The funeral has taken place of Jill Saward, who became an ardent campaigner for victims of sexual assaults after she was raped during a burglary at her father's vicarage in 1986.    

Twin sister Sue Lancaster (pictured above) said: "I have thought about whether I should step up and try and take her place, but I just don’t think I can. 

"She was such a unique person and she had something to offer that I don't have."

The family of Ms Saward, 51, had invited "all those who knew and loved Jill" to pay their respects at the service at Lichfield Cathedral.

Rebecca Cafe
BBC News, London

The great British pub continues to make way for coffee shops and eateries on our High Streets, but it remains the most popular leisure venue in the UK.

Image source, Getty Images

Local Data Company figures, analysed by the BBC, show from 2011-16, the number of town centre bars, pubs and nightclubs fell by about 2,000.

But cafes, fast food outlets and restaurants have gone up by 6,000 across England, Scotland and Wales.

However, there are still fewer coffee shops than pubs in our town centres.

In Birmingham, the number of cafes and fast food outlets has risen by 25% in that five-year period - from 178 to 223 - while bars, pubs and clubs have declined in number from 126 to 115 - an 8.73% decline.

In terms of coffee shops V pubs in the city, there were 90 coffee shops/cafe/tearooms compared to 38 public houses or inns.

Birmingham City Council wants to offload the cost of its 11-strong team in charge of Brexit issues.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

A suspected arsonist has been arrested in connection with a fire at a car showroom in Birmingham.

Flames ripped through the Citroen dealership on Small Heath Highway at about 21:10 GMT on Monday.

A 33-year-old man of no fixed abode has been arrested on suspicion of arson, West Midlands Police confirmed.

Fire investigators remained at the scene earlier, where one lane was closed for forensic experts to assess the area.

Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Midlands Today

The funeral has taken place at Lichfield Cathedral this afternoon of the victims' rights campaigner Jill Saward. We'll report from the event.

And a charity in Walsall which organises days out for elderly and disabled people has had the trailer it uses to transport wheelchairs stolen.

Join us for more on these stories and others on the Midlands Today on BBC One at 13:30.

The grieving husband of victims' rights campaigner Jill Saward has spoken of receiving hundreds of messages from around the world ahead of her funeral at Lichfield Cathedral. 

Image source, PA

Ms Saward, who was 51, was the first rape victim to waive her anonymity after she was attacked by intruders at her father's vicarage in Ealing, west London, in 1986. 

She died at hospital after suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage. 

Stourbridge News

Tributes have been paid to the man who spent more than 50 years at the helm of a traditional Dudley sweet company, external.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are the top stories on Tuesday so far:

- A funeral will be held later for rape campaigner Jill Saward

- Two more prisoners have been charged in connection with a riot at HMP Birmingham last month

- More detail has emerged about the future plans for Birmingham's troubled children's services department

Birmingham Mail

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of arson after a £100,000 fire gutted a Citroen showroom, external in Small Heath.  

Shrewsbury Town sign West Bromwich Albion's Wales Under-19 striker Tyler Roberts on loan for the rest of the season.

Caroline Gall
BBC News Online

Jill Saward, whose funeral is taking place today in Lichfield, became an ardent campaigner for victims of sexual assaults after she was raped during a burglary at her father's vicarage in 1986.   

Image source, Helen Austin

Helen Austin (pictured above) was raped by strangers 10 years ago. Her attacker has never been apprehended. 

She subsequently wrote an anonymous blog about what happened to her, which led to Ms Saward tracking her down "to reach out" to her.

They went on to become good friends, speaking almost daily.

"I would not be where I am now without Jill's lifeline support and friendship," she said.

You can read more about how she says Jill Saward helped her and others on the BBC website.

A teenager has admitted throwing a stone at a taxi in Edgbaston, leaving a 77-year-old woman passenger with a fractured skull.

Image source, Dudley Taxi Hire

The 17-year-old boy said he was drunk and targeting taxis in Birmingham on 25 May.

He appeared with three other youths at Birmingham Youth Court on Monday, where he admitted wounding.

The others, two aged 16 and one 15, were convicted of wounding. All four were convicted of conspiring to damage taxis.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

More details have emerged about plans to put Birmingham's beleaguered children's services department into the hands of a trust.

The department has held an inadequate rating with watchdog Ofsted since 2008. 

Years of failure have led it to be dubbed a "national disgrace" by inspectors.

The council, which is part-way through a three-year improvement plan, said in May the department would be run by a trust.

Image source, Other

More detail revealed today suggests its leaders would be totally independent of the authority.

Next Tuesday the city's ruling cabinet will vote on plans for a wholly-owned company to take over, with its own board and management team.

The recommendation is for a "community interest company...and not for private gain", said the council's children's chief Councillor Brigid Jones, external.

Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today

The inquest into the deaths of 30 British people, including three members of the same Black Country family, in the Tunisian beach terror attack resumes today.

Image source, Evans family

In total, 38 people died in the attack near the resort of Sousse in June 2015.

The main focus of the hearing yesterday was on delays to the security teams in getting to the scene.

A QC said they had an ability to put an end to this attack but they were "wasting time".

The funeral of the victim's rights campaigner Jill Saward will take place in Lichfield later, celebrating her achievements.

Mrs Saward, from Hednesford, Staffordshire, was the first person to waive her anonymity after she was raped at her father's vicarage in Ealing in the 1980s. 

Her husband, journalist Gavin Drake, says she'd been ill but her passing was still a "massive shock".

Mr Drake said her sense of fun and concern for others had been key to helping her overcome her ordeal earlier in her life.

Caroline Gall
BBC News Online

Jill Saward, whose funeral is taking place today in Lichfield, became an ardent campaigner for victims of sexual assaults after she was raped during a burglary at her father's vicarage in 1986. 

She was the first rape victim in the UK to waive her anonymity and went on to help hundreds, if not thousands, of women cope with their experiences. 

Image source, PA

Clare, not her real name, said her daughter was attacked in broad daylight in 2012. The offender has never been caught.

She said she saw her daughter go from being confident and happy to being frightened and introverted. But, they found Ms Saward, from Hednesford in Staffordshire, to be "consistently supportive".

This has led to her daughter changing her career choice to follow in her footsteps as an advocate for women who have been raped.

You can read more about how Clare says Jill Saward comforted her and others on the BBC website.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

The peaky eyes among you might have spotted a new mural in Birmingham.

Seven9Signs was commissioned to paint the image of Peaky Blinders lead Tommy Shelby in St Paul’s Square in the Jewellery Quarter.

The BBC drama is set in Birmingham in the early 1900s.

It was spotted by quite a few people over the weekend, including Victoria.

You can also read more about the new mural on the Birmingham Mail website., external

Two further inmates have been charged with prison mutiny after last month's riots at HMP Birmingham, according to police, external.

Image source, Reuters

Grant Samed, aged 30, and John Burton, 39, are charged with the offence, alleged to have been committed on 16 December, when the privately-run jail was the subject of disorder.

Both are due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 23 January.   

It takes the number of people charged in connection with the disorder to eight men. Four of them are due to appear before magistrates later on Tuesday.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

It looks like it will be dull, cloudy and overcast.

Highs of 5C (41F).

Find out more.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

I'm back with Tuesday's mix of news, sport, travel and weather updates.

Comment on our stories and share your pictures of the region over email, tweet @bbcwm, external or visit the BBC WM Facebook page, external.