BBC Wales Politics

The government says English MPs and train passengers can raise concerns with them about train services in originating in Wales.

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne asked in the Commons this morning how he could hold the Welsh government to account for the rail service between Cardiff and Manchester.

Image source, Google

His interest is because it stops at Church Stretton, Craven Arms and Ludlow en route.

Wales Office Minister Stuart Andrew told him English MPs (and passengers) could raise issues with the UK government's transport secretary who could then raise them directly with his Welsh counterpart.

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra academy graduate Charlie Kirk has agreed a new three-year contract at the club., external

Image source, Crewe Alexandra FC

The 20-year-old's current deal was due to end this summer.

Since his debut in 2016, he's made 68 appearances for Crewe, scoring five goals this season.

Burton Mail

The Burton Mail's covering these main stories today:

• Heartbroken owner hands over beloved dogs to RSPCA as his houseboat sinks, external
• Jobs to be axed when towns' Royal Bank of Scotland branches close, external
• Unique curriculum at new school helps youngsters with complex needs, external

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

Plans for two new statues in a park could be funded by donations from Britain and USA.

The Battle of Worcester Society is trying to secure £150,000 to create statues of US presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in Fort Royal Park, in Worcester, external.

Image source, Battle of Worcester Society

The two presidents visited the city in 1786 - Adams hailed the site of the Battle of Worcester in 1651 as "holy ground" where "liberty was fought for".

The Battle of Worcester was the last action in the English Civil War effectively giving Parliament supremacy over the king.

The Battle of Worcester Society says it's written to contacts in the USA to try to raise funds as well as seeking donations within the UK.

Local voting is set to present the biggest test of public opinion since June's general election.

Crewe Alexandra striker Charlie Kirk signs a new three-year contract with the League Two club.

The opening had already been put back a year to 2019 and now may not open until three years later.

BBC Midlands Today

An NHS Trust is looking for women to take part in the trial of a new treatment for bulimia., external

A research team at the Dorothy Pattison Hospital, Walsall is testing a nasal spray containing a chemical which it's thought may alleviate the symptoms.

Image source, Getty Images

Women who've been diagnosed with the eating disorder are being asked to volunteer to try the spray for two months.

Bulimia , externalusually leads to binge-eating and then purging, often through vomiting.

It is an eating disorder and a mental health condition that means people have an abnormal attitude to food and body image.

A man was left trapped in the wreckage of his car for over an hour after a crash on a busy dual carriageway in Coventry.

The victim, in his 30s, suffered severe trauma injuries as his Audi was left mounted on a barrier after the collision on the A45 Fletchampstead Highway, in the Canley area, at about 09:30.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

Firefighters said it took 80 minutes to free him, while the ambulance service said the rescue operation was more complicated due to where the car ended up.

He was taken to the major trauma centre at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

Coventry Live
Coventry Live

Here are some of the headlines appearing on the Coventry Live website this afternoon:

• Horror A45 crash leaves Audi driver in hospital and car unrecognisable, external
• JLR worker faces £2.5k fine - over 101mph hospital dash with pregnant wife, external
• Almost 30% of children in this area of Cov are obese - find out how your area ranks, external

BBC News Travel

The A500's shut northbound in Staffordshire this afternoon after a crash involving a car and a lorry.

It's happened at the Wolstanton junction and police say a woman driving one car's suffered a leg injury.

BBC Weather Watchers

It was weather for ducks this morning as the rain swept in.

But it's also been for other animals, as our BBC Weather Watchers have been out taking photos across the West Midlands.

These two are from users Terry Eyre in Alton and Morning Amble in Ashton under Hill:

Image source, Terry Eyre

Image source, Morning Amble

A hospital trust that warned it may be forced to close an Accident and Emergency unit overnight due to staff shortages has recruited a much-needed consultant.

Two consultants have left Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust in the last six months, leaving A&Es in Shrewsbury and Telford below recommended safe levels.

Image source, bbc

The trust said it had struggled to recruit both consultants and middle-grade doctors, at least in part due to pressures on the rota across both sites - it is looking to focus emergency treatment at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Since announcing £300m funding to reorganise hospital services, Chief Executive Simon Wright said the trust had seen more interest from doctors.

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman from Staffordshire has told BBC Radio Stoke how she returned from holiday to discover her boot had been filled with rubbish while she was away.

Image source, Jan

Jan, who doesn't want us to use her real name and lives in Burntwood, left her camper van with a firm called Manchester Airport Parking Meet and Greet.

When she got home last week, she opened the back of the van to discover bags of rubbish containing mouldy food, stale milk and other waste.

Image source, Jan

The company initially apologised, but has refused to explain how the vehicle came to be filled with rubbish.

Worcester Warriors backs Max Stelling and Ben Howard are to leave Sixways at the end of the season.

Hannah Quinn
BBC Radio Stoke

"Mindless vandalism" is how a council has described a suspected arson attack at a park. , external

A section of a wooden walkway at Chatterley Whitfield Country Park, in Stoke-on-Trent was destroyed in the fire on Monday afternoon.

Staffordshire Police says it's working with the local authority to find out what happened to the 80m-long (87 yards) section.

Scum-half Michael Dowsett will leave Worcester Warriors at the end of the season to continue his career in Japan.

Two men suffered serious injuries after a crash in Birmingham.

A member of the public raised the alarm after coming across a rolled vehicle with "significant damage" along Gayhill Lane in Kings Norton, just after midnight, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

A 20-year-old man was found in a field near to the scene and was rushed to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

An 18-year-old man was also taken to the same hospital with multiple bruising and lacerations.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence after reports of "numerous disorders" involving large groups of youths in Birmingham.

Police received a string of calls from the public about pockets of disorder in Dale End, Birmingham, at about 17:00 yesterday.

Image source, Katie Lilium

A 14-year-old was told to leave the area under dispersal powers, West Midlands Police said.

A Public Space Protection Order is in place within the area, which enables officers to move on people suspected of causing anti-social behaviour.

Birmingham Live

here are some of the stories appearing on the Birmingham Live website this lunchtime:

• New dad faces £2.5k fine - over 101mph M5 hospital dash with pregnant wife, external
• Millionaire playboy Jody Sanders 'crashes Rolls-Royce after he got flip-flop caught in accelerator', external
• This is what is happening to the Queen Victoria statue in Victoria Square, external