Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

The sale of acid should banned after a three-year-old boy was the victim of a suspected attack in Worcester, West Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner has said.

It happened at Home Bargains on Saturday and the boy suffered serious burns to his arm and face.

Four men are in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

The three men will go on trial in November, following the hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times has these main stories today:

• Health bosses to be questioned on how they will cope with extra homes, external
• Repair work to close busy Hereford road, external
• Two treated for smoke inhalation after cooker fire, external

Birmingham remains one of three cities in the running to become Channel 4's new HQ it has announced today.

The West Midlands was initially part of a shortlist of seven other cities and included Coventry.

Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry are no longer being considered as sites for new regional creative hubs, says Channel 4.

Here's the final shortlist:

National HQ / creative hub

• Birmingham
• Greater Manchester
• Leeds

Creative hub only

• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Glasgow

Image source, get

Dwaine Haughton, 24, died in hospital from a gunshot wound.

Alice Rosenthal
BBC WM

A gang of armed masked men have broken into a business in Brownhills and shot a man three times with a gas gun.

Police say it happened around 04:00 this morning on Midland Safeload Indicators on Watling Street.

The force says gas guns are non-lethal weapons that fire cartridges that can contain tear gas or pepper spray, although it's not clear what was fired in this instance.

A van was taken, as well as keys to a number of other vehicles.

The 19-year-old victim was taken to hospital.

Last week we brought you the news that a postcard written on board the Titanic before it hit an iceberg failed to sell at auction after missing its reserve.

Well, good news - the Warwick auction house has got in touch to say it's now been sold.

A private collector in the UK agreed to pay more than £8,500 for the card dating back to 1912.

Leona Smart
Broadcast Journalist, BBC WM

The landlords of House of Fraser buildings have started a legal challenge against the firm's store closure programme.

House of Fraser is planning to close of 31 of its 59 stores, including ones in Birmingham, Leamington Spa, Shrewsbury, Telford, Wolverhampton and Worcester.

Landlords are challenging the plan, saying they've been treated unfairly.

Under a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), rents will also be cut at some of the surviving stores, agreed by creditors in June.

PCSO Andy Pope, nicknamed "memory man", has recognised more than 1,000 suspects in five years.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Emily Lloyd

A farm says increased national demand for free range eggs has prompted it to make expansion plans.

C Stokes and Son at Lower Wigmore Farm in Wattlesborough Heath, near Shrewsbury, has submitted proposals to expand from 56,000 hens to 72,000. , external

To do that, the plans say it would add more sheds to the site.

A decision is expected to be made by Shropshire Council planning officers by 10 September.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A fire in a wheelie bin which was up against the side of a house is being treated as an arson attack., external

Image source, Google

Fire crews say the blaze on West Avenue, Crewe, early this morning spread to a bay window and smoke was getting inside the house.

They say no-one was inside the home at the time.

Ian Stanton said he was looking out for approaching trains so his six-year-old was "not in danger".

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website is covering these stories today:

• Council rules out buying Unity Walk site – but will take 'active role', external
• Police officers clamp down on modified cars at retail park, external
• City schools could get trained 'mental health leads' if pilot bid succeeds, external

Zookeepers have moved the animals 140 miles to help launch a new breeding programme.

Officers are yet to question one man in hospital but three other people have been released on bail.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

A young foal's been reunited with its mother after being rescued from a river by fire crews. , external

Three teams from the fire service were needed in the village of Hamstall Ridware, near Lichfield, on Saturday afternoon.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Sandwell councillors said the longer the site is left, the more money it will in the cost long-term.

A man's been treated in hospital for stab wounds to his stomach following a "disturbance" outside a Coventry nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police were called to Club M in Hertford Place at about 04:50.

Image source, Google

The 29-year-old man who was stabbed is not thought to have life-threatening injuries.

A second person is believed to have been hit on the head with a bottle.

Anyone who saw what happened is urged to contact West Midlands Police.

Seven crews battled the "large" grass fire at Hednesford Hills which was started deliberately.

BBC WM Sport

Villa boss Steve Bruce says he's hoping to meet the club's new investors this week.

Businessman Nassef Sawaris and USA investment manager Wes Edens have provided significant investment to ease financial concerns at Villa Park.

It's led to speculation over Bruce's future as boss with Thierry Henry mentioned as a possible replacement.

Image source, Getty Images