John Bray
BBC News

Campaigners are highlighting concerns over the future of the building that is home to Birmingham's House of Fraser store.

The retailer is struggling and the Brutiful Birmingham group thinks it could spell the end for the city centre site - still known to many Brummies as Rackhams; the department store that predated House of Fraser's tenure.

It is one of several buildings built in the 1950s, 60s and 70s to feature in a special walk on Sunday as part of Birmingham Heritage Week, external.

Brutiful Birmingham fears the examples of 20th century architecture could potentially be lost forever as the city's overhaul continues.

Cycling fans have been meeting Tour de France winners Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome in Nuneaton this morning.

They're in town to take part in the latest stage of the Tour of Britain race.

New Zealand's Patrick Bevin holds the overall lead, and the cyclists race between Nuneaton and Leamington Spa today.

Some of the stars of cycling, including Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, have started to arrive in Warwickshire for the latest stage of the Tour of Britain.

The racers will be passing through Nuneaton and Leamington today.

BBC News Travel

Trains are being delayed through Lichfield this morning.

West Midlands Railway says it's after a vehicle's hit a bridge, external

Stoke-on-Trent Live

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

• Stoke-on-Trent family caught guns when they went magnet fishing in a river, external
• 'My child was put in isolation for not having the right trousers!' - parents slam school, external
• Angry mum-of-three smashed neighbour's window with 'large' axe, external

BBC Midlands Today

An independent commission into crisis-hit Birmingham Prison has been ruled out by prisons minister Rory Stewart.

He was responding to a call from Birmingham Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne, who also said additional staffing and investment were needed.

Mr Stewart told MPs he understands what happened at Birmingham without the need for an additional independent report.

Last month, the government took over the prison from the private firm G4S, after inspectors said it had fallen into a "state of crisis".

Former leadership hopeful Aimee Challenor accused the Green Party of "losing respect" for LGBT rights.

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these stories today:

• Masked men raid supermarket ATM and allegedly throw rocks at witnesses, external
• Swimming pool set for £15,000 cash injection, external
• Service honours soldiers killed in Battle of Worcester, external

Hazel Morgan
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Dozens of pupils have not been allowed in lessons at a school this week for wearing the wrong design of trousers, according to parents who've spoken to BBC Radio Stoke.

They say the action's been taken by St Peter's Academy in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, over a lack of purple trim on the clothing.

Parents who've spoken to BBC Radio Stoke say around 90 pupils have been put into isolation this week because of the policy which they've labelled "disgusting".

The school's been approached for a response.

On Monday, it posted on its Facebook page to warn parents that it needed pupils to wear new trousers and skirts and any student in the incorrect uniform wouldn't be allowed in lessons., external

Suspected members of National Action were arrested in Birmingham, Halifax and Nottingham.

Shropshire Council has started legal proceedings against The New Saints football club, over a payment of £80,000 for stadium improvements.

The local authority says the money was a grant which hasn't been paid back, but TNS says it has met the terms of the agreement and owes the council nothing.

Shropshire Council said The New Saints received the sum six years ago "on the understanding it would be repaid", but only £10,000 had been recovered.

The money was used to pay for a 500-seat stand at the club's Park Hall Stadium, in Oswestry, so it could play European matches.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two men from Birmingham are among five people arrested on suspicion of being members of the banned far-right group National Action. , external

Police say the group are aged from 17 to 22 and are all being held at a police station in the West Midlands.

The force said they will be questioned on suspicion of being members of a proscribed organisation (National Action) contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act.

Counter terrorism police made the arrests and say several properties are now being searched in connection with the arrests.

Boxer Amir Khan performed a public workout in in preparation for his next bout with Samuel Vargas.

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

A police officer and a member of the public have been hurt as they tried to stop money being stolen from a cash machine., external

Image source, Google

The alarm was raised just after midnight on Tuesday said West Mercia Police, with reports of four offenders attempting to remove cash from the ATM at Sainsbury's on Buttercup Walk, Malvern.

The force says the officer and onlooker only suffered minor injuries and the four suspects fled with money.

Officers say a stolen black Audi A4, which they believe was used to get to and from the supermarket, was later found abandoned.

BBC Midlands Today

This year’s Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas will be racing in the Midlands today.

Image source, EPA

The Welshman will be taking part in stage four of the Tour of Britain, from Nuneaton to Leamington, over a distance of 183.5km.

Thomas won the famous yellow jersey in France in July. He’ll be joined in Team Sky by four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome.

The current overall leader of the Tour of Britain is New Zealand's Patrick Bevin who came second in yesterday's third stage.

BBC Sport

Worcestershire will be looking to try and recover today against Hampshire on day two of their County Championship Division One relegation battle.

The Pears had started well, bowling out their visitors for 191 with England Lions all-rounder Ed Barnard (pictured) taking 6-50.

But they then slumped to 68-4 in reply by stumps.

Image source, Getty Images

In Division Two, Warwickshire will be hoping ex-England batsman Jonathan Trott can build on his unbeaten 67 against Durham.

The Bears had been 114-5 at one stage before Trott helped them to 184-6 as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Both games can be followed on BBC local radio commentary or via the BBC Cricket website.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

An inquest into the death of a 13-year-old boy whose body was found at a lake is due to resume today., external

Image source, Haywood Academy

Ryan Evans was found in Westport Lake, Stoke-on-Trent, in June, two days after he was seen "in distress" while swimming.

The inquest was opened and adjourned in July.

Express and Star

The Express and Star's covering these stories today:

• New shops planned for old Wolverhampton BHS building, external
• Dementia patients at Wolverhampton care home to benefit from 'ground-breaking' therapy, external
• Six people injured in Walsall three-car crash, external

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

Coventry could get more electric taxis as a new programme to encourage cab drivers to make the switch is launched.

Around 1,500 people are employed in the city at the London Electric Vehicle Company that makes the cars.

The new scheme from the city council includes incentives worth £2,500 for Coventry's taxi drivers interested in switching to cleaner vehicles.

BBC News England

Thousands of people in the UK were charged twice for debit card payments.

The error occurred due to an issue with a particular card terminal run by Cardnet, a joint venture between Lloyds Bank and First Data.

Image source, Simon Alton

Among those affected is Simon Alton, 39, who discovered he had paid twice for a meal at Côte Brasserie, in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, last Wednesday.

Mr Alton, who works in PR, said he had spent about £60, adding: "The restaurant's been very good. As far as we know, we'll get the money back."

Côte Brasserie has been approached for comment.

Lloyds Banking Group said people would be refunded and just under 5% of Cardnet machine transactions were affected during part of 29 August.