A deal between Birmingham City Council and refuse workers will see 106 staff remain on their current wages, but take on new responsibilities, designed to boost flagging recycling rates.

The city is one of the worst in the country for recycling, with just 22.9% of household waste recycled or composted in 2015-16.

Compare that with 60.4% in Stratford-on-Avon and a whopping 66.6% in south Oxfordshire.

Birmingham's figures put it 341st out of 351 councils in England.

Image source, BBC / Getty

A study published by environmental charity Wrap in 2015, external found the more urban and deprived an area is, the lower the recycling rates.

A Wrexham-based abattoir is bought by a group of farmers to expand its production of lamb.

No trains are currently running between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley due to a signalling problem, Network Rail says.

The train operator London Midland has more details on its website., external Buses are being replacing the disrupted service.

Worcester News

Worcester News has these main stories today:

• Drivers frustrated as road closure causes major delays into Worcester, external
• Heartbreak as missing Kidderminster store manager Matthew Gill found dead, external
• International students enjoy what Worcester has to offer during visits, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A Spitfire's going to be restored as part of an expansion planned for a Stoke-on-Trent museum., external

The city council's released artist's impressions of the £6m scheme which would see a glass extension added to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

The authority says the work would also see the museum's Spitfire get a £150,000 restoration.

The aircraft was designed by Reginald Mitchell, who was born and raised in north Staffordshire.

Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Natasha Gordon denies assisting Matthew Birkinshaw, who was found dead in his car at Rutland water.

Gritters are heading out tonight across the West Midlands as temperatures are set to reach 0C in areas tonight.

The Met Office's three-month outlook is forecasting a drier, but colder December.

A lot more rain is forecast for January and February, however, with more than a 30% chance that they will be among the wettest on record.

Garth Crooks
Football analyst

The West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster's performance at the weekend has seen him picked for my team of the week.

Image source, Getty Images

Foster's save from Tottenham forward Son Heung-min was impressive, and indicative of a goalkeeper who was keen to retain a clean sheet.

The fact he didn't was more to do with the predatory instincts of Harry Kane than a lack of dexterity from the West Brom keeper.

You can see the rest of my team of the week here on the BBC Sport website.

Three members of the public are given £100 each for helping to stop the thief escaping.

A group of faith leaders from across the West Midlands are meeting with the mayor and his office today to discuss issues affecting the region.

The Bishop of Birmingham the Right Reverend David Urquhart, one of the chairs, will lead discussions on homelessness, hate crime and social issues, among many others subjects, with the 17-strong faith steering group., external

About 400 people are expect at the University of Birmingham this afternoon, organised by West Midlands mayor Andy Street and Jean Templeton OBE, chair of his homelessness task force.

Roman Parsons, 30, died when the lorry he was driving crashed into a broken down HGV.

Ron Smyth flew Hurricanes during WW2 and was said to be one of the last of an "extraordinary generation".

BBC Business News

Anti-fraud campaigners have praised a partnership between two BBC Radio 4 programmes for drawing attention to one of the UK's fastest growing crimes.

For months, a number of characters in The Archers have been caught up in an elaborate investment fraud.

The soap opera is recorded at the BBC in Birmingham.

Archers editor Huw Kennair-Jones has now revealed that the station's consumer programme You and Yours worked closely with scriptwriters on the plot.

Action Fraud, external said the storyline had raised vital awareness of the issue.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A lorry driver who died when he was involved in a crash with another HGV on the A500 has been named as 30-year-old Roman Parsons, from Stoke-on-Trent.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The crash, on the northbound side at Wolstanton happened on Friday morning and Staffordshire Police said one lorry crashed into the back of another, which had broken down.

Today, the force says it is supporting the family of Mr Parsons from Blurton who died a the scene.

Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

It was left to rot for four centuries but now the mysteries of Snodhill Castle in Herefordshire are being uncovered once again.

A group of passionate volunteers, the Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust, external, now own the site on a 99-year lease.

Image source, Historic England

They're working with Historic England to try and discover who built the lavish 11th Century home and fort.

A £500,000 conservation project is under way and they've discovered that the castle is much bigger than first thought and includes a private chapel.

The Sentinel

The top stories on the Sentinel's website today include:

• Driver, 17, dies after her car is in collision with a lorry on A53, external
• Restored Spitfire to be star attraction in £6 million glass-fronted gallery, external
• Traders' relief as D&G rescue axed Sunday bus service, external

Stephen Ball was detained by members of the public following the raid in Lower Gornal.

BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale Football Club's decision to charge disabled fans the same price to park as able-bodied supporters has been criticised by a disability rights group.

Image source, Getty Images

A BBC Radio Stoke investigation has found that the Vale's parking charge for disabled people has increased from £100 to £175 a season, and is the second most expensive across the West Midlands.

Port Vale says it endeavours to ensure that the stadium is accessible and that all customer and fan services are equal and inclusive.

BBC Midlands Today

The government's to give £13m to improve road and cycle safety in towns and villages along the route of HS2.

Warwickshire is to get the bulk of money, some £8m, with the remainder being split between Solihull and Birmingham.

The cash will be used for traffic calming measures, pedestrian crossings and making junctions safer for cyclists.

Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today

The funeral has taken place of one of the last remaining Battle of Britain fighter pilots.

Flt Lt Ron Smyth from Shrewsbury was just a teenager when he fought the Germans in the air in 1940.

Image source, Smyth Family

The pilots were dubbed "the few" by wartime leader Winston Churchill for their role in helping thwart Hitler's invasion plans.

The 96-year-old's bravery was honoured by RAF personnel at the town’s Emstrey Crematorium this morning.

His family described him as "a private, modest, generous, and above all brave, gentleman".

As of August, there were only 10 surviving members of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association.