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Severe disruption: M42 West Midlands northbound

BBC News Travel

M42 West Midlands northbound severe disruption, between J5 for A41 Solihull By-Pass Solihull and J6 for A45 Coventry Road Birmingham Airport.

M42 West Midlands - One lane closed and it's heavy on M42 northbound between J5, A41 (Solihull) and J6, A45 (Birmingham Airport), because of a broken down van.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Your weather: A dry and chilly night in store

BBC Weather

It will be a dry and chilly night with some patchy fog and lows of 0C (32F).

Stourbridge
BBC Weather Watchers/Anna L

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

Severe disruption: M6 West Midlands northbound

BBC News Travel

M6 West Midlands northbound severe disruption, between J9 for A461 Wood Green Road and J10 for A454 Wolverhampton Road Wolverhampton.

M6 West Midlands - One lane closed and it's slow on M6 northbound between J9, A461 (Wednesbury) and J10, A454 (Wolverhampton), because of a broken down van.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Severe disruption: M42 West Midlands southbound

BBC News Travel

M42 West Midlands southbound severe disruption, between J6 for A45 Coventry Road Birmingham Airport and J5 for A41 Solihull By-Pass Solihull.

M42 West Midlands - One lane closed and it's slow on M42 southbound between J6, A45 (Birmingham Airport) and J5, A41 (Solihull), because of plastic sheeting in the road.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Severe disruption: M5 Worcestershire northbound

BBC News Travel

M5 Worcestershire northbound severe disruption, at J4 for A38 Halesowen Road Bromsgrove.

M5 Worcestershire - One lane closed and it's slow on M5 northbound at J4, A38 (Bromsgrove), because of a break down.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Man struck by bus dies days later in hospital

A man struck by a bus in Dudley town centre has died, police say.

James Reade was hit just before 16:00 GMT in Castle Street on 30 January.

The 64-year-old was taken to hospital in a serious condition but died in the early hours of 2 February, said West Midlands Police.

Officers are asking for any witnesses to come forward.

AFC Telford won't lose access to changing rooms and stand

BBC Shropshire

AFC Telford United will be able to continue using their main stand and changing rooms, despite the closure of the leisure, hospitality and fitness facilities at the Bucks Head stadium.

They'd been owned by Telford College, which announced this week it was shutting them down after spending two-and-a-half years unsuccessfully searching for a buyer.

Main stand
BBC

Fans have been told the only change will be the catering for the hospitality boxes and directors of away teams, because the club is going to need to find a new supplier.

In the future, the football club says it will be "pursuing what future opportunities this matter may present to us", which could mean the club buying back those parts of the stadium, which they lost when the old club went out of business in 2004.

Your views: 'Crazy long' waits for smear test results

Facebook

Many of you have been getting in touch via the BBC Midlands Facebook site to comment on our story about smear test results being delayed for up to 10 weeks.

Woman with doctor
Getty Images

Jodi Burgess posted: "I waited 12 weeks to be told not enough cells collected to then wait a further 10 weeks."With abnormal smears previously this was a long six months wait to hear all ok. Crazy how long the wait is."

Karen Groves wrote: "I’m into week 11 of waiting now and keep being told 'no news is good news'. They’re quick enough to bombard women with letters and further reminders to go in the first place though! Absolute disgrace."

Hannah Parkes commented: "I was told the normal 2 to 3 weeks when had my appt back on the 20th November - rang at new year to be told results are up to 3 months - mine took 2 months in the end and thankfully everything is ok. 3 months wait is a long time if there is something abnormal!!"

Severe disruption: M6 West Midlands northbound

BBC News Travel

M6 West Midlands northbound severe disruption, at J9 for A461 Wood Green Road.

M6 West Midlands - M6 lane closed on exit slip road northbound at J9, A461 (Wednesbury), because of debris on the road.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Severe disruption: M6 West Midlands southbound

BBC News Travel

M6 West Midlands southbound severe disruption, between J6 for A38 Tyburn Road and J5 for A452.

M6 West Midlands - Lane closed and queues on M6 southbound between J6, A38 (Spaghetti Junction) and J5, A452 (Castle Bromwich), because of people on the road.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Your photos: More frozen scenes

BBC Weather Watchers

Temperatures today are hovering only just above freezing and we're seeing lots of frosty photos from the BBC Weather Watchers.

These ones were taken near Norton Canes, Staffordshire; Ruyton XI Towns, Shropshire; and Belbroughton, Worcestershire.

Norton Canes
Dog Walker Angie
Ruyton-XI-Towns
Desmondo
Belbroughton
Trish

Thousands apply for settled status

More than 57,000 (57,340) EU citizens living in Birmingham have applied to live and work in the UK after Brexit, the Home Office has announced.

The city has the most applications outside London.

Those applying for settled status must prove their identity, show they live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions.

Once granted settled status, they can use the NHS, study and access public funds and benefits, as well as travel in and out of the country.

Between August 28 2018 and December 31 2019, more than 2.4 million (2,450,220) applications were finalised, the Home Office data showed.

View more on twitter

Severe disruption: M6 West Midlands northbound

BBC News Travel

M6 West Midlands northbound severe disruption, at J9 for A461 Wood Green Road.

M6 West Midlands - M6 lane closed on exit slip road and it's slow northbound at J9, A461 (Wednesbury), because of a lorry that's broken down.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Severe accident: M6 West Midlands southbound

BBC News Travel

M6 West Midlands southbound severe accident, from J5 for A452 to J4A for M42 J8.

M6 West Midlands - One lane closed and queues on M6 southbound from J5, A452 (Castle Bromwich) to J4a M42 J8, because of an accident.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Restaurant fire extinguished

The fire at a restaurant in Sparkhill, Birmingham, has now been extinguished, said the fire service.

Pranzo
West Midlands Fire Service

Crews were sent to Pranzo restaurant, in Warwick Road, shortly before 09:00 GMT after the blaze had spread to the roof of the property.

More than 30 firefighters were sent to the scene.

They are now carrying out checks for hot spots and ventilating the building.

Warwick Road is still closed in both directions around Albion Road.

Fund to fix street signs could be set up

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A £15,000 fund could be set up to fix Worcester's street signs, to end the debate over which ones should be fixed and which shouldn't.

Conservative councillor Simon Geraghty, who put forward the plan, said: “If it needs doing, it needs doing. But let’s do it properly.”

Worcester
Google

Mr Geraghty explained the problem had been, in the past, people had had to lobby for individual signs to be repaired.

But Adrian Gregson, the deputy leader and leader of the city council’s Labour group, said the council had recently looked at which signs needed fixing or replacing and the money had been spread across the city “rationally”.

Fire breaks out at Birmingham restaurant

A fire has broken out at a restaurant in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham.

Drivers are being warned to avoid Warwick Road.

Fire
BBC
View more on twitter

Online check service launched ahead of clean air charges

An online checking service has been set up to help motorists prepare for Birmingham's Clean Air Zone (CAZ)

Birmingham
BBC

It allows drivers to check whether a vehicle will be charged for driving into the city centre when the CAZ comes into effect in July.

The proposals are to bring in fees for older vehicles, which release high levels of toxic emissions, that are driven within the city's ring road.

The service went live on the Department for Transport's website on Wednesday after it was initially expected in January.

Severe disruption: M6 Staffordshire southbound

BBC News Travel

M6 Staffordshire southbound severe disruption, from J13 for A449 to J12 for A5.

M6 Staffordshire - One lane closed and queues on M6 southbound from J13, A449 (Stafford South) to J12, A5 (Gailey), because of a police investigation.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Severe disruption: M5 Worcestershire southbound

BBC News Travel

M5 Worcestershire southbound severe disruption, from J5 for A38 Droitwich to J6 for A4538 Pershore Lane.

M5 Worcestershire - Two lanes closed and queues on M5 southbound from J5, A38 (Droitwich) to J6, A4538 (Worcester), because of a break down.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Storm Ciara: Yellow warning for strong winds

Storm Ciara is set to bring strong and possibly damaging winds across the West Midlands.

Weather map
Met Office

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the region from 18:00 on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.

Its forecast says gusts of between 80 and 100km/h (50-60mph) are likely across inland areas.

Severe accident: M5 West Midlands southbound

BBC News Travel

M5 West Midlands southbound severe accident, from M6 interchange to J1 for A41 Birmingham Road West Bromwich.

M5 West Midlands - One lane closed and queues on M5 southbound from M6 interchange to J1, A41 (West Bromwich), because of an accident.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Video: Your 50-second weather forecast

Sara Blizzard

BBC Weather

Any early mist and fog should clear leaving a dry and bright day with highs of 5C (41F).

Latest weather for the West Midlands

Points failure delaying rail services in Birmingham

BBC News Travel

A points failure at Birmingham International is delaying rail services between the station and Birmingham New Street.

Services are expected to be cancelled or delayed.

View more on twitter

Severe accident: M6 West Midlands northbound

BBC News Travel

M6 West Midlands northbound severe accident, from J8 for M5 to J9 for A461 Wood Green Road.

M6 West Midlands - Two lanes closed on M6 northbound from J8 M5 to J9, A461 (Wednesbury), because of an accident.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Weather: Temperatures to drop below freezing overnight

BBC Weather

It's forecast to be a cold, clear night for most of us and in some places the temperature will drop below freezing.

Temperatures tomorrow will remain cold, and further ahead there's some stormy weather expected at the weekend.

Bromyard
Postman Les

Severe disruption: M6 West Midlands northbound

BBC News Travel

M6 West Midlands northbound severe disruption, between J5 for A452 and J6 for A38 Tyburn Road.

M6 West Midlands - One lane closed and queues on M6 northbound between J5, A452 (Castle Bromwich) and J6, A38 (Spaghetti Junction), because of a break down.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Severe disruption: M5 West Midlands northbound

BBC News Travel

M5 West Midlands northbound severe disruption, at J3 for A456 Quinton Expressway Halesowen.

M5 West Midlands - M5 lane closed on entry slip road northbound at J3, A456 (Halesowen), because of a car that's broken down. Traffic is coping well.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Severe disruption: M5 Worcestershire northbound

BBC News Travel

M5 Worcestershire northbound severe disruption, between J5 for A38 Droitwich and J4A for M42.

M5 Worcestershire - One lane closed and it's heavy on M5 northbound between J5, A38 (Droitwich) and J4a M42, because of a break down and a lorry that's broken down.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Decision on green-belt development delayed

A decision on whether to build up to 3,000 homes on green-belt land near Tong has been put back until May.

Shropshire councillors had been due to discuss the principle of developing the land, just off junction three of the M54, on 12 February.

The council said it was "in light of further recent evidence published by the Black Country authorities regarding their ability to meet their own housing and employment needs".

Tong
Google

Shropshire Council previously said the development was being considered with the needs of neighbouring authorities in mind.

But the idea appeared to be dead in December last year after those authorities failed to follow up their interest.

At that time, Shropshire Council Conservative leader Peter Nutting said the development was "very unlikely" to go ahead.

Tram disruption after 'medical emergency' in Birmingham

Trams are not running between Bull Street and the Library in Birmingham following a "medical emergency", operators said.

View more on twitter

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had been called to Grand Central in the city centre at 14:26 GMT following reports of a patient having fallen over.

An ambulance was on the scene, a spokesperson said, but the service said it was unable to comment on the patient's condition.

Severe disruption: M5 Worcestershire northbound

BBC News Travel

M5 Worcestershire northbound severe disruption, between J5 for A38 Droitwich and J4A for M42.

M5 Worcestershire - One lane closed on M5 northbound between J5, A38 (Droitwich) and J4a M42, because of a break down. Traffic is coping well.

To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

Tipton flooding caused by 'new burst' in pipe

The water main burst that flooded streets in Tipton on Tuesday morning appears to have been in a different spot to the one last October, South Staffs Water has said.

The company has been carrying out investigations to find out what caused the leak, to prevent it happening again, and said it had been limited in how close it could get.

tipton street
BBC

It is also replacing a 300m section of pipe and has apologised to people living in the area and for the effect the work was having on traffic.

We have today been able to get a first look at the burst area. We believe the burst is a separate burst to the one we experienced last year

Pete AspleySouth Staffs Water