Staffordshire's health deficits are "unsustainable" and it is not fair for other parts of the UK to give more funding to keep them going, the health minister says.

Phillip Dunne added he's prepared to visit Stoke-on-Trent to see for himself the challenges being faced by the Royal Stoke Hospital.

He made his comments in the Commons during a late night adjournment debate about North Staffordshire health care.

Gareth Snell, Labour MP for Stoke on Trent Central, urged the minister to intervene to relieve pressure on the hospital's A&E and help plug a funding hole made worse by fines for not meeting targets.

University Hospitals North Midlands is one of three trusts in England placed in financial special measures in March. It has to save £50m this financial year, £35m in the next and a further £35m in 2019-20.

Shropshire Star

Here are some of Shropshire's top stories

• Christian Chandler: £11,000 raised towards funeral of Telford teenager killed in bus crash, external
• Campaigners step up fight to save Ludlow Hospital, external
• Wellington Market owner makes plea for investment, external

Defiant breast cancer patient prepares for World's Strongest Woman contest.

Water courses are being checked for environmental pollution following a fire at a plastics company.

Fire broke out at DMS on the Firs Industrial Estate in Kidderminster late last night with smoke reported to still be billowing out of the building.

The Environment Agency is at the site to monitor the courses.

Image source, Environment Agency

A 14-year-old is in hospital after being stabbed in his chest and arm.

An attack is thought to to have taken place in Ashbourne Road in Wolverhampton yesterday lunchtime but police said they are still unsure of what happened or exactly where, external it took place.

Image source, Google

The teenager's injuries are described as "nasty" and police are appealing for witnesses.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC Midlands Today

The number of families in the West Midlands turning to food banks has increased almost tenfold over the past five years, charity workers say.

In 2011, supplies were handed out to 13,000 people across the region, according to the Trussell Trust. Last year, that number reached more than 110,000., external

Imran Hameed set up a food bank in the Black Country which aims to deliver provisions within three hours of receiving a call for help.

In the past 18 months Salma Foodbank in Smethwick (it was named after his mother) claims to have helped more than 7,200 people.

Alistair Binney
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Firefighters are likely to remain at an industrial estate in Kidderminster for several hours after a fire started at a plastic moulding company overnight.

There is still a lot smoke billowing out of the burnt out building on hte Firs Industrial Estate.

The company, DMS, is an auto body parts company and offers specialist finishes on plastic injection moulders and chrome plating of plastics.

Police officers had put a cordon in place after there were concerns about hazardous materials being involved in the blaze but it has since been lifted.

Several crews remain at the scene damping down.

Image source, Google

Riyah Collins
BBC News

Did you know the glass used in lighthouses was likely to have been produced in Smethwick?

Chance Brothers Glassworks manufactured glass used in everything from glazing the Houses of Parliament and Crystal Palace to the production of novelty ashtrays - and optic lenses used in lighthouses.

Image source, Chris Williams

Tim Nguyen restores lighthouses around the world and is on a quest to restore their optics using original parts and methods.

Image source, Mark Davies

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze at an industrial estate in Kidderminster overnight.

Emergency services were called out to Firs Industrial Estate, external, Oldington Lane at about 23:30. At its height 10 crews were tending to the blaze.

A cordon was put in place around Stourport Road and Birchen Coppice due to hazardous materials but has since been lifted.

No injuries have been reported and the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

A 53-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences following a four-hour siege at a bowling alley in Nuneaton.

David Clarke faces charges including false imprisonment and possession of an imitation firearm.

Armed officers were called to MFA Bowl in Bermuda Park on Sunday afternoon following reports a gunman had taken two people hostage.

The siege ended some four hours later when police stormed the bowling alley.

Mr Clarke is due before magistrates later today.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

A generally cloudy day with outbreaks of rain, some of this heavy at times especially over higher ground.

It will be breezy for most, but despite this, it should feel rather warm with highs of 18C (64F).

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to our live updates for Tuesday, 24 October.

We'll bring you all the latest news, sport, weather and travel until 19:00.

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

We cover Birmingham and the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire and south Cheshire.

Imran Hameed set up Salma Food Bank in memory of his mother who died when he was 17.

How an Australian is preserving the legacy of Black Country glassworks.

Riyah Collins
BBC News

Good evening from the Midlands newsroom, that's all for our live coverage today.

Join us again from 07:00 tomorrow for the latest news, sport, weather and travel across the West Midlands.

Until then, keep an eye out here for breaking news and updates.

The cordon has now been lifted around Bermuda Park in Nuneaton following yesterday's siege incident. Any vehicles left there overnight can now be collected.

Ch Supt Alex Franklin-Smith said: "This incident took place on a busy Sunday afternoon at a location where many families were enjoying what should have been a fun-filled start to their half-term holidays.

"I would again like to thank the many people who were caught up in this situation for their patience and cooperation while we responded to the incident. I'd also like to thank local businesses for their support.

Image source, Pa

A series of congestion-busting measures have been announced for Bromsgrove, thanks to a £3.4m government grant.

The work includes a new footbridge over the A38, as well as upgraded traffic lights, more cycle lanes and wider junctions.

In all, the funding will go towards nine different projects in a bid to cut congestion and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in the town.

Some of the money will be used to improve links with the new railway station.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, will go on trial at Birmingham Crown Court in November.

BBC Weather

This evening and much of tonight will be dry andmild.

Later into the night rain will arrive in Hereford and Worcester and also Shropshire, becoming heavy over the hills - lows of 11C (52F).

Riyah Collins
BBC News

Rogue landlords face a crackdown as Birmingham City Council says it will submit a bid of nearly £900,000 for funding to tackle private housing problems in the city.

In a report, the council cited three main issues adding to the pressure of housing in Birmingham:

• The significant impact of migration, meaning a greater reliance on housing migrants in the private rented sector, often in poor conditions
• Increasing concerns from residents and agencies about the growth of poor quality supported housing
• Modern day slavery, which involves exploitation of vulnerable people who end up in the private rented sector unable to assert their rights.

The council said it is facing "considerable resource pressures" and "does not have the capacity to fully enforce standards as required" without the government funding.