There are calls for local government to be awarded the powers to open up the M6 toll road during emergencies on the M6 motorway, a decision which can at present only be made by central government in Westminster.

It comes after commuters faced hours of misery across the M6 and surrounding areas earlier this week after the M6 was closed while army engineers diffused a second world war bomb in Aston.

It's one of many closures around junction six in the past two weeks - yesterday there were two hour tailbacks after a crash near the junction with the M42 which resulted in a chemical leak.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson says he wants traffic to be allowed to use the M6 Toll.