Allen Cook
BBC News

The sister and ex-fiance of midwife Samantha Eastwood have been to see the flowers at her home in Stoke-on-Trent, external, after her body was found at the weekend.

Image source, PA

She was discovered in rural ground near Caverswall, Staffordshire, on Saturday, eight days after she was reported missing.

This afternoon, her younger sister Gemma Eastwood visited her house and looked at the dozens of cards and flowers left by other people.

This morning, 32-year-old Michael Stirling appeared in court charged with the 28-year-old's murder and was remanded in custody.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

It should be a dry and clear night with just a few patches of cloud and lows of 13C (55F).

Fashion brand chooses double amputee Daisy-May Demetre to model clothing range.

Ledbury Reporter

The Ledbury Reporter's covering these stories today:

• Five-year-old urges company to ditch plastic straws, external
• Tatty bus stop set to be replaced, external
• Firefighters stop fire spreading to neighbouring fields, external

Robert Eacock died from a single stab wound after he was attacked in Hereford city centre in January.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

Specialists for a cricket bat manufacturer in Essex have travelled to Shropshire today to get hold of the wood for their bats - before it cracks in the hot weather.

Image source, Getty Images

Dairy farmer Andrew Bebb, from Hanwood, planted 11 willow trees 18 years ago and they're now ready to be cut down.

He says the conditions in the county are ideal for growing willow and, while the trees themselves haven't been affected by the heatwave, it does mean the bats need to be made quickly or the wood cracks.

The team from Essex will be taking the wood away to make it into about 40 to 50 bats.

BBC News Travel

All railway lines are shut between Crewe and Shrewsbury this evening.

Arriva Trains Wales says it's due to a track defect that's been found and all routes are facing disruption., external

Birmingham City are in talks to sign Cardiff City striker Omar Bogle on a season-long loan deal.

A man is in a critical condition in hospital after being found unconscious with serious head injuries.

The man, in his early 50s, was found in Gravelly Hill, Erdington at about 02:50.

He sustained fractures to his arm and skull, after, it's believed, he was struck with a blunt object, said West Midlands Police., external

Officers are looking for a man in his 60s with long grey dreadlocks, who was seen shouting at the victim.

Arthur Stonehouse killed his wife Tracy, who suffered multiple stab wounds, at their Solihull home.

Two men have been jailed for life for the murder of a Hereford father in a revenge killing over drugs.

Image source, Family Handout

Robert Eacock (pictured above), 33, died in hospital after suffering a single stab wound on Commercial Street on 29 January.

Anthony Boyd (below, right), 23, of Temple Road, Willenhall, and Artaf Hussain, 32, of The Hill Avenue, Worcester were found guilty last week at Worcester Crown Court.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Today, the pair were both handed life sentences and told they'd serve a minimum of 25 years in jail.

The number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment at two Cheshire hospitals has almost quadrupled in 12 months.

Mid Cheshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said 1,011 patients at Crewe's Leighton Hospital and Victoria Infirmary in Northwich had suffered the long waits following referrals in June 2018.

This compared to 271 patients in June 2017.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A woman has died after the car she was in came off a road and rolled into a field., external

Image source, Google

The crash happened yesterday afternoon on the B5062 in Newport heading towards Tibberton, police say.

Officers say they don't yet know why the car mounted the grass verge which caused it to roll over.

A 52-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 56-year-old man was taken to hospital.

West Midlands Police urged to carry out more effective checks and auditing of ammunition by IOPC.

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these top stories today:

• Carer stole card and money from elderly client with dementia, external
• Couple relieved to take dog home after judge says he is safe, external
• Young readers flock to meet favourite authors, external

Young fawns are among 15 deer shot dead in a suspected poaching incident in the Wyre Forest.

Chanise Evans
BBC Online

Today marks 56 years since Jamaica gained its independence.

To celebrate, local people went to the Birmingham council building for the annual flag raising.

The dignitaries included Birmingham Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito.

BBC WM Sport

There's no "quick fix" for getting Aston Villa back on track, says the manager, as their Championship season gets under way in Hull this evening,

Since missing out on promotion to the Premier League in the play-off final three months ago, it’s been an eventful summer for the club.

Villa's financial worries were eased by the investment of two billionaires in July

Manager Steve Bruce said club’s new investors have given him their full support.

BBC News Travel

The M6 northbound carriageway has been shut at junction 15, the turn-off for Stoke-on-Trent, after the vehicle fire earlier.

Image source, CMPG

The Central Motorway Police Group says the road is going to have to be resurfaced , externaland that will be done tonight.

Highways England says drivers should take the A500 diversion , externaland expect long delays in the area.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Kerry Ashdown

Business rates and council tax owed to a council and totalling more than £130,000 have been written off.

Stafford Borough Council says it hasn't been able to get payment for five cases of business rate arrears of £86,766 and 12 cases of unpaid council tax worth £45,760.

The report to the council says it's made efforts to trace the debtors but hasn't been successful - the cabinet approved the write off.