And yet for all the talk of falling river levels.....

Flood alerts have been issued for rivers across the West Midlands, external following the forecast of thunderstorms in the area.

Image source, Environment Agency

The alerts have been put in place as a "precautionary measure", the Environment Agency says, as there is uncertainty over the amount of rainfall expected and the exact location of the storms.

A yellow warning for thunder, external remains in place for the east of the region until 21:00 today.

Detectives say they are "keeping an open mind" about how a 47-year-old woman was hurt.

A two-bedroom house was advertised for a female tenant with "reduced rent for special favours".

Allen Cook
BBC News

The lack of rain's been telling on a number of our rivers across the West Midlands, with levels dropping to nothing in some places.

The Environment Agency's Dave Throup tweeted this photo of the River Wye in Hereford today:, external

Image source, Environment Agency

Allen Cook
BBC News

Tractors had to be used this afternoon to bring a massive crop fire under control.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

The fire service said farmers used them to plough trenches , externalas the blaze off Flats Lane in Whittington, near Lichfield, covered 500m by 500m.

Several fire engines were needed from about 13:30 and crews said they thought it started accidentally and involved machinery., external

Bromsgrove Advertiser

Among the headlines on the Bromsgrove Advertiser website today:

• Extra trains to Birmingham start Sunday - but other services to stop, external
• Heatwave alert stays in place as temperatures climb across the Midlands, external
• Ex-MG Rover staff set for pay-out as £44m recovered, external

The footage filmed by a bus passenger showed the woman lying on the ground as she was kicked.

Wasps forward Ashley Johnson will be available for the start of the Premiership season after receiving a backdated six-month ban for a failed drugs test.

Andrew Rose, 33, appears in court in connection with a crash that left a mother seriously injured.

About 40,000 medals a year will be made by Worcestershire Medal Service under the two-year deal.

It appears we are a region of hedgehog-lovers - and rescuers.

Many of you have been reacting to this story of hedgehogs' heatwave plight. A record-breaking number are being helped by a rescue centre as they struggle to find food and water in the hot weather.

Image source, Jackie Reed

On BBC Midlands' Facebook page, Jackie Reed posted the photo above, saying, external: "These are four hoglets I found two weeks ago. They were terribly dehydrated and lapped up loads of water, now they are eating me out of house and home. When the weather breaks I'll release them where I found them."

Caroline Allen had a similar tale, saying she rescued a baby that kids were poking with a stick. , external"I have been looking after him and have called him Ouch. He was very hungry and dehydrated but seems to be making a good recovery."

And Jan Taffs wrote, external: "I am currently looking after mum and her four babies in one of my borders in the garden. They’re doing really well, eating and drinking well. So privileged to be able to be there for them in this hot weather."

Here's our video from yesterday...

Specialist doctors in the UK will be able to legally prescribe cannabis-derived medicinal products by autumn, the home secretary has announced.

It follows high-profile cases involving children with severe epilepsy being denied access to cannabis oil.

Among them were Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley, from Warwickshire.

A man has been jailed after footage of a woman being kicked in the head was shared widely on social media.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Police said Simon Collins was filmed by a bus passenger kicking the woman as she lay on the ground in Handsworth, Birmingham, in October 2017.

At Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday, the 46-year-old, from Newcombe Road, Handsworth, was jailed for 10 weeks after admitting common assault.

The West Midlands force said despite the victim having never been found, officers secured a rare "victimless" prosecution against Collins.

Gavin Kermack
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Severn Trent says it's been handing out bottled water to people in parts of Worcester.

It comes amid concerns over the safety of tap water.

Severn Trent said it was alerted by residents reporting a sulphur smell in the supply.

It says the issue is not related to its network but private works being carried out.

Bottles have been handed out to people in Woodhouse Close, Lockwheel House and Bridge View House in Diglis.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A large grass fire at a Staffordshire beauty spot came within metres of one resident's home,, external the fire service says.

It's treating the blaze at Mow Cop, Staffordshire, as arson.

Crews battled through the night to put out the 100m by 40m (one acre) blaze.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

The fire service said two people, a 19-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, had to be given oxygen after breathing in smoke.

It's also praised the local community, saying people "really rallied together" and poured water onto gardens and boundaries to stop the flames spreading.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

The son of a Telford taxi driver killed in a crash after being attacked and chased by two men says "every day is a struggle".

In a statement, read out at Stafford Crown Court where the killers were sentenced earlier, Ibrar Mohammed described 51-year-old Ishfaq Hussain as "an amazing person, popular with his friends and the whole community".

He said "every day is a struggle, I grieve every day" and "the void will never be filled".

Brandon Dowen, 19, and John Cox, 32, were convicted of Mr Hussain's killing at an earlier hearing. On Thursday they were each sentenced to six years in prison.

Kevin Tomlinson pledged to have Garry Monk's face tattooed on his bottom if Birmingham beat Fulham.

Wolves have completed the loan signing of defender Jonny Castro Otto from Atletico Madrid.

Matt Sandoz
BBC Radio Stoke

A grass fire near a former railway line in Staffordshire, external this morning is thought to be arson.

The fire service said it was called to Newcastle Street, Silverdale, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, just after 11:00.

Crews say a large amount of grass is on fire but they think the blaze is under control.

The taxi driver had tried to escape from the men, driving off at high speed, but hit a tree and died.