A patients group in Shropshire has hit out at soaring parking charges at the county's two main hospitals.

The cost of parking for up to 24 hours is to rise from £3.50 to £8 from 1 November, with similar rises for shorter visits.

Graham Shepherd, part of the Shropshire Patient's Group, said he was "astonished and annoyed" at the size of the rise.

"If they put them up by 10% that would account for inflation, but they're putting them up by between 60% and 100%," he said.

The hospital trust says charges haven't changed for four years and those people having treatments such as dialysis or chemotherapy will be able to park for free.

The first 20 minutes will be free and there'll also be a system for claiming back fees if you are on benefits, the trust said.

Thirty acres of land in the Moorlands has been bought by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust with the aim of making it a hotspot for wading birds.

Image source, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

The site, which the trust says is a crucial upland habitat for waders, is near Upper Hulme.

More than £100,000 has been raised to buy it with funds coming from both the public and the National Lottery.

Martin Winch
BBC News

Will Coventry be the next UK City of Culture?

Judges are visiting the city as it vies with Stoke-on-Trent, Paisley, Swansea and Sunderland to take on the title in 2021.

Members of Positive Youth Foundation from the city explain why they think it's got a good chance.

BBC News Travel

A serious crash has closed Darlaston Road, in Wednesdbury, police say.

Officers are at the scene and advising drivers to avoid the area.

A fog warning's been issued by the Met Office this morning, external.

It said fog could be dense in some parts of the West Midlands and that visibility of less than 50m would make driving conditions difficult.

Image source, Getty Images

Bus passengers in Crewe and Nantwich are being affected by industrial action by Arriva North West drivers today.

Image source, Arriva North West

The drivers say the strike is in response to a "pitiful" pay offer from Arriva bosses.

Members of the Unite and GMB unions are involved in the 24-hour strike which began at 03:30 and will continue until Friday.

Arriva North West said it wanted to wholeheartedly apologise to customers for the "unnecessary" strike.

Plans have been submitted to build a staff-only car park at University Hospital in Coventry, with space for around 1,700 vehicles.

The trust that runs the hospital said parking was a "major issue" for current and prospective staff.

Image source, Google

Local residents said parking issues had been a long-standing problem in the area, with hospital visitors often parking on nearby residential roads.

Increasing car parking capacity will "significantly reduce" the current disruption, the hospital said.

Chris Blakemore
BBC WM

The cost of clearing up rubbish dumped on the streets of Birmingham is on target to top £1m this year.

New figures show illegal dumping is on the rise again.

Birmingham City Council have organised for vehicles involved in fly-tipping to be crushed.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

Campaigners fighting to keep speedway at Brandon Stadium in Coventry say they'll oppose plans to build housing on the site.

A Coventry team has raced there since 1928 but it's lain empty this year because of damage to the track and stadium fittings.

The company which bought the site will reveal plans for 137 homes to local residents at a public exhibition today.

Jeff Davies from the Save Coventry Speedway campaign said the plans were not a "foregone conclusion" and they were hopeful of getting speedway back to the site.

Residents at a block of flats in Stoke-on-Trent where a girl and her mum died in a fire are to meet police, fire and council representatives tonight.

Zainab Adam and her six year-old daughter Tafaoul Fadoul died after the blaze at the property on Ringland Close in Northwood earlier this month.

A baby girl remains critically ill.

Investigators said the fire involved a wall-mounted electric storage heater which was close to clothing.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A cloudy start to the day with some mist and fog before rain pushes up from the south, particularly affecting eastern areas.

We can expect top temperatures of about 15C (59F) today.

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to our live service for the West Midlands.

We'll be bringing you all the latest news, sport, weather and travel between now and 19:00.

Please share your stories, photos and comments by visiting our BBC Midlands Facebook page, external, emailing us, or tweeting @BBCMTD, external.

Chris Carter chases driver slot despite having cerebral palsy.

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 on Thursday.

A BBC Three sitcom, Man Like Mobeen, created by and starring comedian Guz Khan, is in production.

The man was escorted off the pitch by Coventry City captain Michael Doyle and a steward.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

This evening will be mild and cloudy with drizzle at times.

The cloud will be low enough to cover the hills, but it will thin out during the early hours and the drizzle will stop - lows of 11C (52F).

Birmingham Airport consultation extended by one month

An earlier incident is causing disruption between Aston and Lichfield.

London Midland advises tickets can be used on National Express West Midlands Buses, external on routes 4, 4H, 4M, 7, 11A, 11C, 14, 16, 45, 51, 65, 67, 301, 302, X3, X4, X5, X14, X51.

Road transport is running on the following routes:

• Lichfield City - Sutton Coldfield
• Lichfield City - Lichfield Trent Valley
• Longbridge - Redditch

The disruption is expected to last until 19:00

Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Theresa May has paid tribute to Herefordshire's munitions workers, who were invited to tea with her today.

The women, known as the Canary Girls because the handling of chemicals often turned their hair and skin yellow, said their contribution should not be forgotten.

Mrs May said: "It has been an honour to meet the Canary Girls today in Downing Street.

“I was touched to hear about their incredible resilience and bravery as they risked their lives assembling munitions in factories during World War II, providing vital equipment for the war effort. “Women’s contribution to the World Wars should never be forgotten - I am glad the BBC Hereford & Worcester campaign has brought this issue to public attention."