In the papers: Police scrap alliancepublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
The Ledbury Reporter's covering these stories today:
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In the papers: Police scrap alliancepublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Staff background checks 'inadequate' at pre-schoolpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Emily LloydA pre-school's been criticised by inspectors for failing to carry out background checks on staff.
Image source, GoogleOfsted's latest report rated Oswestry Methodist Church Pre-School, Shropshire, as inadequate,, external saying it didn't have records to show new staff were properly vetted.
Managers at the school are blaming an "admin error" and say they're working to sort out the issue within a two-month deadline imposed by Ofsted.
Bridge repairs finish today after lorry smashpublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsRepairs to a bridge which was badly damaged when it was hit by a lorry will be finished today,, external ahead of schedule.
Image source, Shropshire CouncilThe HGV collided with Soulton Bridge, near Wem, Shropshire, in November 2017.
Shropshire Council's been carrying out repairs since the start of September, externalwith traffic lights in place, and they now say those will be removed tomorrow, with the work finishing by the end of today.
Image source, Shropshire Council'Big four' audit firms face competition probepublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
BBC Business NewsThe dominance of the "big four" accountancy firms - Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC - is set to be scrutinised following widespread concerns.
Image source, AFPIt follows criticism of the auditors of collapsed construction firm Carillion.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it would probe whether the sector is "competitive and resilient enough to maintain high quality standards".
Michael Izza, chief executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), welcomed the investigation.
'Victory' for university over Brexit email demandspublished at 18:33 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
A university's claiming a "significant victory for free speech" after being told it was right not to release details of emails about Brexit., external
The University of Worcester says the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has ruled it doesn't have to release all emails to and from the Vice Chancellor which contain the word Brexit., external
The near year-long saga started last year, when then-government whip Chris Heaton-Harris wrote to universities asking for the names of professors who teach Brexit courses.
The Vice Chanceller at Worcester, David Green, refused and the university says that led to several other attempts to get the information under the Freedom of Information Act.
It turned two of them down and now says the ICO has supported its decision, saying revealing the information would stop the "free and frank exchange of views" for discussions.
CCTV image released after attempted robberypublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsA CCTV image has been released of three people police say they want to speak to in connection with an attempted robbery at a post office., external
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceOfficers were called yesterday morning to the branch on Eaves Lane, Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, to reports of two people armed with a small handgun, demanding money from the till.
They say the postmaster refused to give them cash and they fled with a third person on motorbikes.
Police chief 'disappointed' over alliance decisionpublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Warwickshire's police chief says he's "surprised and disappointed" at the West Mercia force's decision to pull out of an alliance.
Chief Constable Martin Jelley said it was "clearly a decision which has been taken solely by West Mercia’s PCC and chief constable and one which myself and the Warwickshire PCC do not support".
The two forces joined an alliance in 2013, saving more than £35m and "maximising resources to frontline policing", he said.
Warwickshire's police and crime commissioner, Philip Seccombe said the "implications of this decision are significant", and said he would be working to "minimise any impact on communities".
Trains to stop at fewer stations in leaf fall timetablepublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsTrain passengers are being warned some services will stop at fewer stations over the next couple of months as a new timetable comes in., external
Image source, West Midlands RailwayWest Midlands Railway is preparing for the impact of leaf fall and says, outside of peak hours, some trains will miss out stops to help keep services on time.
The new timetable comes in on Monday and will last until 7 December, affecting services between Lichfield, Redditch and Bromsgrove, via Birmingham New Street.
The operator says it's also using four "leaf-buster" trains to clear leaves off the lines with high-pressure water jets, as leaves can make the railway lines slippery., external
Changing seasons herald stormy autumnpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
What happens now the conference talking has stopped?
Read MoreIn the papers: Shop broken intopublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
These stories are being covered by the Hereford Times today:
University can keep Brexit emails privatepublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
The University of Worcester's vice-chancellor said the request was "against the public interest".
Read MoreVideo: What's the weather got in store?published at 17:23 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenterIt should be a dry night, with clear skies and lows of 7C (45F).
Media caption, Latest weather for the West Midlands
Man jailed for raping seven-year-old boypublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsA man's been jailed for 15 years, external after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceSean Walton was convicted today at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court of the rape of a boy under the age of 13, assault of a boy under 13 by touching, inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity and causing a child under 13 to look at an image of sexual activity.
The 27-year-old, who's from the city, was also given a year on licence as well as his prison sentence, a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told he'll be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.
In the papers: Man admits ex-girlfriend harassmentpublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Stoke-on-Trent LiveThe Stoke-on-Trent Live page is covering these stories today:
School considers uniform of tracksuits and hoodiespublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Parents of children at a Leamington Spa school are being asked if they'd like to ditch traditional school uniform in favour of more relaxed sportswear.
Image source, GoogleThe consultation has been launched at Telford Junior school in the town, which said it wants to promote a "more active" curriculum.
Head teacher Richard Siviter said suggestions for schoolwear could be a tracksuit top, fleece or hoodie worn with tracksuit bottoms - which would still be uniform.
Parents, governors, staff and pupils are being consulted with a decision likely to be made over half term.
Estate 'right to return' policy considered by councilpublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Residents on a Birmingham estate could be allowed to return to the area following its regeneration as part of a policy being considered by the city council.
Media caption, Druids Heath regeneration
The Druids Heath council estate is due to be redeveloped in a £43m scheme over the next few years, with five high-rise tower blocks in the area being demolished to make way for 250 new homes.
At a meeting today, councillors questioned the fact that those living in the area were not guaranteed the right to return once the regeneration had been completed.
Council leader Ian Ward assured councillors that work was ongoing which "may lead" to a change of policy in relation to the policy.
Boy, 15, charged over carjack stabbingpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
A teenager is charged with attempted murder and robbery after a carjacking attempt in Birmingham.
Read MoreMan released under investigation after murder arrestpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and WorcesterA 52-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman whose body was found at a house has been released under investigation. , external
The 46-year-old woman was discovered at a property in Apple Orchard Close in Malvern, Worcestershire, on Sunday.
Her death is still being treated as unexplained by West Mercia Police.
In the papers: Hit-and-run crash leaves man criticalpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
Coventry LiveSome of the headlining stories on today's Coventry Live website are:
- Second hit-and-run in two days leaves man in critical condition, external
- Claim into why illegal travellers were allowed to stay on public land , external
- Self-referrals to stop looking at sexual child abuse images are soaring
Teenage boy charged with attempted murderpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 9 October 2018
BreakingA teenage boy has been charged with the attempted murder of a man who was stabbed in an attempted carjacking.
The 15-year-old will appear before magistrates in Birmingham tomorrow, said West Midlands Police.
A 17-year-old boy will also appear in court charged with six counts of attempted robbery.
A 15-year-old girl has been released without charge.
