Allen Cook
BBC News

A man's suffered injuries to his face after a corrosive substance was thrown at him, police say.

The victim, in his 30s, was riding his moped on Stratford Road, Birmingham, yesterday afternoon when a group of four men started shouting at him.

The force says they then threw the liquid at him and he was taken to hospital.

So far, officers say the motive behind the attack is unknown and they're keeping an "open mind".

The attack with a corrosive substance is the third such incident in the West Midlands since Saturday following attacks in Worcester and Ladywood, Birmingham.

The New Saints will move their Europa League third qualifying round tie to Cardiff City Stadium should they progress in the competition.

Allen Cook
BBC News

People in part of Staffordshire are facing having to pay to have their garden waste collected under new plans from their local authority.

Image source, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Councillors are meeting this afternoon to consider a report into the future of the service. , external

It says that, with the county council reducing how much it pays towards the collections in order to save money, the authority would lose an income of £275,600-a-year by 2022.

As a result, councillors will consider this afternoon whether to bring in a suggested charge for residents of £36 a year per bin or to outsource garden waste collections to a private firm.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live page has these headlines today:

• 'Sparks were flying' when police caught drink-driving jockey in 4x4 on only three wheels, external
• Burglar drank 40 pints of cider before sneaking into student flats, external
• Teenager selling her GCSE artwork to help her three-year-old nephew battle cancer, external

Last month consumer watchdog Which? said Birmingham was the UK's worst area for food hygiene.

BBC Sport

The New Saints are making plans to play the next round of the Europa League qualifiers at the Cardiff City Stadium, if they're able to get past the champions of Gibraltar.

The Oswestry-based side play the home leg of their tie against Lincoln Red Imps tomorrow and the away leg next Thursday, but their Park Hall stadium isn't suitable for European games after the second qualifying round.

Image source, Getty Images

The Welsh champions will face either FC Midtjyllandor Astana in the third qualifying round, if they come through the tie.

BBC News Travel

Rail services between Lichfield and Birmingham are being disrupted this morning after a vehicle's hit a bridge.

National Rail Enquiries says it's happened near Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, and until the bridge can be checked trains can't use it., external

A 100-year-old man has received hospital treatment after being knocked down by a car in Shrewsbury.

West Mercia Police said the collision happened at the Mount Service Station on Monday morning and the driver and passenger of the vehicle stopped to help him to his feet before driving off.

Image source, Google

He suffered minor injuries and discharged the same day.

The police want to talk to the driver and passenger in the car.

Martin Winch
BBC News

There's been a sharp rise in the number of grass fires in Warwickshire and the fire service says it's had reports of adults and children starting them.

Image source, Warwickshire Fire Service

Across the county, the service says there were 25 blazes in the open at the weekend and several were arson., external

It says it's working with schools and in communities to try to get a message across about the risks of setting fires.

Birmingham Live

The Birmingham Live page is covering these top stories today:

• Devastated mum's heartbreaking appeal after homeless daughter found dead in street, external
• Heroin and crack gangster who made £200k is ordered to pay just £340, external
• Chef pulls out of planned Birmingham restaurant move, external

BBC Business News

The World Cup and the recent heatwave have helped boost sales at pubs group Marston's.

The Wolverhampton-based firm said that so far this year, like-for-like sales are 0.3% ahead.

Image source, Marston's

Over the past 16 weeks, like-for-like sales were up 0.9% "helped by good weather and the football, but with some offset from poor weather in April".

Total revenue rose 5.2% for the period to 21 July.

BBC Midlands Today

A council has begun offering free swimming lessons following the death of a schoolboy in a lake., external

Image source, Haywood Academy

The Safer Swim scheme run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council is aimed at teaching children what to do if they get into trouble in open water.

The campaign was prompted by the death of 13-year-old Ryan Evans at Westport Lake last month.

Here you can see how close a large crop fire came to a National Trust property in Worcestershire yesterday afternoon.

Image source, Richard Purvis

Image source, Richard Purvis

Croome Court near Severn Stoke had to be evacuated while around 30 firefighters dealt with the fire.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City boss Gary Rowett says the club's signed a "terrifically talented player" in winger Tom Ince.

Image source, Stoke City FC

The 26-year-old moved to the Potters yesterday from Huddersfield Town for an initial fee of £10m, which could rise to £12m.

He's Rowett's fifth signing since he took charge of Stoke in May and played under his new manager when he was at Derby.

The price of Christmas trees could go up this year, with a grower in Worcestershire saying 90% of his newly-planted trees have died because of the heat.

Tom Rimmel from Smart Trees in Pershore says 2,000 have been lost and it's likely to cost him £10,000.

Mr Rimmel said he could replant some in the autumn, but the saplings will cost him £5 each.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Herbert Soden

A party to celebrate the careers of two DJs has been approved despite fears that revellers could fall out of windows.

Lisa Wetton applied to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council for permission to hold the event at Cultural Squatters on Merrial Street., external

Image source, Google

However, council officers had said it should be turned down as the first floor event room has floor-to-ceiling windows and "there is a potential for guests to fall from the windows".

They said access to the windows wasn't restricted but, at yesterday's licensing committee meeting, Ms Wetton said the windows would be secured with pieces of wood.

Councillors decided not to object to the event but said checks should be made that the building has planning permission to hold it.

When Colin Bennett was burgled, the stolen items were not recovered and no arrests were made.

BBC Midlands Today

An ambulance service says it's growing increasingly concerned about acid attacks.

In Worcester, a three-year-old boy was the victim of a suspected acid attack at the weekend and suffered serious burns.

While yesterday, in Ladywood, Birmingham, a corrosive substance was thrown at a 47-year-old woman in a street.

She's being treated for serious facial injuries.

Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM

New Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho says he's fulfilling a long-term ambition by moving to a Premier League club.

Image source, Getty Images

The Portuguese international sealed a £5m move from Monaco yesterday.

The 31-year-old follows Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio to Molineux and should partner Ruben Neves in midfield.

Heidi Crowter, from Coventry, is speaking at the World Down Syndrome Congress in Glasgow.