One was allegedly bitten on his forehead while a colleague suffered bruising to her face.

BBC Sport

A man from the West Midlands says judo helped him get through losing his sight - and he's now targeting competing in the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020.

Elliot Stewart, 30, from Bilston, was teaching the martial art in schools in the area when he started noticing his vision changing two years ago.

Image source, Getty Images

An operation stopped him from losing his sight completely, but he had to readjust his entire life.

Now, he and his brother Max are both aiming for the heights in 2020, with Max looking to compete in the Olympics.

They've been speaking to BBC Sport about the journey and how Elliot coped after his operation - read more here on the website.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Kerry Ashdown

Union leaders say they fear hundreds of jobs are at risk as part of a council's cost-cutting plan.

More than a dozen protesters gathered outside Staffordshire County Council's offices this morning, ahead of a cabinet meeting to discuss the proposed cuts to jobs and services.

The council needs to bridge a £35m funding gap and proposals include stopping funding for nearly 250 crossing patrols., external

It also wants to increase its share of council tax by 2.95% and will agree the budget next February.

The Unison trade union says it believes job losses will be "significant" but the authority says it'll protect front-line services for vulnerable people and communities "where possible".

Warwickshire are bowled out for 440 and reduce Sussex to 87-5 in reply before the hosts recover to 224-5 at Hove.

BBC Business News

House prices in the West Midlands rose the second-fastest in the UK compared with a year ago, according to official figures.

Image source, Getty Images

Annual growth in property values in the region stood at 4.4% by July, the Office for National Statistics said.

The fastest rise was in the North West, where prices went up by 5.6% year-on-year.

Councillor Richard Broughan wrote a letter of apology over the incidents.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

We're forecast more high winds over the next few days and there could be some rain too.

Temperatures will remain high though - as high as 23C (68F) in places.

Ravi Bopara makes 130 not out as Essex take a huge first-innings lead against Worcestershire, who reach stumps on 140-4.

Birmingham City's Rachel Williams has surgery on an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in training.

Dudley News

These stories are being covered by the Dudley News today:

• 'No more resources' to help vulnerable, says top West Midlands cop, external
• Zoo welcomes twin mini marras, external
• In pictures - Prince William's visit to Stourbridge, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A fire service says the strong winds from Storm Ali are hampering firefighters trying to work out what caused a blaze that ripped through a former cinema.

They were first called to the old Royalty Cinema in Harborne, Birmingham, just after midnight today.

Image source, Nick J Drake

Smoke and flames could be seen billowing from the roof of the building on High Street, which dates back to the 1930s.

The fire was put out this morning, but investigators trying to find the cause say some parts of the building are still dangerous to get to.

The service says there are also still hotspots from the blaze and the high winds are also making their work harder.

Baby and mother deaths, as well as birth injuries, are being reviewed at hospitals in Shropshire.

BBC News Travel

Drivers are facing delays on the M42 this afternoon after a lorry overturned., external

Police say it happened between J3 and J3A northbound, near Birmingham, but they say the vehicle has now been removed. , external

However there are still delays of around 30 minutes.

Officers use a double-decker bus to find and report motorists using their phones at the wheel.

Michael Buchanan
Social Affairs Correspondent, BBC News

More than 100 cases involving babies dying or suffering life-changing injuries are being investigated by a review into maternity care failings in Shropshire, the BBC understands.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has also confirmed it is taking urgent enforcement action against the maternity department at the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust.

In 2017, Jeremy Hunt ordered an investigation into maternity care at the trust and by last month it was revealed the review had been widened.

A spokesman for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said it was committed "to providing the best care possible for our patients and continues to engage fully with the CQC during our current, ongoing inspection".

He added that it would be "inappropriate to comment further" while representations are being considered by the CQC.”

NHS Improvement said it was "not in a position to confirm numbers at this stage".

The artwork, made by soldiers, had not been seen for 30 years after being mislabelled as a tram map.

A man and a woman have been taken to hospital after a tree fell on their car in Coventry this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance service said it happened near the junction of Deedmore Road and Ringwood Highway at 13:23.

The pair were taken to University Hospital Coventry with neck pain.

BBC News Travel

Trains between Shrewsbury and Wrexham are being delayed due to a fallen tree.

Arriva Trains Wales says services are having to run at reduced speeds and some could be cancelled., external

Saman Sdiq is wanted by Belgian authorities in connection with an organised criminal network.

Worcester News

Here are three headlines from the Worcester News today:

• Hospital apologises to mum after 'disgusting' treatment, external
• Patients treated in Worcester 'viewing room' for dead bodies, external
• Study reveals hotspots for loneliness in Worcester, external