If you've travelled through Birmingham on a train you'll know this, but passengers are finding it increasingly difficult to find a seat on services through the city.

Birmingham is the sixth worst in the UK, with Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Cambridge and London ahead for the 'most overcrowded' title.

Figures released by the Department for Transport show there are significant levels of overcrowding on trains despite passenger numbers falling in some places.

"Between 2006-07 and 2016-17, the West Midlands, North West and West Yorkshire saw the fastest growth in rail usage," said the government department.

Police in Crewe say a man's been arrested following an alleged attack on a nurse at Leighton Hospital.

He has since been charged with assault and a public order offence and is due to appear before magistrates in the town tomorrow.

Image source, Google

Tim Murtagh and James Fuller star as Middlesex wrap up an 18-run win over Division Two leaders Warwickshire at Lord's.

West Midlands Police dealt with a number of violent attacks, external across an area yesterday.

In Walsall, a 19-year-old man was shot in the face with a BB gun and hit with a machete by two men believed to be known to the victim.

Two men are being questioned by officers.

Earlier that evening armed officers were sent to Anderton Road, Sparkbrook, after a member of the public reported seeing two men confront each other with machetes. Officers arrested a 22-year-old man on a nearby road.

Yesterday morning a man was arrested in Handsworth following reports of a suspect threatening bookmakers with a hammer at Paddy Power, in Soho Road.

A man was arrested nearby on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and was found with a rucksack containing knives and hammers.

BBC Sport

Shrewsbury Town manager John Askey says their latest signing Josh Laurent will "give us that energy in midfield that we need".

The 22-year-old was signed from Wigan for an undisclosed fee after spells at Brentford, Newport and Hartlepool.

Image source, Getty Images

Laurent spent much of last season on loan at Bury, where he played 22 games and scored one goal.

Two men have been charged by police after 10kg of heroin was discovered in a suitcase in the boot of a car at Heathrow Airport on Sunday.

The National Crime Agency say the drugs were discovered in a joint operation with the Met Police.

A 50-year-old man from Wednesbury, Walsall, and a male 54-year-old passenger from Birmingham were arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Police say £7,000 in cash was discovered at the man's Walsall home.

Both men are due to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court in London next month.

Shropshire Star

Here are three headlines from today's Shropshire Star:

• Meeting called as homelessness in Shrewsbury, external reaches 'epidemic proportions'
• Corbyn says one A&E in Shropshire is not enough, external
• Health warning for Shropshire as heatwave expected, external

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says Channel 4 wants to continue working with the area to develop the creative sector, despite announcing it won't be moving to the city.

The Potteries was knocked off the creative hub shortlist yesterday, alongside Coventry. Birmingham is one of three cities to be considered as the new HQ, alongside Leeds and Greater Manchester.

Image source, Channel 4

British citizens Henry Curteis and his wife Shane have been separated from their daughter since May.

A collection of violet plaques around Hereford, to mark key places linked to the suffragette campaign, could become permanent.

The campaign is being led by Hereford Cathedral, where four of the plaques are displayed to highlight the work of people such as suffragette and vicar's wife Ethel Davies and Bishop John Percival, who condemned the forced feeding of female prisoners.

Sarah Hollingdale from the project said the reaction they'd seen was "really enthusiastic" and added people "were getting really connected to their plaque and I don't think they'd want to give them up".

Exeter City sign former Gillingham midfielder Lee Martin and ex-Hereford FC captain Jimmy Oates.

BBC WM Sport

At least one bookmaker has suspended betting on former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry replacing Steve Bruce at Aston Villa.

Henry has given up his role as a TV pundit and was part of Roberto Martinez's coaching team with Belgium at the World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Bruce was scheduled to meet Villa's new investors today.

A woman who is being treated for serious facial injuries after a suspected corrosive substance was thrown on her is thought to have been helped by a member of the public.

The woman, who has not been identified, was walking along Northbrook Street in Ladywood when she was attacked by someone on a passing moped or pushbike

Police say the woman was transported to Astbury Avenue in Smethwick where an ambulance crew then gave her pain relief and tried to remove the unknown substance.

As police investigations continue, the force is asking anyone who saw what happened to contact them.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Emily Lloyd

Attempts to create more places for children with special needs in north Shropshire have been frustrated, because of a lack of interest from schools.

Shropshire Council is looking to spend around £50,000 at five primary and secondary schools, to create around 10 places at each.

In a report going before the authority's cabinet on Wednesday, external, officers say there have been "no expressions of interest" in the areas around Whitchurch and Market Drayton.

But the report goes on to say there are still "further options under investigation".

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says it's still battling a grass fire near a sailing club outside Burntwood, but another nearby fire is now out.

It's still asking people to avoid roads in the area if possible.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Shropshire are struggling in their second innings against Berkshire in the minor counties championship.

Earlier today they were set an unlikely 413 to win the match at Finchampstead, but they've since slipped to 58-6.

The Environment Agency is planning to return to the River Redlake in Shropshire this week, to rescue more fish.

Hundreds have already been moved since it started to dry up in the hot weather and these photos were taken at the nearby River Teme.

Image source, Environment Agency

Image source, Environment Agency

Agency staff are worried about the state of fish in other rivers in the region, with water temperatures higher than usual.

Eighteen properties and gardens affected by deluge in Walsall.

Firefighters from six stations are tackling two fires on land near Burntwood in Staffordshire.

The county's fire service says more fire engines are on the way and a section of the A5195 has been closed by the police.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

West Midlands Police believe a woman in Birmingham who had a corrosive substance thrown in her face this morning was targeted deliberately.

They say her injuries appear to be very severe and they are trying to understand the motives of her attacker.

The woman, who has not been named, was attacked by a person on a passing bicycle or moped in the Ladywood area of the city.