Bus heading to Broad Street, babpublished at 18:02 BST 21 May
Rebecca Woods
BBC News
Those on Broad Street, who have been waiting patiently for a number of hours can now see the parade approaching.
Summary
Thousands of Aston Villa fans have filled Birmingham's streets for a jubilant celebration of the club's Europa League victory
The screens and barriers are already stowed away and remnants of confetti now cover Birmingham's Centenary Square
Earlier the team has lifted the Europa League trophy to cheers - Tyrone Mings has said the last 24 hours were "one hell of a party"
Fans have turned out with flags and flares as they celebrate the club's first major European trophy since 1982
"I'm just over the moon, it means everything", one fan tells the BBC, while another says "it was the best night of my life"
Bus heading to Broad Street, babpublished at 18:02 BST 21 May
Joy and jubilation at Centenary Squarepublished at 18:00 BST 21 May
Navtej Johal
Midlands correspondentIt’s so noisy here, there’s so much joy and jubilation in Centenary Square at the moment.
I haven’t seen scenes like this before in the city.
People are very excited - they’ve been waiting very patiently for the last few hours for the bus to arrive.
No sign yet. It'll be our turn soon enough.
'Enjoy last night's football, sir?'published at 17:52 BST 21 May
Prince William was seen punching the air as the team secured the trophy at last night's match in Turkey.
Asked by a reporter on a visit to Cornwall whether he had enjoyed the football, he laughed but didn't reply....
Image source, Getty ImagesBuses make their way down Hall Streetpublished at 17:40 BST 21 May
Rachael Lewis
in BirminghamThe buses have just been making their way down Hall Street, as fans cheer and applaud the team.
In pictures: The man of the moment and a scramble for a viewpublished at 17:38 BST 21 May
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesVilla boss Emery acknowledges the fanspublished at 17:28 BST 21 May
Unai Emery waves to fans from the bus during the victory parade.
Image source, Getty ImagesWatch: Expectant crowds in full songpublished at 17:23 BST 21 May
Media caption, Villa fans crowd into Centenary Square
Builders take advantage of closed bar's balconypublished at 17:22 BST 21 May
Rebecca Woods
in BirminghamPeople have also gathered outside Eimear's Irish bar on Broad Street, which is currently closed to have work done.
But that hasn't stopped the builders working at the site, who are making use of the venue's balcony to get a great view of the parade.
In pictures: The bus carrying heroes - and Villanspublished at 17:21 BST 21 May
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesFans wait patiently for bus to arrivepublished at 17:17 BST 21 May
Rachael Lewis
in BirminghamMany people have congregated along one side of Hall Street waiting for the team to come past.
The other side of the street remains empty as security have stopped people from crossing over, with the parade expected to begin here imminently.
The bus is on the move, as Villa's players head into city centrepublished at 17:12 BST 21 May
Breaking
We're seeing the first images of the claret bus on the move, as it escorts the Europa League-winning Villa squad into the centre of Birmingham.
You can follow the team as they travel along the parade route by tapping watch live at the top of this page.
First glimpse of a buspublished at 17:12 BST 21 May
Mike Taylor
in BirminghamFrom what I can see, the players must be pretty much all on the bus because the top deck of the middle vehicle on which the players will ride - that's the claret-coloured one - looks pretty full.
You wouldn't get the conductor up there now to check your tickets.
So I think they must be nearly ready to set off.
The first of the fleet of three has some of the club's media on board, and also by the look of it, some family members of the players.
if you're waiting on the route, the first thing you'll see, though, is going to be the police outriders.
Jewellery store boss gives staff afternoon offpublished at 17:01 BST 21 May
Rachael Lewis
in BirminghamIt has started to get quite busy on Hall Street from where the parade will lead, and among the crowd are staff members from Krypton Jewellers, whose boss gave them the afternoon off to attend the celebrations. What a super man (geddit?)
They said it was the boss’s idea and they were feeling “fantastic” as the sun shone down on Birmingham.
In pictures: Celebrations well under waypublished at 16:59 BST 21 May
The party is well and truly under way in Birmingham as fans wait for the team bus to appear for the parade.
We're hearing tens of thousands of fans are now in Centenary Square, but there are more along other parts of the route.
People clad in claret and blue, many holding aloft large Villa flags, are chanting and singing, while some let off flares, bathing the area in coloured smoke.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA MediaWith the parade moments away, here's what's happened so far todaypublished at 16:55 BST 21 May
We're expecting the open top bus parade to begin in the next half hour, so let's take a moment to recap some of what we've covered so far today as Aston Villa fans celebrate the club's first European trophy in 44 years:
Image source, Getty Images- After watching in Istanbul, Prince William offered his "huge congratulations" to the team - and even joined them in the dressing room before the game, according to Villa captain John McGinn
- Meanwhile another famous fan, author of the Jack Reacher books Lee Child, says he decided against a trip to Turkey to make sure Villa were able to win
- In Ghana, there is a motorcycle parade - we've got a video explaining why
- Back in Brum, festivities will get under way in the Jewellery Quarter, although the quick turnaround between the match and parade has left some supporters frustrated at missing out - but the club says today is the "only viable option"
- Hundreds are now gathered along the route, and they tell the BBC to expect tears, while others who saw Villa's first European trophy in 1982 are buzzing for a repeat viewing of continental silverware
As the parade kicks off, we'll continue to bring you updates from our reporters on the route, and you can watch live in our stream at the top of this page.
In pictures: Fans turn out for the Villapublished at 16:47 BST 21 May
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images'All we need now is a bus'published at 16:45 BST 21 May
Katie Thompson
BBC NewsIt’s a sea of claret and blue in Centenary Square now.
The crowds are singing, the atmosphere is electric, all we need now is a bus!
The fans have waited this long for a trophy, I’m sure a little longer won't hurt.
To see it being lifted in the Second City will be worth its weight in gold (or silverware!)
Flags are out, sun is shiningpublished at 16:41 BST 21 May
Navtej Johal
Midlands correspondentMore from the city streets now...
The claret and blue flares have been lit, the flags are out and the sun is shining.
Centenary Square is ready for the Villa bus.
In pictures: The city prepares to partypublished at 16:38 BST 21 May
Okay, as emotions kick in here in our comms box and we remember those Villains - players and fans - who are no longer with us to enjoy such long-awaited scenes. we'll take a break from text for a short while and leave you with these images....
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Watkins - we're reasonably certain - will be on the bus, not a bike. But you can't beat a mask for making you do a double take.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersVilla captain John McGinn 'proudest guy alive'published at 16:24 BST 21 May
Moments after Villa's players touched down in Birmingham, captain John McGinn described his pride in his teammates' achievements.
Image source, Aston Villa FC via Getty Images"Wow.. no words to describe how I’m feeling right now," he wrote on social media.
"What a journey we have been on together and now again we can call Aston Villa EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!!"
The Scottish midfielder joined the Midlands club from Hibernian in 2018, and added: "I never in my wildest dreams thought I would play for a club the size of Villa but to help lead them to a major European trophy makes me the proudest guy alive!!"