BBC Sport

Crewe striker Chris Porter is looking to regain his scoring-touch after a goal-drought which stretches back to the first game of the season.

The 6ft 1in player has now started the last three matches and said he was not worried, because there were others in the team who can also score goals.

Image source, Getty Images

Crewe host 11th placed Bury on Saturday.

A visitor and staff member came forward to police about Sarah Pitt's behaviour.

Truck operators say the introduction of a clean air zone in Birmingham could affect trade.

A Birmingham man who robbed five betting shops in the city with an imitation firearm made out of a section of scaffolding, wrapped in tape, has been jailed for 12 years, with another three on licence.

James Martin, who is 31 and from Flaxley Road in Stechford, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to five robbery offences and five counts of carrying an imitation firearm.

Image source, West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police said he managed to get away with £6,000 before he was caught on CCTV and arrested.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Simon Gilbert
Political Reporter, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Court of Appeal judges will decide tomorrow if a full judicial review should be held into the sale of Coventry's Ricoh Arena to Wasps Rugby Club.

Image source, Getty Images

The row concerns the city council's sale of its 50% share in the stadium to Wasps in 2014, with Coventry City FC wanting a full legal review.

Its lawyers argued the rugby club should pay an extra £27m for the ground.

The football club's deal to play at the Ricoh runs out in the summer - and landlords Wasps say they won't agree a new one while legal action continues.

A Staffordshire Moorlands village is looking for someone with a loud voice to become its town crier, for one day only.

Endon's new crier would join hundreds of others across the country taking part in shouting the "cry for peace" on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One this year.

Image source, Getty Images

The successful candidate will be offered coaching on technique and loaned the costume and the hat.

A Shropshire Council gritter has been named after a four-year-old from Broseley who is suffering from a rare form of leukaemia.

Zac Oliver's family are trying to raise £500,000 to take him to Philadelphia for treatment and he's been taken to see the vehicle.

Image source, Shropshire Council

The suggestion was made when the local authority launched a competition to name its gritter fleet, and it is still searching for names for the remaining 24.

With a week to go until the deadline for names, more than 500 have been put forward so far.

Coventry Live

Some of the headlining stories on today's Coventry Live website are:

• Hospital worker with blood and needle phobia sought damages from NHS, external
• Is the Ricoh Arena row finally over - Sisu back in court tomorrow, external
• Claims police warned about speeding cars months before fatal hit-and-run, external

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

People living above the planned HS2 high-speed rail tunnel from Crewe to Coppenhall are likely to face "significant noise and vibration effects" when it's in operation, a government study has concluded.

HS2 Ltd has said it will take reasonable efforts to reduce the impact on people in nearby homes.

Image source, HS2

The study also says there will be a permanent loss of woodland and ponds, with an impact on bats, birds and small animals.

BBC News Travel

An incident between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton, which has blocked rail lines, is likely to have a knock-on effect on roads in the area, said West Midlands Police.

Disruption to rail services is expected until at least 17:00, said National Rail.

The disgraced seven-time Tour de France champion tweeted the offer after the Welsh rider had his award stolen.

BBC Business News

The owner of Patisserie Valerie has said the cafe chain needs "an immediate injection of capital" to continue trading in its current form.

Image source, Getty Images

The stark statement to investors comes after the firm uncovered "significant, and potentially fraudulent, accounting irregularities".

The Birmingham-headquartered company also belatedly discovered HMRC filed a winding-up petition against one of its principal subsidiaries in September and is seeking £1.14m in taxes.

The firm has more than 2,500 staff.

A man attempted to force a 12-year-old girl into a car in Smethwick last month, police say., external

Image source, West Midlands Police

Images of a red car have been released in a bid to trace witnesses to the attempted abduction, which happened in Halfords Lane, between 07:00 and 07:30 on Monday 10 September.

A 26-year-old, arrested on suspicion of abduction, has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Officers are appealing for people who saw the driver of a red Seat Leon, possibly acting suspiciously in the area at the time, to come forward.

Birmingham Live

From Birmingham Live:

• Former Aston Villa owner Sir Doug Ellis has died, external
• Police chief admits public being told to 'let criminals go as not enough officers', external
• New route announced for Birmingham Half Marathon, external

Parts of Coventry have been "taken over by gangs" at night, a city councillor has claimed.

Crime in the city has risen by 11.6% in the past year and councillor Naeem Akhtar told a committee meeting areas like Lady Herbert’s Garden (pictured below) have seen "a lot of intimidation".

Image source, Coventry City Council/Google

He went on to say: "I think we do need to have a serious conversation with West Midlands Police".

The chair of the committee, councillor Joe Clifford said the the issue needs to be the authority’s "number one priority) ahead of 2021.

A large quantity of drugs and money have been seized after raids on three addresses in Dudley, police say.

Image source, West Midlands Police

One of the properties had also bypassed the electricity supply, West Midlands Police said.

The possibility of pleasure boats returning Worcester is going to be looked into, in a £30,000 study.

Worcester City Council is looking for ways to use the River Severn more and this research will investigate how the boats could bring more money into the area.

Image source, Google

The study will look at how pleasure boats have worked in other places, such as Stourport.

It was originally only going to consider the use of rowing boats, but councillors agreed it should have a wider scope.

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

About 200 truck operators from across the West Midlands have been raising concerns about the clean air zone, proposed for Birmingham.

Drivers could be charged £100 for the most polluting vans to enter the city centre under plans drawn up by the city council.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar said the council would do all it can to ensure "no business loses trade" in the city.

Today's event at Villa Park also showcased the latest clean air technologies, including lorries powered by gas.

Government approval for the clean air zone is expected later in the year clearing the way for the zone to come into force in Janaury 2020.

Deniss Buzmakovs died after being found with serious injuries in Bilston in September.

BBC News Travel

Rail services between Birmingham and Wolverhampton are expected to be disrupted until about 17:00, due to an incident.

Emergency services are at the scene, said West Midlands Railway.

We'll bring you more as we get it.