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Stoke City manager Gary Rowett has promised fans he won't keep selecting players based on their reputation alone.

But he says he will also give players a chance to perform.

"Sometimes you have a choice as a manager. You can keep changing [underperforming] players or you can show them a bit of faith."

Stoke are without a win since 25 August.

It's thought a gas canister was used to damage a cash machine in West Bromwich early this morning.

West Midlands Police said it was used to cause an explosion at the machine outside the BP petrol station on Walsall Road.

Image source, Google

No money was taken.

Bins have been installed in a number of police stations around Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire in which the public can surrender knives.

West Mercia Police says people who take part in the week-long initiative will not have to give any personal details and will not face prosecution for carrying them.

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Former Port Vale captain Phil Sproson says a number of players have been choosing not to shoot despite getting into good scoring positions.

He says new striker Ricky Miller is one of those who needs to start pulling the trigger more often, after finding the net just once this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Port Vale are 16th in League One and have scored nine goals in their first eight games.

Essex reach 252-5 on day one at Chelmsford after paceman Jamie Porter's 7-41 skittles Worcestershire for 94.

Taxi drivers do not have to operate within the local authority area that grants his or her licence.

Hereford Times

From the Hereford Times website:

• Safety inspection delays trains, external
• Woman victim of attempted robbery in underpass, external
• Liz Hurley's dog wins prize at village show, external

The Bishop of Worester has warned church leaders that they must work harder to make their places of worship more fun for parishioners.

John Inge told the first National Cathedrals Conference in Manchester that too many churches were like ‘mausoleums’ because they didn't welcome visitors outside service times.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

There will be some cloud and patchy rain this evening, but it should clear leaving a mainly dry night with lows of 13C (55F).

Division Two leaders Warwickshire take control on the opening day against Sussex as Ian Bell hits an unbeaten ton.

A Telford-based project to support people abused during childhood has had its initial council funding extended until March.

The Holly Project is run by victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE), in conjunction with the YMCA in Wellington.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

Telford and Wrekin Council says it will spend another £200,000 to help survivors of abuse over the next two years.

A passenger on a bus that killed two people when it ploughed into Sainsbury's said he thought he would die.

Frank Foley worked undercover in Berlin providing visas to thousands of Jews fleeing persecution.

Four women and a man, all Romanian fruit pickers, died in the crash with Zbigniew Grzabel's lorry.

The Duke of Cambridge has visited a Selly Oak hospice, first opened by his mother, Diana Princess of Wales.

Image source, Acorns Hospice

The visit marked the 30th anniversary of the Acorns Children's Hospice site.

The duke is also due to unveil a statue honouring war hero Frank Foley in Stourbridge today.

Coventry Live

On the Coventry Live website:

• Two men shot in Far Gosford Street, external
• Terror police searching addresses in Coventry, external
• Bus crash driver made 'absolute fundamental error' jury told, external

Support staff at Staffordshire University have been on the picket line again today in a dispute over changes to their pensions.

It's their fifth day of action outside the university building in College Road, Stoke-on-Trent.

Image source, Google

The University says its held extensive discussions with UNISON and is offering a "quality pension".

A bus driver whose double decker plowed into a branch of Sainsbury's was driving dangerously when he caused the deaths of a pedestrian and seven-year-old passenger, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court has ruled.

Image source, Haroon Mota / PA

Kailash Chander, who was 77 at the time of the 2015 crash, had been judged medically unfit to enter a plea to charges brought over the deaths. Today's proceedings bring to an end a trial of the facts.

The crash happened in Trinity Street, Coventry, killing pedestrian Dora Hancox, 76, and passenger, schoolgirl Rowan Fitzgerald.

A 61-year-old lorry driver accused of causing the deaths of five people by dangerous driving has been found not guilty.

Zbigniew Grzabel from Tipton was driving a Mercedes HGV on the M6 when it crashed with a Nissan Micra near junction 14 in May last year.

Image source, PA

The jury at Stafford Crown Court, which was out for just under two-and-a-half hours, also found him not guilty of a count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

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There was early optimism for Worcestershire when they claimed the wicket of Essex opener Nick Browne, but since then, things have gone the way of the home side at Chelmsford.

Replying to Worcestershire's 94 all out, they reached 138-2 at tea on day one, with Tom Westley unbeaten on 46.

Image source, Getty Images

Josh Tounge and Wayne Parnell have taken the wickets.