Allen Cook
BBC News

A wildlife park says it's "confident" of capturing a wallaby which has escaped.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Staffordshire Police had last night tweeted about reports of a kangaroo on the loose in Wombourne. , external

However, Wild Zoological Park in Bobbington, near Wolverhampton, says the animal is one of its own, called Holly. , external

It says she managed to get out through the perimeter fence on Tuesday and she's "very friendly" and "content eating grass and sunbathing".

Keepers have been tracking Holly and they say if anyone spots her, to leave her alone and call them.

The ambulance service has described a case of thieves breaking into an ambulance in Stoke-on-Trent as, external "appalling" and a "despicable crime".

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

The crew was responding to the emergency in Hanley at 01:30 when they returned to find the vehicle's windows had been smashed.

The thieves took a purse and keys along with medical supplies, although Staffordshire Police confirmed "nothing that is dangerous was taken".

Delroy Forrester inflicted more than 100 wounds on his great-niece by beating her with a table leg.

BBC WM Sport

The Birmingham Bears have taken their battle for a T20 Blast Quarter Final place to their final group game against Worcestershire tomorrow night.

It follows a ruthless seven-wicket win over Lancashire at Edgbaston last night - with man-of-the-match Ollie Hannon Dalby taking 4 wickets for 20 runs.

The Bears then reached their target of 103 with 35 balls to spare.

This morning Ian Bell tweeted his reaction:

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star's covering these stories today:

• Future Fit: Ambulance boss says more 999 staff needed, external
• Telford residents fed up of life ‘on building site’, external
• Trip down memory lane for ex-Flaxmill workers as restoration continues, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A kangaroo on the loose has been reported to police - although it may actually be a wallaby.

Staffordshire Police officers in Wombourne and Kinver say they were investigating the reports last night in the Bridgnorth Road area., external

Image source, Getty Images

However local news blog Wombourne Online says it's actually a wallaby , external"escapee" from Wild Zoological Park in Bobbington, near Wolverhampton.

When contacted by the BBC, the park has so far only confirmed it has "a single wallaby out" but didn't confirm if it's been recaptured.

Staffordshire Police added that officers hadn't found the animal, but would "hop to it if we get any further reports".

A deal to restart and finish construction of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital has been done, according to the West Midlands Mayor.

Building of the hospital in Smethwick came to a halt in January when the construction giant Carillion collapsed with debts of £1.5bn.

Earlier this year, hospital bosses warned building costs could rise by £125m due to Carillion pulling out.

This lunchtime Andy Street has tweeted, external saying he's "really pleased we have reached the deal to complete the construction".

We'll bring you more on this later.

BBC Midlands Today

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue has announced it is to recruit more on-call firefighters for Tamworth Community Fire Station. , external

The service says it has a shortage of retained firefighters and is now looking for people aged over 18 who live or work within five minutes of the station.

A training course is being offered at the services headquarters.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

A man who bludgeoned his 11-year-old great-niece to death has been found guilty of her manslaughter.

Image source, Family handout

A jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court found him not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

Delroy Forrester, 51, formerly of Lower Villiers Street in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, denied murdering Jasmine Forrester on the basis he was "legally insane" at the time of the killing.

He’ll be sentenced on 24 September.

Thousands of A-level students around the Midlands have been discovering their results this morning.

Across the country, students have been awarded the highest proportion of As and A*s since 2012, although the number awarded A* to C has dropped slightly.

Image source, Getty Images

For many it's now a chance to relax and enjoy what's left of the summer before moving on to university, vocational training or work.

But for those who didn't get the grades they wanted, BBC Education has been finding out why clearing is "not the end of the world".

Dave Wade
BBC News

A man has died after a crash between a motorbike and a campervan in the Peak District yesterday.

Image source, Google

A white Yamaha R1 bike collided with a Peugeot motorhome on Old Coalpit Lane, Chelmorton, near Buxton.

The road links the the A515 and the A6.

The rider - a 46-year-old man from Leek in Staffordshire - died at the scene.

Derbyshire Police are appealing for dashcam footage or CCTV.

A man in his 50s has died in what police are describing as a hit-and-run crash near Shipston-on-Stour, in Warwickshire, this morning.

A 24-year-old man from Wiltshire has been arrested after the pedestrian in his 50s died by the roadside.

Police said the man was struck on the A429, external near the Darlingscott crossroads at about 04:45.

It's believed the man was hit by an HGV, which failed to stop, officers say.

The road remains closed between Tredington Island and the crossroads while investigations are carried out.

Express and Star

These stories are among the stories on the Express and Star's website today:

• Bus timetable changes across Dudley and Sandwell in major service shake-up, external
• Blow for Wolverhampton Interchange project as car park bought by rival bidder, external
• Arson attacks leap by four times in Staffordshire compared to last year, external

A six-year-old boy who was "mowed down" by an off-road biker is said to be making a "good recovery".

Mikaeel Miah was with his dad and eight-month-old sibling when he was hit by a scrambler bike in Burbury Park, Lozells, in June.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The boy had to undergo emergency surgery to put metal plates and pins into his leg.

This morning, police have renewed their appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A wildlife trust says it "could take years" to restore the natural environment that's been damaged by a large fire on a moorland nature reserve.

Image source, Alsager Fire Station

Firefighters are still at the scene of the blaze at The Roaches, in Upper Hulme, Staffordshire, since it began last Thursday.

While there was more rain overnight, the fire service has said it hasn't put the fire out as the peat under the surface keeps smouldering.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust says it's worried some small birds may have been caught up in it along with slow-moving wildlife, like lizards.

Birmingham City sign Brentford centre-back Harlee Dean on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

BBC Sport

Brexit could be "damaging" to English football, the chairman of Stoke City has claimed.

Peter Coates says the Premier League could be hit by freedom-of-movement restrictions.

Image source, Getty Images

Responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, Sport Minister Tracey Crouch said the government "absolutely recognises the value of sport to the UK" and "is determined to ensure that our sport sector continues to flourish".

Currently, players from the EU are allowed to play professional football in England as part of freedom-of-movement rules, while those from outside the EU need work permits.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Coventry's Belgrade Theatre is to celebrate its 60th anniversary by creating a new beer in conjunction with a local brewery.

The theatre is teaming up with Twisted Barrel to brew a session IPA called Break-a-Keg.

Image source, Belgrade Theatre

Birmingham Live

Some of the stories to feature on Birmingham Live today:

• Birmingham mosques attacked by ball-bearing thugs during evening prayers, external - armed police called
• Birmingham city centre police inspector charged over indecent child images, external
• Masked sledgehammer gang storm out of van in Sutton Coldfield, external

Armed police were deployed to two mosques in Birmingham last night after they were attacked with catapults.

West Midlands Police were called to Masjid Qamarul Islam mosque on Fosbrooke Road in Small Heath, at about 22:00 and the Al-Hijrah mosque on Hob Moor Road 20 minutes later.

Image source, Google

Windows were smashed at the mosques when ball bearings were thrown during evening prayers.

Police said firearms officers were deployed as a precaution and continue to patrol the local areas to reassure members of the public.