Birmingham & Black Country

Today's live updates have come to an end, but we'll be back with more from 08:00 tomorrow.

You can keep up to date with your local news on the hour on BBC WM and watch Midlands Today at 18:30 and 22:25 on BBC One.

If you drive into Birmingham you'll want to watch tonight's show as we have the latest on the six week car tunnel closure in the city centre. Will it be Carmagedden? We'll be live with the latest.

And a new heritage trail has been unveiled in Handsworth and Lozells. Shining a positive light on an often neglected area of Birmingham.

Join Mary and me at 18:30 on BBC One for Midlands Today.

Drivers going to and from the north of Birmingham city centre are being urged to plan alternative ways to travel when two major tunnels close for six weeks.

The A38 St Chads and Queensway tunnels will shut for repairs and new lighting from 19 July to 2 September.

Isolated showers will slowly ease to leave a dry evening across the region with perhaps some late sunshine, then a dry night to follow. Minimum temperature of 6C (43F).

A man has died and three other people have been injured in a crash on the M6 this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service says the man died at the scene.

I'm just starting to read through the scripts of tonight's edition of Midlands Today at 18:30 on BBC One.

How good is emergency care in this region? That's the big question raised in a letter sent to NHS chiefs today about our accident and emergency departments. Our health correspondent Michele Paduano has reaction tonight as does our political editor Patrick Burns.

There are delays and slow traffic on the M6 southbound between junction 4a M42 and M6 junction 3a because of an accident earlier.

There's congestion to junction 6 A38(M) Aston Expressway Spaghetti Junction. More on BBC Travel.

The West Midlands Police helicopter spent 1,175 hours in the sky last year.

See pictures taken from the helicopter at night on the force's Flickr site. You can keep up to date with the West Midlands Police helicopter team on Twitter.

The Dudley Heathens begin another National League campaign this evening against Kings Lynn, hoping to clinch the title they felt should have been theirs in 2012.

They missed out following a hotly-debated refereeing decision in the very last heat of the Grand Final against Mildenhall last October.

Heathens v Kings Lynn is live on BBC WM on DAB and online from 19:00.

Birmingham City manager Lee Clark explains why he signed striker Lee Novak from his former club Huddersfield.

"He's strong, he gets goals and I think he'll fit in really well with the new group we're putting together," says Clark.

The head of the NHS in England, Sir David Nicholson, is to retire from his post in March 2014.

He has been in charge of the NHS for seven years but, in recent months, has found himself under attack for his role in the Stafford Hospital scandal.

Figures show there's been a fall in the number of overseas tourists coming to Birmingham.

On Facebook we asked: where do you take visitors in Birmingham and the Black Country?

Valerie Mobley says: Wonderful Victorian art gallery, Town Hall and New Street, also Jewellery Quarter

West Midlands Police is appealing for witnesses after a 63-year-old who was hit by a car in Trinity Road, Handsworth, died.

Huddersfield striker Lee Novak has signed a three year deal with Birmingham City.

Filming in a drizzly Handsworth for BBC Midlands Today.

I'm meeting the people behind a new heritage trail which has been created by volunteers in north-west Birmingham. You can find out more on BBC One from 18:30.

Two lanes are closed and there's queuing traffic and long delays on the M6 southbound between J4a M42 and M6 J3a because of an accident.

BBC Travel News reports there's congestion to J6 A38(M) Aston Expressway Spaghetti Junction.

A man who broke a pensioner's jaw in a mugging in Birmingham city centre has been jailed for nine years.

Patient safety cannot be guaranteed in West Midlands accident and emergency departments, NHS chiefs warns in a letter.

The letter describes how staff are "frequently operating at the absolute margins of clinical safety".

Cloud continuing to thin this afternoon with some bright spells developing. There will be highs of 17C (63F).

Staying dry and clear tonight, and it should also be a largely dry and sunny day tomorrow.

A 48-year-old man has been jailed for nine years after robbing an elderly man outside his home in Digbeth.

West Midlands Police say the war veteran, Bill Hopkins, suffered facial injuries after being knocked to the floor, and then robbed of his wallet.

From 9 July the A38 St Chad's and Queensway tunnels will be completely closed to traffic until 2 September due to essential maintenance.

Birmingham City Council has set up a website to provide information about diversions and how to avoid the disruption this summer.

We've introduced BBC Local Live to bring you the latest news, sport, travel and weather all in one place. Tell us what you think.

The letter from NHS chiefs that warns patient safety cannot be guaranteed in the West Midlands was originally leaked to the Independent.

Hundreds of solicitors and barristers are planning a demonstration on Wednesday against government plans to cut criminal legal aid.

Sunday Politics West Midlands reporter Elizabeth Glinka went to Birmingham City University's law school to cross-examine some witnesses and hear how the changes could affect the profession. Watch Elizabeth's report on the BBC News website.

The M6 is closed and there's stationary traffic southbound between junction 4, M42 (Coleshill) and M6 junction 3a because of a serious accident involving one car, BBC Travel News reports.

Coming up at 13:30, we'll have a report from Ben Godfrey on manufacturing in the West Midlands.

Plus, Peter Plisner will be looking ahead to the six week closure of a number of tunnels which run through Birmingham city centre from July.

A dozen homes in Washwood Heath could be demolished under plans by HS2.

BBC WM reporter Michelle Dawes has been speaking to local residents about the proposals. Doris Cox, who has lived on the road for 60 years, says: "I don't want to move my home. They don't care about people, they just don't care about you."

A&E is on a "cliff edge", NHS leaders say as MPs begin an inquiry into the state of emergency care in England.

The warning by NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar comes as the Health Select Committee holds its first hearing on the issue.

Drivers are being warned to expect delays during a six week closure of some of Birmingham's city centre tunnels. They will be shut for essential refurbishment work from 9 July.

Transport correspondent Peter Plisner will have more on Midlands Today at 13:30 and 18:30.

A BBC survey of football attendances has revealed that Wolves' gates dropped by more than 4,000 this season.

To see how your club fared in the attendance league use our interactive table.

The A4101 High Street in Pensnett is closed and there are delays in both directions at the B4179 High Oak junction because of an accident. Police are directing traffic. More on BBC Travel.

BBC WM reports that a dozen homes in Birmingham could be demolished to make way for a HS2 rail depot.

A report by HS2 says 12 houses in Common Lane could be affected.

West Midlands companies increased their exports by 6% last year, but the region is underperforming, according to business leaders.

This region, famed for its manufacturing sector, is the fifth best performing in England. I've been to a Wolverhampton-based steel exporter which is thanking trade with Europe for ensuring growth and new jobs.

Watch my report on Midlands Today at 13:30.

Here's a great photo from Neil who tweeted us this pic from Walsall.

Have you taken a photo while you've been out and about in the region? Share it with us on email, Twitter or Facebook.

Hotel workers in the West Midlands are being urged to report any guests they believe could be taking part in child trafficking and exploitation.

Police said it followed several high-profile court cases where it had been revealed guest houses and hotels had been used.

Premier League attendances for 2012-13 have shown an increase of nearly 4% on the previous season.

See how your club fared in the attendance league.

Leaders of 20 A&E departments in the West Midlands say they're no longer able to guarantee safe care for patients because they're too overcrowded.

The letter, which was sent to clinical commissioning groups and NHS Trusts in the region, warns of the concerns.

Lord Philip Hunt of Kings Heath, chair of the Heart of England Hospital Trust, tells BBC WM: "In Birmingham our A&E departments have been under huge pressure - the staff have done really brilliantly coping with that pressure but we've got to now make sure the system has a whole prepares for next pressure coming in the autumn/winter."

Birmingham City Council's garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will be moved to Centenary Square in front of the new library when it opens in September.

See pictures of the display on the Birmingham City Council Flickr site.

Lord Philip Hunt, chair of the Heart of England Hospital Trust, tells BBC WM "concerns have been raised about the pressure that people are under" within A&E departments in the West Midlands.

More than 20 A&E bosses in the West Midlands have signed a letter warning of concerns over patient care.

The A449 Stafford Road in Bushbury, Wolverhampton, is partially blocked and there are delays inbound at the Marsh Lane junction because of an accident.

This morning I've been speaking to guests and staff and Elmdon Lodge B&B in Acocks Green about tourism in the city.

Figures by Visit Britain show there has been a decline in international visitors to the city.

Owner Katherine Devlin says a lot of trade is brought to the city through exhibition shows to the NEC. "I think we should offer so much more, we need to get out there and promote the city. We have such friendly people in this city."

Campaigners opposed to the high-speed rail line through the Midlands are seeking legal advice on taking the government to court en masse.

Tell us what you think of BBC Local Live. We'd like your feedback about this service.

Hotel workers in the West Midlands are being urged to report any guests who they believe could be taking part in child trafficking and exploitation.

West Midlands police are asking staff, from receptionists to cleaners, to look for any unusual behaviour.

Today I'm asking - what is anti-social behaviour and should it be classed as a crime?

More than 400 incidents of anti-social behaviour are reported every day in the West Midlands - have you seen or been a victim of one of them? Give me a call 08453 009956 or tweet me your comments. Listen live here.

West Bromwich Albion loan man Romelu Lukaku says his future at Stamford Bridge depends on the next Chelsea manager.

The 20-year-old hasn't ruled out returning to Albion if things do not work out for him this summer back at Chelsea.

Figures from Visit Britain show a 2.5% decline in international visitors to the city in the last year.

BBC WM's Pete Morgan is asking "where do you take friends and family who are visiting Birmingham and the Black Country".

Andy Venables writes on Facebook: On a Black Country real ale pub crawl!

A man dies in hospital after being hit by a car on Trinity Road in Handsworth on Monday night, West Midlands Ambulance Service says.

BBC Midlands Today reveals that leaders of the 20 Accident and Emergency departments in the West Midlands say they are unable to guarantee safe care for patients because they're too overcrowded.

The warning's been sent in a letter to most clinical commissioning groups and NHS Trusts in the region. It follows a report earlier this month from the head of the Care Quality Commission, David Prior, who says hospitals are struggling.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show opens to the public today.

One of the gardens featured is Enlightenment by Birmingham City Council - it celebrates the city's library which is due to open in September.

And news just in, the garden has been given a gold award.

The number of international tourists visiting Birmingham has fallen in the last year, although it remains the fourth most popular city in the Visit Britain league.

It comes behind London, Edinburgh and Manchester. Tourism experts say this is a marked 2.5% fall on last year.

It's another dull start to the day. There's a lot of cloud about and it may produce some drizzle at times. Gradually through this morning it should start to lift and we'll see some brightness.

There will be a few showers about this afternoon, they won't be as heavy as yesterday and many places will stay dry. Temperature reaching highs of 18C (64F).

Good morning, I'll be bringing you the latest news and sport today on BBC Local Live.

We'll also have regular travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country.