Jim Elston made contact with his brother Mike thanks to a family history website.

Live updates have now ended for the West Midlands.

We'll be back with you from 08:00 on Friday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.

What is driving a community to search for two boys who vanished 25 years ago?

The Leader of the House of Commons likens the new health secretary to England's Jack Grealish.

The family of father-of-five Carl Woodall say he was quiet and "unassuming by nature".

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The number of new coronavirus cases recorded in Worcestershire almost doubled in the last week.

Image source, PA Media

Public Health England said 454 cases were recorded in the county in the week up to 25 June - a rise of 99% compared to the previous week.

The county's infection rate is now 76.2 cases per 100,000 people.

The highest infection rate among the county's six districts is Bromsgrove where 126 cases were recorded in the last week - a rise of 83% compared to the week before.

Figures also show that 76 cases were recorded in Worcester in the same week - a rise of 75% in seven days - meaning the city's infection rate currently stands at 85.4 cases per 100,000 people.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

More than 150 worried residents have spoken out against plans to open a new nursery in Great Barr over fears it could increase road accidents.

Image source, Google

Members of Sandwell Council’s planning committee are being urged to refuse the application to convert the empty house on Newton Road into a nursery with a capacity for 81 children. A total of 170 people have raised objections to the proposal, although 14 have also written in support, saying there is a need for the service in the area.

Planning officers, however, believe the plan would exacerbate parking and highways safety issues and are recommending it be refused at the meeting on 8 July.

Coventry City sign midfielder Ben Sheaf from Arsenal on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Police are appealing for help in identifying a man who was part of a gang of four who stole his car and laptop in Sutton Coldfield.

Two men ran at the victim who stumbled and dropped his keys and laptop which were picked up by the group and led to one of the men fleeing in the victim's BMW.

The victim, aged in his 40s, wasn't injured from the incident in Halton Road on 10 June, but was left shocked, West Midlands Police said.

The BMW was later found in Erdington and has been seized for forensic examination.

Anyone who recognises the man in the image is asked to contact the force.

Warwickshire paceman Henry Brookes agrees a three-year contract extension to the end of the 2024 season.

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the stories on the Shropshire Star website:

• Shrewsbury house filled with concrete foam to save it from collapse, external
• Former Shropshire hospitals midwife becomes new president of Royal College, external
• Major engineering and training facility to move from Bridgnorth to Telford, external

The new Warwickshire Police Chief Constable, Debbie Tedds, has taken up her post, saying she would be "seeking to engage with as many people as possible".

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Ms Tedds, who replaces the retiring Martin Jelley, stated it was "a fantastic force" and she intended to work hard with its staff and communities "to understand where we take things next".

She said having served as an officer at every rank within the force for more than 30 years "to now become the first female Chief Constable in our force’s 164-year history is an absolute honour and privilege".

Ms Tedds added: "I know there will always be areas for improvement and ensuring our communities have confidence to engage with us and improving the service quality and citizen experience when people need to contact us is an absolute priority to me."

She stated while it would ensure support to crime victims, the force would "focus on reducing and preventing crime taking place in the first place", but it needed the public’s support to do this.

Dawn Bennett, who suffers from agoraphobia, says walking across a field will be like "going abroad".

Illegal tobacco and cigarettes with an estimated value of £15,000 have been seized from businesses in Telford.

Image source, West Mercia Police

West Mercia Police said officers worked with Telford & Wrekin Trading Standards along with the fire service and immigration officials during the raids at six locations in the borough.

Sniffer dogs Yoyo and Cooper also took part in the operation.

No arrests have been made yet, added the force.

A 14-year-old skateboarder, who grew up in Birmingham, has qualified as one of Team GB's youngest summer Olympians after being confirmed in the team for the Tokyo Games.

Image source, @Bombette_martin

Bombette Martin, who was born in the USA, but spent much of her childhood in the West Midlands, will be joined in the squad by Sky Brown, who is set to become the youngest British summer Olympian of all time.

Manhattan-born Martin was among 20 skateboarders who qualified for the park discipline based on world ranking.

Team GB's chef de mission Mark England said: "I couldn't think of two better athletes to act as ambassadors for Team GB in this exciting new Olympic sport and we wish Sky and Bombette the very best of luck in their final preparations."

Aston Villa sign experienced midfielder Remi Allen on a two-year contract from Women's Super League rivals Leicester City.

The charity says it needs £800,000 to clear its waiting list and meet current demand.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A public consultation on proposals to merge Warwick and Stratford District Councils to create a South Warwickshire authority will start next month, officials say.

Up to 600 residents, split equally between the two districts, will be called and asked a series of questions as well as a questionnaire open to everyone on the councils' websites.

Image source, Getty Images

Various resident focus groups, businesses and other councils will also be consulted, Simon Purfield, performance, consultation and insight manager at Stratford District Council, said.

"This will clarify plans on the part of the two councils as to what exactly will be involved in the process of going to an enlarged council area," he added

The entire process needs to be completed in time for final decisions to be made in December.

BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham have appointed former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo as their new manager on a two-year contract.

Nuno left Wolves in May after four impressive seasons, during which time he took the club from the Championship to a Europa League quarter-final.

Spurs sacked Jose Mourinho in April and replaced him with 29-year-old Ryan Mason until the end of last season.

"It's an enormous pleasure and honour [to be at Spurs]. I'm happy and looking forward to starting work," said Nuno.

Nuno's first away game in charge of Tottenham is at Wolves.

Sophie Madden
BBC News

David Spencer and Patrick Warren, 11 and 13, vanished on Boxing Day in 1996, and were never seen again. Now, a community has begun its own bid to find out what happened to them. David's brother explains why.

"I want to get my brother and lay him to rest, that is why I am here," said Lee O'Toole.

He was nine when David and Patrick vanished after spending the day playing near their homes in Solihull.

There have been multiple claims over the years that West Midlands Police did not do enough to find the boys, or their killer.

Now, 25 years on, and after a lifetime of heartache, he has decided to take the matter into his own hands.

Read more on my report here.