are arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a stabbing in Birmingham.

Residents in Smethwick and Cape Hill are urged to get tested for the South Africa variant of the virus.

That's all for now.

Any breaking news will appear here throughout the evening and we'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.

The Centre AT7 site closed at 11:30 BST and reopened just after 16:00, the city council says.

Former cabinet minister Owen Paterson has spoken about the loss of his wife, Rose, who took her own life last year.

After one dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines, people over 80 had a similar and "very encouraging" antibody response, a study has found.

With the UK's decision to delay a second dose, the findings are reassuring, the University of Birmingham researchers say.

This is particularly true for older people, whose immune systems are less robust than younger people's.

The vaccines are thought to have saved more than 10,000 lives in the UK.

Worcester News

Here are some of the stories on the Worcester News website:

• Council leader hits out at parties for continuing to canvass in Worcester after Duke of Edinburgh's death, external
• Driver who failed to stop for police in Kempsey arrested for several offences, external
• Worcester pub bosses say it's 'fantastic to be back', external

Police are cracking down on anti-social behaviour in Shrewsbury.

West Mercia Police said there has been a spate of vandalism and break-ins throughout the town centre and the Quarry over the last two weeks.

In order to tackle the issue, it said it increased the number of officers on shift in the area, and more officers will be on late night patrols.

Image source, Getty Images

Ch Insp Mark Reilly said: "I'd like to reassure the public that we understand what a negative affect this has on the community and we are taking the issue extremely seriously.

"We are committed to finding the individuals responsible."

He urged anyone with information about a crime or concerns to contact police.

Isobel Rowbotham describes seeing Jack Merritt moments after he had been fatally wounded.

BBC Weather Watchers

Brilliant blue skies appear to be the order of the day from the look of the photos coming in from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from Buddhist in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Snapper Simon in Church Stretton, Shropshire and OnTheCut in Warwick.

Image source, Buddhist

Image source, Snapper Simon

Image source, OnTheCut

BBC Midlands Today

A swimming club is hoping a £18,000 crowdfunding campaign will ensure its survival.

Members of Worcester Swimming Club are able to have sessions in a pool again with lockdown restrictions eased on Monday.

But officials with the group said lockdown has hit them financially and head coach Mark Stowe said they have been forced to fundraise for their future.

"We have probably lost about 25% of our membership in the last 12 months but I know that will come back but it has been really tough in that period," he said.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website has these headlines today:

• Mum's breast cancer battle leaves her too tired to pick up baby, external
• Covid cops catch Stoke-on-Trent barbers breaking face mask rules as lockdown eased, external
• Hanley given street art makeover as city centre gets back in business, external

The indoor and outdoor venues in the Shropshire town have been closed since early January.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A pigeon has forced the temporary closure of a Covid-19 testing centre in Coventry.

The Centre AT7 site closed at about 11:30 BST after the bird flew into the building.

Staff are now working to remove it.

Image source, Getty Images

Once it is removed, the council said a thorough deep clean will be carried out but it hopes to be able to re-open the site shortly.

Ben Styles, 23, from Leamington Spa, is charged with preparing acts of terrorism.

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the headlines from the Shropshire Star website this morning:

• Suspended sentence for Shropshire prisoner who ambushed inmate in pillowcase plug attack, external
• Man on trial for alleged rape of fellow Shropshire university student, external
• Shropshire residents urged to get jabbed as vaccines extended, external

A 31-year-old man was found dead after a shooting in Birmingham on Tuesday evening, police say.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

More than 1,000 people have objected to plans for the £87m Shrewsbury North West Relief Road.

The road, set to be built by 2024, will link the town's northern end to the western point and ease congestion, according to Shropshire Council.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the plans, which went live on Shropshire Council's website last month, have currently received over 1,004 objections.

Image source, Shropshire Council

A spokesman for Road to Ruin Shropshire, who are campaigning against the road, said: "Clearly there’s huge opposition to the road across the county.

"It's worth noting that objections are coming in from all over Shropshire, not just Shrewsbury."

Most objections relate to the scheme being incompatible with the climate emergency declared by the council in May 2019, the felling of ancient trees and destruction of habitats, loss of the tranquil "green wedge" to the north of the town, and fears over the water supply.

Two on-call firefighters have been given awards for their service to the community.

Mark Glass, has completed 10 years of service at Worcester Fire Station, while Mike Rowberry has completed five years.

Image source, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

The awards were presented by Station Commander Gareth Taylor.

“We are grateful for the commitment they show to their communities," he said.