Updates from Monday 16 to Sunday 22 October 2017
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Worcestershire seam bowler Josh Tongue, 19, has been called up to replace Essex seam bowler Jamie Porter in the Lions tour squad to Australia.
Porter was the leading wicket-taker in County Championship Division One this season with 75 victims.
Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today
The National College for High Speed Rail officially opened in Birmingham today.
The site, off Dartmouth Middleway in the city centre, will specialise in the IT-side of railway development.
In August, the college took delivery of a former Eurostar train which is now being used to train its student.
The highly visible pink carriage has been named #Brumstar by the National High Speed Rail College and has a virtual reality training system in the front cab.
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Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
It's all people have been interested in today - the red apocalyptic sky.
Here's my pic of the day which was taken in Wolverley, Worcestershire by Sharon Evans.
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And some more great photos taken in Warwickshire and Birmingham.
Image source, @DennisNotnitsAllow Twitter content?
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James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
There’s double excitement in Shropshire ahead of tonight’s FACup first round draw.
AFC Telford United are hoping to rekindle past FA Cup glories. After seeing off FC United of Manchester on Saturday, the Bucks are in tonight’s first round draw when the League One and Two clubs come in for the first time.
One of those is Shrewsbury Town. Striker Stefan Payne has previously helped cause a few upsets as a non-League player – and he wants to avoid being on the receiving end.
Shrewsbury top scorer hopes for old club in FA Cup draw
Here are the top stories taken from the Stourbridge News today;
Two boys had their bikes stolen at knifepoint by a group of youths in a Walsall park, police say., external
Officers were called to Blackwood Road Park, Streetly at around 17:45 on 4 October after two mountain bikes were stolen from the 13-year-olds by a group of six youths, all aged around 17 or 18.
Investigator Claire Kidd, from West Midlands Police said two of the group were riding bikes "that appeared too small for them".
"It’s possible they may also have been stolen from children so we are looking at whether we’ve had similar theft reports", she said.
“One of the group produced a knife and told the boys to get off their bikes and run; fearful for their own safety they gave up their bikes and ran away."
Stephanie Barnard
BBC News
It's really quite windy out there as the aftermath of Hurricane Ophelia strikes parts of the West Midlands.
Many of the emergency services have taken to Twitter warning people to take extra care while out and about.
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Long delays continue for motorists on the M6 northbound at J10 and J10a as the Highways team clear debris.
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A road in Tibberton, Shropshire will remain closed after a branch fell onto the road as the team await the all clear that it's safe to traffic.
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A Netflix documentary about a mother and her seven children's lives after their father's suicide has won an award at the London Film Festival.
Kingdom of Us, Lucy Cohen's film about Kenilworth mother Vikie Shanks and her family, was named the winner of the Grierson Award , externalfor best documentary over the weekend.
Image source, NetflixJohn Battsek, of the judging panel, said: "In a strong and diverse documentary selection, Lucy Cohen’s impressive debut Kingdom of Us equally fascinated and moved us all.
"It captures an extraordinary level of family intimacy in its delicate exploration of grief and memory."
Ms Cohen spent three years filming the family for the documentary which was released on Netflix on Friday.
Saharan dust and forest fires are to blame for the phenomenon, says a weather expert.
Read MoreWolves captain Danny Batth says the Championship leaders' clinical attack is giving the whole squad confidence.
Read MoreThe Dudley pair are suspected of links to drug-dealing but police have insufficient evidence.
Read MorePremiership strugglers Worcester Warriors sign USA flanker Andrew Durutalo from Championship side Ealing Trailfinders.
Read MoreWorkers at outsourcing firm Capita in Birmingham are to stage a nine-day strike after the breakdown of talks aimed at resolving a dispute over pensions.
Members of Unite will walk out from 28 October to 5 November in protest at plans to close their defined benefit pension scheme.
Unite said the strike will affect Capita's life and pensions service in Birmingham, Reading, Bristol, Manchester, Stirling and Belfast.
The Cambridge graduate admitted dozens of offences, including encouraging the rape of a four-year-old.
Read MoreStephanie Barnard
BBC News
Police officers in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire say they are dealing with a number of weather-related incidents, external as heavy winds affect the area.
Police are in Ledbury, Redditch, Upton upon Severn and Ellesmere due to debris and fallen trees.
Follow @WestMericaPolice on Twitter for more details., external
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Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today
A candlelit vigil is being held tonight to remember a cyclist who died after being hit by a lorry in Birmingham city centre.
It comes a week after the death of 32-year-old trainee doctor Suzie Bull who died on Pershore Road.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceThe Pershore Road junction with Edgbaston Road where Suzie died (pictured) has been earmarked for improvements as the city council says it's still carrying out a feasibility study. Some cyclists in the city have accused the council of failing to spend enough money improving dangerous roads.
In 2013, £24m was set aside to improve cycling in Birmingham but questions have been raised about why it's taken so long to spend the money.
Tonight, there will be a ride from the University of Birmingham to highlight safety concerns and a candlelit vigil will take place where Ms Bull lost her life.
Here are some of the stories being covered by the Worcester News on Monday 16 October:
The driver of a car has been taken to hospital after it crashed with an HGV on the M6 northbound this afternoon, suffering only minor injuries.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceA 32-year-old man was taken to Heartlands Hospital "as a precaution" after the crash at about 15:00 the ambulance service said.
He was able to free himself from the wreckage, and walk away from the crash, they said.
Image source, West Midlands Fire Service
BBC News Travel
Two lanes are blocked on the M6 northbound between J4A for the M42 and J5 for Castle Bromwich after a crash involving an HGV, says Highways England.
Long queues are building in the area.
Police searching on Scafell Pike for a Polish man from Warwickshire, missing since Saturday, have found a body.
Dawid Kancyr, 28, had been seen at Wasdale Head, and there was a search for him yesterday.
Police say the body's yet to be formally identified, but the death is not suspicious.
