A 25-year-old man has appeared in court charged with wounding after a police officer was struck by a car in Stafford.

Gurajdeep Malhi appeared at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court accused of wounding PC Claire Bond with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

He is further charged with driving dangerously, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

The officer sustained extensive leg injuries, including multiple fractures and a broken kneecap, in the crash on Sunday morning.

Lucy Maria Bullmore, 30, also appeared, accused of driving a Range Rover Evoque dangerously in Stafford on the same day and failing to provide a specimen for breath analysis.

Mr Malhi, of Charnley Road, Stafford, was remanded in custody to appear before Stafford Crown Court on 26 October while Ms Bullmore, of Morton Road, Stafford, was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on 29 October.

The trial of a father accused of murdering his eight-year-old daughter has been adjourned for a second successive day without hearing any evidence.

William Billingham, 55, who denies murdering Mylee Billingham, was absent from the dock on the sixth day of the trial at Birmingham Crown Court. He did not appear in court on Friday and Monday either.

Adjourning the case until Wednesday, Judge Paul Farrer QC told the jury panel: "He is physically in the building today but there are still legitimate concerns as to whether he is fit to carry on with the case.

Image source, Helen Tipper

"You will understand that this is a very serious allegation and before we carry on he needs to be further assessed.

"The consequence is that we are not able to continue today."

Mr Billingham, who attended the first three days of his trial, was said to have been unwell overnight on Friday.

The couple who found the 7ft boa constrictor have no idea how it got into their home.

A learning and development manager from the West Midlands has been named among the 16 contestants on this year's series of The Apprentice.

Jasmine Kundra, 34, says she's built her career on training others to better themselves.

The new series starts on BBC One at 21:00 on 3 October.

BBC News Travel

A crash involving seven vehicles has closed the M5 northbound between J5 and J4a in Worcestershire, Highways England says.

It's having a knock-on effect on the A38 and surrounding roads.

Drivers are being warned to expect delays in the area.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A party for up to 200 people in Digbeth, Birmingham has been blocked after nightclub bosses were accused of trying to flout council rules.

The Monastery wanted to host an event for students on all three floors of its venue on High Street in the early hours of 30 September.

Birmingham City Council chiefs were unhappy, alleging it had already held a dozen similar parties this year despite the fact its licence stipulated it could only use the first floor.

A licensing sub committee met yesterday on the matter.

Image source, Google

Safety issues had been previously raised about the ground and second floors of the 100-year-old building.

Co-owner Billy Chauhan said since then, £38,000 had been spent renovating the building and argued the two floors were safe, telling the committee that West Midlands Fire Service had withdrawn previous objections to their use.

Wasps Rugby is set to build a permanent training base at The Crofts; the current home of Old Leamingtonians rugby club, it's been announced., external

Image source, Wasps Rugby

The move was decided during an Extraordinary General Meeting at the Leamington Spa club on Monday, with members voting in favour of entering into a contract to develop their home ground at Bericote Road.

Wasps had previously planned to build a facility at the Alan Higgs Centre in Coventry, which Coventry City Football Club said would threaten its youth academy.

Wasps chief executive Nick Eastwood said a planning application would be drawn up, adding Old Leamingtonians would continue to operate from its current training base at Broadstreet RFC.

Two gannets are being cared for by the RSPCA in Nantwich after being "blown off course" in the recent heavy winds.

The charity's Rachel Butler commented on Twitter , externalto say the species was a rare visitor at its centre, adding: "It's not every day you get to see them up close."

Image source, RSPCA

New students in Coventry are being given the chance to find out what happens behind the scenes at BBC Radio 1.

Nick Grimshaw will be at the free event along with presenters and producers, hosted by the university's Student Union. , external

Chaman Lal and Vidya Wati were treated for minor injuries after the incident at Upland Fruits.

An investigation into a flat fire in which council tenants died will not end in prosecution amid difficulties proving there was an offence, the fire service says.

Zainab Adama, 36, and her daughter Tafoual Fadul, six, died following a blaze at the ground floor property on Ringland Close, Hanley, last year.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said an initial investigation found the blaze started accidentally and involved an electric storage heater that was close to clothing. The BBC reported in February the heater was wall-mounted.

Since then, the service said it had worked with police to investigate the circumstances and identify whether there was evidence for prosecution under fire safety regulations.

A spokesperson said "a number of avenues" were explored, but the "complex circumstances of the incident, including the history of the building and flat involved", meant they were unable to identify "to the standard of proof required by law" that an offence had been committed.

A council statement said it was supporting the family.

Wasps move a step closer to building a new permanent training ground in the West Midlands.

BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves are expected to make changes for their Carabao Cup tie with Leicester after starting the same XI for all six Premier League games this season.

Adama Traore, Romain Saiss, Leo Bonatini, Leander Dendoncker and Kortney Hause could all feature.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side take on Leicester at Molineux, with a 19:45 kick off.

The city council plans to spend £7.5m redeveloping a city-centre shopping precinct.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Crewe manager David Artell says fans have every right to criticise him following the poor start to the season.

They've taken eight points from eight games with a low goal tally.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was shot during a "targeted attack" at a flat in Nuneaton.

A 38-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his leg during the incident at Merevale Court at about 20:30 on Monday.

He remains in hospital with potentially life-changing injuries, says Warwickshire Police.

Express and Star

From the Express and Star:

• No charges in missing university student investigation, external
• Former councillor broke rules over 'highly offensive' messages, external

• Manufacturing support boost generates nearly 300 SME jobs, external

The Chief Executive of the Dudley Group NHS Trust is due to report on the struggling Russells Hall Hospital’s A&E department today.

Image source, Google

A&E is being investigated amid concerns over the deaths of 54 patients in a six-month period.

Diane Wake is due to speak with councillors later after local MPs called on the trust’s chair of governors to consider their future.

In its latest inspection, the Care Quality Commission rated Russells Hall as "inadequate", with its most serious criticism aimed at the A&E department.

Residents boost their fitness outdoors using forks, rakes and spades to improve their neighbourhood.

Coventry Live

On the Coventry Live website:

• Police searching for van driver after boy and man injured in hit-and-run, external
• "There was blood everywhere" - terror as gang attacks family home, external
• Stolen BMW nearly knocks over car salesman, external