Local Democracy Reporting Service

Children's services in Worcestershire could be run by a separate company from next year.

Image source, Worcestershire County Council

It's after an inspection by Ofsted found "widespread and serious failures" and the service was given an inadequate rating in January 2017.

A government-appointed commissioner then ruled in September that the authority should hand over its children's social care department to an outside operator.

On Thursday, the county council's cabinet will be asked to approve a preferred option of moving the services to a newly formed company, external but which would still be wholly-owned by the county council.

BBC Politics

Telford's Conservative MP Lucy Allan has welcomed the "fantastic news" that the government will be investing £312m in hospital services in her constituency.

The money will improve the lives of "every single one" of her constituents, she said at Prime Minister's Questions.

The government confirmed the funding for the Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal Hospitals in Telford , externalwith a consultation now set to start on which hospital will become an emergency care site.

In response, Prime Minister Theresa May also welcomed the news saying it showed there is "more money going into the NHS".

Coventry Telegraph

Here are some of the stories the Coventry Telegraph are covering:

• This is how police are now dealing with the men arrested over , externalTile Hill shooting
• This historic city centre building is going to be turned into, external a live music venue
• Major city centre redevelopments at risk as Historic England, external list buildings

Clare Lissaman
BBC News

Nuneaton is just one of the many town's struggling amid the recent high street crisis.

But the local council said the number of empty units in the town was about average, while council-owned premises were 97% full.

Jonathan White, head of town centres and marketing, said while the town had seen a reduction in the number of retail outlets and market stalls over the past 20 years, it had "weathered the storm better than most".

Image source, NUNEATON AND BEDWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Labour-run council, which will see half of its members up for election on 3 May, has told residents it is set to announce details of its £7.5m Transforming Nuneaton , externalplans.

Proposals include more homes, leisure facilities and making better use of the River Anker and the area around it.

The scheme, funded from the government's Local Growth Fund, will boost the town's "vibrancy and prosperity," it says.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The circumstances surrounding the death of a woman who was found shot dead inside a car are being investigated by a watchdog.

Cheryl Gabriel-Hooper, 51, was found in Farmers Gate, Newport, Shropshire, on 26 January - she had died from a gunshot wound to the neck.

Image source, Google

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IPOC) says it's looking into how two police forces handled concerns reported by Ms Gabriel-Hooper before her death., external

The IPOC said she contacted Staffordshire Police on 12 January to report several domestic-related incidents and they were passed to West Mercia Police, with an officer obtaining details from her.

It added a 45-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder was still in hospital with gunshot wounds.

A spokesperson said: "We will be looking at the decision-making and actions of both police forces prior to Ms Gabriel-Hooper’s death, and considering relevant force and national policies.”

BBC Business News

Mustard maker Colman's says it will start moving production from Norwich to Burton-upon-Trent and Germany from this autumn.

The firm's confirmed the closure of its base in East Anglia after producing the condiment there for 160 years.

The transition period of moving production will continue until the end of 2019.

Around 40 roles are expected to be transferred to Burton.

Louis, 16, and Ella, 14, face losing their mother to cancer after their father died of a stroke.

Clare Lissaman
BBC News

Britain's high streets are in crisis with retailers fighting a "perfect storm" of pressures including a squeeze on incomes, a shift to online shopping and rising overheads.

We took a look at how town's such as Nuneaton, in North Warwickshire, are faring.

Racheal Matthews, who managed Mexican café Hot Stuff in Nuneaton until it shut down in January nine months after opening, believes the town is losing its heart.

"We have got a lot of charity shops and 99p discount shops as well as bookies," she said.

"There isn't enough to bring people into the town centre - they are going to Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester."

Sophie Madden
BBC News

A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering Giovanni Lewis at Birmingham Crown Court.

Jammal Chase, 21, of no fixed address has been remanded in custody with a trial date set for September.

Image source, Police handout

Mr Lewis, 28, died from a single stab wound to the heart and had been left outside Heartlands Hospital.

It's not just rail travel which may be disrupted over the bank holiday.

Some of the longest roadworks in place over Easter are in the West Midlands. Plan your journeys accordingly.

• M6 Junction 2 to 4, near Coventry - Narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit - 11.8 miles
• M6 junction 8 to M5 junction 3, near Oldbury, West Midlands - Reduced speed limit - 7 miles
• M5 junction 5 to 4a (northbound), near Bromsgrove, West Midlands - Reduced speed limit - 2.6 miles

A man charged with causing death by dangerous driving over a teenager's death no longer works for Birmingham City Council.

Nicholas Buck, 53, of Kingshurst Way, Kingshurst, has been charged over the death of Holly Brown, 14, who was killed when a bin lorry collided with a school minibus in Castle Vale, Birmingham last July.

Image source, Family handout

A council spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with Holly’s family at this very difficult time.

"The city council co-operated fully with investigations at the time and the agency worker in question is no longer working for the council."

Mr Buck is due to appear before magistrate's court tomorrow.

Justyn Surrall
BBC Hereford and Worcester

Potential buyers of the retailer Countrywide Farmers have until 17:00 this afternon to make their offers., external

Image source, Google

The Worcestershire-based company is one of the UK's leading suppliers of agricultural goods, employs more than 700 people and has 48 stores.

It went into administration earlier this month and 32 redundancies have already been made at its headquarters in Evesham and a distribution site in Defford.

Worcester Warriors make their ninth signing for the 2018-19 season, New Zealand-born lock forward Michael Fatialofa.

Worcester News

The Worcester News is covering these stories today:

• Couple who have windows smashed say the vandals 'have got the wrong house', external
• Police investigate bricks being hurled at trains, external
• Councillor voted in as the new leader of Worcester City Council, external

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

The man in charge of Worcestershire's roads says disruption will be minimised when work starts to dual the Carrington Bridge.

Another bridge will be built next to the old one, to keep delays to a minimum.

Image source, Worcestershire County Council

The £62m scheme was approved yesterday, external and will see the entire stretch of the A4440 from the M5 to Powick widened.

Work's set to start in March 2019 and was given the go ahead despite concerns that there would be severe disruption.

Worcestershire sign New Zealand's Martin Guptill and Australian Callum Ferguson for this summer's T20 Blast.

BBC Sport

West Brom's Matt Phillips scored the winner for Scotland as they beat Hungary 1-0 in Budapest.

It was the Baggies winger's first goal for his country and Alex McCleish's first win in his second spell in charge.

Image source, PA

Wolves defender Barry Douglas also featured in the game as he came off the bench for his senior international debut.

Allen Cook
BBC News

People are being asked to contact police if they see a French bulldog for sale.

Image source, Family handout

Three masked men burst into a house on Portland Street , externalin Hereford on Monday and threatened three people inside with a knife and pepper spray.

The burglars made off with the dog, along with other items, and officers say they want to hear if anyone's offered the dog in suspicious circumstances.

Shropshire Star

These are the top stories on the Shropshire Star's website this morning:

• Future Fit: £312 million finding means go-ahead for Shropshire A&E shake-up, external
• Toddler died when he was run over by car, external
• Telford child sex abuse: Call for councillors to back inquiry, external

BBC WM

Birmingham’s two largest hospital trusts will merge next month.

Plans to bring together University Hospitals Birmingham, which runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and Heart of England, which manages Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals, have been given the green light from the their respective boards of directors.

The new organisation will use the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust name.

All individual hospital and clinic names will remain the same.