An Uber driver from Dudley has been suspended by Sandwell Council after routine checks found he had drugs in his car and two defective tyres.

He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

His vehicle was stopped at about 23:00 last Friday and a "small amount of cannabis and drugs paraphernalia" we found in the car.

The driver has been released under investigation awaiting test results.

Image source, Getty Images

The council’s taxi licensing team working with West Midlands Police and vehicle examiners from The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency stopped 14 vehicles.

Eight vehicles were found to have no issues. One driver was given seven days to fix a handbrake issue and one from Birmingham was given 10 days to correct a problem with lights.

Birmingham Mail

Here are some of the stories the Birmingham Mail is working on today:

• Leading National Action member found dead days before race hate court case, external
• Ex-Aston Villa star Chris Nicholl 'brain damaged from headers' and can't remember , externalwhere he lives
• City centre road changes from Monday, external

The owner of a raccoon dog is being sought after is was found in a hospice garden.

Image source, RSPCA

The animal is a member of the canidae family which also includes foxes and was found in the back garden of St John’s Hospice in Slyne Road, Lancaster, on Friday.

Raccoon dogs are generally found in the wild in East Asia but they do not make good pets, the RSPCA said.

RSPCA Inspector Sarah Hayland said: "The raccoon dog proved to be a real novelty for the hospice staff and inpatients, and he appeared to be quite used to humans, which would suggest he is an escaped pet."

It is being looked after at the charity's Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire.

It is illegal to release the raccoon dogs into the wild in the UK and, from February 2019, they will be listed on the European Invasive Species Regulations, which means owners will have to ensure their animals are kept securely and do not breed.

West Bromwich Albion's £15m summer signing Oliver Burke is fit to return to the first team for the struggling Baggies.

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

The MP for the Wyre Forest, Mark Garnier, has apologised to his constituents for asking a former member of staff to buy sex toys.

Last week, the Mail on Sunday reported how, shortly after being elected in 2010, the Conservative MP sent his then PA to a sex shop in Soho.

Image source, PA

In a statement to the local press, Mark Garnier says the sex toy incident was reported outside of the context and circumstances in which it occurred.

While he doesn't dispute the facts of the story, Mr Garnier stresses that at the time he and his secretary Caroline Edmundson were friends.

He says he didn't force or pressure her into doing anything.

The MP goes on to say it is right the public expects high standards from those they elected. He says he apologises for the situation that's occurred.

Birmingham, external is the most rapidly improved city in the country according to a new survey into the performance of the UK's main towns and cities.

The PwC Good Growth for Cities report, external scores cities on factors such as health, transport, housing affordability, quality of life, jobs and growth.

Oxford and Reading top the latest list, but PwC said Birmingham had improved more than any other city since 2013, narrowly beating Leeds.

PwC reported a strong perfomrance in those cities with elected mayors.

Andy Street, elected for the West Midlands in May, hailed the latest report's findings and at a major conference today paid particular tribute to the change in job numbers, despite them lying still well below the national average.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

It's the anniversary today of what's viewed by historians as the last successful cavalry charge by British forces.

Image source, Lady Butler

On 8 November 1917, a small cavalry force made up of members of the Worcestershire and Warwickshire Yeomanry successfully charged a mixed force of German, Austrian and Turkish soldiers armed with artillery and machine guns, south of the village of Huj in Palestine.

They were taking on machine guns but, against the odds, they succeeded in routing the opposition but suffered serious casualties., external

Francis Lovelock was found dead at his home in July after sustaining a head injury.

In one attack, the twins and two minors partially severed a man's hand.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

It doesn't matter that the majority of Staffordshire's speed cameras aren't switched on, according to the county's chief constable.

Image source, Getty Images

A Press Association investigation at the weekend revealed Staffordshire Police has 272 cameras across its region but only 14 are active.

A school in Worcestershire has closed today as a "mark of respect" after the sudden death of a teacher last night.

Hagley Catholic High School principal Suzanne Horan said Dr Abigail Brown was "much-loved".

"We are all devastated at this unexpected loss and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time," Ms Horan said.

Image source, Google

The school is expected to reopen as normal tomorrow and support is being provided for colleagues and students.

BBC Weather Watchers

We had some stunning photos from the BBC Weather Watchers this morning.

Here are just a few of them.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City striker Saido Berahino could start for the Under-21s in their Checkatrade Trophy match at Bury tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

As many as five first-team players, including Charlie Adam and Ibrahim Afellay, could play as the academy side looks to progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

Their head coach Glyn Hodges says he's hoping that first-team manager Mark Hughes will free up some senior players.

Olivia Morley
Journalist, BBC WM

Two men have been stabbed in Erdington, West Midlands Police said.

The force said it received a 999 call at 20:15 last night reporting two men having been stabbed in a rear garden in Edgware Road.

One man suffered a knife wound to his arm, another man was stabbed in the leg.

Image source, Google

Gurtej Singh Randhawa tried to buy a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device "with the potential to kill".

BBC Shropshire

Concerns have been raised that an NHS advice line in Shropshire is putting pressure on the county's ambulance service and hospitals.

It's been reported that more people are seen by paramedics when they dial the non-emergency 111 number rather than the out-of-hours service Shropdoc.

There are fears the increase could put pressure on the Princess Royal and the RSH over the winter months.

The findings will be discussed by Shropshire's Clinical Commissioning Group today.

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

A jury's been told that a father who's on trial for the murder of his two children doesn't deny responsibility for their deaths.

Endris Mohammed, 47, is accused of murdering his son Saros, 8, and daughter Leanor, 6 who died in October last year. Their bodies were found after a fire at their home in Hamstead, Birmingham.

He's also accused of attempting to murder his wife Penil Teklehaimanot, 36.

Addressing the jury at Birmingham Crown Court, the Judge Andrew Gilbart QC said: "On the first two counts of murder there is a issue about the defendant's mental state at the time of the offences.

Image source, West Midlands Police

"The defendant accepts causing their deaths, this is not a case where he is saying that he denies it.

"The issue is whether he was suffering from a mental disorder and, if so, whether he can establish a defence of what is called diminished responsibility."

Endris Mohammed denies murdering his children and the attempted murder of his wife.

He appeared in the dock, his face scarred and his head bandaged.

The prosecution is opening its case this afternoon. The trial is expected to last a fortnight.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

Plans to transform the old Sainsbury's site in Newcastle-under-Lyme into offices, shops and student accommodation have been approved.

Image source, Google

The site's been empty ever since the supermarket moved six years ago.

Planners approved the proposals last night, external which will also see the borough council buildings on Merrial Street demolished.

An attempted murder investigation has been opened after a Warwickshire Police officer was hit by a car "at speed".

The injured officer, based at Rugby Police Station, was with a colleague responding to a reports of suspicious activity on Scots Close, Rugby.

Image source, Google

They arrived to find a Silver Volkswagen Golf outside a house and it hit the male officer. He was treated for injuries to his face and legs and is recovering at home.

Det Supt Steve Quinn said: "At this time our main line of enquiry is that the vehicle was driven deliberately at the officer and he was extremely lucky to not have been seriously injured or worse."

Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM

Former West Bromwich Albion striker Garry Thompson says it would be a gamble for the club to sack manager Tony Pulis.

Image source, Reuters

The Baggies are nine games without a win and some sections of the fans are calling for a change to be made.

Speaking to BBC WM, Thompson said it would be a risk that may not be worth taking.