Researchers say many outdoor workers aren't aware of the skin cancer risk they face.

BBC Politics

Would-be MPs have until this afternoon to submit application forms to stand in next month's general election.

Many have already announced their candidacies, but we'll have a full list on the BBC's constituency pages soon after today's deadline.

Stourbridge News

A family has been left "devastated" after the body of a teenage girl from Stourbridge was found in a "wardrobe wrapped in cling film" in a hostel - today's frontpage.

Image source, Stourbridge News

Lisa Wright
Journalist, BBC News Online

Investigations are continuing into the death of a woman struck and killed by debris during high winds, an inquest has heard.

Image source, family handout

Tahnie Martin, who was 29, died from serious head injuries after she was hit by a piece of timber in Wolverhampton city centre during Storm Doris in February.

A pre-inquest review on Thursday heard the City of Wolverhampton Council is continuing investigations, which are expected to be completed ahead of another hearing on 25 July. A five-day inquest has been fixed for the week of 2 October.

Miss Martin, from Stafford, who worked at the University of Wolverhampton, was struck by part of a 2m-long piece of timber which was part of a wooden water tank cover as she walked near a Starbucks cafe in Dudley Street.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

A man, wanted in connection with three attempted knife point robberies in Redditch, has been arrested and has admitted his part in the offences. 

Morgan Helsby, 19, from Birmingham, did not turn up for trial after being charged with three counts of attempted robbery, British Transport Police says.  

The teenager came forward following an appeal to trace him and reported to a police station in Birmingham, officers said. 

Image source, British Transport Police/BBC

He appeared before Worcester Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to the offences and was remanded into custody. Two other men, Kieran Jones, 19, and Reece Timby, 18, also from Birmingham were recently sentenced to a total of seven years in a young offender’s institution after admitting their part in the attempted robberies.

Helsby is next due to appear before the same court for sentencing on 19 May.    

A restaurant which loses £1,000 in a week after diners fail to turn up introduces a deposit scheme.

Relatives of a man who recently died are being bought by City of Wolverhampton Council to arrange his funeral.

Steven Earl Williams, who lived in Heath Town, Wolverhampton, died aged 54.

Anyone who is related to Mr Williams, or has any information which may help trace his relatives, is asked to call Elaine Thursfield on 01902 555740 or email her, external.

Amy Cole
BBC Midlands Today

With exactly four weeks to go until the general election, politicians from all the main parties will be descending on our region's clusters of marginal seats. 

Drayton Manor Theme Park is closed for the second day running, following the death of an 11-year-old girl who fell off a ride while she was on a school trip.

A man has been charged with using drones to fly drugs and mobile phones into HMP Birmingham, the jail in Winson Green.

More on these stories and others on the Midlands Today on BBC One from 13:30.

Express and Star

This crowing cockerel has become public enemy number one in a Black Country street, external - and landed its owner in hot water with a council.

Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM

A four-year-old boy from Sandwell who sent a letter to the Queen inviting her to his birthday party was "shocked" when she sent him a reply. 

Shaan Dulay told her he loved horses just like she does, and would be happy to make her horse-shaped biscuits if she came. 

While Her Majesty replied she was unable to make an appearance in June, she wished him all the best for his big day and was pleased to hear he also liked horses. 

His mum Baljinder told us the response came "out of the blue".

Birmingham Mail

A teenager armed with a gun went on a robbery spree in Birmingham city centre - and threatened to shoot two terrified young tourists, external in the head.  

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

The new mayor of the West Midlands has ruled out a Birmingham bike hire scheme mimicking the so-called Boris Bikes in London, due to the city's "geography".

A spokesman for Conservative Andy Street said the "geography of Birmingham made it reasonably obvious why that was not a goer".

He said, in keeping with Mr Street's pre-election manifesto, spending on cycle schemes would be boosted during his tenure to around £10 per head from the current levels of around 25p.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis confirms the club's interest in signing Leeds defender Charlie Taylor.

A fed-up Birmingham chef who says he lost a thousand pounds last week because of people not showing up for their dinner reservations, has introduced a new system to stop it from happening.

Image source, THOMAS BARTLEY

Alex Claridge runs The Wilderness restaurant in the city centre. 

He has launched the Tock system, which started in Chicago. 

It means anyone who wants to eat at the restaurant must put down a deposit beforehand. He says the reason was "preserving business and being fair".

Birmingham Post

The new West Midlands mayor has ruled out a Boris Bikes-style cycle hire scheme, external in Birmingham - because the city centre is not big enough.  

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A man has been charged in connection with the theft of a National Crime Agency vehicle stolen from outside a Solihull home. 

West Midlands Police said earlier this week an unmarked BMW - fitted with sirens and blue lights - was used by men posing as police officers to flag down a female driver in Small Heath. 

A 19-year-old man has been charged with taking a vehicle without consent and driving without insurance or a licence and is due before magistrates today. 

The force says inquiries are on-going to find a second man suspected of being involved. 

He is accused of using two drones to fly contraband into HMP Birmingham's exercise yard.

BBC Sport

Derbyshire eliminated One-Day Cup holders Warwickshire with a four-wicket victory at the County Ground.

Image source, Rex Features

Chasing a target of 293, Jeevan Mendis' 44 off 23 balls saw the hosts to 296-6 with two balls left.

Sam Hain (109) and skipper Ian Bell (93) had earlier put on 199 for the second wicket, but the Bears only scored 60 in their final 10 overs to finish on 292-7. 

Ambulance services across England have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds to ensure vehicles can cope with a growing number of obese patients.

Bariatric ambulances are specially designed and equipped in response to a 10-fold spike in hospital visits linked to obesity in the past decade

The number of admissions has increased from 52,000 in 2006 to 520,000 in 2016.

At West Midlands Ambulance Service, all of its 420 A&E ambulances are "bariatric capable", but there are eight specialist vehicles and seven on the way, costing £114,000 each.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A man has been charged with 10 counts of arson after a spate of fires on grassland in Rugeley. 

The 51-year-old man, from Burntwood, is due before Stafford Crown Court in June. 

More than 100 fires have been reported in the area since March.