BBC Radio Stoke

An elderly woman has died after being hit by a car in Crewe.

Cheshire Police say it took place on Hungerford Road at about 18:30 on Sunday as the 89-year old woman was crossing the road.

Image source, Google

The driver of the blue mini involved stopped and emergency services were called, but the woman died in hospital yesterday.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and released under investigation.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Wasps' Nathan Hughes starts at number eight as England make one change for Saturday's Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Image source, Getty Images

Hughes replaces Sam Simmonds in his first appearance of the Six Nations after recovering from a knee injury, with the rest of the XV unchanged from the side that beat Wales.

Team mate lock Joe Launchbury wins his 50th cap, having made his debut in 2012.

"For any player to play 50 caps for their country is a wonderful achievement," said head coach Eddie Jones.

Colin Young targeted women at three Nuneaton shops in less than an hour during a single afternoon.

Four people armed with axes, crowbars and knives stole cash and scratch cards from a shop in Burton.

They tied up four members of staff using cable ties at a Co-op store on Main Street, Stretton, at about 06:00 today.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police said West Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene but "fortunately there were no serious injuries".

DS Adam Yates from Staffordshire Police said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the staff and we would urge any witnesses to come forward and speak to us."

Prosecutors say a decision on whether any charges will be brought is expected in the next three weeks.

A fashion designer who started out from her bedroom has now secured contracts for high street chains.

Chloe Hollingsworth runs her business Bottle Blonde from a former high-rise office block in Coventry.

She now ships her tinsel designs to customers worldwide.

A jury has been sworn in for the trial of two men charged in connection with a crash on the M1 which killed eight people in a minibus.

Ryszard Masierak, 31, of Evesham, Worcestershire, and David Wagstaff, 53, of Stoke-on-Trent, were both driving lorries on the southbound carriageway near Newport Pagnell when the crash happened in the early hours of 26 August.

The minibus was travelling from Nottingham to London when its driver and seven passengers were killed.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Both men face eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Mr Masierak is also facing drink driving charges.

Judge Francis Sheridan told the 12-person jury to ignore anything they've read, heard or seen about the case.

"You must decide the case on the evidence given in this courtroom and only on that evidence," he said.

A Birmingham teenager shot in the back yesterday is believed to have been the victim of a targeted attack, police say., external

Image source, Google

Officers were called to Bullock Street in the Nechells area of the city at 15:30.

The 19-year-old is in hospital in a critical but stable condition, officers said.

It's believed the attacker escaped on a waiting moped or scooter driven by a second person.

Officers say they're treating it as attempted murder.

A planning application to build a bell tower at a Worcester school , externalcould be approved by councillors today, despite complaints from residents.

Image source, One

If Worcestershire County Councillors gives it the go-ahead, Christopher Whitehead Language College could become the first state school in the country to have its own belfry.

The £4m project, external also includes a new performing arts centre.

Mick Jeggo, the man who launched Britain's first floodlit cycling race, the Newport Nocturne, has died.

He had been ill for some time and this photo from the Shropshire Star, external shows him (below, right) with his son Nick Jeggo, who has taken over the running of the Shropshire night time event.

Image source, Shropshire Star

The race, which started in 1989, has attracted star names like Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish in the past.

Nick Jeggo is hoping to bring the race back later this year after a four-year absence.

A decision on whether to charge two suspects from West Midlands Police over the Hillsborough disaster will be revealed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) within the next three weeks, the organisation said.

Image source, Getty Images

Investigators are reviewing evidence relating to five more suspects, including three former South Yorkshire Police officers.

The West Midlands force carried out an investigation into the aftermath of the 1989 disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.

Six people, including match commander and former chief superintendent David Duckenfield, are already facing charges related to the disaster and its aftermath.

BBC Radio Stoke

A woman in her 50s has died after she was rescued from a canal boat fire, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

The fire service said the barge was moored on the Trent and Mersey Canal, near the Star Inn, in Stone.

The ambulance service said it was called at about 02:10 this morning.

Firefighters had started CPR when paramedics arrived, but the woman, who was found in cardiac arrest, was confirmed dead at the scene.

A dog also died as a result of the incident.

Express and Star

Some of the main stories on the Express and Star website today are:

• More than 50 West Midlands sex offenders on the run, external
• Large Dudley council tax rise on way despite survey result, external
• Mother's heartbreak as son 'had life support machine switched off , externalover insurance payout row'

It's not every day we get to see a glimpse into police archive pictures, but here's a little gem Staffordshire Police shared on social media of PC Roy Williams patrolling on horseback in Stafford some 34 years ago.

The tinsel revolution: A design company which started in a bedroom is expanding to the high street.

Worcester sign South African utility back Scott Van Breda from Championship side Jersey Reds for next season.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

Yesterday we brought you the story of visitors being left "shaken" during a trip to West Midland Safari Park after "aggravated" lions jumped on to their car in an enclosure.

On BBC Midlands' Facebook page, many of you have been getting in touch with us about the footage.

Eleanor Stevens said she's "never felt unsafe" at the park and added: "There are many staff in jeeps and towers monitoring at all times... I'm more scared of the rides on the park!"

Sammie Hughes commented: "Oh my. I felt scared watching. I'll stick to going to the farm."

While Gaynor Floyd added: "They are lions and you are in a safari park what do you expect if you want ones lying still buy a cuddly toy!!!!"

A park spokesman said: "As with all wild animals, normally harmonious groups can on occasion become particularly active.

"This is constantly monitored closely by trained staff who are always in the enclosure when guests are too and will intervene if necessary."

Two bus workers, photographed on the last day conductors worked on West Midlands buses, are being traced by the man who took the image.

Image source, John Robinson

Photographer John Robinson captured the image of the former workers on Westley Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, in March 1978.

He said: “I think at the time I took the photograph it was a crew changeover, so if it was the end of their shift the conductress will have just issued her last tickets and would probably have been a very poignant moment for her.”

To mark the 40-year anniversary, National Express West Midlands has offered to help John recreate the same scene, and is appealing for anyone who might recognise the pair to get in touch.

BBC Weather Watchers

The BBC Weather Watchers have shared some lovely pictures this morning.

The first was taken by Peter Steggles, in Longnor - we love all the different colours of the morning sky.

Image source, Peter Steggles

While Severn Stoke is the setting for this snap taken by j at Severn Ridge.

If you have a picture you'd like to share, you can become a BBC Weather Watcher here.

Image source, j at Severn Ridge

Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman who spent 10 hours in A&E has said she saw staff at the Royal Stoke University Hospital being verbally abused by people complaining about waiting times.

Emma Allen described her experience last week on Facebook in a post that's now been shared over 40,000 times.

Ms Allen told BBC Radio Stoke she heard shouting and swearing.

The hospital says it hopes Emma's post draws attention to the respect medical staff need in A&E and that they shouldn't be subjected to abuse.