A 64-year-old man who urinated in daylight in the grounds of a Wolverhampton church has been issued with a £250 fine.

Sergei Koviazan, of School Street, relieved himself in St Peter’s Gardens one lunchtime in March.

An officer working for the city council saw what happened and gave him an on-the-spot £75 fine.

But this wasn't paid, so the case went to magistrates' court.

Councillor Steve Evans said: "This was a disgusting act made worse by the fact it was done in the grounds of a place of worship, making it also deeply disrespectful."

The family of a Liverpool woman who died after contracting Legionnaires' disease following a stay at a Ludlow hotel say they want to know if her death could have been prevented.

Three months before Elaine Brown and her husband visited The Feathers Hotel, another guest contracted the illness and her relatives are asking if enough was done to make it safe.

Image source, Brown family

Elaine's husband Graham said if they had been told about the previous outbreak there was "absolutely no chance" they would have stayed there.

The hotel, which remains closed for an overhaul of its plumbing, is the subject of a Public Health England investigation.

Police say they didn't approve free clappers being handed out ahead of Sunday's Birmingham City-Aston Villa second city derby.

Stewards had to be brought on to clear the pitch of the clappers, and other missiles, including a plastic bottle which fell near Villa keeper Sam Johnstone.

Warwickshire's England Under-19 duo George Panayi and Liam Banks, plus Australian Ryan Sidebottom, sign extended deals.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested after a 17-year-old was stabbed in Wem High Street, Shropshire, at the weekend.

Image source, Google

The boy was taken to hospital just after midnight on Sunday and has since been discharged.

Police say the man, who is from the town, has been released on bail.

Nearly 250 pets, including horses, have been stolen in the West Mercia and Warwickshire police areas since the start of 2016, new figures have revealed.

About half of the animals taken were dogs, with Labradors and Staffordshire bull terriers the most frequently targeted.

The two forces also recorded reports of 33 fish thefts, 20 stolen horses and 27 cats.

And there were 30 reports of small animals such as rabbits, hamsters and rats being taken.

Lindsay Doyle
BBC Midlands Today

They're said to be among the most beautiful stained glass windows in the world and now urgent help is needed to restore them.

Designed by the pre-Raphelite artist Edward Byrne-Jones, the windows at Birmingham Cathedral, external draw visitors from across the globe.

More than 130 years old, they survived the bombing of Birmingham during World War Two but now require specialist cleaning.

Byrne-Jones was born on Bennetts Hill, in Birmingham, in 1833 as the city was expanding during the industrial revolution.

The project has started to raise the money for the restoration which has been aptly named Divine Beauty, external, preserving one of the city's greatest treasures.

West Midlands Police say they did not approve the handing out of free clappers for Sunday's second city derby at St Andrew's.

Daz Hale
BBC WM

More than 300 members of the armed forces are collecting today for Birmingham Poppy Day., external

The biggest fund-raising event of the year for the Royal British Legion.

The charity's aiming to raise more than £50,000 today to help current and former servicemen and women.

Gina Edwards, from the Royal British Legion, posted this photo outside the Council House this morning.

William Evans taught design and technology at a school in Herefordshire.

About 120 pupils at the Hart School, in Rugeley, were taken out of classes because of a "no trainers" rule.

A man missing with his sons is a scrap metal dealer and yard owners have been urged to be vigilant.

Facebook

News that parking charges at the hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford have gone up from today has provoked reaction on the BBC Shropshire Facebook page, external.

Sally Nicholson wrote, external: "There is still a lot of green space at the hospital that could be utilised for parking. Cars are parking on the grass anyway, so dig it up and make more parking."

In response to criticism, the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust said the move should free up more parking spaces.

However, Jennifer Powell, on the Facebook page, responded, external: "How's that going to work? If you have to get to hospital you have to drive, unless you live in Shrewsbury or Telford."

A piece of equipment that killed a man after he became entangled in it has been described as "dilapidated, ramshackled and in lethal state" by police., external

Safi Qais Khan was using the trommel to sort waste material at Pentos Drive in Sparkhill in January 2015 when he became entangled in it.

The 29-year-old died of crush injuries to his head and upper chest.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Yesterday, company director Jagbir Singh pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and 300 hours of community service at Birmingham Crown Court.

West Midlands Police says a Health and Safety Executive inspector found several places where guards had been removed and gave easy and dangerous access to the drive chain and conveyor belts.

Australian international hooker Nathan Charles signs for Wasps on a three-month contract.

Coventry Telegraph

Here are a selection of news stories being covered by the Coventry Telegraph today:

• Grieving family demand answers after Coventry dad found dead in derelict Manchester building, external
• 25,000 new homes plan for Coventry to affect 'almost every area of city': What we know so far, external
• Locked up: Coventry killers, abusers, arsonists and thugs jailed in October, external

When the Severn Valley Railway launched its share appeal last November, it admitted its £2.5m target was "ambitious", but said it was needed to fund the most "far-reaching development and restoration project" since it was formed, 52 years ago.

As well as paying for a new refreshment room and toilet block at its Bridgnorth station, the money will fund the refurbishment of the existing station house and for the installation of a new turntable for locomotives.

Image source, Severn Valley Railway

And the money will pay for the removal of some modern sheds and improvements to car parking.

The railway also plans to build new accommodation for volunteers in Bridgnorth, but funding for that will come from elsewhere.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra striker Jordan Bowery believes he has the potential to play a lot better.

The 26-year-old has scored three times in his last five games, but said he's not as sharp as he could be and should be scoring more.

Image source, crewealex.net

Bowery earned a £500,000 move to Aston Villa early in his career, and said: "I feel I've got the potential to play higher, but I've just got to prove it to everyone else."

Allen Cook
BBC News

A military band performed at Birmingham New Street this morning as servicemen and women collected across the city for The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.

The charity says it is trying to raise £50,000 in one day in an event tagged #BirminghamPoppyDay, external.

Image source, British Army

Image source, @tracep1936

Telford Tigers defenceman Jonathan Weaver has been cleared to return to action after serving an 11-game suspension for an incident at the game with Swindon Wildcats in September.

West Mercia Police has confirmed that after carrying out an investigation, officers won't be taking any action against the Great Britain player.

Image source, Steve Brodie

The club says it will now be lodging an appeal against the punishment imposed by the English Ice Hockey Association.