BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

We can reveal that on average in the past month, a lane was closed every rush hour on the M6 between junctions five and 10. 

Figures given to us by Highways England show from 14 March to 10 April, there were 64 incidents that resulted in one or more lanes closing on the so-called smart motorway - which can have an extra lane running in high traffic - between 07:00 and 09:00, and 16:00 and 18:00.

BBC Sport

Warwickshire have signed England all-rounder Jenny Gunn from Nottinghamshire for the 2016 domestic season. 

Image source, Getty Images

Gunn, 29, joins up with fellow England players Becky Grundy and Amy Jones to play in the One-Day Cup and for the Birmingham Bears in T20 matches. 

Calls to scrap charges for drivers on the M6 Toll when serious accidents are causing gridlock elsewhere are being debated in Westminster , externaltoday.

A fatal crash in February shut the M6 near Birmingham for 24 hours, causing tailbacks for 10 miles. Highways England admitted it should have declared a major incident.  

The 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death will be marked on the BBC iPlayer by a digital pop-up channel showcasing content from outside the corporation for the first time.  

"Co-curated" by the BBC and the British Council, the Shakespeare Lives site will host content from the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), the British Film Institute (BFI) and other arts organisations.  

Kenilworth Weekly News

A Barford teenager’s extraordinary musical talent landed him a record deal when he was just 17, external - and now he is performing on an international tour to mass audiences.

In the four centuries since William Shakespeare's death, his works have been adapted to pretty much every media you can imagine: books, film, radio, you name it. There's even a board game.

Now the Bard has entered the realm of virtual reality with an immersive video game called Play the Knave, developed by the University of California, Davis.

Jane O'Brien went to the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts near Sacramento to see it in action.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

The cast and crew of our Shakespeare Street project are getting ready for Friday's performance in coventry's Broadgate. 

Crowds will be gathering from 18:30, with the show starting at 19:00.

Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live

These are some of our headlining stories this lunchtime:

- Statford man charged after teenager assaulted and held against her will

- New figures show M6 lane closures happening daily in rush hour

- Jonathan Trott hits century for Warwickshire

Alec Blackman
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

A man has been charged in connection with an incident in Stratford-upon-Avon, external.

Adam Sargent, 30, of Elm Road in Stratford is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, false imprisonment, criminal damage and possession of cannabis.

Richard Wilford
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Jonathan Trott has made his first Championship hundred since 2014 hitting six boundaries this morning.

But can any other Warwickshire batsmen help as they look to reach the follow-on target of 303?

Warwickshire are currently on 205-6 chasing 452

BBC Midlands Today

Elizabeth McKenna has sent us this lovely atmospheric picture of Hampton Lucy.  

You can see this, and others, on our viewers' photos album on our Facebook site, external.

Image source, Elizabeth McKenna

Alec Blackman
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

A teenage girl was cocerced into a house by a man in Stratford on Sunday, external, physically assaulted and kept at the address for about half an hour.

She was eventually freed, suffering injuries to her head, neck and hands and the suspect walked her to her workplace.

Police say a 30-year-old man was coaxed down from the roof of the property and arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment, causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

Pleasant sunshine continuing this afternoon with a top temperature of 13C (55F).

This morning's debate on M6 Toll charges starts at 11:00 in Westminster Hall.

You can watch it live here. , external

Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live

Here are some of our headlining stories in the Coventry newsroom today:

- MPs to discuss waiving M6 Toll charges during emergencies

- Man arrested for assaulting and holding teenager against her will

- Figures show extent of M6 closures during rush hour

Stratford Observer

On-street parking in Warwickshire should be less hassle, following the introduction of a new system , externalallowing drivers to pay for parking online with their mobile phone.  

The government's admitted it must do more to help Brain tumour patients. 

It follows a debate in Parliament sparked by a petition submitted by a couple from Warwickshire whose son, Stephen Realf, died from a brain tumour.

MPs heard brain tumours attract 1% of research funding despite causing 40% of children's cancers and being the biggest cancer killer of adults under 40.

Labour MP for Coventry North, Colleen Fletcher, called the figures "shocking". 

Coventry Observer

 'Queen Isabella’ will be in Coventry this Saturday with her faithful knight to celebrate St George’s Day in style, external at the Grade I listed St John the Baptist church.  

Image source, Coventry Observer

There's a call to waive charges for motorists on the M6 Toll, at times when serious accidents are causing gridlock elsewhere.

It's after a fatal crash in February closed the M6 near Birmingham for 24 hours, causing tailbacks for 10 miles as far as Coventry. 

The MP for Solihull Julian Knight will hold a debate on the issue in the House of Commons later this morning.  

Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live

These are some of the stories we'll be looking at today:

- MPs to hear call to waive M6 Toll charges at times of serious accidents

- Stratford prepares to welcome thousands for Shakespeare anniversary

- Coventry MP says the government must increase funding for brain tumour research