A "throne" presented to one of England's most famous footballers while he visited Africa is among a number of items going up for auction., external

Sir Stanley Matthews, arguably football's first global icon, was crowned the "King of Ghana" while visiting the Gold Coast in 1956.

Newly crowned as the first European Player of the Year, Matthews came to Ghana to play a series of exhibition matches to celebrate the country's independence.

Image source, Hansons Auctioneers

The player from Stoke-on-Trent was presented with a number items from the area's potters including Wedgwood and Royal Doulton to celebrate his achievements over his career.

Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire is selling the items later this month, external on behalf of Sir Stanley's daughter.

Wasps forwards Alex Rieder and Tom Cruse both sign undisclosed-length contracts with the Premiership club.

Premiership club Wasps sign South Africa back-row forward Nizaam Carr on a three-month deal.

The families of those who died in the 1974 attacks say they hope their loved ones would "be proud".

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

Our top story tonight on BBC Midlands Today is music to the ears of Black Country commuters, as the £250m investment to extend the Metro tram line has been announced.

Dudley and Brierley Hill will be connected to the rail network for the first time since the 1960s.

The prime minister, chancellor and business secretary were all in the region today to announce a massive £80bn government spending programme.

Work on the latest Metro extension begins next year and the first trams should reach Dudley in 2022 and Breirley Hill a year later.

See more on this story on BBC One from 18:30 on Midlands Today.

He claims he searched for terror attack tips to see how easy it was to find extremist material online.

Coventry Observer

Some of the headlining stories on the Coventry Observer today include:

• Growing calls for urgent investigation into Coventry council's overseas use of taxpayers' money, external
• Warwickshire aiming to benefit from Coventry UK City of Culture bid, external
• Earlsdon shopkeeper punched robber who took charity savings, external

Three people have been taken to hospital after a crash involving a van and bus in Smethwick this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the High Street at about 14:00 today.

The passenger in the van, a man in his 40s, suffered serious head injuries and was treated by the trauma care team at the scene, said West Midlands Ambulance Service. , external

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

The driver was taken to City Hospital after sustaining injuries to his foot and chest, as well as an elderly passenger on the bus, who injured her face.

A crash involving a van and a bus has closed High Street in Smethwick, the fire service says.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

The road is closed in both directions between A4093 Waterloo Road and Edgbaston Road, after the collision close to the Windmills Shopping Centre.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

A West Midlands Police officer has been praised for her bravery after being confronted by a gunman following burglary reports., external

She and another officer were called out to Park Street in Stourbridge on Saturday night, and came face-to-face with a man who pointed what's believed to have been a weapon at her.

The suspect escaped with others, but the officer managed to follow him in a taxi and four people were arrested as a result.

Insp Jack Hadley said: “The officer demonstrated outstanding courage and professionalism to single-handedly pursue these armed suspects in the correct manner.

“I am extremely impressed with her dogged commitment and tenacity."

A 21-year-old man and 18-year-old woman are arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

BBC Weather Watchers

Our BBC Weather Watchers have been busy uploading pictures depicting a warmer, but wetter, day today.

Karsskies took this stunning image in Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire.

Image source, Karsskies

Silverlady captured this image of winter berries in Knowle, Solihull this morning.

Image source, Silverlady

Driverless cars could be on UK roads within four years under government plans to invest in the sector.

Image source, UK Automotive

Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to try out the technology for himself on a trip to the West Midlands today.

Jaguar Land Rover has been testing driverless cars on public roads in Coventry, it was revealed last week.

Chris King
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A charity set up to help support and promote The Potteries Museums & Art Gallery says "it's quietly confident" that it will get the money it needs to buy three Iron Age gold bracelets.

The three Leekfrith torcs, valued at £325,000, were discovered by two metal detectorists on farmland close to Rudyard last year.

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

So far only £66,000 has been raised - the charity says it is working with local philanthropists and national bodiesto raise the cash, though won't know more until next month.

"We should be OK now the extension has been given until 5 January to give us extra time."

Hereford Times

Here are some of the stories making the headlines on the Hereford Times website today:

• Drug dealer jailed after police found children living in 'truly appalling' conditions, external

• Woman escapes uninjured from car on its side in Marden, external

• Former chairman of Herefordshire Cricket jailed for grooming girls online, external

A woman's waited for an hour and 45 minutes for an ambulance after falling and hitting her head in Ludlow.

The middle-aged woman fell and hit her head just after 11:00 on Mill Street.

Paramedics were called, but didn't arrive until nearly 12:50. She was then taken to hospital in Hereford.

West Midlands Ambulance Service says it's dealing with New Year's Eve levels of calls in the county, including two cardiac arrests in Oswestry within 10 minutes of each other.

It says the situation's "clearly not what we'd want", but have to prioritise cases.

Ludlow councillor Andy Boddington said the woman was left to lie in the street covered by umbrellas until the ambulance arrived. He said it showed the NHS in rural areas was "broken".

Endris Mohammed killed the children with a petrol-soaked rag and tried to kill his wife in a gas blast.

A BBC Midlands Today reporter who is recovering after breast cancer surgery has been told she won't need chemotherapy treatment.

Satnam Rana has been making video diaries to highlight the need for people to check for signs of breast cancer. Satnam described the news as "fantastic" in her latest update.

She is running a social media campaign called #checkthemout.

A number of bus routes across the North West are disrupted today as drivers stage a series of walk-outs over pay.

See the full list of disrupted services on the Arriva buses website., external

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the main stories making the headlines on the Shropshire Star website:

• Shropshire firefighters fighting back against thieves, external
• Dual the A5 campaign: Upgrade to Shropshire road will drive opportunities, external
• Two men injured in crash which closed A483 at Oswestry for five hours, external