Former Aston Villa, external boss Ron Atkinson has told BBC WM the club will not secure an immediate return to the Premier League if the attitude of the players does not change. 

Image source, PA

He was speaking on an Aston Villa Football Phone In Special last night and said they cannot get away with not putting in the effort in the Championship.  

"Unless the attitude changes they won't come back up next year, unless there is a certain change in philosophy, change in attitude and whoever comes in gets them right into the frame of mind where at least they're getting.... 110% out of everybody."

Tamworth Herald

Tamworth will become a no-go zone for boy racers, external - despite more than half of those who responded to the consultation disagreeing with some of the proposals.

Walsall Advertiser

Firefighters from both West Midlands Fire Service and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to help tackle a blaze at a tyre centre in Brownhills, external.

Image source, Aldridge Fire

Birmingham-made BBC programme Doctors used five Shakespearean sonnets as inspiration for episodes running this week - one of which has seen Brummie singer Jamelia's drama debut.

Doctors has also produced five sonnet shorts which will be available online.  

The Mill Health Centre (pictured above) is seen in a photo gallery previously published on the BBC website looking behind the scenes at the set.

The programme is on BBC One again today at 13:45.

A victim of the Alton Towers Smiler crash describes the aftermath as being like a "horror movie".  

Chanda Chauhan, from Wednesbury, and her daughter Vanisha Singh have spoken out for the first time about their ordeal riding in the second row of the carriage.

Merlin Attractions, which owns the Staffordshire site, has today admitted breaching safety regulations.

"I'd like to see justice to stop this ever happening again," said Ms Singh.

Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands Today

On the programme:

- A victim of the Alton Towers Smiler crash, Chanda Chauhan, describes the aftermath as being like a "horror movie" as the theme park admits health and safety breaches 

- Hundreds of people have attended a memorial service for Darren Cooper, the leader of Sandwell Council, who died last month

Join me for BBC Midlands Today at 13:30 on BBC One.

A cloudy and cool afternoon with some patchy rain at times, mainly in the south. However, there will be some drier spells. During the evening, any residual patchy rain will clear away to the south. Highs of 10C (50F)

Cannock Mercury

Work has begun to demolish and replace a former Hednesford music venue, external into apartments that will be specifically occupied by people over the age of 55.  

Image source, Cannock Mercury

Walsall Advertiser

Friends and relatives of people staying in Walsall Manor Hospital are being urged to stay away, external if they have experienced sickness and diarrhoea in the three days before they plan to visit - this is to avoid passing on sickness bugs such as Norovirus.

Corinne Wheatley
BBC WM, Journalist

Here are some of the main stories in the newsroom today:

- A Wednesbury woman who was involved in the crash on Alton Towers' Smiler rollercoaster has been speaking about her ordeal

- A civic memorial event celebrating the life of Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper has been taking place at West Bromwich Town Hall 

- Owner Randy Lerner says Aston Villa's relegation from the Premier League "lies at my feet and no-one else's"

Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner says he knows the club "will return better, stronger" following relegation from the Premier League.  

Image source, Getty Images

In a statement, external on the club's website, he said: "I can say certainly in good faith that I have tried to sell since my May 2014 announcement and put our beloved club in better suited hands - but that hasn't happened. 

"I write to Villa supporters to make clear that this relegation lies at my feet and no one else's.    

"I will continue to try to put the club into worthy hands as I have, and also do my best to position Villa for the quickest possible return to its rightful place among England's elite."  

A civic memorial event to celebrate the life and achievements of Sandwell Council, external leader Darren Cooper has a distinctly West Brom feel.  

Great Barr Observer

CCTV images of men suspected of causing high-value damage at a Great Barr construction firm, external have been issued by police.  

Image source, Great Barr Observer

A civic memorial event to celebrate the life and achievements of Sandwell Council, external leader Darren Cooper is being held at West Bromwich Town Hall.

Image source, Sandwell Council

Mr Cooper (pictured above), who first became a councillor in 1991, had been leader since 2009 and was expected to try to become the West Midlands' first elected mayor next year.    

Bishop Derek Webley, one of Mr Cooper's friends, said: "Darren was to me a great guy, down to earth. He was real. He was an ordinary individual. 

"He looked after the needs of individuals who had just wanted ordinary things in life but he went to extraordinary lengths to achieve that for them."

Owner Randy Lerner says Aston Villa's relegation from the Premier League "lies at my feet and no-one else's".

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

There will be talks today between British Gas, external bosses and a Black Country MP following an announcement over planned job cuts.  

The energy company is proposing to shut an office and call centre in Oldbury with the loss of more than 680 jobs.

John Spellar, the MP for Warley which covers the Oldbury site, said: "Why they're looking at such a major cutback really sort of beggars belief...  it's a huge gaping hole in the jobs market in Sandwell."

The firm has said proposals to close its Oldbury site was part of a strategy to improve service and reduce costs to ensure competitive prices. 

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A Black Country MP says the government's announcement that it is ready to take a 25% stake in the loss-making Tata steelworks is not a u-turn.

It is prepared to offer millions of pounds to underwrite the company's debt and for research and development. 

Tata Steel put its British business up for sale last month, which includes sites in Wednesbury, Wednesfield and Walsall which employ more than 500 people. 

Conservative James Morris, who represents Halesowen and Rowley Regis, said it was not a bailout. "This intervention is part of a mix of policies to make sure that we secure those jobs for steel workers at Port Talbot (pictured above) and potentially across the West Midlands, providing certainty for workers and their families and protecting Britain's steel industry"

Great Barr Observer

A man from Handsworth Wood says he is facing the possibility of being homeless, external because he has complained about mould and damp.  

Image source, Great Barr Observer

Stourbridge News

The funeral of Stourbridge murder victim Paul Tompkins will take place on Monday, external.  

Image source, Stourbridge News

West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Pulis admits they did not play as well as they can in the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League.

Image source, Reuters

Alexis Sanchez scored twice as the Gunners strengthened their hopes of a top-four finish.  

Pulis (pictured above) said: "We had too many players off it, which you can't do at Arsenal.

"The players have given me everything this year. We have played well at all of the big teams but not tonight. Sometimes you have to take defeat on the chin."