IF you are like the Boomtown Rats then the last thing you need this morning would be traffic to add to your woes.

Throughout the rush hour period we’ll be bringing you up-to-date traffic and travel news from across the Black Country and North Worcestershire.

Keep checking back throughout the morning for the latest updates.

9.00am - That's all from me for this morning. I'll return at 7am for tomorrow's morning traffic news, but we'll be back at 5pm with your evening updates.

Have a good day!

8.48am - No major traffic incidents to report at the moment, just continuing minor congestion.

8.30am - Traffic is becoming increasingly heavy around Kidderminster, with the A451, A449 and A456 all experiencing busy spells.

8.02am - The broken down vehicle blocking the St Chads Queensway tunnel in Birmingham city centre (7.14am) has been removed and all lanes are now open.

7.50am - Heavy traffic on both the A449 Worcester Road in Torton, at the A450 traffc lights junction, and on the A435 Alcester Road in Studley at the Barley Mow roundabout.

7.43am - There are delays and stop-start traffic on the M42 northbound between J4a (M5) and J3a (M40). Current travel time is about 30 minutes.

7.40am - Traffic is busy but moving on the A461 Dudley Southern Bypass between Scots Green and Cinder Bank islands.

7.34am - Roadworks on the A491 southbound in Lydiate Ash, Bromsgrove, is causing heavy traffic at junction 4 of the M5.

7.30am - The earlier incident on the M42 (see 7.02am) has now been removed with all lanes open.

7.19am - Roads are also slightly congested with stop-start traffic on both the A456 Manor Way in Halesowen, eastbound at Grange Road roundabout, and the A4123 New Birmingham Road in Tividale, southbounf between Lower City Road junction and Birchley Island.

7.15am - There is also slow trafic on the M5 northbound between J2 (Oldbury) and J1 (West Bromwich).

7.14am - If you are travelling into Brimingham this morning be aware of a broken down vehicle which has closed the A38 St Chads Queensway Tunnel in the city centre.

This has caused severe disruption and slow traffic southbound betwen the A38 Great Charles Street Queensway junction to the A4540 Newtown Middleway junction.

7.09am - Elsewhere in North Worcestershire there is slow traffic on the M42 nothbound between J2 (Alvechurch) and J3 (Portway).

7.07am - In Kidderminster there is heavy traffic on the A456 Bewdley Road between Kidderminster Hospital and the Proud Cross Ringway roundabout.

7.05am - On the M6 southbound traffic is queuing between J11 (Cannock) and J8 (M5) due to roadworks. Current travel time is around 15 minutes.

7.02am - An incident on the M42 southbound has closed one lane between J4 (Shirley) and J3a (M40).