BBC Business News

The official receiver to Carillion has said 78 more workers will lose their jobs this week.

It will bring the total number of people forced out of work by the crisis at the company to 1,536.

The Wolverhampton-based firm went bust in January.

Image source, Carillion

However, 305 employees who work on facilities management, defence and construction contracts have been found employment with new suppliers, the receiver said.

It means 8,521 jobs have now been saved.

The receiver added: "Discussions with potential purchasers for Carillion’s remaining contracts are continuing."

Two men have been arrested after drugs were found at two properties in Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent.

A 36-year-old man was also wanted for a previous offence of criminal damage, while a 44-year-old man is being questioned in connection with a cannabis cultivation on Argyll Road.

Two further arrests were made by UK Immigration, Staffordshire Police said.

Daniel Browne says he received more than 100 abusive comments while manning his stall.

BBC Sport

World Taekwondo says it is looking to get the sport included at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Image source, Getty Images

Taekwondo will not feature in April's Games, but the sport's governing body has created a working group to liaise with the event's officials.

"It would be an honour and a realisation of a dream for taekwondo to be included," World Taekwondo president Chungwon Choue said.

World Taekwondo says the sport is played in 88% of Commonwealth nations. Lutalo Muhammad (left) won bronze at Rio 2016

BBC Weather

The wet weather will ease from this evening, with some patchy mist and fog overnight. Lows of 4C (39F).

BBC Entertainment and Arts

Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One has dazzled critics at the South by South West (SXSW) festival, with one calling the film "a mesmerising blockbuster".

Image source, Warner Bros

Part of the film was shot in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, which doubles for the film's futuristic vision of Columbus, Ohio.

Set in the year 2045, the film unfolds in a dystopian world whose inhabitants take refuge in a virtual reality game.

Ready Player One, released in the UK on 28 March, was premiered on Sunday at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas.

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

The role of deputy police commissioner in Cheshire is to be deleted, a year after a row broke out over the woman currently doing the job.

Councillors had previously criticised Sareda Dirir's alleged lack of experience and questioned her suitability for the role.

Commissioner David Keane said she had been an asset to his team, which is being restructured.

The widow of West Bromwich Albion football icon Jeff Astle has been left "very shaken" after she was hit on the shoulder by a cigarette lighter during a match.

Laraine Astle attended Saturday's clash with Leicester City when she was struck.

Image source, PA

The match at The Hawthorns, which West Brom lost 4-1, was the first home game Mrs Astle had attended in almost three years, her daughter said.

Neither club has yet commented.

The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash on the M42 near Bromsgrove on Friday remains seriously ill in hospital, say police., external

It happened on Friday night after an Audi hit the central reservation between junctions one and two on the westbound carriageway.

Another driver, in a Ford Focus, stopped on the hard shoulder to help and was hit by a BMW.

The driver of the Focus required surgery for serious injuries, police said.

Walsall have sacked Jon Whitney as manager of the League One club after two years in charge.

The Saddlers are 14th in the table, six points above the relegation places, having lost four times in five games.

Jack tweeted, external: "Great servant for the club but unfortunately managing was a step too far for him. Now go get a proper manager to take this club forward."

Chris said, external: "Think it’s only fair to say @physiomentor, external thank you for the years you gave to the club. Change was needed at management level but still you did an awful lot for this club over the years."

And Kerry added, external: "Good luck for the future Jon you have been a great servant to the club."

Claims girls as young as 11 were sexually exploited over decades should be investigated, MP says.

Joanne Writtle
BBC Midlands Today

The first all female rowing trio to make it across the Atlantic have been telling their highly emotional stories.

Sharon Magrath and Di Carrington, from Shropshire, and Elaine Theaker, from south Wales, took 60 days to cross the ocean.

Ms Carrington became the oldest woman to cross the ocean by rowing aged 62 and they set a record for the fastest female trip across it.

They filmed their epic journey which you can see parts of on Inside Out West Midlands on BBC One at 19:30 and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.

Wolves full-back Barry Douglas is among six new faces called up by Alex McLeish for the Scotland squad.

Costa Rica visit Scotland's stadium Hampden Park on 23 March, with another friendly in Hungary four days later.

Image source, Getty Images

Striker Matt Phillips from West Brom is also in the squad.

Flooding has hit in Solihull, with Henwood Lane, Hampton in Arden currently impassable.

Solihull Fire tweeted, external to say no one is trapped, but one driver was rescued and is being looked after crews.

Image source, Solihull Fire

Image source, Solihull Fire

Sima Kotecha
Midlands Correspondent, BBC News

West Mercia Police has issued a statement responding to allegations about sex abuse made in a national newspaper, saying it was "aware of all the crimes mentioned".

Assistant Chief Constable Martin Evans, said: "We are aware of all the crimes mentioned in the Sunday Mirror article and none of it is new information."

The investigation , externalclaimed hundreds of girls were abused in Telford, Shropshire, dating back to the 1980s.

League One club Walsall sack Jon Whitney as manager after two years in charge.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The heavy rain today, following a pretty soggy few weeks in Staffordshire, has brought flash flooding this afternoon in the Burton area.

Elton Adams tweeted this photos from the Rolleston area, external, showing water covering roads in the village:

Image source, Elton Adams

Image source, Elton Adams

While Claire Redfern shared this photo, also taken in Rolleston:

Image source, Claire Redfern

West Mercia's police and crime commissioner said keeping vulnerable young people safe "remains a top priority" for the police, council and other partners.

Calls are being made for a new inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford, Shropshire, following further allegations hundreds of girls were abused.

John Campion said "this horrific crime is happening in our communities now and has been for many years" and that it was a "continued area of focus" by police.

West Mercia Police said it took all allegations "extremely seriously" but the latest information was "not new".

About 20 homes are affected near The Rolleston brook at Anslow, Burton due to river levels.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue is in attendance and has a damage limitation unit on scene.

The flood information service, external had warned that flooding "is possible."

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Police are asking people to avoid areas in Burton due to "serious" flooding.

The fire service shared these pictures and said about 20 houses are affected.