Local Live has finished for today. We're back on Wednesday from 08:00 with more news, sport, travel and weather. Join us then.

BBC Weather

A few showers are likely at first this evening in the north, but most parts will have a fine end to the day.

Dry overnight but cool with a touch of frost in some southern rural spots.

Lows of 8C (46F).

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Transport Correspondent

Increasing demand for seats has forced one rail company to reduce the number of First Class carriages and covert them into Standard Class.

Passenger numbers on Virgin Trains have more than doubled to 34 million in the last 17 years.

More than 20 trains are being converted at a depot near Wolverhampton, creating 30 jobs - in a move which it is hoped will reduce overcrowding. I'll have more on the Midlands Today on BBC One at 18:30.

BBC Sport

A little more on Jack Grealish's decision to reject a call-up to Martin O'Neill's latest Republic of Ireland squad.

O'Neill has admitted he is disappointed but says he did not consider it a snub.

Image source, Getty Images

"I don't take it personally. I think Jack is pretty firm in what he wants to do and that's fine," said the former Villa manager.

As long as Grealish remains uncapped by Ireland, there is the possibility that Roy Hodgson could persuade him that his international future could lie with England.

Paul Franks
Presenter, BBC WM

Today marks 70 years since the very first Railway Series book was published - which of course gave birth to Thomas the Tank Engine.

Reverend Wilbert Awdry wrote some of the Thomas the Tank Engine books at St. Nicholas' Church in Kings Norton, where he worked as a curate.

Image source, Gullane (Thomas) LLC

The character went on to entertain millions in the TV series which started in 1984.

Which TV shows remind you of your childhood? Call 03453 00 99 56, text WM plus your message to 81333 or comment on the BBC WM Facebook page, external.

BBC Travel

There are delays in both directions after a crash on the A4041 Queslett Road in Great Barr near the B4154 Beacon Road junction, drivers are warned.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are some of the stories we've been looking at this afternoon:

• Four women arrested under a fraud probe at a Birmingham school have been released without charge

• A Bromsgrove man illegally paid himself £6m from BMW where he worked

• Warwickshire have wrapped up victory against Worcestershire, thanks to Jeetan Patel

Around 100 police officers swooped on nine properties simultaneously in raids across Sandwell in a bid to break up the market for people peddling stolen goods.

Eleven people were arrested as part of the operations, according to West Midlands Plice, external.

The operation's aimed at breaking the cycle of crime that funds illegal drug networks.

Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today

Caroline Pugh from Wolverhampton changed her lifestyle after years of battling obesity.

The 34-year-old mother of three had diabetes throughout her pregnancies - she weighed almost 19 stones and it was the picture of her on the left that encouraged her to lose weight. Today she enjoys a healthy diet - and has lost six stones.

The chance to battle the bulge is now on offer to dozens of families in the city in the form of exercise sessions and cookery classes - but will they accept it?

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood will have a new role later this year, but not on a football field.

Image source, Getty Images

Westwood will become a science reporter in the latest novel by best-selling author, and Villa fan Lee Child.

He'll join more than 20 Villa players and managers whose names have been used in the past in the Jack Reacher series, according to the club's website, external.

BBC Sport

Jeetan Patel took 4-69 and reached 500 first-class wickets as Warwickshire beat Worcestershire by 181 runs.

Image source, Getty Images

Trystan Jones
BBC News

Adrian Packer, chief executive officer of CORE Education Trust of Park View School, has confirmed to me its new name from September will be Alum Rock Academy.

Image source, PA

He said: "In deciding the new name, we undertook a full consultation which allowed students, parents and staff a vote. We also took more in-depth views from the Student Council and the local governing body."

He said new uniforms would be provided by the trust at no extra expense for parents.

Michael Stoddard
BBC News

A former BMW-Mini worker from Bromsgrove who siphoned off almost £6m from the car manufacturer has admitted fraud.

Johannes Franken, 50, stole the money at the Oxford plant between 2011 and 2014.

Image source, Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Franken made it look like he was paying a supplier, but he was actually paying the cash into his own account.

Express and Star

The University of Wolverhampton is splashing out £250m over the next five years, external in a "once-in-a-lifetime" investment.

The veteran Labour MP for Walsall North David Winnick (pictured) wants the director of public prosecutions to explain her decision not to prosecute Lord Janner in front of MPs.

Mr Winnick says: "When the home affairs committee is re-established it should call in the director of public prosecutions for her to explain to the committee as she has done publicly the reasons why it was decided that Lord Janner should not be charged."

The DPP Alison Saunders insists Lord Janner's dementia was so severe that he could "play no part in a trial".

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are some of the stories we've been looking into this afternoon:

• One of the schools at the centre of the so called Trojan Horse controversy in Birmingham, is to change its name

• A former BMW worker from Bromsgrove has pleaded guilty to fraud after he illegally paid himself almost £6m from the car firm

• Warwickshire are pushing for victory on the final day of their LV County Championship match with Worcestershire at Edgbaston

Chris Blakemore
News editor, BBC WM

Fire service bosses insist call handlers are not having difficulties with the Brummie accent after the merger of the Staffordshire and Birmingham control rooms.

Some reports claim, external that staff are having training on the difference between local accents so they can understand callers better.

But in a statement the fire service has told us there has been no impact on 999 calls because of the different dialects of callers.

BBC Sport

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish has not been named in the Republic of Ireland squad for the friendly against England and Euro qualifier against Scotland.

Image source, Getty Images

There was speculation that the in-form midfielder could be called up by Republic boss Martin O'Neill but Grealish, 19, asked not to be included.

The Birmingham-born teenager could also play for England although he has already represented the Republic's Under-21s.

BBC Travel

There is very slow traffic on A5127 in Erdington, Birmingham at Six Ways Island, due to the closure of Gravelly Hill North for emergency roadworks, drivers are warned.

BBC Weather

Most parts of the West Midlands will turn dry this afternoon, with some warm sunshine.

It will still be rather windy, and a few showers may linger over northern parts.