Paedophile who 'preyed on boys' jailed for abuse
Murder arrest after woman's body found
'Serious' multi-vehicle M6 crash
Arrest over people-smuggling network
Burglar breaks into house and takes a bath
'H&M hamster' abandoned in park
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Updates from Friday 6 April
Image source, MikesnapperThese photos were taken this morning by BBC Weather Watcher Mikesnapper, showing the flooding around the River Severn in Worcester.
There is a flood alert for the area in the city today with the Environment Agency saying it means flooding is possible., external
Image source, Mikesnapper
Allen Cook
BBC News
Tributes have been paid across the footballing world to the former England and Chelsea midfielder Ray Wilkins who has died in hospital at the age of 61.
Ray Wilkins' 'absolutely magnificent' goal in 1983 FA Cup Final
Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish:, external "So upset to hear the news of Ray Wilkins. RIP Ray. Even when Ray left Villa, he was always ringing me offering advice and telling me what I could do to improve. A true gentleman and one of the nicest guys I've ever met."
Former Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham:, external "Devastating news regarding Ray Wilkins. Worked with him on numerous occasions and what an absolute gentleman. Treated everybody exactly the same and as humble as humanly possible. Deepest sympathies to all his friends and family."
Former Aston Villa and Stafford Rangers striker Stan Collymore:, external "Very lucky to have worked with Ray Wilkins. Impeccable manners, wonderfully kind and sincere with a cheeky wit always lurking underneath. To his family and friends, the sincerest of condolences. The football family has lost a lovely man."
Former Aston Villa midfielder Paul Merson:, external "Devastated to hear the news that a football legend and my football hero Ray Wilkins has passed away. It was such a pleasure knowing you and my thoughts are with your family at this very difficult time. A real gentleman taken too soon."
Shropshire Council has one of the largest gender pay gaps among local authorities in the country.
All firms employing more than 250 staff have until midnight to report their gender pay gap - the difference between what women and men earn.
Figures reported by Shropshire Council show women, on average (mean), earn 20.8% less per hour than men - the largest gap in the West Midlands. The much smaller Stratford District Council was close behind on 20.6%.
Image source, Getty ImagesThat compares with a 12% gap at Staffordshire County Council, 9.1% at Birmingham City Council and 7.9% at Telford & Wrekin Council.
At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, women earned 1.1% more than men - the only local authority in the region where women earned more.
Worcester Warriors' director of rugby Alan Solomons says he admires the way Newcastle Falcons have established themselves as a force within the Aviva Premiership this season.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Falcons will head to Sixways on Saturday in fourth place in the table while Worcester are battling to avoid relegation.
They are 10 points clear of bottom club London Irish and are on a run of three defeats in a row.
Quote MessageThey're a very, very good side. It's a club that's been built over a period and they will make it a tough game for us."
Alan Solomons, Worcester Warriors' director of rugby
Fifteen councils in the West Midlands are up for up for election on 3 May, including the whole of Birmingham City Council and a third of seats in Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
The deadline to register to vote is just a few weeks away on 17 April.
You can do so online on the government website, external.
The prototype kitchen appliance that turns waste into a teaspoon of ash and a tankful of hot water.
Read MoreThe Wolves managing director has dismissed rumours that one of its ball boys has been "sacked" after an incident during the Hull City match last night.
The ball went into Hull technical area in the final minutes of the game, and one of the Wolves ball boys went in to retrieve it, pushing the ball from coaching staff, before throwing it back on to the pitch.
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An online petition was launched last night calling for "our ball boy to be reinstated" which has been signed by more than 1,900 people.
Wolves confirmed to the BBC that "the ball boy has definitely not been relieved of his duties".
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City defender Bruno Martins Indi says he thinks the spirit in the dressing room can help them avoid relegation this season.
Image source, ReutersThe Potters are three points from safety at the bottom of the table with six games still to play.
Quote MessageWe can build from the spirit that we have and the next game, Tottenham at home, we need to keep fighting."
Bruno Martins Indi, Stoke City defender
Mark Elliott
BBC News
Hundreds of homes are going to be built in north Shropshire.
Image source, GoogleCouncillors granted permission for the 600-house development on fields alongside Oswestry's bypass. , external
J Ross Developments, who are behind the scheme, have been given seven years to build them.
BBC Sport
Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins has died in hospital at the age of 61.
Wilkins, who also coached Aston Villa as Tim Sherwood's assistant, was being treated at St George's Hospital in London following a cardiac arrest.
Allen Cook
BBC News
Image source, Environment AgencyPumps are being used to protect businesses and homes along the River Severn in Upton upon Severn this afternoon.
The Environment Agency, external says the heavy rain's brought rising river levels and is urging people to stay safe.
Image source, Environment AgencyCity of Birmingham Gym Club's Mimi-Isabella Cesar is in Australia for the Commonwealth Games.
Mimi, 23, from Sutton Coldfield, is competing in rhythmic gymnastics. Here's her guide to the sport.
Mimi-Isabella Cesar is in Australia for the Commonwealth Games
Birmingham Live
Here are some of the top stories to be covered by the newspaper today:
Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke
Plans to join up two quiet residential streets in Nantwich could be dangerous, according to people living nearby.
Image source, GoogleCheshire East Council is proposing to build a link bridge between Taylor Drive and Edmund Wright Way in a bid to ease congestion in the town, external.
In a petition on the authority's website, external, local residents claim the roads in the area aren't wide enough for the proposals and claim they'll also bring pollution and more traffic.
The council says residents have had the chance to have their say and their views will be taken into account by the planning committee.
Clarissa Greenfield is raising money for the hospital which is treating her grandmother.
Read More
Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM
More than 50 people have been handed £400 fines for fly-tipping by Sandwell Council since May last year.
The authority says its enforcement team, external issued seven fines last week, taking the total to 55.
Image source, Sandwell CouncilOne person received two fines, for dumping rubbish in Dudley Road in Rowley Regis, and in Canalside Close in Wednesbury.
Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A woman has travelled about 4,000 miles to try on a hat made by her great-great grandfather.
Samuel De Vall was a master hat maker in Leominster in the 19th Century and is buried in the town.
One of his hats is still on display at the offices of the town council.
It was reunited with his descendent, Deborah Norberg, who came from Missouri to Leominster to try it on and find out about her ancestor.
Quote MessageI think he'd be surprised that this many people were gathering around his hat this many years later but I think he'd probably be pleased."
Deborah Norberg, Descendant of hat maker
The top stories today in the Shropshire Star include:
BBC Business News
New data shows that activity in the construction sector shrank during March because of poor weather.
However, the results may also be in part due to the collapse of Wolverhampton-based firm Carillion, according to Howard Archer, chief economic advisor of the EY ITEM Club.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageThe construction sector's difficulties in recent months has clearly been influenced by economic, political and Brexit uncertainties fuelling clients' caution over committing to new projects. Lacklustre economic activity in some sectors of the economy (such as retail) has also weighed down on construction, as has a shortage on new infrastructure projects."
Howard Archer
Delays on the M6 southbound near Castle Bromwich should be clearing, Highways England says.
Two lanes were blocked for several hours between J5 and J4a after a lorry shed its load.
Delays were running at close to an hour for a while - surrounding roads and traffic to Birmingham Airport were also affected.
Image source, Highways England
