BBC Local Live: Birmingham and the Black Country

1. Stepfather admits murdering toddler in Wolverhampton
2. Mosque says Katie Hopkins' Twitter claims 'total rubbish'
3. Knife attack victims to be buried together in coffin
4. Natalie Putt: Police urge man to contact them over 'crucial information'
5. Updates from Wednesday 7 June 2017

Our live coverage across the day

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening.

Harry Redknapp backed by Blues coach

BBC WM Sport

Birmingham City coach Kevin Hitchcock has backed Harry Redknapp to bring in high quality players this summer to push the club where they want to be.

Hitchcock has confirmed he's staying on at St Andrew's after originally being brought in under Gianfranco Zola and says Redknapp has the experience needed to get Blues up the league.

Getty Images

'Nothing found' in Natalie Putt graveyard search

West Midlands Police have concluded their search of a graveyard as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Natalie Putt.

West Midlands Police

The search of the graveyard near to where Ms Putt was last seen in Lower Gornal revealed nothing of interest and graves have now been resealed and restored to their original condition.

Det Insp Ian Illife said: "Unfortunately we found nothing which could give us any clues to Natalie’s whereabouts."

Ms Putt disappeared nearly 14 years ago. Her sisters released a statement saying they "have never given up hope of finding her safe and well".

Watch: Your weather for tonight and tomorrow

Shefali Oza

BBC Midlands Today

For most places today has been dry and sunny - here's how tonight is looking and the start of Thursday.

Keep updated with the BBC Weather website.

Shefali Oza

Wilkinson funeral: Father and daughter say a final farewell

Peter Wilson

BBC Midlands Today Special Correspondent

Peter Wilkinson, who was seriously injured in the stabbing at his home in Oldswinford, Stourbridge which killed his wife and son, has said a final farewell with his daughter Lydia to his murdered family members.

BBC

The funeral for Tracey and Pierce Wilkinson was taking place today at St Mary's Church in Oldswinford.

The mother and son are being buried in one coffin.

Daughter Lydia spoke of her love for her "gorgeous" mother and "happy" brother.

Police officer stabbed in leg at Asda store

A police officer is recovering at home after being stabbed in the leg when responding to an incident at Asda, in Dudley, last night.

Google

Police were called to the store, in High Street, at 20:20 following reports of a woman with a knife.

A 19-year-old woman was detained and arrested on suspicion of wounding.

Sgt James Harrison was stabbed in the leg and is now recovering at home after being checked over at hospital.

Travel: Delays to trains between Stafford and Wolverhampton

BBC News Travel

Cricket: Bears look to T20 warm-up games

BBC Sport

With no county championship games until 19 June, Warwickshire's one-day side will be getting some T20 practice this week, with two friendly games against Shropshire.

The matches are being played back-to-back on Friday at Bridgnorth cricket club, with the first one starting at 11:00.

Stuart Dunn

The Bears are due to start their T20 Blast campaign away to Worcestershire on 7 July.

Katie Hopkins is 'doing terrorists works for them' says West Midlands PCC

Chris Blakemore

BBC WM

David Jamieson, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, has said tweets from Katie Hopkins accusing West Midlands Police of not allowing its officers into the Birmingham Central Mosque is like "doing the terrorists' work for them".

Asking for a "formal request" on the claims, Ms Hopkins shared the accusations with her 776,000 followers which has so far been retweeted more than 3,400 times.

Police said there was "simply no truth" in the rumour and the mosque's chairman said it was "total rubbish".

Birmingham Central Mosque

People like Katie Hopkins, what she is saying by making out that other people have said certain things, she is trying to drive us apart and she is doing the terrorists' work for them."

David JamiesonWest Midlands Police and Crime Comissioner

BBC Weather Watcher pictures: Rainbows appear after rainfall

BBC Weather Watchers

It may have chucked it down with the rain yesterday in Staffordshire but, when things cleared up, it led to some lovely BBC Weather Watcher pictures of rainbows.

These two are from users Dandy in Wombourne and Happy Spaniels in Barton under Needwood.

Dandy

Happy Spaniels

Daughter gives emotional tribute to killed mother and brother

Lydia Wilkinson has paid an emotional tribute to her mother Tracey and brother Pierce, who died after being stabbed at their home in Oldswinford, Stourbridge.

BBC

The 18-year-old said: "I'm so proud of my happy family. My dad and I will miss them for the rest of our lives."

Of her mother, Tracey, she said: "My mum was gorgeous, not only in terms of looks and fashion but she had a beautiful soul. She was an inspiration."

She described her younger brother Pierce as "simply the best brother I could ask for. He'll always be my baby brother, and I'll never forget the fantastic times we had together."

Missing teen's father 'wants closure'

Stabbed mother and son were 'inseparable'

Knife attack mum and son buried together

Singh targeting more Warwickshire games

Bishop thanks police for terror response

The Bishop of Birmingham hand-delivered a giant card to West Midlands Police in recognition of their work following recent terror attacks.

West Midlands Police

Rt Revd David Urquhart said: “It is a difficult and dangerous time for the police. Their work can go unnoticed and we may take it for granted, but these people make a vital contribution to our security and wellbeing."

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray said: “This is a really lovely gesture from Bishop David.

“The support we’ve had from members of the public has been a real boost to everyone at West Midlands Police.”

Toddler faced 'regime of brutality'