Two more arrests have been made by officers investigating the murder of Anthony Nicholls in a fatal arson attack.

His home was gutted by fire after an industrial-sized firework was let off by a group of men that burst into the property as he and his partner ate a Chinese takeaway.

Image source, West Midlands Police

An 18-year-old woman was arrested from an address in Ward End yesterday, following a police raid.

A 21-year-old Shelton man was detained at Birmingham Airport at 16:15 shortly after he arrived on a flight.

They were both arrested on conspiracy to commit murder and have since been bailed until next month while the investigation continues.

Two other murder suspects, arrested last week, have both also been released on police bail.

The officer who investigated the Endris Mohammed case said it was one of the worst cases he'd dealt with.

Det Insp Justin Spanner, from West Midlands Police, said the case had been made worse because of "evidence of the pre-planning".

CCTV footage showed Mohammed buying a fuel can and three litres of petrol on 27 October 2016, the day before the murders.

He later suffered burns to his head after setting the passenger side of his cab alight.

CCTV images have been released of four teenagers, police would like to speak to in connection with a stabbing in Birmingham.

Image source, West Midlands Police

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the city-centre NCP car park in Dale End at about 15:00 on Saturday, police said.

The boy suffered a serious leg injury after it's understood he was chased between cars before being caught and then stabbed.

BBC Radio Stoke

People in Stoke-on-Trent are facing a 4% rise in their council tax bill next year as the local authority says it's facing "significant challenges" to its adults and children's social care.

The rise means people could pay £50 more a year on a typical band D property.

Other plans to save more than £10m include an increase in parking charges across the city.

Abi Brown, deputy leader of the city council, says it is are cutting less than it expected.

The proposals are now part of a public consultation before a final decision is made in February.

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says the club face 'oblivion' unless they stay in the English Football League.

A cake made to celebrate the Queen's wedding in 1947 has been restored to its former glory using 3D scanning technology at the University of Warwick.

Image source, University of Warwick

At the same time it presented the cake to the Queen, Peek Frean also produced a replica to mark the occasion. This was almost destroyed by vandals who broke into the company's factory in 2015, where it was on display.

University staff however have been able to scan the cake, creating a 3D model that was then used to digitally repair the original.

Image source, University of Warwick

The tiers were then sent to members of the British Sugarcraft Guild across the country who reproduced the delicate sugarwork.

The finished cake will be unveiled at the Peek Frean Museum at the end of November to mark the Queen's 70th wedding anniversary.

Image source, University of Warwick

Mohammed and his wife Penil Teklehaimanot came to the UK from East Africa as asylum seekers, the court heard.

"Your partner had established her life here as a refugee from persecution," Mr Justice Gilbart told Endris Mohammed.

"That safe haven she shared with you and her children was destroyed by you in the most appalling manner imaginable.

"You smothered your children with a petrol soaked cloth."

"Their mother escaped death but she must endure that tragic loss as she rebuilds her life, Mr Justice Gilbart told Endris Mohammed.

"They [the children] loved you, as did your partner. They trusted you implicitly and were enjoying your company even on the night of their murder.

"You repaid their trust in you by killing them."

The judge accepted Mohammed was suffering from a depressive illness, but said a withdrawal from a cash machine hours beforehand showed he had not intended to take his own life.

Mohammed had never denied killing the children, but during the two-week trial claimed diminished responsibility.

Two children smothered to death by their father have been described by a judge as happy, cheerful and would have made any parent proud.

Endris Mohammed, a taxi driver from Birmingham, was jailed for a minimum of 33 years after being found guilty of two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

Mr Justice Gilbart told Mohammed he had "deliberately snuffed out their young lives".

The judge also rejected Mohammed's claim to have planned to end his own life before the "terrible criminal enterprise" that was also designed to kill his wife.

The former factory worker bought a fuel can and three litres of petrol about 12 hours before the killings and later suffered burns to his head after setting the passenger side of his cab alight.

A man has been charged with murder after a woman's body was discovered at a house in Knightcote in Warwickshire.

Image source, Leamington Courier

Andrew McIntosh, 54, of Woolscott, Warwickshire appeared at Warwickshire Magistrates' Court today, after the body of a woman, believed to be 56, was found with facial injuries.

He's also been charged with driving whilst over the legal alcohol limit.

He was remanded in custody and is due at Warwick Crown Court tomorrow.

Coventry Telegraph

Some of the stories making the headlines in the Coventry Telegraph are:

• Council tax in Coventry is set to rise by almost five per cent, external
• Hundreds of Coventry families in need to get free panto tickets, external
• The Aston Martin you might just be able to afford, external

A taxi driver who murdered his two young children by smothering them at their home has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Endris Mohammed was unanimously convicted last week of the murders of Saros Endris, aged eight, and his six-year-old sister Leanor.

Mohammed was also given a concurrent 10-year sentence at Birmingham Crown Court for the attempted murder of his wife, who was asleep when the 47-year-old killed their children and set fire to their home.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Forget London, Paris and Milan - the place to do your Christmas shopping in the UK this year is Ledbury.

The Herefordshire market town was named by The Guardian as one of best Christmas shopping cities, external in Europe.

Image source, Goo

Ledbury beat competition including Glasgow, Vienna and Amsterdam and was considered one of the best places in the UK, according to The Guardian as it reviewed "boutiques, gift stores and markets".

The town was praised for its array of old coaching houses, being picturesque and its "art vibe".

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

West Midlands Mayor said plans to extend the Midland Metro tram network were "shovel ready" now £250m of government funding is confirmed.

He said it was important, external to "crack on with delivering this vital piece of infrastructure for the people of Dudley and Sandwell".

The scheme has been in the planning for more than 20 years.

Prime Minister Theresa May says, external she's "delighted" to be in Birmingham launching a £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund with the Chancellor Philip Hammond, Business Secretary Greg Clark and Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

Image source, Reuters

They're meeting staff and apprentices at the EEF engineering training facility at Aston.

It was a mixed weekend for Coventry Blaze, external.

Captain Jordan Pietrus scored a hat-trick as they beat the Guildford Flames 5-2 in the Challenge Cup on Saturday night, but then slipped to a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Edinburgh Capitals in the Elite League.

Image source, Scott Wiggins

Telford Tigers, external are second in their conference in the NIHL after thrashing Nottngham Lions 9-0 at the National Ice Centre last night. On Saturday they beat Deeside Dragopns 11-1 at Telford Ice Rink.

Solihull Barons, external extended their winning run in the National Ice Hockey League to five games with a 6-2 win at home against the Blackburn Hawks last night. This pushes the team to fifth in the league.

Image source, Steve Crampton

Birmingham Mail

Here are some of the stories making the headlines on the Birmingham Mail website this morning:

• Killer dad to be jailed for murdering his children, external
• Drug dealers forced to poo wraps of heroin and crack cocaine, external
• Plans submitted for 105 space car park at Moseley Hall Hospital, external

Elliott Webb
Breakfast presenter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Sisters from Stourport share their secrets for a long life after becoming only a handful of twins in the UK to reach the age of 101.

Phyllis Jones and Irene Crump, who live together and are celebrating the milestone at home, say they don't feel their age "more like 60 or 70".

When I asked them for their one bit of advice for people in life, they said:

A woman who admitted defrauding a vulnerable woman out of nearly £2,000, as well as robbing an 81-year-old, has been jailed for six years.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Levi Galeford, 24, from Overbury Road, Northfied, Birmingham was captured on CCTV chaperoning a 61-year-old victim to a building society after befriending her in a hospital car park, police say.

The lady was seen handing over £500 in cash.

She was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting a string of fraud and robbery charges.

“She took advantage of the woman’s vulnerabilities and good nature", said Det Con Gareth Beard from West Midlands Police.

"She pretty much used her as a cash machine whenever she wanted money".

A man is trying to raise awareness of undiagnosed heart conditions in young people following the death of his brother.

Sam Barker, from Shropshire, lost his brother Johny to sudden cardiac death and since then has been on a mission to raise awareness and money for charity.

He's now raised over £17,000 for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young and set up screenings.

Every week 12 young people die from sudden cardiac death, but there is still no routine system of NHS heart screenings for young people.