Aston Expressway - a major route in central Birmingham shut yesterday following the discovery of a large World War Two bomb - is likely to stay closed for most of Tuesday, West Midlands Police says.

After a period of rail disruption yesterday, services on the Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley - which takes in a stretch of Aston where the bomb was found - were eventually cancelled.

Services are currently suspended but according to National Rail there could be cancellations "until the end of the day".

The latest information can be found here, external.

Roads and a rail line connecting two cities continue to be disrupted today following the discovery of a World War Two bomb. Here's the background:

- It was discovered at about 09:45 on Monday by workers at a construction site in Priory Road, Aston.

- A 500m exclusion zone was erected around the site and Army bomb disposal experts were informed

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

- Aston Expressway in the heart of Birmingham was shut, along with exit and entry slip roads, and stayed that way for the rest of the day and remains shut on Tuesday

- London Midland services on the Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley were cancelled and may not be reinstated on Tuesday - the location of the bomb is parallel to a stretch of the route

- Hundreds of homes were evacuated along with businesses, police say

-  Police also said there were difficulties in accessing the device given the terrain and its position within the construction site  

- The German shell is estimated to weigh about 500lbs, with the "extensive cordon", police say, reflective of a "large device"

We'll bring you more details shortly.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A mild and muggy start to another showery day.

There will be some dry but cloudy spells with top temperatures of 18C (64F).

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

The operation to make safe a World War Two bomb means a major road and rail services into Birmingham remain closed for a second day.

Police said bomb disposal experts were taking part in a "major, delicate operation" following the discovery in Aston yesterday of the German shell - estimated to weigh around 500lbs.

The A38 (M) Aston Expressway, linking the city centre with the M6, has been closed since Monday morning. Exit and entry slip roads at the M6 at junction six, Spaghetti Junction, also remain closed. 

London Midland rail services on the Cross City Line between Lichfield and Birmingham have been suspended. The line runs parallel to where the bomb was discovered at a construction site in Priory Road.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Hello everyone, it's a damp start to Tuesday with rain this morning in Stoke-on-Trent - this was Hanley Town Hall before 07:30.

We'll have a full weather forecast shortly and there'll be updates on the day's news, sport, travel and more through the next few hours.

You can send in comments and photos on email or use Instagram, external, adding the tag #bbcstoke if you want to share any pictures you've taken of the area.

Live updates have now ended for the day.

We'll be back with you from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep a look out here for updated stories and breaking news through the night.

The Staffordshire Hoard, the largest discovery of Anglo Saxon gold ever found in Britain, has been shortlisted in a public vote.

It's all part of Treasure20, external, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Treasure Act - the law requiring people to report their findings.  

The online poll, which closes at midnight, recognises the greatest finds since 1997, many thanks to metal detectorists.

Image source, British Museum

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A Nantwich man, who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease, has received more than 550 birthday cards after his wife appealed through social media.   

Amy Woodfield
BBC Local Live

The funeral of 11-year-old Evha Jannath will be held in Leicester tomorrow.

The girl died after falling from the Splash Canyon ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park while in a school trip last Tuesday.

Image source, ThemeParks.ie

The Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire has been providing help and support to Evha’s family - they have asked people not to speculate about about what happened that day.

Chairman Suleman Nagdi has said: "Evha’s death has touched the hearts of many people in the UK and beyond.

"At this most difficult time our thoughts and prayers go out to Evha’s family and friends as well as all those who have been affected by this awful tragedy." 

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A warm and muggy night is in store, with some further showers and lows of 14C (57F).

Tomorrow it will be another dull, cloudy and showery day.

Lee Blakeman
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra will both make their first trip to Forest Green Rovers next season.

Image source, Rex Features

It's after the side, based in Gloucestershire, won promotion to the English Football League for the first time after beating Tranmere 3-1 in the National League Playoff at Wembley. 

Aston Expressway - closed to traffic this morning following the discovery of a WW2 bomb - could stay shut into tomorrow, police say.

The West Midlands force expects it to be blocked to traffic until Tuesday morning "while bomb disposal experts make safe" the device, found at a construction site in Priory Road Aston at about 09:45. 

The discovery of the German shell, thought to weigh about 500lbs (227kg), led to the evacuation of homes and businesses lying within a 500m exclusion zone imposed by police.

The operation has caused road and rail disruption, with the Cross City line closed between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley.

The Sentinel

A man has been detained following a seven hour stand-off with police, external.

BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says a substantial fine handed to a woman for dropping a cigarette butt is fair.

Image source, PA

Chelsie Lawton, 26, was spotted committing the offence by an environmental crime officer outside the Intu Potteries shopping centre in Hanley last September. 

After failing to pay the fixed penalty of £80, she was taken to court and ordered to pay over £1,100 to cover the initial offence plus legal costs.

In case you wondered exactly why trains have been cancelled between Lichfield and Birmingham, West Midlands Ambulance Service helpfully tweeted, external this photo of the World War Two bomb that's causing all the trouble. 

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A man believed to be in his 20s has a chest injury after reports of an assault on a road in Stafford.

Paramedics say the air ambulance was called to Friars Terrace, but has since been stood down. 

Emergency services remain on scene outside the Bear and Pheasant Pub after being called there just before 15:30.

Lee Blakeman
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Crewe Alexandra has confirmed that goalkeeper Dave Richards has signed a new 12-month deal. 

The 23-year-old has yet to make a first-team appearance for the club.

The busy Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley will be closed for the rest of today after a World War Two device was discovered in Aston through which trains run.

Service operator London Midland is advising passengers to use alternative transport to complete their journeys. However, Aston Expressway remains closed this afternoon over the same incident.

Network Rail had said earlier the line would be subjected to delays and cancellations.

London Midland rail tickets are being accepted on local National Express West Midlands bus routes.

CrossCountry is accepting London Midland tickets between Nuneaton and Birmingham New Street and Tamworth and Birmingham New Street in both directions until further notice.

Two masked men threatened staff at a Stoke-on-Trent shop earlier, Staffordshire Police says.

The force says cash was taken from Jai Food and Wine, in Hartshill Road, at about 13:15. 

Officers are appealing for witnesses as they continue to work at the scene.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The trust that runs Haywood Hospital, in Burslem, says all outpatient and day appointments have been cancelled.

Image source, EPA

It's after NHS services across the country fell victim to a cyber-attack on Friday. 

As we reported earlier, Royal Stoke University Hospital, the County Hospital in Stafford and Leighton Hospital in Crewe all faced disruption over the weekend, but say a majority of their systems are now up and running.