Several of the UK's most popular heritage sites have been granted a total of more than £14m in National Lottery funding to help them improve access for disabled people.

The cash will also be used to help more people from a diverse range of backgrounds connect with the UK's monuments, the National Lottery Heritage Fund says.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archives received £3.96m to develop a new history centre and to work with local communities to help them engage with the area's past.

Learning resources will be tailored to young people, people with early onset dementia and also people from eastern European and black and other minority ethnic communities, the heritage Fund says.

BBC Weather

Today will see a largely cloudy start to the day, with just the odd sunny spell in places.

A band of heavy, showery rain will then move in from the west during the afternoon. Highs of 18C/64F.

Image source, Jon

BBC CWR

Godiva Festival organisers have confirmed Sister Sledge will headline the main stage on 5 September.

Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, said: "Our aim with Godiva has always been to have acts that have diverse musical styles that appeal to all the family.

"Sister Sledge fit that bill and with their reputation as a fantastic live show, I’m sure they put on a great performance."

He said the festival was "shaping up nicely" and more announcements were to come.

BBC News Health

Oxygen therapy that forces the lungs to inflate reduces the number of Covid patients needing to be put on a ventilator, research shows.

The findings should also prevent oxygen supplies, which have been short in some countries, from being wasted.

Image source, Getty Images

Prof Gavin Perkins, from Warwick Medical School, said: "The routine use of high-flow nasal oxygenation, which can consume large amounts of oxygen, should be reconsidered, as it did not improve outcomes.

"By giving patients the most effective treatment to begin with, we can help prevent resource shortages in our NHS and make sure the right type of ventilation is available to patients when it is required."

BBC Sport

Birmingham boxer Galal Yafai has fought his way to the men's fly weight gold medal fight.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the bout, he said: "It's ridiculous, I can't believe it, it's like a dream.

"I've always looked to be in an Olympic final and now I'm in one - I've just got one more hurdle to go over and that's to beat the Philippine to win gold."

He said he always talked at home with his brothers about making it to the Olympics.

"Now I'm here with them all watching me at home, my brothers, my mum, the whole world watching me now in the Olympic final and I've just got to deliver the goods and take that gold medal back home," he said.

Image source, Reuters

"We're a close-knit team and support each other, we've got six medals now and it shows how good GB boxing is. All the support from back home - it's great," the 28-year-old added.

"Now I will rest and look forward to having fun in the final."

The final is set for 06:00 BST on Saturday.

BBC News

Police have arrested 11 people as they continue a hate crimes investigation into social media messages sent after the Euro 2020 final.

The UK Football Policing Unit received 600 reports of racist comments sent to England's black players after the defeat and judged 207 to be criminal.

Of these, 34 came from the UK.

Image source, Reuters

Those arrested so far range in age from 18 to 63, and include one person from Shrewsbury and another from Worcester.

The 11 have all either been released under investigation pending further inquiries or bailed to return at a later date.

BBC Sport

Great Britain's Galal Yafai will compete for gold after reaching the Olympic final with a relentless display against Kazakhstan's Saken Bibossinov.

The Birmingham fighter, competing in the 52kg flyweight division, was involved in one of the fights of the Tokyo Games and edged a split decision.

Image source, Reuters

A high-paced opening saw Yafai score a standing count with a fine left hand.

And while Bibossinov rallied, Yafai did enough, taking the bout on three of the five judges' scorecards.

The final is set for 06:00 BST on Saturday.

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, external and Facebook., external

Retailers and 190 other businesses broke the law by underpaying workers, the government says.

More people are hiring boats to travel along the UK's canals and rivers amid travel restrictions.

Ambulance staff found her being cared for by bystanders following the incident in the afternoon.

Adrian Underwood died when the ship was struck by an explosive-laden drone off the coast of Oman.

Tom Wood hits 109 off 59 balls as Derbyshire beat Notts in the One-Day Cup, with Hampshire defeating Worcestershire.

Friends and family in Wolverhampton couldn't be prouder of the silver medallist.

Phil Hammond said he would continue his 1,200-mile challenge despite the crime.

William Craddock and Kaya Morrison-Taylor were killed in the crash in Essington near Wolverhampton.

That's it for our live coverage today.

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow with the latest news, sport, weather and travel for the region.

A young girl has been seriously injured after being hit by a lorry,

Image source, Google

Paramedics were called to Nechells Park Road in Birmingham at about 15:15 BST after a number of emergency calls from bystanders.

The girl, who was on foot, was being cared for by people at the scene when crews arrived and needed urgent trauma care at the scene, a spokesperson for the ambulance said.

She was then taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Facebook

The announcement that an outdoor residential centre is to close has brought back memories for people.

Image source, Knightlow Primary School

Marle Hall, a stately home near Snowdonia, Wales, is to shut despite 7,000 people signing a petition opposing the move.

On Facebook, Mike Krochtiak said: "That's so sad. I went there back in the 80's with school on a geography field trip and it was a very memorable time. I really hope this can be saved from the decision made."

Janet Redman added: "Such a shame. Our Year 6’s missed out on their trip here this May due to Covid. We hoped we might fit it in before it closed as we’d already signed the petition."

While Pandamouse Deb Keerpwop posted: "I went around 40 years ago with school and it has stuck in my memory as an awesome experience. I would hate to see it lost."

BBC Weather Watchers

It was a bright start this morning before the clouds moved in bringing showers. Thankfully our Weather Watchers managed to get out to capture the sunshine while it lasted.

Image source, Suttonwalker/ BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Norfolk Golfer/ BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Stormchaser Al/ BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Lou/ BBC Weather Watchers

Thanks to our Weather Watchers for their photos, which today have been sent in from Sutton Coldfield, Great Packington, Clent and Shrewsbury.

To see more, or to get involved yourself, visit our webpage.