Police force 'smallest in its history'published at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
The West Midlands force has lost 2,300 officers since 2010, leaked documents show.
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Police force 'smallest in its history'published at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
In the papers: Lit fireworks thrown by youthspublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
Here are some of the headlines on the Stratford Observer website today:
- Hospitals set for re-inspection after 'requiring improvement' , externalrating
- Lit fireworks thrown by youths at passers-by, external
- Festive youngsters to shine a light, external
Your pictures: Autumn leavespublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
There's a lovely blue sky on this weather picture taken by Snappy Becky in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Image source, Snappy BeckySolihull is the setting for this scenic photo taken by Elle Niño.
Send your weather pictures in to us here.
Image source, Elle Niño.Repair work to close M6 to M5 link roadpublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
No traffic will be able to travel south on the M6 to M5 southbound link tonight due to urgent repair works.
The section will be closed from 21:00 to 06:00.
The southbound slip road from junction 1 at West Bromwich will also be closed. Traffic can join the M5 southbound at junction 2 for Oldbury.
Where's my robot butler? I have answerspublished at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
At the Humanoid Robot Conference in Birmingham there's a chance to look at the cutting edge of robot technology.
Read MoreYates & Flowers take charge at Solihullpublished at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
National League bottom club Solihull Moors appoint Mark Yates as manager, with Tim Flowers as his number two.
Read MoreWolves players helping young midfielder developpublished at 17:19 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
BBC WM SportWolves forward Morgan Gibbs-White says he's learning something new every day from Nuno and his coaches.
Although he's yet to feature for the first team under the Portuguese, the 17-year-old has had a year to remember after making his debut under previous boss Paul Lambert in January.
More recently he won the Under 17 World Cup with England scoring in the final against Spain.
He says all the Wolves staff are working hard to help develop his talent.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageI feel privileged to be part of such a big club. The players that the manager has brought in are unbelievable."
Morgan Gibbs-White, Footballer
Sudden rise in missing children reports explainedpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
The number of children reported missing to the West Mercia and Warwickshire police forces has remained fairly steady for the last 10 years, but showed a big jump in the last financial year (see graph below).
West Mercia Chief Inspector Jennie Mattinson said it can be explained by a recent change in the way missing people are recorded by the two forces, rather than a sudden increase in numbers.
Ch Insp Mattinson said every report of a missing child is now automatically registered in their system, whereas before they would only be recorded after initial enquiries had been carried out.
And she said this had made it easier to identify children who go missing frequently and also meant the relevant local authority always got a referral to follow up.
Marc Albrighton puts his Peaky knowledge to the testpublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
BBC SportTamworth-born Leicester City star Marc Albrighton is a big fan of television series Peaky Blinders, so BBC Sport decided to put his knowledge to the test.
Media caption, Peaky Blinders: How well does Marc Albrighton know his favourite show?
The new series of Peaky Blinders starts tonight at 21:00 on BBC Two.
Tom Cruse signs Wasps' contract extensionpublished at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
Tom Cruse has signed a contract extension with Wasps.
The 28-year-old hooker is a "key part of the Wasps squad", the club says, having played in seven out of the 11 games so far in the season.
Cruse previously represented Stockport, Sale Sharks, Macclesfield, Rotherham Titans and London Irish.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageWhen I was offered the option to extend my contract here at Wasps, it was an easy decision to make. My family and I have settled in really well since arriving a couple of seasons ago and we have been welcomed brilliantly by everyone at the club."
Tom Cruse
Davis signs new deal with Aston Villapublished at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis signs a new contract with the Championship club until 2020.
Read MoreCuts to buses to affect half a million journeyspublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeHalf a million bus journeys a year in Staffordshire could go after the county council approved £1.4m of cuts to its subsidised services.
It's estimated 2,500 people will be affected by the changes which will come into effect next April and campaigners say it will isolate people in rural areas.
Image source, ThinkstockThe council says the cuts affect just 3% of all bus journeys, and it will work with commercial operators, voluntary groups and taxi firms to see if they can replace any of the affected routes.
Justin Bieber concert ticket scammer avoids jailpublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
Lisa Wright
BBC NewsZainab Pervaiz, 25, who duped Justin Bieber fans into buying fake concert ticket has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.
The law student of Swan Pool Grove, Walsall will also carry out 150 hours unpaid work and attend a 30-day work programme.
Image source, PAPervaiz, set up online sale listings for performances by Bieber, Adele and Beyonce, conning victims out of more than £7,000.
She previously admitted 16 counts of fraud by false representation.
Behind the scenes with the Peaky Blinders castpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
BBC TwoThe cast of Peaky Blinders talk about filming the new series which airs tonight at 21:00 on BBC Two.
Media caption, The cast of Peaky Blinders talk about filming the new series.
In the papers: Former teacher caught with child pornpublished at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
Here are three of the main stories making the headlines on the Worcester News website today:
- Former teacher caught with child porn, external
- Sculpture damaged after being hit by police car, external
- Future of pub to be discussed, external
Woman marries Charles Bronsonpublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
Charles Bronson, one of the UK's most violent prisoners, has married a woman from Stoke-on-Trent who he exchanged letters with for four years.
Paula Williamson first wrote to Bronson in 2013 after reading the 64-year-old's book on living in Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.
Image source, BBC/Paula WilliamsonThe ceremony was yesterday at a chapel at Wakefield prison, but Bronson - now known as Charles Salvador - was unable to enjoy the wedding reception, because he had to return to solitary confinement.
GP surgery delays criticised in PMQspublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
Mark Pawsey, the MP for Rugby, has criticised delays in opening a new GP surgery in Brownsover during Prime Minster's Questions.
He told fellow MPs Brownsover residents had seen their only local surgery shut in April 2015.
"My constituents reluctantly accepted short-term pain for the long-term gain of a new surgery that would open following summer, he said.
Mr Pawsey said the project had "regrettably" not even started.
Image source, ParliamentPrime Minster Theresa May said she "fully understands the frustration that my honourable friend has at the delays" and that NHS England and NHS property services were best placed "to make sure this project is progressed as quickly as possible".
Quote MessageMy honourable friend is right to raise this important issue for his constituents and I've been assured in this particular case that all the local health organisations do remain fully committed to this project."
Theresa May
Baggies hope to have Morrison back for festive fixturespublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
BBC WM SportWest Brom midfielder James Morrison will be hopefully be fit for the Baggies' festive fixtures.
The Scotland international had a "minor Achilles procedure" and is "responding well", the club says.
Bosses wanted to use the international break to sort his "grumbling" Achilles.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageWe wanted to give it a couple of weeks to see it would settle. Though he made some progress we thought the time was right to get him ready for the Christmas period."
Mark Gillett, Director of Performance
Hotel reopens following Legionnaires' outbreakpublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
BreakingThe Feathers Hotel in Ludlow has reopened after the death of a woman who contracted Legionnaires' disease there in July.
It has been closed since September. Another woman fell ill in a separate outbreak in April.
Shropshire Council and Public Health England said they were satisfied that all the necessary steps had been taken by the hotel to identify possible sources of contamination and carry out remedial work.
Image source, GoogleThey say they will work with the hotel to carry out regular tests and make sure the legionella bacteria don't return.
Shropshire Council said a health and safety investigation into the death of Elaine Brown (pictured below) from Merseyside was in its early stages and would take "a significant period of time to complete".
Image source, Brown familyMen charged over theft of woman's purse at Aldipublished at 15:02 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017
BreakingTwo men have been charged on suspicion of theft after an 87-year-old woman's purse was stolen in a supermarket in Oswestry.
The men, aged 38 and 44 and both from Smethwick, have been bailed to appear at Telford Magistrates' Court.
