BBC Local Live will be back from 08:00 on Friday with the very latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today Weather

Cold, with some wintry showers at first, but with any snow becoming confined to the hills. Winds gradually easing, and with a widespread frost developing.

Icy stretches also developing on untreated surfaces where showers have fallen. Low of -2C (28F).

Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

Coming up at 18:30: When the Black Country turned white, the snow which caught many by surprise - we'll have the pictures.

An increase in homelessness on the streets of Birmingham, we've been out with one charity offering hot drinks and support.

And if you're wondering what all the fuss is about with a few flakes of snow - Kay Alexander (pictured) will remind you of some of the weather extremes we've been through

Jennifer Harby
Journalist, BBC News Online

A West Midlands railway line which has been closed to passengers for 50 years could be reopened in a £20m scheme., external

Image source, Dudley Council

Dudley Council and Warwick Manufacturing Group - part of the University of Warwick - plan to reconnect Dudley to the national rail network and build a "light rail innovation hub" in the town centre.

The hub, which would create 50 jobs, would develop light rail technology. Read more on this story on BBC News.

Chris Blakemore
News editor, BBC WM

Birmingham, Solihull, external and the Black Country are getting more than £45m to help boost growth and create jobs.

The government is giving the cash to Local Enterprise Partnerships.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says it'll help create more than 30,000 new jobs in the area within the next six years.

BBC Sport

Birmingham City defender Michael Morrison could be out for between two and six weeks with an ankle injury.

Image source, Empics

The 26-year-old has played 15 times for Blues since joining, initially on loan, from Charlton in October, but was taken off in the first half of Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

Chris Blakemore
News editor, BBC WM

The Education Secretary has told the Commons teaching British values in schools is vital to tackle the spread of extremism in cities like Birmingham.

More in the news at 17:00

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Bournville College is closed due to "extreme weather conditions".

The college posts on Facebook:, external "Any exams running this afternoon are to proceed as planned.

"All other commercial enterprises are closed. Check our website or social media channels tomorrow morning for further updates."

Earlier today Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said she'd told Birmingham council officials that reform of the so-called Trojan Horse schools "is too slow".

Councillor Brigid Jones, cabinet member for children and family services, said: "Parents of children in academies, which answer directly to the DfE, need confidence that failings in those academies will be taken as seriously by the DfE as we have taken the failings in ours.

Image source, PA

"On that note, however, I must again express my disappointment that the Department for Education's recent review of its own actions was undertaken internally.

"Birmingham City Council submitted itself some time ago to extensive independent external review on this issue, and to command the confidence of parents I believe the DfE should have done the same."

Rob Gurney
BBC WM Sport

West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Pulis says he's delighted with the signing of winger Callum McManaman (pictured) from Wigan, and wants to bring in "a few more" before Monday's deadline.

Image source, Getty Images

McManaman is in line to make his debut in Saturday's game with Spurs at The Hawthorns and Pulis says it's great The Baggies have been able to sign him.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

BBC Local Live brings news, sport, travel and weather together in one place. What do you think of it?, external

Jo Tidman
Journalist, BBC WM

In the news at 16:00 on BBC WM: Snow has hit Birmingham and the Black Country this afternoon.

David Cameron says he's asked officials for an update on contingency plans for dealing with heavy snow as severe weather causes disruption across large parts of the UK.

via Facebook

Dudley Borough Council posts, external: It's going to be another cold one tonight! Our gritters will be out and about this evening, but please continue to drive carefully http://www.dudley.gov.uk/m…/social-media/gritting-and-roads/, external

Sandwell Council says, external it will be gritting its roads from 18:30.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today Weather

We could see a couple of centimetres of snow to a light dusting in the Midlands. It's really quite variable due to the nature of the showers from the north.

There's also a chance of snow later on this week too.

I'll have a full forecast on Midlands Today at 18:30 and you can keep up to date online via BBC Weather.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Looking out of the window we're getting mixed patches of snow showers.

Image source, damien eden

Damien Eden tweeted this picture, external of Gildas Avenue in Kings Norton earlier.

Let us know what it's like where you are - share your photos on Facebook., external

Jo Tidman
Journalist, BBC WM

The lead story in our news bulletin at 15:00 on BBC WM: Birmingham City Council says a huge amount of work has been done in the wake of the so-called "Trojan Horse" affair after it was criticised by the Education Secretary.

We'll hear from Nicky Morgan in the news bulletin.

Bob Hockenhull
Reporter, Midlands Today

A charity says it's seen a big increase in the number of rough sleepers on Birmingham's streets.

The Reachout Network has been providing tea and biscuits to those forced to stay out all night in freezing temperatures. I've been out with their volunteers this morning.

See more on Midlands Today on BBC One at 18:30.

Sarah Falkland
BBC Midlands Today presenter

More people in the West Midlands are struggling with debt and are only just able to meet their living costs.

New figures released by the StepChange Debt Charity, external show nearly 18,000 people called their helpline last year -a rise of nearly a third.

Birmingham Mail

Black Sabbath's Birmingham-born bass player Geezer Butler has been arrested following an alleged bar brawl, external in California.

The 65-year-old rock legend reportedly spent Tuesday night in jail after getting into a fight at the Corkscrew Saloon, the only bar in the small town of Furnace Creek Ranch, in Death Valley.

Charged under this full name of Terence Michael Butler, the Aston musician was accused of misdemeanor assault, public intoxication and vandalism.

Butler has since been released.

BBC WM

The government is warning Birmingham City Council it needs to do more to eliminate extremism in schools in the wake of the so-called "Trojan Horse" affair.

Find out more in our 14:00 bulletin.