...between j9 and j10.

Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today

Lentils could be grown commercially in the UK for the first time, if a trial in Shropshire proves successful.

The pulse is traditionally grown in India and North Africa, but this long spell of very warm, humid weather has brought near-perfect conditions to develop the crop on farmland in Ellesmere.

Begging will be banned from Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, after a decision by borough councillors this afternoon.

The authority is introducing the ban as part of a Public Space Protection Order, which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Image source, Google

Anyone caught offending could face fine of up to £100.

Following the decision, council leader Simon Tagg said the town was "not a soft area" for this and that "these so-called professional beggars are out of order".

PC Kevin McClenaghan is due to appear before magistrates on Thursday.

A family-run frozen food factory that was set up in 1952 is going to close, because a buyer cannot be found, making about 60 people redundant.

Freshpack Ltd in Alsager went into administration in June, following what it called "a period of difficult trading", but continued to operate while efforts were made to find a buyer.

Image source, Google

The company said administrators Dunham Dean Advisory had been "liaising with a number of parties" but low profit margins in the industry had put them all off.

The last potential buyer walked away this week, the administrator said, leaving the company no alternative but to cease trading.

Last year's beaten finalists Shrewsbury Town will be able to test themselves against Manchester City's under-21 team in the group stages of the Checkatrade Trophy this season.

The Premier League youth side has been added to a group which already contains Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal under-21s have been added to Coventry City's group and Middlesborough's under-21 team will play in the group involving Port Vale and Burton Albion.

Wolves under-21s have been drawn in the group containing last season's winners Lincoln, Mansfield Town and Scunthorpe United.

An internal council audit report, released today, says Shropshire Council wasn't rigorous enough in getting back an £80,000 grant handed to The New Saints football club.

The money was awarded through the Market Towns Revitalisation Programme to fund an extra 500 seats at Park Hall stadium, and it was decided that cabinet approval wasn't necessary.

The report states: "It's not possible to say whether this was down to design or accident".

The council has said "a number of officers involved with the project have left the council and it is unfair to determine whether any failure is attributable to them."

It says it is "now seeking to recover funds from TNS".

A Stoke-on-Trent lorry driver has been jailed for 15 years and 10 months after being found guilty of 10 sexual offences against girls aged between 11 and 15 after a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Nigel Shaw, from Longton, 62, who is also known as Dave Shaw, pleaded guilty in February 2018 to inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and making an indecent photograph of a child.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Shaw was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Police are searching CCTV after a fire in Stoke-on-Trent city centre that is being treated as arson.

The blaze broke out in an alleyway at the back of disused shops on Parliament Row.

Fire crews had to break in through the shutters of the old Barnet Gentlemen's hairdressers.

Motorcyclist Kenneth Allen, 54, from Wolverhampton was killed in a crash with a car on the Isle of Man.

Coventry Live
Coventry Live

Here's a flavour of some of the top stories to appear online today:

• Remains of huge cannabis factory dumped in Coventry car park, external
• Armed police called to stand off in residential Coventry street, external
• Coventry City coach on triallist from Wolverhampton Wanderers, external

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

A woman is being treated for serious injuries after an incident in Selly Oak Park this afternoon.

A spokeswoman for Midlands Ambulance Service says they were called to the junction of Harborne Lane and Gittings Road by police at 13:30 this afternoon.

The knife injuries are thought to be life-threatening.

West Midlands Police say they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

Firefighters have removed the roof from a lorry to rescue a trapped horse.

They were called to Bicton, near Shrewsbury, at 08:43 and it took them nearly two hours to lift the animal out.

Image source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service

Image source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service

Joan Cummins
Midlands Today reporter

A "wish you where here" postcard which was posted from the Titanic before it crashed into an iceberg has failed to sell at auction.

Earlier today we brought you the news that it was for sale in Warwick. Unfortunately for the sellers the postcard failed reach its reserve of £10,000.

Though if you do have some spare money lying around - it is to be re-auctioned at a later date.

Mark Regan
BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa say no clubs have made a bid for Jack Grealish, following various reports linking him with an imminent move to Spurs.

Image source, Getty Images

An extra £600,000 will be spent on road safety schemes around 35 schools in Telford.

Telford and Wrekin Council says it will spend the money on projects including traffic-calming measures, 20-mile-an-hour zones and efforts to reduce the number of cars used to take children to school.

Image source, PA

The authority says it hopes to have the measures in place by the end of next summer.

It is also working on plans to take over parking-enforcement powers from the police next year, saying those new powers will help it target problem-parking around schools more effectively.

A group of photographers recreate pictures taken by a university lecturer 50 years ago.

Worcester News

Here are three headlines from the Worcester News today:

• 'Dangerous' nitrous oxide cannisters found in city car park, external
• Counter protesters will oppose EDL march over city mosque, external
• Pensioner's woe as his driveway is blocked for a second time, external

Reece Hipwood, 28, died on his way to hospital after being stabbed.

Police are searching for a fake police car after drivers were pulled over in Stoke-on-Trent.

They've received reports of a Black Mondeo with flashing lights in the grill on Blurton Road in Blurton.

Image source, Getty Images

It was last seen on Monday afternoon and has been spotted overtaking other drivers with sirens going.