Coventry has been chosen as the UK's European City of Sport for 2019.

The bidding team say they will now work on a programme of events to encourage young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to get active and enjoy sports.

Image source, Coventry City Council

Coventry will join cities across Europe in holding the title, awarded by the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation.

The city council plans to celebrate the opening of the new £36m water park in the city centre and a 50m pool at the Alan Higgs centre.

Shropshire Star

Here are three of the stories featuring on the Shropshire Star website this lunchtime:

• Speed camera vans to target five roads after complaints, external
• Claim that Shropshire's rural roads, external ‘at point of failure’
• Call made for more GPs in Telford, external

Kidderminster Harriers' midfielder Elton Ngwatala has left Aggborough for a career in the Scottish Premiership.

He's signed a two-year contract with Dundee.

Image source, Getty Images

A former mayor of Worcester will appear before magistrates in Telford next month to be charged with causing the death of his wife in a car crash in Shropshire last year.

Aubrey Tarbuck, 88, from Hallow is also due to face two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving when he appears on 12 June, West Mercia Police has said.

Anne Tarbuck died when their car was involved in a crash with another one on the A458 near to The Plume Of Feathers Pub at Harley in October.

A young girl in the other car was taken to hospital suffering head and chest injuries, while the driver of that vehicle was also hurt.

A man has been charged after Stafford College was put in lock-down last night.

The 19-year-old is charged with threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and affray.

Image source, Google

He is also charged with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and criminal damage to a police car in Rugeley later the same day.

He is due before magistrates in Newcastle-under-Lyme today.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Two men have appeared at Derby Crown Court charged with human trafficking and running a brothel, following a series of police raids in the city.

Daniel Zemencsik, 27, of Uttoxeter New Road, Derby, and Geza Horvath, 32, of Station Court, Burton, were remanded in custody until 6 August when they are due to enter pleas.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Officers found five women at houses on Uttoxeter New Road and Violet Street in Derby.

Aston Villa supporters have been queuing since early this morning for the first chance to buy tickets for the Championship play-off final.

About 5,000 seats for the Wembley match against Fulham were sold in the first hour of being released online yesterday afternoon.

Eerie snaps of rundown greyhound track show windows smashed, gutted rooms and old signs.

A tortoise is recovering after being thrown out the window of a moving car in Stoke-on-Trent.

The RSPCA said it happened on Tuesday was witnessed by a delivery driver, who stopped to pick him up and took him to the nearest vet.

Image source, RSPCA

The charity has named him Mr Roadrunner and is now caring for the tortoise, while looking to find him a new home.

Plans to build up to 200 homes in part of Sandbach have been rejected by councillors for a second time.

The proposals for land off Bradwall Road had attracted 266 letters of objection.

Image source, PA

Cheshire East Council's strategic planning board refused permission on a number of grounds, after concerns including impact on the highways and loss of agricultural land.

The owner of a "filthy" pizza takeaway restaurant, found littered with mouse droppings, has been jailed for six months.

Image source, Walsall Council

Image source, Walsall Council

Muhammed Abdul Moueed Khan, 30, of West Bromwich Road, Walsall admitted 10 food and hygiene offences and was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

Walsall Council said the kitchen at Pizza Cottage on Caldmore Road was littered with mouse droppings - it said even cooking utensils and drinking straws were affected.

David Elrington, Regulatory Services Manager at Walsall Council, said Khan had shown a "flagrant disregard for the even the most minimum standards of safety".

Coventry Live
Coventry Live

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

• First female leader elected at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, external
• Popular community centre could finally be reopened, external
• Bailiffs poised to move off travellers near to Nuneaton nursing home, external

Administrators for Countrywide Farmers PLC say they've found new owners for a number of its stores and are keeping some trading in the hope they can be sold too.

The Bridgnorth store in Shropshire is now being run by the Wynnstay chain, while those in Bromsgrove, Bromyard, Ledbury, Whitchurch and Ludlow are being kept open by the administrators agents Hilco Capital.

Image source, Google

A number, including those at Nuneaton, Bearley and Tredington in Warwickshire, Evesham and Malvern in Worcestershire, Hereford, Market Drayton in Shropshire have had to close.

KPMG were appointed as administrators by the company in March.

Stoke City are yet to make a statement about the future of manager Paul Lambert, but his assistant Stuart Taylor says they've already started preparing for life in the Championship next season.

Taylor says now that the season is over Lambert is looking at potential transfer targets.

Image source, Getty Images

Lambert has also said he is keen to keep hold of key players like Joe Allen when the transfer window opens.

BBC News Travel

A lamp column is blocking a lane on the M6 northbound, after a van crashed into the central barrier.

Image source, Highways England

Image source, Highways Agency

A recovery team is expected at the site soon, between junctions four and 4A.

An electrician has also been called-on, said Highways England.

An 18-year-old man has been charged with robbery and threatening a person with a blade after an armed robbery at a Stoke-on-Trent off licence.

Two people in balaclavas threatened staff at Mount Pleasant Booze on the Whieldon Road in Fenton on Tuesday night, but no one was hurt.

A 28-year-old man who was detained has been released while investigations continue.

Two pieces of miniature artwork, commissioned to celebrate the royal wedding, are to benefit charities nominated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Image source, THH Gallery

Willard Wigan, 57, a Birmingham micro-sculptor, has created a model of the couple that sits within the eye of a needle.

Image source, THH Gallery

Specialist micro-engraver Graham Short, also from the city, has etched a portrait of Harry and Meghan, along with their wedding date and names, on to the head of a pin (above).

Image source, THH Gallery

Both pieces will be sold at auction in London by the THH Gallery later in the year, with the proceeds donated to the charities named in the couple's official wedding gift statement., external

Birmingham Live

These are some of the top stories on the Birmingham Live website today:

• Highgate murder victim named locally, external as police continue hunt for gunman
• Mice-infested pizza shop in Walsall covered in faeces and filth, external as owner is jailed
• The 'recklessness, hubris and greed' that left half-built £350m hospital in limbo, external

Simon Gilbert
Political Reporter, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Labour’s Julie Jackson is the new leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Council after a failed challenge from Conservative group leader Kris Wilson.

She takes over from Dennis Harvey, who held the position for almost 30 years.

The council is in no overall control, but a Labour mayor, Chris Watkins, was also elected, who will hold the casting vote.

A man was stabbed in an incident in the Handsworth area of Birmingham.

Two phones were believed to have been stolen in the incident on Holyhead Road, just before 19:00 on 11 May.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Police say the victim wasn't badly injured.

CCTV images of men officers would like to speak to have been released.