Two hundreds jobs are "at risk" at a plant in Birmingham that manufactures lenses for glasses.

Specsavers says Aston Labs, a Specsavers-owned facility providing optical lenses to stores in the UK and Ireland, is subject to a "review of operations" and is being considered for closure.

The company says it is in consultation with staff.

Here's this week's front page..., external

Image source, Walsall Advertiser

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It's going to be a breezy day ahead but certainly not as windy as yesterday.

We may see some showers later on this afternoon but this will ease into the early hours.

A man who kidnapped and seriously sexually assaulted a girl in Weston-super-Mare 33 years ago, is jailed for nine years

Footage released by police shows the moment a dangerous driver mounts pavement to escape officers' pursuit.

West Brom's £15m move for West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is off because the player has a back problem.

A man who kidnapped and seriously sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl 33 years ago, has been jailed for nine years.

Footage released by police shows the moment a dangerous driver mounts pavement to escape officers' pursuit.

In the video from 5 July, Kazim Mahmood Ibrahim, 27, of Haringey, north London, can be seen speeding and weaving through Birmingham traffic in a black Mercedes. West Midlands Police said he was eventually halted by a stinger.

He was jailed for eight months for dangerous driving.

A drug dealer "reminiscent of Idris Elba's character in The Wire" is ordered to pay back almost £40,000 he made from criminal activity, say police.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

A £10m plan to upgrade one of Birmingham's main squares has failed to get planning permission from councillors.

Instead they've decided to defer the decision for two weeks - while they talk to architects about the future of Centenary Square.

Plans include 43 new lighting columns and a new fountain, but there's concern about some of the changes - particularly how they'll affect First World War memorials and whether there'll be enough space for large events.

Two men who threatened a taxi driver with a knife before stealing his takings have been jailed, West Midlands Police says, external.

Tony Walker (left), 23, of Chelmsley Wood, and Michael Johnson (right), 29, of Stechford, admitted the offence which happened in Birmingham last month.

Walker was jailed for four years and six months, while Johnson, who was also convicted of two further robberies, was jailed for five years.

Detective Constable Dave Mason said: "Taxi drivers are in a very vulnerable position as they work alone and we hope that this sends a message that attacks on drivers will not be tolerated and people who do target them have the very real possibility of being jailed."  

Image source, West Midlands Police

Pat Murphy
BBC Midlands football reporter

West Brom have just announced their proposed signing of West Ham's Diafra Sakho is OFF. 

This follows a medical last night. 

West Brom are offering no further comment.

Image source, Getty Images

Versatile England Under-18 defender Easah Suliman joins Cheltenham Town on loan from Aston Villa until 2 January.

Grapevine Birmingham

The end of August will see an exciting development in Digbeth as Digbeth Dining Club starts its Autumn Series, external with a phase of new plans for Lower Trinity Street. 

Image source, Grapevine Birmingham

BBC Sport

 Yorkshire 56-1 v Warwickshire  

They went off briefly for a short shower earlier, but Warwickshire have claimed the wicket of Alex Lees for 10 since that.

Adam Lyth and Travis Head (both 23 not out) have done the repair job since.  

We’ve had the Big Hoot, now there’s going to be a Big Bear hunt -  Birmingham Children’s Hospital launches another sculpture trail which will see giant and colourful statues of bears dotted around the city to raise funds.

Remember the summer of 1976? It was hot, hot, hot -  we’re taking a trip down memory lane.

And we’ll have the latest on the planning application by Wasps for a new training facility in Coventry - and what that means for the Sky Blues.

A campaign to find sponsors for a new sculpture art trail to raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital is being launched today. 

It follows on from the success of the Big Hoot, which saw a series of colourful owls dotted around the city centre before being auctioned. 

Image source, @SOPHIEANNCLARK

BBC Midlands Today

One of the world's oldest surviving Quran manuscripts is being moved from Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery today. 

The fragments were discovered at the University of Birmingham. 

Radiocarbon dating revealed they were more than 1,000 years old. They've been on display for the past few months but are now being returned to the university's library.

Lichfield Mercury

The front page of the newspaper this week, external includes the story "couple's horror after twin kittens die from poisoning".

Image source, Lichfield Mercury

BBC WM Sport

Villa have signed Ross McCormack from Fulham for £12m.

Ciaran Clark completed his £5m move to Newcastle yesterday.

In the Black Country, Albion could complete their record £16m signing of Diafra Sakho from West Ham. It's thought he had a medical yesterday.

Image source, Getty Images