Allen Cook
BBC News

Stoke City's sent its, external "deepest sympathies" to Jimmy Armfield's family after Blackpool FC confirmed the former England captain's died at the age of 82.

Image source, PA Photos

He was capped 43 times by England and played alongside Potters' legend Sir Stanley Matthews, when the 'wing wizard' was at Blackpool.

Armfield was also, through that connection, president of the Sir Stanley Matthews Foundation, which aims to teach youngsters life skills through sport., external

"We need vitamin D", says boss Nuno as Championship leaders Wolves head off for a week's warm weather training in Spain.

Bleach and cleaning products have been poured onto the hands of robbery victims during a series of raids.

The victims were also threatened with weapons during the raids carried out in their own homes across Wolverhampton.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Five homes were targeted between 13 and 18 January, and a further three on Friday, police say, external.

Victims were threatened before jewellery and cash was stolen leaving them "traumatised".

Suspects are understood to have used bleach and cleaning fluids on the hands of victims in a "sub-standard attempt" to clean DNA evidence, West Midlands Police said.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City boss Paul Lambert says his side "shouldn't be in the position" they're in in the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

The Potters beat Huddersfield 2-0 on Saturday in his first game in full charge, after he took over following Mark Hughes' sacking earlier this month.

The win moved Stoke out of the relegation zone and they also kept a clean sheet for the first time in the league since October.

The "mighty" Wye is at its peak after the weekend's rainfall. Drivers are warned to watch for road closure signs.

BBC Sport

Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen's been picked by BBC Sport's Gareth Crooks in his team of the week.

Image source, Reuters

The 27-year-old opened the scoring in the Potters' 2-0 win over Huddersfield under new manager Paul Lambert.

Garth says Allen "covers the ground as well as any midfield player in the country and is starting to score the goals his performances deserve."

Danny Savage
North of England correspondent

The manufacturer of RAF ejection seats has pleaded guilty to Health and Safety offences following the death of a Red Arrows pilot.

Image source, Other

Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, who grew up in Coventry, died in 2011 when he was ejected from his jet while it was parked on the ground at RAF Scampton.

Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd, who made the ejection seat, admitted errors at Lincoln Crown Court today.

A director of the company, John Martin, admitted the charges on behalf of the company.

A man trying to evade arrest for dangerous driving was "let down" by his festive footwear.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Officers said the driver who they say "drove dangerously and off road" eventually stopped during a pursuit in Bedworth when his flat tyres failed on him.

"He tried to get away, however his Christmas slippers let him down," Warwickshire Police tweeted.

The 30-year-old from Nuneaton was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, no insurance and driving whilst disqualified.

Birmingham Mail

Some of the headlining stories in the Birmingham Mail today are:

• 'Little angel' Mylee Billingham, 8, stabbed to death, external
• Man thrown across street by speeding car in shock hit-and-run, external
• Cyclist in near miss with ambulance, external.

BBC Weather Watchers

The heavy rain at the weekend's sent water levels rising in rivers and streams across our region and our BBC Weather Watchers have been snapping photos of them.

These two are from users Robin near Hereford and Peter Steggles in Longnor, Shropshire.

Image source, Robin

Image source, Peter Steggles

Allen Cook
BBC News

The flood gate in Upton upon Severn's being shut today, , externalafter the wet weather at the weekend sent river levels rising.

Image source, Environment Agency

The Environment Agency's issued a flood warning and several flood alerts for the region., external

It says the flood gate on New Street will be closed as the water levels keep rising on the River Severn.

BBC Sport

Stoke City's manager says he has 'no intention' of selling Peter Crouch to Chelsea.

Image source, Getty Images

The London side have inquired about the 36-year-old as well as other strikers in Europe.

But they've been rebuffed by the Potters over the possibility of Crouch moving.

The Sentinel

The Sentinel has these among its main stories today:

• Football club in mourning after death of player, external
• Axe falls on hospital volunteers as bosses look to save on 'admin costs', external
• Woman drank shots before punching nightclub doorman, external.

Some drivers are taking their chances and driving through "fast-flowing" water on a Herefordshire road.

Neighbour Graham Greatrex, 74, told how he helped comfort Mylee Billingham's mother after her eight-year-old daughter was stabbed.

He said: "She was in shock. I just offered her a warm drink because it was a bitterly cold night."

Mr Greatrex added: "You can't imagine it happening on our doorstep, especially when it's a little girl."

Councillor Kenneth Ferguson, ward member for Brownhills on Walsall Council said: "For something like this to happen to an eight-year-old child is unbelievable. I am lost for words."

BBC News Travel

Drivers are being urged to avoid the area around the A5 in Tamworth this morning due to two separate crashes.

Staffordshire Police says they've happened in Belgrave and Glascote and there are road closures on Centurion Way., external

Comedian Jasper Carrott pays tribute to veteran BBC broadcaster Ed Doolan

A group of women who have become the largest all-female group to ski coast-to-coast across Antarctica, have received a message of congratulation from the Countess of Wessex.

Image source, British Army

The Countess of Wessex, who met the team at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst in September, sent a series of tweets congratulating the women, saying: "You have achieved your dream and performed an incredible feat of endurance physically and mentally, all while smashing the previous record!"

Image source, The Royal Family

Major Sandy Hennis from Redditch, Worcestershire and Captain Zanna Baker from Herefordshire were part of the Ice Maidens team, who completed the the 1,000-mile expedition.

Team leader, Maj Nat Taylor from Staffordshire said: "I have spent the last few days trying to imprint this beautiful landscape in my mind".

The River Severn's water levels are set to rise during the next 24 hours.

A flood warning and several flood alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency after heavy rain over the weekend.

Image source, Environment Agency

The warning is for flooding on the River Wye from Hay to Hereford, external.

Other flood alerts in place are:

• River Lugg south of Leominster, external
• River Wye in Herefordshire, external
• Bow and Piddle Brook, external

• River Anker and River Sence, external
• River Arrow and River Alne, external
• River Avon in Worcestershire, external
• River Dene in South East Warwickshire, external
• River Dikler from Condicote to Little Rissington, external
• River Evenlode from Moreton in Marsh to Cassington and also the River Glyme at Wootton and Woodstock, external
• River Leam and River Itchen, external
• River Sow and River Penk, external

• Upper Avon River Swift and Clay Coton Brook, external
• River Severn in Shropshire, external