Live updates from Monday 10 September to Sunday 16 September
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Allen Cook
BBC News
A passenger's been spotted this afternoon sharpening an axe on a train in the Sutton Coldfield area.
West Midlands Police tweeted, external to say "it's not the best idea" and that the owner had "seen the error of his ways" and handed it over to their officers.
Image source, West Midlands Police
BBC Politics
A Shropshire MP is among a group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs who have set out their own plan for avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland after Brexit.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe European Research Group said the issue had been allowed to "frame" the talks but need not block a trade deal.
They call for "effective co-operation" between Belfast and Dublin to address smuggling concerns and extra customs forms to be included in VAT returns.
The EU has insisted on a "backstop" to ensure the single market is protected.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary and North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson said he and other MPs were trying to "help the European Union and the UK government" by "giving an answer" to a problem which has risked derailing the Brexit process.
He insisted there was "absolutely nothing new" in what the group was proposing because the solutions already exist to deliver "an ordered border".
BBC Politics
The Conservative MP for Lichfield Michael Fabricant has asked the prime minister at PMQs what she will to do promote high-tech enterprises in the West Midlands.
Image source, HoCMs May, who was at a zero-emissions vehicle summit in the West Midlands yesterday, said the growth of high-tech manufacturing in the area "continues to drive investment" and provides a boost for jobs
Mr Fabricant also took the opportunity to champion "silicon canal" - the West Midlands answer to Silicon Valley "but without the sunshine" - supporting some 2,000 jobs.
Sport Direct shareholders are meeting for their annual general meeting today.
Chairman Mike Ashley used the occasion to herald his plan to "transform House of Fraser into the Harrods of the high street".
Ashley bought the retailer for £90m last month after it entered administration.
Several stores across the country, including Telford, have been saved from closure, although the future is less certain for those in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Worcester, Shrewsbury and Leamington.
Sport Direct also has a 30% stake in Debenhams.
The Victorian Society's annual list exposes the plight facing Victorian and Edwardian buildings.
Read MoreThese stories are being covered by the Crewe Chronicle today:
BBC News Travel
All railway lines between Birmingham New Street and Nuneaton are blocked this afternoon after a freight train's derailed., external
National Rail Enquiries says it's happened between Coleshill Parkway and Nuneaton - replacement bus services are now running along the route., external
It says it expects the disruption to last until at least 18:00., external
David Landau
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
Fifteen more Lloyds Bank branches are set to close by March, as part of as restructuring of the business.
They include Madeley in Telford, external and Earlsdon in Coventry, external.
Image source, GoogleLloyds said fewer people were using its branches, opting for mobile and online banking services instead.
In Madeley, it said only 15 customers regularly used the branch each week, while in Ealsdon there were 29 regular weekly customers.
The Accord union says there have been no compulsory redundancies in the process until now.
MPs have been taking evidence on how to boost the achievement of children from the traveller community in the West Midlands.
The Commons Women and Equalities committee is trying to find out why Gypsy, Roma and Traveller young people have the worst educational outcomes of any ethnic group.
Quote MessageIn our research at Birmingham we've found that many parents and indeed children talk about the ways in which they don't feel that they are represented within an inclusive curriculum. I think that's hugely important because that would help to break down stereotypes and barriers that are continually depicted in the media."
Professor Kalwant Bhopal, University of Birmingham
David Bishop from Birmingham City Council says if low attendance is an issue, then low achievement follows.
The grey skies of yesterday have been firmly replaced today with blue skies, as far as these photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers show.
These three are from users Chris OB in Kingsbury, Warwickshire, Osmunda in No Man's Heath, Cheshire and Margrose in Northwick, Worcestershire:
Image source, Chris OB
Image source, Osmunda
Image source, MargroseSir Bill Cash called for a full public inquiry into the project during a Westminster Hall debate.
Read MoreA man who has been jailed for a minimum of 29 years after strangling a mother-of-two during sex to her death has 171 previous criminal convictions.
Convictions range over a 27-year period, include several involving assault and violence against women, and dishonesty.
Richard Bailey, claimed Charlotte Teeling, died accidentally during "rough sex" at his Birmingham flat.
Her half-naked body was found by police at the 41-year-old's flat several days later, after police discovered through CCTV that her debit card had been used by Bailey.
Image source, Family handoutMs Teeling had suffered injuries to her neck and mouth and a bone fracture near the base of her tongue, the court heard.
Quote MessageHis claims of sexual fantasy and panic were pure fiction. Once he realised what he had done he did not call the emergency services. He instead slept on a mattress in the same room as Charlotte's body before abandoning her in his flat and stealing her debit card."
Jason Corden-Bowen, District crown prosecutor
West Midlands Police said they are still investigating the circumstances around the victim's death.
Read MoreThese stories are being covered on the Shropshire Star's website today:
Warwickshire take another significant step towards promotion by beating Leicestershire by an innings and 104 runs.
Read MoreAllen Cook
BBC News
England all-rounder Moeen Ali will be available for Worcestershire to play in the T20 Blast finals day this weekend and for their last County Championship game.
Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty ImagesThe club says the 31-year-old's been released by England, external for the matches after he played in their final Test of the summer against India.
This weekend will mark Worcestershire's first appearance on T20 Blast Finals Day.
Baz Bailey is determined to stop his son Rio taking illegal synthetic drug monkey dust.
Read More
Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire
Part of a main road in Telford has been shut from today for six days, external so one of Europe’s largest cranes can be reassembled to lift another section of a bridge.
Crane's visit in June
Telford and Wrekin Council says it'll be used this weekend, if weather conditions allow, to move the main span of the crossing into position from the railway station to the town centre.
The crane was used in June to lift the rail section of the bridge into place.
But the crane is so large, it'll take three days to put together and arrived today on 16 lorries.
Image source, Telford and Wrekin CouncilThe A442 Eastern Primary is now shut until 18 September so it can be assembled and for the bridge lift.
Allen Cook
BBC News
Parts of a bungalow have been left badly damaged after a fire caused a floor to collapse and flames to burst through the roof., external
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceFire crews were called to the home on Long Lane, Derrington, near Stafford, on Saturday.
They say the people inside the bungalow at first thought their room was "unusually warm" and moved to another bedroom, before their smoke alarm went off.
The service says it turned out heat from their dual fuel burner had started the fire in the ceiling space between the living room and a bedroom.
Richard Bailey, who has 171 previous convictions, claimed Charlotte Teeling died accidentally.
Read More
