Nine men have been arrested across Staffordshire in connection with online child sex offences.

Staffordshire Police said all of them were held this week and have either been bailed with conditions or released from custody while investigations continue.

The alleged crimes include the making and possessing of indecent images of children and attempted sexual communication with a child.

Image source, PA

The force said since its child exploitation team was set up in 2015, it has carried out 690 investigations, arrested 215 people and safeguarded 342 children.

Images of car parts found at the scene of a hit-and-run crash where a pedestrian was seriously injured, have been released by West Midlands Police.

Image source, West Midlands Police

A 65-year-old man was hit by a car on Stratford Road on Wednesday, close to the junction of Highfield Road and Fox Hollies Road in the Hall Green area of Birmingham.

He's still in hospital with serious injuries, police say., external

Officers are keen to identify the vehicle involved, described as a blue Audi, which might be missing a silver wing mirror casting and part of the bumper grille which were found at the scene.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes hopes to see his defence improve, as players return from injury.

His side have conceded the joint-second most goals in the Premier League so far, but he believes that will improve once he can pick a settled team.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke are at home to Leicester City tomorrow, a side which has only failed to score in two matches so far this season.

Michael Trueman, 19, died in hospital after having a seizure at The Rainbow Venues in Birmingham.

More than £35,000 has been raised for charity after a series of statues were sold at an auction in Wolverhampton last night.

The Wolves in Wolves project took place in the summer and was the biggest ever public art exhibition the city.

The proceeds will be shared between local charities.

Police found teenage girls in nail bars in Bath and Burton upon Trent enduring forced labour and abuse.

A car failed to stop after hitting a teenage boy who was running across a road in Stoke-on-Trent.

It happened on Lysander Road in the Meir Park area at 19:45, on 31 October, and left the 15-year-old in hospital with suspected neck and back injuries.

Image source, Google

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

Paul Hurst says he will pick his strongest Shrewsbury side for the game against Aldershot in the FA Cup tomorrow.

He insists it's a competition he wants to do well in, despite the importance of maintaining their position at the top of League One, and he says he won't be experimenting.

Shrewsbury welcome back defender Matt Sadler from illness for the first round match.

Birmingham Mail

Some of our headlining stories today are:

• Woman missed brother's funeral after A38 horror crash, external
• How student wrester lost sixteen stone in bid to become top ring star, external
• Birmingham Council insists Trojan Horse did happen, external

An appeal to help an 87-year-old woman who had her purse stolen at the supermarket has now raised more than £4,500.

CCTV cameras at the Aldi in Oswestry caught the thieves in action and shortly afterwards a crowdfunding page, external was set up with the aim of raising £200.

Amanda Williams, who set up the appeal, said the money would all be passed on to the unnamed victim "to make this lady believe that there is some good out there still."

Image source, Avon and Somerset Police

Three people have been convicted of trafficking four teenage Vietnamese girls and forcing them to work in nail bars across England.

Married couple Viet Nguyen, 29, and Giang Tran, 23, of Barker Round Way, Burton, denied a string of trafficking offences at Stafford Crown Court.

However, they were convicted along with a third defendant, Thu Nguyen, 48, of Southdown Road, Bath.

The investigation led by Avon and Somerset Police, started at a nail bar in Bath but was expanded to include Cheltenham, Burton-on-Trent, Gloucester and Derbyshire.

Facebook

We brought you the story earlier of the former soldier who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, explaining how Bonfire Night affects him.

David Smith, 28, of Coventry, was a Lance Corporal in the Grenadier Guards and says the sound of fireworks takes him back to battles fought in Afghanistan.

On the BBC Midlands Facebook page, Adam Miller commented, external: “You’re stronger than you think you are David mate. You are a true inspiration.”

Alisha Dil added, external: “What a brave man to talk about this. People need to know more about it. PTSD effects so many people not just veterans.”

And Rob Brittain posted, external: “Good on you Dave for speaking out, it is the best thing to do to help deal with it.”

A clubber who died after attending a Halloween party was a student at Birmingham University,

Michael Trueman, 19, had a drugs-related seizure while at a Halloween party at the Rainbow Venues in Digbeth, Birmingham, and died later in hospital.

Image source, Google

In a statement the university said everyone was saddened at the news.

"Our thoughts go out to all Michael Trueman’s friends and family at this tragic time."

The venue has had its licence suspended.

A care worker, convicted of ill-treating a 77-year-old woman, has been been cleared of wilful neglect on appeal.

Susan Draper, 43, who worked at Perry Locks Care Home, Birmingham had her four-week jail sentence quashed at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.

Ms Draper, of Cranehouse Road, Kingstanding, had denied ill-treating Betty Boylan at the care home.

A driver who fell asleep at the wheel, resulting in a head-on crash in which a woman died, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Norman Svenson, 71, admitted causing death by dangerous driving after his vehicle crossed the carriageway and into the path of a vehicle driven by 72-year-old Edwin Lilly on the B4455 Fosse Way in May last year.

Mr Lilly and his wife Elaine, 70, were taken to hospital where Mrs Lilly passed away from her injuries.

At Warwick Crown Court today Mr Svenson was given a 20 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from driving for three years.

Mr Svenson had been driving to his home in Nuneaton from Surrey when the crash happened.

Shopkeepers close to a Caribbean food shop attacked by armed youths in Birmingham last night have spoken of their shock.

One storeholder, who didn't want to be named, said tensions had been "building, over the past couple of months" with a group of youths from outside the local area.

Another said there had been trouble with youths spitting on the window of the food shop that appeared to have been the target of the attack.

Image source, Desmond Jaddoo

A white BMW, parked outside the store in Witton Lodge Road, was left badly damaged with all of its windows smashed after the attack just after 21:15 yesterday.

Coventry Telegraph

Some of our main stories today:

• Heroin worth almost £100,000 was discovered near Coventry airport, external
• Alleged Leamington gunman who threatened police officers appears in court, external
• The shocking number of Coventry kids at risk of neglect or abuse, external

BBC News Travel

There's around three miles of queuing traffic on the M6 northbound after a severe collision between junctions five and six, says Highways England.

Only one lane remains open after a multi-vehicle crash.

Image source, Highways England

An "army of gritters" is standing by to hit the roads of Staffordshire, the county council has said.

The authority has a fleet of more than 40 vehicles and more than 20,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled, ready for when the temperatures drop.

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

The council's head of highways, Helen Fisher, said they would concentrate on A and B roads and would call on contractors to deal with roads on higher ground.

Police were faced by Aron Tesfalem as he left a residential block in Birmingham last month.