Monica Rimmer
BBC News

A house which has been damaged by a "severe fire" earlier this morning, was being used to "cultivate cannabis", West Midlands Police said.

The fire service said it was called to Green Meadow Road, Weoley Castle at about 03:52 and sent approximately 18 firefighters to the scene.

Image source, @Bournbrookfire

"Luckily" no one was home, while half of the first floor was damaged and the whole of the loft was destroyed.

Police said they were called to the scene at about 05:00 and enquiries are ongoing.

Senior councillors in Telford are to meet next week to discuss the work being done to tackle child sexual exploitation.

The town has been in the spotlight since recent reports about "groups of mainly Asian men" targeting vulnerable white teenagers in the town since the 1980s, external.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

Thursday's cabinet meeting, external, which will be open to the public, will be told that since 2016, the police have arrested 56 people, resulting in 29 charges linked to what used to be known as "child prostitution" - and there are several ongoing investigations.

A report is also being drawn up to consider the legal, financial and practical implications of holding an independent inquiry.

Celia Mary Renaudon was at the entrance to her driveway when she was hurt, police said.

Coventry Telegraph

These are some of the main stories on the Coventry Telegraph website today:

• Plan to ease hospital car park congestion moves a step closer, external
• Corey and Casper court case delayed, external
• Homeless man finds himself a job but still can't get a home, external

Some West Bromwich Albion players cried in the dressing room after Saturday's Premier League defeat at Bournemouth, says captain Jonny Evans.

A pedestrian has been hit by a car in Birmingham.

It happened at about 06:30 this morning outside Farmfoods on Hazelwell Street, Stirchley.

Image source, Google

The man, in his 50s, has head and leg injuries and was taken to hospital.

An ambulance service spokesman said the car had suffered damage to the windscreen and also the "A" pillar but its driver was uninjured.

Are we any clearer on what the future holds for British farmers as we approach Brexit?

BBC WM

Blood stocks for those in need of transfusions in the West Midlands are still a long way from being back to normal, after the recent bad weather.

Image source, Getty Images

People are being encouraged to come along to donor centres.

The NHS has stepped up its campaign to raise awareness of the problem and Birmingham's Blood Donor Centre is among those looking for extra help.

Warwickshire Police has fallen from a "good" rating to being assessed as "requiring improvement" when it comes to keeping people safe and reducing crime.

In the latest inspection report, external, HM inspectors found the force hadn't responded well enough to previous recommendations.

“The force’s approach to serious and organised crime also requires improvement," it said.

The force said it was "disappointed" with the outcome of the inspection and said it was introducing a "refreshed policing model" to help deliver better protection to communities.

BBC Sport

It's day two of the Gymnastics World Cup in Birmingham and today it's the turn of the women to take to the floor.

Last night, James Hall won an all-around bronze for Team GB.

Image source, Getty Images

Later today, Olympic bronze medallist Amy Tinkler (right) and 2017 British all-around silver medallist Alice Kinsella (left) are competing on vault, uneven bars, beam and floor.

Kinsella is a local favourite. Living in Birmingham, she's part of the Park Wrekin Gymnastics Club, based in Telford.

BBC News Travel

Two lanes are blocked on the M6 northbound between J12 for Gailey and J13 for Stafford.

Highways England says , externalit's because a truck has broken down and there are delays of about 30 minutes.

BBC Radio Stoke

A campaign fronted by a girl from south Cheshire, who died after double lung transplant, is now up for an national award.

Elle Grace Morris's story was part of a Cystic Fibrosis Trust advert appearing alongside her doctor.

Image source, Facebook/Family picture

The 11-year-old from Nantwich died in January after battling with infection following her transplant.

The film has made the shortlist of the Charity Film Awards in the "people's choice" category.

Bournbrook fire station, external has shared pictures on social media of a "severe fire" crews battled in the early hours of this morning in Weoley Castle, Birmingham.

They said "luckily" no one was home, and they managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the attached property.

Image source, @Bournbrookfire

West Midlands Fire Service said crews were called to Green Meadow Road at about 03:52 and sent approximately 18 firefighters to the scene.

Half of the first floor was damaged and the whole of the loft was destroyed.

Image source, @Bournbrookfire

Image source, @Bournbrookfire

BBC Radio Stoke

Police are continuing to investigate how a woman was hit by a car at her Madeley Heath home.

Celia Mary Renaudon, 70, died in hospital, following the collision on Tuesday evening on Crewe Road.

The Sentinel

The Stoke Sentinel is looking at these stories today, among others:

• Trial date set for 24-year-old woman charged, external with murdering mother
• Stoke City hit curfew-breaker Erik Pieters , externalwith £70,000 fine
• Vodafone reveals major recruitment drive , externalfor 100 new workers

A "vulnerable" pensioner was conned out of £2,000 by a group of thieves posing as roofers, in a "truly sickening" targeted attack, police said., external

Image source, West Midlands Police

The group of five targeted the home of an 89-year-old man in Grafton Street, in the Stoke area of Coventry, on 17 March and tricked him into believing he needed emergency roof repairs.

The victim withdrew cash from a city centre bank before handing it over to the bogus builders, who also stole items form the house, including two ceremonial swords.

Officers said the group of three teenagers, and two older men, had deliberately targeted the man, in his own home, "tricked him and bullied him into handing over his savings".

The unarmed constable murdered in the Westminster Bridge terror attack a year ago today will have his name inscribed on a new police memorial being , externalbuilt at in Staffordshire.

PC Keith Palmer was killed as he stood guard at the Palace of Westminster on 22 March last year.

His name will be one of 1,400 names on the memorial commemorating officers who were killed on duty.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A car fire has closed a main road between Stafford and Uttoxeter.

It happened at about 06:30 on the A518 near Loxley.

Staffordshire Police say the driver, a man from Uttoxeter, suffered minor injuries, but didn't need hospital treatment.

The closure is in place because the car needs recovering and the carriageway may need repairs.

BBC WM

Walsall Council has voted to drop charges for the burial or cremation of children under 16.

Image source, Google

It can cost bereaved parents in the borough up to £392 at the moment.

Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris has been urging the government to introduce a fund to cover council charges for child funerals.

Walsall councillor Diane Couglan said it would be a small cost to the council, that will have a "massive impact" on families affected.

A wildlife rescue centre in Shropshire says it has faced a busy couple of days, with kestrel chicks, cygnets and leverets (young hares) all brought in injured.

Cuan Wildlife Rescue, , externalbased in Much Wenlock, provides round the clock care injured and orphaned wild animals and birds and says it admits about 2,500 animals a year.

Image source, Cuan Wildlife Rescue

However, staff said some residents had successfully moved on - with a sparrowhawk, jackdaw, blackbird and tawny owl released into the wild today.

Image source, Cuan Wildlife Rescue

Image source, Cuan Wildlife Rescue