John Barnes, Carlton Palmer, Ron Atkinson, Les Ferdinand, Chris Hughton, Steve Bull and Lee Hughes are among the former footballers and managers at The Hawthorns to remember pioneering player Cyrille Regis.

Regis has been credited today as paving the way for black players in English football.

Image source, PA

The Sentinel

Here's a few of the stories making headlines in the Stoke Sentinel:

• Grieving mum's anguish after son, 12, dies just three days after being diagnosed with viral infection, external
• Drunken, hammer-wielding woman hurled abuse at PC, external
• Attack victim, 25, was covered in blood when he kicked police officer, external

A service celebrating the life of Cyrille Regis is under way at The Hawthorns. Fans are in attendance with friends, family and former players. It followed a private funeral this morning.

Robert Regis, Cyrille's son, has described his father as "our living, walking superhero".

And he went on to say: "People would say 'your dad is my hero'. I would think ‘your hero just grounded me for a month’."

Cyrille's daughter, Michelle Regis (pictured above), told The Hawthorns: "I couldn’t be more proud to just call you my Dad.

"Your strength always made me feel protected."

Pupils as young as ten were found to be armed with kitchen knives, razor blades and broken glass.

A parent is warned about their behaviour outside a school at the centre of a row over packed lunches.

The image appeared during a screening of the family favourite at an academy in Walsall, West Midlands.

Matt Lee
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Gnosall residents are appearing on TV later in a bid to convince judges and viewers they live in the best village in the country.

It's been shortlisted for Channel 4's Village of the Year competition, out of 400 applications.

David Clarke from the village's "best kept" team thinks Gnosall stands a good chance, and confidently claims "we are the best kept large village in Staffordshire".

Gnosall will appear on the show at 15:00.

Brendon Batson has been paying tribute to his friend and team mate Cyrille Regis.

Speaking at The Hawthorns where a celebration of Regis' life is under way, Batson said his friend had "a calm presence and a ready smile", and, turning to the family, said he hoped "the love that is here today will in some small way ease your pain".

Batson, who served the Professional Footballers Association after his playing career, also praised Regis' response to racism.

Among those on the stage for the celebration are Regis' former Baggies team mate Brendon Batson - another of England's breakthrough black players when racism was rife on terraces.

He sat next to former Coventry manager John Sillett who was Regis' boss when the Sky Blues won the FA Cup in 1987. He said: "I had the greatest job in football – managing Cyrille Regis."

They were joined by West Brom Supporters Club chairman, John Homer.

Homer (below, right) said: "We marvelled at his pace and power. He scored goals that we still talk about today."

And he added: "What an honour and a privilege it was to share in his wonderful life, knowing of course that there was and there always will be one Cyrille Regis."

Worcester Warriors' South Africa-born wing Dean Hammond signs a new contract with the Premiership side.

Spontaneous singing has broken out at The Hawthorns, with the crowd chanting verse from football's past: "Nice one Cyrille, nice one son, nice one Cyrille, let’s have another one.”

And, of course, the perennial: “One Cyrille Regis, there’s only one Cyrille Regis....."

BBC Radio Stoke

An ambulance worker has spoken of the moment he chased a gang of up to 20 youths who were attacking a man in the street.

Image source, WMAS

First responder Gavin Palin, a volunteer with the service for 16 years, said they kicked and jumped on the victim. He chased them for around a mile until they out ran him.

"Without somebody getting involved, I just felt they'd get away with it," he said.

The attack happened on Beam Street, Nantwich, on Friday evening - police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward.

BBC News Travel

Passengers on the Chiltern line from Kidderminster, Birmingham Moor Street and Warwick Parkway to London may experience delays.

A fault with the signalling system , externalnear London Marylebone is causing delays of up to 30 minutes to trains to and from the station, the Network Rail website reports.

Disruption is expected to continue until 14:30.

BBC Business News

The Work and Pensions and BEIS Committees are holding a joint hearing about the collapse of Carillion.

Image source, Parliament TV

Stephen Haddrill, chief executive of the Financial Reporting Council, and Sarah Albon, boss of the Insolvency Service, are giving evidence.

MPs want to know how the Wolverhampton construction giant's long-standing financial problems weren't spotted before its collapse two weeks ago.

You can follow live coverage of the hearing on our BBC Business Live page.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News Online

A man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal crash in Leicestershire.

Tanvi Makwana, 25, was killed on Loughborough Road, in Coleorton, on 13 January.

Image source, Google

The 27-year-old man, from Wolverhampton, was also charged with failing to give permission for a laboratory test on a blood specimen having caused a death.

He was remanded into custody and is due to appear at Leicester Crown Court in February.

Former Environment Minister Owen Paterson says he feels "lucky to be alive".

The celebration of the life of Cyrille Regis is under way at The Hawthorns - home of his beloved West Brom with whom he began his career.

His family has emerged to Chris Love singing Bring Him Home from the musical Les Miserables.

Will Self continues his tour of urban Britain travelling only by coach and bus, assessing British identity at a time of flux.

Will visits Wolverhampton's Express & Star - which enjoys the highest circulation of any local paper - before winding down and rocking out at the town's goth pub.

Producer: Laurence Grissell.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018.

John Sillett who managed Cyrille Regis at Coventry City said the footballer was a rock for every player in the dressing room and a "rock for myself".

Ahead of Regis' funeral on Tuesday, Sillett joined former Sky Blues player Dave Bennett in remembering their colleague.

"God has chosen the right striker," Sillett said.

Bennett called Regis a big brother and said he was honoured to have been his friend.

We are running a separate live page to cover the celebratory service held for Cyrille Regis at the East Stand at The Hawthorns.

More than 400 West Brom fans, staff and players turned out at the stadium earlier to bid a fond farewell to the former England and Baggies striker.

Image source, PA

Regis, who scored 112 goals in 297 appearances for West Brom, died suddenly on January 14, aged 59.

Albion are also planning a major celebration of Cyrille’s career in the build-up to the club’s next home fixture against Southampton on Saturday.

Read our live coverage here.