Andy Giddings
BBC News

Shropshire's three rural maternity units are going to remain closed to inpatients and women wanting to give birth.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust says it's taken the decision so it can "safely staff" its two main maternity units, at the Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal hospitals.

The units in Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Oswestry have been affected by a series of unplanned closures since last year.

A consultation about their future will start, the hospital trust says, adding it cannot say when they might reopen.

How Birmingham plans to target polluting vehicles with a new clean air zone charge proposal.

Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Five people have appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court to face charges of animal cruelty.

The charges come two years after the BBC broadcast footage which appeared to show fox cubs being taken into a kennel of hounds at the South Herefordshire Hunt kennels, in Wormelow.

Image source, Google

The five are:

• Julie Elmore (55) and Nathan Parry (39) from Abergavenny - each face four counts of killing fox cubs.
• Paul Oliver (39) and Hannah Rose (30) from Spalding - each face four counts of animal cruelty.
• Paul Reece (47) from Chepstow - faces two counts of causing unnecessary suffering.

The five spoke only to confirm their names, ages and addresses and the case was adjourned until August.

Birmingham Live

Some of the main stories on the Birmingham Live website today are:

• Children throw stones at ambulance as crew help vulnerable patient, external
• Husband accused of murdering wife 'decided to teach her the ultimate lesson', court told, external
• The questions people are asking about Birmingham's congestion charge, external

The former Great Britain player Jonathan Weaver is returning for a fifth season with Telford Tigers.

Despite missing a large part of the season through injury and suspension, he was the highest-scoring defenceman in the NIHL North last season.

Image source, Steve Brodie

Weaver will wear the “A” on his shirt as an assistant captain.

The government has said it will grant the family of a six-year-old boy with epilepsy a licence to be able to use cannabis oil.

Image source, PA

Alfie Dingley, from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, has a rare form of the illness that causes up to 150 seizures per month.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has told the House of Commons there will be a review of cannabis for medicinal use, but said the ban on recreational use of the drug will continue.

A licence is being issued today for Alfie Dingley to receive cannabis-based drugs, Mr Javid said.

A man has been arrested after a crash in the car park of an Asda store which seriously injured a 14-year-old boy.

The 80-year-old, from Alsager, was questioned on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink and has since been released while investigations continue.

Image source, Google

The crash happened at the store in Alsager at about 17:00 on Monday.

Cheshire Police said the boy's injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

The minor injuries unit in Leominster is closed today, with patients being asked to make alternative arrangements.

Wye Valley NHS Trust says the unit is closed because of "unforeseen circumstances" and it will hopefully reopen as normal tomorrow.

Image source, Google

The trust says the rest of the community hospital in Leominster is unaffected.

A 47-year-old man from Nuneaton is set to appear before Warwickshire magistrates tomorrow in connection with a death in the town on 15 July 2017.

Peter Spiers, who was 66 and also from the town, died after a fight in Market Place and the man is due to be charged with causing actual bodily harm.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

Birmingham has no choice but to clean up its act, as it looks to introduce a clean air zone.

There have been several legal challenges over the amounts of air pollution in the city centre and the government told the council last Christmas it must have a plan in place by this September.

Behind the scenes, the Labour administration has questioned how helpful the Conservative government has been when it comes to this huge issue and there are still many questions on the financial side of this - what will be available to put the infrastructure in place to make it work?

But the city council insists this is solely about helping to prevent 900 premature deaths a year, saying it's a tough decision but one they had no choice but to make.

The New Saints have been drawn against the champions of Macedonia, Shkëdija, in the first qualifying round for the Champions League.

The games will be played on 11/12 July and 17/18 July.

Image source, Getty Images

A 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempting to meet a child following grooming after being "detained by members of the public" has been released while investigations continue.

The 25-year-old, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, was taken in for questioning after being stopped in Winton Square, Stoke-on-Trent, on 16 June.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police said people should "not to take matters into their own hands or speculate regarding the identity of the individual involved or what may have happened".

National League champions Macclesfield Town name Solihull Moors boss Mark Yates as their new manager.

A washing machine could be installed at a Stoke-on-Trent primary school, because of concern some pupils can't afford to keep their clothes clean.

Nicola Finney, head teacher at St Paul's Church of England Primary School, in Dresden, said the school was already buying washing powder and toothpaste, as well as spare uniforms, shoes and deodorant, because many families couldn't afford them.

Ms Finney also said she had spent hundreds of pounds of her own money on items for pupils.

The RMT union says imposing driver-only services is a risk to public safety.

A husband who regularly beat his wife and kept her locked indoors during their 16-year marriage has been jailed.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Aziz Rehman, 47, would only allow partner Zeenit Bibi to leave their home in Collingbourne Avenue, Hodge Hill, Birmingham when on the school run.

A jury found him guilty in May of assault, coercive control and one count of wilful assault.

He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, at Birmingham Crown Court today.

Zeenit Bibi urges victims to seek help after her husband was jailed for coercive control and assault.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman was found with serious stab wounds in Walsall yesterday, police say.

Image source, Google

The 60-year-old was taken to hospital after being found with serious injuries to her stomach in Victor Street, Caldmore, at 19:10.

It's thought the stabbing was an "isolated domestic incident", said West Midlands Police.

A 29-year-old man remains in custody.

Passengers on Northern Rail services are facing further disruption with a fresh strike in a long-running dispute over guards on trains.

Image source, PA

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are staging a 24-hour stoppage, with further walkouts planned for Thursday and Saturday.

The company said it would run as many services as possible between 07:00 and 19:00 BST.

The union claims imposing driver-only services is a risk to public safety.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three headlines from the Sentinel newspaper today:

• Girl seriously ill after suffering stroke on holiday, external
• Funerals this week for four bikers killed in crashes, external
• Knifeman threatened to stab woman and dog, external