BBC WM Sport

Thousands of empty seats are expected at Edgbaston today as England begin their Test series against India.

One of the reasons is the Wednesday start, the Chief executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club said.

Image source, Reuters

Sporting Lisbon want compensation of up to 197m euros (£175m) for three players who terminated their contracts and have since joined other clubs.

BBC Sport

Playing in the Championship for Stoke City won't harm Jack Butland's chances of playing for England, his manager claims.

City were relegated to the Championship last season and the 25-year-old, who was in the England squad at the World Cup, has been linked with a move away.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke start the new season with a trip to Leeds on Sunday, 5 August, with the transfer window closing on 9 August.

Rowett does not think that playing in the second tier will hamper Butland's chances of adding to his tally of caps - the last of which came in England's final World Cup warm-up match against Costa Rica on 7 June.

"He's still the same goalkeeper, still got the same ability and we all know he's a goalkeeper who could quite easily play at one of the top six clubs," Rowett said.

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

A woman whose sister died after she was splashed with sulphuric acid is calling for tougher sentences in cases of acid attacks.

Xeneral Webster, 19, was arguing with another man in High Wycombe when he took out a bottle of acid which splashed Joanne Rand head-to-toe.

Ms Rand, 47, was sitting on a bench after visiting her daughter's grave when the acid hit her on 3 June 2017.

Webster was yesterday jailed for 17 years after admitting manslaughter.

Ms Rand's sister, Jacqueline Joiner, lives in Redditch and says the family is still coming to terms with Joanne's death.

There's a "severe fire" at car garage in Smethwick, West Midlands Fire Service said.

Several cars at the unit are on fire and 10 crews are dealing with the blaze.

The incident is "potentially involving asbestos", the fire service said and advised people to keep doors and windows closed.

The smoke can be seen across Birmingham city centre.

Image source, Nigel Carter

Image source, Nick Spencer

BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Aston Villa want to sign Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham on a season-long loan but the 20-year-old English player is keen to stay in the Premier League. (Mail), external

Villa boss Steve Bruce is trying to sign West Ham's English striker Jordan Hugill, 26, and Wigan's English midfielder Nick Powell, 24.(Sun), external

Middlesbrough have rejected a bid from Premier League newcomers Wolves for 22-year-old Spanish winger Adama Traore.(Express & Star), external

Kristof Zwolinksi, who was found at a house on Sunday, died from blunt force injuries.

James Atherley has been found found guilty of the murder of Callum Lees.

Mr Lees, 20, was found in the street by a passer-by in Kingshurst, Solihull on 6 August and later died in hospital. He was stabbed in the neck.

Atherley, 22, of Wells Road, Solihull, will be sentenced this afternoon.

Image source, Family handout

Reports have been coming in about a plume of smoke that can be seen above Sandwell.

The smoke can be seen from Birmingham city centre.

There's a large fire around Rolfe Street in Smethwick, the fire service says.

A man has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Reagan Asbury who was stabbed to death when a fight broke out at an IBF Youth Lightweight event at Walsall Town Hall.

Tyrone Andrew, of St Helens Street in Derby, who fled the country following the fight, was found guilty following a five-week trial. He was cleared of murder.

The jury was told Reagan was stabbed in the neck last October.

Image source, West Midlands Police

BBC Business News

Energy giant E.ON has said it will cut 500 jobs in the UK.

The Coventry-based firm said the UK energy market is changing at an "unprecedented rate" and remains an "increasingly competitive" environment.

Image source, Getty Images

Chief executive Michael Lewis said: "We've undertaken a rigorous review of our options to ensure we keep costs as low as possible, become a more agile organisation and remain a sustainable business in the UK.

"In discussion with trade unions we've identified potential reductions of around 500 roles across the UK and we're committed to achieving these reductions on a voluntary basis wherever possible."

BBC Weather Watchers

Here's a couple of incredible sunset pictures taken by the BBC Weather Watchers.

Steve Rabone took this amazing snap in Earlswood, Warwickshire, while Dammo captured the next photo in Knowle, Solihull.

Image source, Steve Rabone

You can send us your weather pictures here.

Image source, Dammo

Worcester News

These are the headlines today for the Worcester News:

• 'Frightened' pensioners want clampdown on drug dealing at housing complex, external
• Man who damaged giraffe will be forced to clean other sculptures, external

• Model who overcame self-esteem issues over skin condition to climb mountain for charity, external

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The top stories on the Stoke-on-Trent Live page website include:

• 'Guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time' - family speak after A500 fatal crash, external
• Weapon-wielding thief went on six-week crime spree around city's supermarkets, external
• Firefighters told hospital to carry out 48 safety improvements after arson attack, external

A man who carried out an armed robbery at a shop has been sentenced to four-and-a-half-years in prison.

Jamie Considine, 25, of Beauchamp Road, Kenilworth pleaded guilty to robbery and being in possession of a bladed article.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Warwickshire Police said Considine approached the counter at the One Stop in Albion Street, Kenilworth, at about 22:00 on 2 August 2017.

He threatened a member of staff at knifepoint and when the member of staff couldn't open the till he shouted to another one of the robbers "just stab him", the force said.

The robbers fled with a quantity of cash before Considine was arrested the following day.

Frank Lampard's Derby to go up? Stoke to bounce back to the top flight? Predict your final Championship table.

The RSPCA has begun an investigation after a cygnet was killed by a dog near Coseley in Dudley.

Image source, RSPCA

The charity was contacted after reports of two men laughing as their dog attacked the baby swan on a bridle path.

It's thought the large akita-type dog dragged it down the path, while the men did nothing to stop it.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

A man has been taken to hospital with a serious head injury following an assault.

Police believe the attack took place on Woodstock Road, Cheylesmore, Coventry, before 05:00

Officers remain at the scene near the junction with Black Prince Avenue.

Joanne Malin
BBC Midlands Today

Hundreds of athletes are getting ready for the 2018 UK Transplant Games, which begin tomorrow in Birmingham.

All of the competitors have either donated or received an organ transplant.

One is 10-year-old Kristof from Kingswinford, Dudley, who was born with a rare genetic disease meaning he couldn't eat, walk or talk until he received a liver transplant.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

Three men have been charged with murder following the death of a man who was found with serious injuries.

Kristof Zwolinksi, 47, was discovered at a property in Hunters Road, Lozells, Birmingham at about 02:10 on Sunday. He later died in hospital.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Zwolinksi, from Poland, died from blunt force injuries.

Three men have been charged with murder and are due to appear before Birmingham Magistrate's Court later.

Det Insp Caroline Corfield, said: "We are yet to trace Kristof's family and we are working with the Polish authorities to identify them as soon as possible."