Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games organisers say they are confident of hosting capacity crowds at a "Covid-friendly games".

Travel across the West Midlands is likely to be disrupted on Thursday due to heavy showers and thunderstorms.

Image source, Met Office

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning, external and said there is a chance homes and businesses could be flooded.

Lightning could cause delays with some cancellations to train and bus services.

The warning is in place from 11:00 until 20:00.

Tina Ince, Alex Britton and Tom Watson died in the four-vehicle crash near Andover.

BBC Weather Watchers

With the West Midlands set to bask in temperatures up to 29C (84F) today the BBC Weather Watchers have been out capturing some sunny scenes across the region.

This cloudless view was taken in Leek, Staffordshire, by Videoman.

Image source, Videoman

This was the scene earlier in Sutton Coldfield as captured by Suttonwalker.

Image source, Suttonwalker

Peter Steggles took this in Rushbury, Shropshire.

Image source, Peter Steggles

And this image of Dudley was taken by Laura and Glenn.

Image source, Laura and Glenn

David Venables faces trial following the discovery of wife Brenda's remains 37 years after disappearing.

The 32-year-old suspect is also treated for a stab wound to his arm, police say.

Staff at County Hospital in Stafford remember Veronica Guy as an "advocate for patients".

Herefordshire actor John Challis' tour is cancelled due to ill health, promoters say.

Worcestershire legend Daryl Mitchell is to retire at the end of the season - after 19 years' service.

BBC CWR

A Warwickshire delivery firm says it is struggling to fulfil orders because of a lack of HGV drivers.

Adam Shuter, MD of Exact Logistics in Dunchurch, said a mix of drivers retiring, a lack of HGV tests, Brexit and the pandemic had all affected the industry.

Image source, Google

"The driver shortage is impacting us in not being able to meet delivery times, not being able to meet the requirements on site and we are beginning to get a small backlog," he said.

"These days transport is becoming almost when it is going to happen, not when you expect it to happen and that is a problem for lots of people.

"We are now having to say we'll deliver when we have got a driver or a vehicle, not on the day that you want it, and that is a big problem."

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

A trial of e-scooters in Birmingham is set to be extended into next year.

Image source, AFP

Senior councillors will vote on a report today that describes the pilot as a "relatively low cost and low risk method of trialling a new alternative to private cars".

The report says more than 550,000 journeys have been made on the scooters - owned and maintained by Voi - between September 2020 and July 2021.

In that time, there were 11 serious and 107 minor injuries - all but one to the rider of the scooter.

The report also revealed 58% of e-scooter users were under 34, 76% were male and 24% were students.

But charity the National Federation of the Blind of the UK says it "vehemently disagrees" with the extension of the trial.

It claims the safety of the scooters and the risk to vulnerable pedestrians is not being properly assessed.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans are being put forward for a sculpture to honour 300 years of industry in the Ironbridge Gorge.

The Coalbrookdale Foundry closed in 2017 after centuries of metal casting. The Coke Hearth Improvements Group is proposing to place an anvil, recovered from the site, on the nearby green.

Casts of a jacket, visor and boots will be added to give the impression “a foundry worker has sat on the anvil, taken off his PPE and walked away”, the group says.

Image source, Coke Hearth Improvements Group / Telford and Wrekin Council

Plans for the sculpture will go before Telford & Wrekin Council on a date to be confirmed.

Earlier this year, Shropshire Homes Ltd applied to build a 30-flat block and 48 new houses on the nine-acre Wellington Road foundry site, with a planning decision on the application still to be made.

BBC Weather

Any early mist patches will clear leaving an unseasonably warm day with plenty of sunshine and highs of 29°C (84°F).

This was the scene earlier in Oldbury as taken by BBC Weather Watcher dixtwenty.

Image source, dixtwenty

Matt and Trish say they were initially terrified but "worries and fears" soon disappear.

Declan Jones is accused of the offence which is linked to an incident in Birmingham, the IOPC says.

Sam Robson and Mark Stoneman share an opening stand of 376 against Sussex, while Essex retain control against Gloucestershire.

BBC Radio CWR

Double Paralympic silver-medallist Kare Adenegan said she found it tough to compete in the Tokyo Games with no international crowd support.

Image source, PA Media

The 20-year-old, from Coventry, came second in both the T34 100m and T34 800m.

Organisers did not permit any international fans at the Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kara said not having her family there to support her "was definitely a struggle but I knew what I wanted to achieve".

She added: "I had to really think 'why am I doing it' and knowing that I want to inspire the next generation."

Having returned home, she said she was looking forward to two weeks off before returning to her studies at the University of Warwick.

Keith Barker makes a stubborn 49 not out against his former county as Hampshire build a crucial lead against Warwickshire.

Exterior work on the 18th Century house will take another year, its owners say.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Tributes have been paid to a "hugely respected" veteran councillor.

Councillor Neil Eustace, 65, of Yardley East ward served as Birmingham city councillor for 35 years since being first elected in 1986. The Liberal Democrat died at the weekend.

Mr Eustace was a long-standing member and former chair of the licensing and public protection committee and also served as deputy lead member of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority.

His sister, Julie Baum, 60 said: "We are very proud of him because of everything he has done.

"He loved the area and devoted as much time as he could to try and make the area better for people."

Image source, Birmingham City Council

Councillor Jon Hunt, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "Neil was a dynamo, hugely respected in Yardley and within the Liberal Democrats.

"His passing is unexpected and we will miss him hugely."