Shropshire Star

Here are three of the top stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• Arrest after £25,000 worth of cannabis plants found growing in loft, external
• Fresh plans released for Shrewsbury's Stew, external
• Iron Bridge appeal smashes its target in just 48 hours, external

An investigation’s under way after a police car crashed into a statue in the centre of Worcester.

It hit a sculpture of the music hall performer, Vesta Tilley in the Cornmarket, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Image source, Fran Sheridan

Worcestershire County Council says CCTV footage is being examined and the statue has been taken away to be repaired.

Tilley (pictured below) was born in Worcester and worked as a male impersonator, dressing as a soldier during World War One.

Image source, Sandra Taylor

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court said Naomi Coleman's treatment was "scandalous and horrifying".

Plans are submitted for the site where Wasps Rugby Club had hoped to build a training ground.

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

Shrewsbury Town might be top of League One, but manager Paul Hurst is looking to make changes in the January transfer window.

And he said he might look to replace players who had already reached the peak of their ability.

Other changes might be out of control, as other clubs recall players who are on-loan with Shrewsbury.

And he is also looking for a full-back to replace the injured Junior Brown.

A fire at The Royalty, on the high street in Harborne was "started deliberately" West Midlands Fire Service said.

The fire at the listed Art Deco cinema started at about 07:30, but was quickly brought under control by firefighters.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

The latest plans for the redevelopment of a riverside property in Shrewsbury have been attracting a bit of criticism on the BBC Radio Shropshire Facebook page., external

Lynn Pugh wrote: "Big, plain, no character just like the theatre. Are we back in the 60's ? When we lost so many beautiful buildings to be replaced with concrete yuk."

And Anne Delf described it as a "carbuncle" and said it wasn't in keeping with the rest of the town, while Pam Baker labelled it "another modern monstrosity".

Image source, Carl Huntley

But there was some support for these designs, with Barbara King commenting: "Surely its better to have a building in use than letting it get into disrepair."

Monarch Airlines has been refused permission to appeal after losing a High Court battle over "valuable" runway slots, including some in Birmingham, it wants to exchange with other carriers to raise cash for creditors.

At the heart of the court action by Monarch was a decision by Airport Co-ordination Ltd (ACL) not to allocate certain take-off and landing slots to the airline for the summer 2018 season.

Image source, Getty Images

Judges rejected Monarch's claim that ACL was under a duty to allocate the summer 2018 slots to Monarch "by reason of historical precedence".

They refused a "stay" on their order in respect of Manchester and Birmingham airports, but granted one in relation to Gatwick and Luton until 17 November, or until further order.

The airline, which went into administration on 2 October, can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal.

This isn't the first time people living in Stoke-on-Trent have been given the chance to buy run-down homes for £1 - the city council organised a similar sale four years ago.

Back then, more than 600 people expressed early interest in buying the 35 derelict homes put up for sale in the Cobridge area.

The local authority also provided loans of up to £30,000 to help complete essential repairs on the houses.

Warwickshire sign Staffordshire all-rounder Alex Thomson on a one-year deal following a trial period.

Martin Winch
BBC News

This Friday is Children in Need day.

All this week we're catching up on some of the local schemes supported by the charity and seeing how your money helps children in the West Midlands.

The Den in Coventry, run by Carers Trust Heart of England, external, provides respite for children who help look after members of their family.

A nine-year-old Lilly is one of them - she helps look after her mum, who suffers from fibromyalgia.

The Sentinel

Three of the headlines from Stoke's Sentinel newspaper today:

• Voyeur behind bars after calling police about Libyan hacker, external
• Car park to close overnight because of anti-social behaviour, external
• Stoke-on-Trent woman marries Charles Bronson, external

A four-month-old kitten at a Birmingham rescue centre is getting a lot of attention, because of her Hercule Poirot-style moustache.

Image source, RSPCA/BBC

The RSPCA said Tasha was found as a stray and the black markings on her nose were very unusual.

Critics have been less kind about Sir Kenneth Branagh's own facial adornment in the latest big-screen adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express.

Image source, RSPCA

The Birmingham Animal Centre said that she came to them with an injured eye and was initially very timid, but has since become very curious and likes to investigate - just like Agatha Christie's Belgian detective.

The owner of a riverside building in Shrewsbury that dates back to the 18th Century said his new plans for the redevelopment of The Stew will keep three quarters of the original structure.

Gareth Leese, is submitting proposals to turn it into a coffee shop, spa, offices, garages and seven apartments - with an extra floor on top and an extension to site.

This video should give you an idea of how it might change.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

More money and more visitors are needed at one of Coventry's most important heritage assets, says the city council.

St Mary's Guildhall, is facing a financial struggle and running at a loss.

Councillors will today look at how they can boost business there.

Image source, Robert Orland

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra's manager David Artell has held a meeting with players and staff, in the hope of improving team results.

They have lost 10 of their last 13 games and are only three points clear of the relegation places in League Two.

Image source, Getty Images

Artell also said there was "no point just saying the obvious" - players had to "learn and get better" and had to do it quickly.

The story about people sending positive messages to our emergency services has been attracting a lot of comments on the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external.

Michelle Louise was supportive of the #BlueLightHappy Twitter campaign, writing: "They do an amazing job, I struggle to understand why some people feel justified to be abusive."

And Di Conway suggested: "Personally I think the 999 services should have a camera in there vehicles and if the idiot drivers or ignorant public refuse to move out the way record them and give them a few thousand pound fine for their ignorance."

Image source, Rob Moore

There were also a few thank you messages, including one from Lynda Howells, who wrote: "My husband suffered a fall on Saturday night the paramedics were kind caring and very supportive. Thank you x."

A meeting between MPs and the policing minister follows hot on the heels of West Midlands Chief Constable Dave Thompson giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee.

Last month, he told MPs the force numbers were at their lowest level since it was formed in 1974.

He said those officers were having to deal with a rise in traditional crimes, coupled with an increase in the threat of terrorism and new offences such as cyber-crime.

As a result, he said there had been a "profound" pressure on the budget in the last 18 months, which he described as "challenging".

The government says police spending has been protected in real terms since 2015 and that West Midlands Police has received more than £524.4m in direct funding this year, which is £1.6m more than 2015-16.

Birmingham Mail

Here are some of the stories making the headlines in the Birmingham Mail today:

• Fire at landmark cinema in Harborne, external
• Why Aston residents want a tower block demolished, external
• Shoppers face Christmas bread drought as West Bromwich bakery drivers ballot for strike action, external

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City Assistant Manager Mark Bowen has praised Lee Grant's influence in the dressing room and says he will be a capable deputy for the injured Jack Butland.

Grant has been restricted to just two cup appearances this season, but will make his first Premier League start of the season when they go to Brighton on Monday night.

Image source, Getty Images

Bowen said Grant was always one of the first people to speak up at half-time, sometimes before the manager has his say.