BBC Business News

Marks and Spencer has announced that it will close 100 stores by 2022, including Walsall.

Image source, Getty Images

M&S has revealed the locations of 14 more stores that will be closed, adding to 21 that have already been shut.

It is part of a revamp that started in November 2016.

Under that plan, M&S wants to move a third of its sales online, and plans to have fewer, larger clothing and homeware stores in better locations.

A number of Chelsea Flower Show awards are heading back to the West Midlands, including a Presidents Award for Ashwood Nurseries in Kingswindford.

It impressed the judges with this display of Hellebores.

Image source, Ashwood Nurseries

And David Austin Roses, based at Albrighton in Shropshire, won its 24th gold award with this formal rose garden.

Image source, David Austin Roses

Image source, David Austin Roses

The retail giant speeds up the pace of closures that it says are "vital for the future of M&S".

Fruit of the Loom is set to shed 70 jobs by closing its UK head office in Telford.

Aston Villa have sold out their allocation of more than 38,000 tickets for Saturday's Championship playoff final at Wembley.

Meanwhile, Coventry City fans have been snapping up tickets for their League Two playoff against Exeter City on Monday, with more than 30,000 sold.

Image source, Getty Images

Shrewsbury Town reported last night they were close to selling 9,500 tickets for their League One playoff game, and would make 1,000 tickets available for sale at the stadium today.

A man has pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to an ambulance in which paramedics were treating a patient.

Daniel Drennan-Kane, 21, from Wantage, Telford, broke off a wing mirror and threw mud at the side of the vehicle.

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

He is due to be sentenced later this afternoon.

Derrol Flynn, 45, punched a 72-year-old victim in the face and stole £6,000 from an elderly couple.

A boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of 16-year-old Ozell Pemberton in Sutton Coldfield town centre.

At Birmingham Crown Court earlier, the 17-year-old from the Lozells area of Birmingham was refused bail. He is due to next appear on 18 June and cannot be named for legal reasons.

Ozell Pemberton was found with stab injuries to the chest on Lower Parade on Thursday afternoon.

Image source, Amber Silk

Firefighters have rescued nine ducklings from a drain.

They were called at about 09:30 to Western Avenue, Nantwich, where they found the mother duck quacking loudly.

Image source, RSPCA

It took about an hour to coax out the birds with the help of the RSPCA.

After the ducklings were reunited with their mother, the family was taken to nearby Nantwich Lake.

Image source, RSPCA

Poppy-Arabella, three, was killed at a crossing in 2016 by a driver who could not see the red light.

Rob Mayor
Political reporter, BBC WM

The Conservatives are set to take control of Walsall Council after a controversial vote which saw their choice for mayor stay in the job for a second year.

Conservative councillor Marco Longhi used his casting vote to stay in the role - something which council officials say hasn't happened since 1948.

Image source, Google

Walsall Council is finely balanced following the local elections, with 30 Conservative councillors on one side, and a coalition of 30 Labour, Liberal Democrats and Independents on the other.

It means in the event of a tie, the Mayor is legally obliged to use a casting vote to take a decision.

The 15-year-old had been reported missing on Friday morning.

Hereford Times

Hereford Times stories today include:

• Hereford has biggest increase in shop closures in region, external
• Tributes paid to Hereford businessman, external
• Broadband project shortlisted for national award, external

A missing Coventry schoolboy has been found "safe and well," West Midlands Police says.

The force has thanked those who shared information about Abhimanyu Chohan.

The ambulance service says staff at a Burger King restaurant have been uninjured in a blaze that according to firefighters started on a griddle and spread to the roof.

Image source, Dan Cooper

Image source, Dan Cooper

The fire broke out at the Park Street site shortly after 09:00.

Image source, Alex Boys

A man has been fined £400 for dumping 15 bags of household rubbish in an alleyway in Stafford.

The 23-year-old said he couldn’t remember where he had dumped the bags, because he had been drunk.

Image source, Stafford Borough Council

Stafford Borough Council says the penalty should act as a warning to flytippers that they'll face fines or prosecution.

Wasps flanker Jack Willis could be sidelined for up to 12 months after suffering a serious knee injury against Saracens.

The family of a boy who went missing from his school on Friday say they are searching "day and night" and becoming "increasingly concerned for his safety".

Image source, Family Handout

Abhimanyu Chohan was dropped off at King Henry VIII School in Coventry just before 08:30 on 18 May, and failed to turn up for registration.

He changed clothes and was last seen near a garage on Leamington Road at 09:36 on the same day.

His family describe him as "vulnerable" and "not equipped to cope outdoors alone".

"Abhimanyu is not in any trouble, we just need to know he is safe," a West Midlands Police spokesman said.

BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City are expected to announce the appointment of Gary Rowett as their new manager later today, after talks last night.

The Derby County boss will replace Paul Lambert, who was sacked last week after failing to save Stoke from relegation to the Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

Rowett took Derby to the Championship playoffs this season, where they were beaten by Fulham.

Birmingham Live

Among the stories on the Birmingham Live website today:

• More than £1 million overtime paid to city binmen ahead of strike, external
• Planes at Birmingham Airport targeted in spate of laser attacks, external
• Police swarm city streets after 'kidnapping', external