Joanne Writtle
BBC Midlands Today

A football fan was left in a coma for three months after suffering brain injuries caused by an "unprovoked" attack by a group of youths following a Wolves match, a court heard.

Nic Cruwys, from Hemel Hempstead, was knocked to the ground, kicked and attacked following a 2-2 draw between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford on March 7 last year, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

David Lee, prosecuting, said Mr Cruwys suffered life-changing injuries.

Five teenagers deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent:

- Daniel Lloyd, 19, of Longfellow Road, Dudley

- Joseph Lister, 19, of Palmer Close, Wednesfield

- Robert Beech, 19, of Springfield Road, also Wednesfield

- Ryan Meer, 19, of Watling Street, Gailey, Staffordshire

- A 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

The trial continues.

Kay Crewdson
BBC weather presenter

There could be some showers this afternoon but largely dry and bright.

Lows of 11C (52F).

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

Two men deny murdering warehouse manager Akhtar Javeed who was shot dead in an alleged armed robbery in Birmingham.

Suraj Mistry, 26, from Leicester and Lemar Wali, 18, from Derby also deny conspiring to rob and possessing firearms with intent to cause fear of violence. 

Image source, West Midlands Police

The crown allege the man who pulled the trigger was Tahir Zarif, 25, from Derby, who fled to Pakistan after the murder and is still at liberty. 

Another man Asif Aurangzaib, 25, also from Derby, denies a charge of conspiracy to rob. At an earlier hearing a Dutch national, Sander van Aalten, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob. 

The trial continues.

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

The 'terribly brave' manager of a soft drinks firm in Birmingham was shot after refusing to open the safe for robbers, a jury heard.

Akhtar Javeed, 56, from east London, died outside the warehouse in Digbeth in February. 

Image source, West Midlands Police

Opening the case at Birmingham Crown Court, James Curtis QC said: "He was terribly brave. Resisting the order to open the safe he tried to escape. But he was summarily shot.

"He was able to burst outside, mortally wounded, where he collapsed on the pavement and died from the shock and the blood loss."  

'Happiness turned to sadness' for Yemeni community as sea search for two Birmingham boys on a family trip called off

Wolverhampton's Kristian Thomas narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal in the men's team gymnastics last night. 

Despite putting in a strong performance, the team could only manage fourth position.

Thomas will try to win an individual medal in the floor final on Sunday. 

Image source, Getty Images

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

A plan to cut congestion on Birchley Island in Oldbury will be put to the West Midlands Combined Authority in a bid to secure £26.8m in funding.

Sandwell Council wants to improve the island at junction 2 of the M5 to cut queues and improve traffic between Sandwell, Dudley and Birmingham.

Image source, Sandwell Council

 A ‘through roundabout’ or ‘hamburger’ junction, external would be created - so the Wolverhampton Road would pass through the current island in both directions next to the electricity sub-station.

If funding is approved before the end of 2016, work could start in early 2018 with a completion date of mid-2019, he said.

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIve

There's yet another accolade for Adam Peaty.  A golden puffer fish has been named after the gold-medal winning swimmer from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.

Amy Langham at The National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, external says: "Even though our golden Peaty is less streamline than the Olympian himself, he’s often first off the mark for dinner time." 

Image source, National Sea Life Centre Birmingham

BBC Travel

A crash on the A38 at Bassetts Pole near Birmingham has closed the road in both directions, said West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer

A robber ripped a necklace off a woman , externalwaiting for a train at an Erdington station with police appealing for help to identify the suspect.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

Here are some of the top stories in Birmingham & Black Country this afternoon:

- Sea search for missing Birmingham teens called off

- Stephen Sutton's father calls for genetic cancer test

- MEP defends Hitler speaking style comments

Birmingham Mail

An unsuspecting fast food diner was left with a ‘Whopper’ of a bill after being overcharged for a meal by more than £700, the Birmingham Mail has reported., external

Image source, Birmingham Mail

Archer Naomi Folkard, who hails from Leamington Spa and graduated from the University of Birmingham, has been in action at the Rio Olympics and has moved into the last 16 of her archery individual elemination event.

She will now take on Brazil's Ane Dos Santos.

Image source, Reuters

A search for two teenagers swept out to sea off the north Wales coast at the weekend has been called off.

Waseem Muflihi, 15, and Yahya Mohammed, 14, from Birmingham, disappeared at Barmouth beach, Gwynedd on Sunday afternoon.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A West Midlands MEP has defended some of his past behaviour, including posing with a golliwog and suggesting that young party supporters should study the speaking style of Adolf Hitler. 

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Bill Etheridge is in the running for the UKIP leadership to succeed Nigel Farage. 

Mr Etheridge says he was simply using Hitler as an example of a good public speaker. 

Kristian Thomas, the Wolverhampton-based captain of the men's Olympic artistic gymnastic team, is proud of his squad.

The team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal last night.

An exhibition of 40 photographs of David Bowie, some previously unseen, is coming to Birmingham for one day only next week.  

David & I, which features pictures taken by rock photographer Denis O'Regan, has been traveling across the country over the past month.

O'Regan was official tour photographer when most of the photos were taken between 1978 and 1990. 

Image source, Denis O'Regan

The tour visits the Sytner Mini showroom, in Birmingham, on the evening of 18 August. 

It's advised tickets need to be booked in advance.

Image source, Denis O'Regan

Yesterday, GB's Galal Yafai lost out in the second round of the men's light flyweight competition. 

"I have to be pleased with it. I was working at Land Rover, fixing cars, and now I just lost to the world champion in the Olympic Games."

Yafai puts a brave face on losing to Cuba's world champion Joahnys Argilago.

It's League Cup night for three of the West Midlands' four Football League sides tonight, in the first round of the newly rebranded EFL Cup.

Five-times winners Aston Villa do not play at Luton until Wednesday night, but tonight sees Birmingham City, Wolves and Walsall all get under way - and they all have home ties.

Twice League Cup winners Wolves host League Two side Crawley Town, 2011 winners Birmingham entertain League One side Oxford United, while Walsall take on League Two side Yeovil Town.

Premier League side West Bromwich Albion do not come in until the second-round stage (23/24/25 August). The final is again scheduled for Wembley on 26 February.

Image source, EFL

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

Siôn Simon says he is "honoured and humbled" to have been selected as Labour's candidate for West Midlands Mayor.

He listed his priorities as skills and apprenticeships, affordable housing, 24/7 public transport and a West Midlands voice in Brexit discussions.

Image source, Labour

He said: "We need a West Midlands voice speaking up for our region, and I intend to start now."

The metro mayoral election for the West Midlands is due to take place in May 2017.