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  • Updates from Monday 30 April to Monday 7 May

Live Reporting

  1. Political parties in final day of election campaigning

    Political parties are on the campaign trail on the final day before the English council elections tomorrow.

    A total of 4,371 seats are to be contested over 150 councils, including 15 in the West Midlands.

    Polling stationGetty

    All seats are up for grabs in Birmingham for the first time in 14 years as the number of councillors is trimmed down from 120 to 101.

    The public will get the chance to vote for the first time since the snap general election last year.

  2. Fuel spillage could see A438 closed 'for some time'

    BBC News Travel

    Drivers are facing delays on the A438 this afternoon near Hereford.

    Police say it's been closed after a crash and could be shut for sometime as a lorry's fuel tank has ruptured.

  3. Safe-standing debate goes to Parliament

    BBC Sport

    Safe-standing in the Premier League and Championship will be debated in Parliament on 25 June.

    It comes after a successful petition to the UK government, which was signed by more than 110,000 people.

    Richard Conway explains Shrewsbury Town's plans for safe standing

    The government said earlier this month there were no plans to change the all-seater policy after West Brom had a safe-standing proposal rejected.

    Standing in English football's top two divisions was outlawed by the Football Spectators' Act in 1989.

    League One promotion chasers Shrewsbury received delivery of new safe-standing rail seats which they plan to install at their stadium this summer.

  4. Pair to leave Worcester Warriors

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Worcester Warriors say Ben Howard (pictured) and Max Stelling will leave the club at the end of the season.

    Ben HowardGetty Images

    The pair came the through Warriors' academy system and were part of the side's promotion-winning campaign in 2015.

    However both have found first-team opportunities hard to come by this season.

  7. Closure of children centres set for debate

    Faith Page
    Reporter, BBC Shropshire

    Plans by Shropshire Council to shut half its children's centres to save £875,000 are being discussed this lunchtime.

    The authority wants six hubs instead of 12 and adds that, as well as cuts, the current model needs to be better coordinated.

    Child playingGetty Images

    Parents use the children's centres for childcare as well as help and support. The changes will mean compulsory redundancies are likely.

    Under the proposals, there would be six hubs with one in Oswestry, Ludlow, Whitchurch and Bridgnorth and two in Shrewsbury.

    Feedback so far to the council includes concerns over transport links to the hubs and whether all parents will still get the same level of support.

  8. Greyhound track demolition to start in weeks

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A greyhound track in Birmingham is set to be demolished within weeks.

    Hall Green Stadium will be replaced by 210 homes and a 48-bedroom hotel.

    Greyhound racingGoogle

    The 10-acre site will also be known as Olympia due to the ground's heritage. It hosted racing for almost 90 years before it closed - despite large protests - last July.

    Last month Birmingham City Council granted permission for bulldozers to move in.

  9. Worcs batsman failing to stand out so far for England

    BBC Sport

    With England's Test series against Pakistan starting in just over three weeks, BBC Sport's been looking at how possible new contenders for the side have started their seasons.

    Joe ClarkeGetty Images

    Among them, Worcestershire's Joe Clarke has failed to stand out so far, as the Pears have endured a torrid start on their return to Division One with three straight losses.

    The 21-year-old made good scores before the season started but has struggled to find form since.

    He's been touted as an England prospect by former England captain Michael Vaughan but will need to convert his starts into big scores to get picked.

  10. Driver suffers 'life-threatening injuries' in crash

    Vicky Breakwell
    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    An elderly driver has suffered life-threatening injuries after his car was involved in a crash with a lorry.

    Sandy Lane, BromsgroveGoogle

    The collision in Bromsgrove last night happened on the A491 Sandy Lane. Police say it involved a black Vauxhall Astra and a Scania HGV.

    They say the driver of the car, a man in his 80s, and his passenger, who's in his 50s, were both taken to hospital.

    The driver of the lorry wasn't hurt.

  12. 'Strong link' between drugs and child sexual exploitation

    Joanne Gallacher
    Political reporter, BBC Shropshire

    Drugs are being used in parts of Shropshire to engage children in sexual activity who are being groomed online and via social media, according to a council report.

    The research has been pulled together at Shropshire Council and says perpetrators of grooming in the area tend to be boyfriends or friends of friends.

    Girl with long hair facing awayGetty Images

    The report suggests there has been no evidence of organised crime related to sexual grooming, but there's a strong link between child sexual exploitation and drug misuse.

    It says the authority is keeping a close eye on 67 children who could be at risk of grooming.

    The cases will be highlighted when councillors meet next week to discuss how youngsters are being kept safe.

  13. Trains disrupted after signalling fault

    BBC News Travel

    Trains between Crewe and Stockport are being disrupted this morning.

    National Rail Enquiries says there's a signalling fault at Chelford and all lines are currently blocked.

    It says services could be cancelled, diverted or delayed by up to 40 minutes.

  14. Grass fire stopped from spreading to house

    A grass fire has been stopped from spreading to a nearby house and sheds.

    Fire crew tackling grass fireWarwickshire Fire Service

    Warwickshire fire crews were sent yesterday evening to Rouncil Lane, Kenilworth.

    They say they found the fire was spreading fast because of the wind and the managed to put it out before it spread to the buildings.

  15. Loose skin after weight loss 'affecting my relationship'

    BBC Newsbeat

    A woman's told the BBC that excess skin left after losing six stone (38.1kg) is affecting her relationship with her partner.

    Steph on the left before she lost the weight and on the right after she lost the weightSteph O'Shea

    Steph O'Shea from Staffordshire used to weigh more than 20 stone (127kg) and started losing weight in January 2017.

    But the 26-year-old says her saggy skin is impacting on her daily life and it's harsh to her that the NHS told her she doesn't fit criteria to have it removed on the health service - and "I should go private."

    Loose skinSteph O'Shea

    It comes as a senior plastic surgeon has told BBC Newsbeat people who were obese and now have saggy skin are often "forgotten".

    The NHS says funding is not generally available for cosmetic surgery unless there is a medical need and it impacts quality of life.

    Steph pulling on her arm skin

  16. Terminally ill football coach wants to change attitudes

    BBC Midlands Today

    A football coach with terminal cancer is hoping to use the time he has left to change attitudes to do with children and sport.

    Russ Powell with sonRuss Powell

    Russ Powell, 37, from Sandyford, Staffordshire began writing a blog which contained his own sporting rules, including playing fair and not gloating about a win.

    He's now joined forces with BBC Radio Stoke to compile Russ's Rules which he hopes will remind people that sport should be fun.

    Russ Powell handing out one of his rules

  17. Queen Victoria statue gets spring clean

    A statue of Queen Victoria is being given a clean as part of centenary celebrations.

    Close-up of statue this weekBirmingham Museums

    The monument in Victoria Square, Birmingham, has been there since just before the monarch's death in 1901.

    The cleaning's being done by Birmingham Museum Trust and scaffolding went up this week.

    The conservation work's being done to mark Birmingham Civic Society's centenary.

    Scaffolding around the statueBirmingham Museums

  19. West Midland's most polluted towns and cities revealed

    BBC News Health

    Four areas of the West Midlands are at or have exceeded air pollution limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO), a new report has found.

    The streets of the historic Spa Town of LeamingtonGetty Images

    The WHO data shows 32 areas in the UK have fine particle air pollution levels above 10 micrograms per cubic metre, with the remaining 15 at that limit.

    Areas that exceeded the level include Royal Leamington Spa, Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry, while Birmingham is right on the limit.

    Dirty air can cause debilitating diseases and hasten death.

  20. Doctor Who first episode script set for auction

    BBC Midlands Today

    An original script of the first episode of Doctor Who that was owned by William Hartnell, the first actor to play the role, goes under the hammer in Dudley this week.

    Antiques Roadshow examines the original Doctor Who script from 1963.

    The episode was broadcast in 1963 and the script featured on The Antiques Roadshow last year.

    It's 43 pages long and shows notes written in blue pencil by the actor himself.

    Auctioneers expect it to fetch between £5,000 and £7,000 when it's due to sell tomorrow.