A "seriously fed-up" chef has blasted customers who "take the mick" by not showing up to dinner reservations.

Sarah Robertson
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman who was hurt in a crash last year on the Smiler ride at Alton Towers says the rollercoaster should be closed down after its latest incident. 

About 30 people were stuck on the ride for a short time when it was stopped at midday yesterday, for just over four hours.

A spokeswoman said a piece of rubber "came away from one of the carriages" but "at no time were any guests at risk".

Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd admitted breaching the Health and Safety Act after an investigation found the crash in June 2015 was caused by human error.  

Chanda Chauhan, from Wednesbury, one of five people seriously injured in June 2015's Smiler crash called for it to be "closed completely".

A fire that ripped through the roof of a site where The Beatles once played was an accident, investigators say.

A police force is facing a £1.5m bill to plan safety operations for the next three Conservative Party conferences, its crime commissioner says.

Police are given more time to question five men arrested in Birmingham and Stoke on suspicion of terror-related offences.

Middlesex build on their first-innings lead at Edgbaston after Ian Westwood's run-out triggers a Warwickshire collapse.

A family have had their home completely transformed by volunteers after news spread that their three-year-old daughter had an aggressive form of cancer.

A shopper with sore feet calls an ambulance to give her a lift two miles home.

West Midlands Ambulance Service has released a recording of a 999 call in which a woman asks for an ambulance home because her feet hurt.

The case against a teacher accused of stopping Christmas and Diwali celebrations at a school has not been proven, a disciplinary panel rules.

Birmingham City's takeover by new Chinese owners Trillion Trophy Asia is to be completed in October.

The mother of a businessman who disappeared on a trip to India wants answers over a mystery that is being treated as murder.

Three men are jailed for kidnapping a woman and three children.

Rebecca Woods
BBC News Online, Journalist

Three men have been jailed for kidnapping a woman and three children.

Mohammed Khan, 31, Muserat Khan, 36, and Ateek Khan, 28, all of West Bromwich, targeted them in Oswestry.

Mohammed Khan, of Whitehall Road, was jailed for six years, Muserat Khan, of Greets Green Road, was given five years and nine months and Ateek Khan, of Oak Road, five years and six months. All admitted conspiracy to kidnap.

Zahoor Hussain, 39, of Whitehall Road, was acquitted of the same charge.

The case was heard at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Wednesday.

Aston Villa appoint Steve Round, David Moyes' former assistant manager, as their new technical director.

Bolton sign Peterborough goalkeeper Ben Alnwick, plus Sammy Ameobi, James Henry, Tom Thorpe and Keshi Anderson on loan.

Wales forward Hal Robson-Kanu joins West Bromwich Albion on a two-year deal with an option for a further year.

Coventry City sign Newcastle United full-back Jamie Sterry and West Brom striker Andre Wright on loan until January.

Cardiff City sign veteran England striker Rickie Lambert from West Bromwich Albion on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.