Capt Louis Rudd "feels confident" he can become the first to complete a challenge which killed his friend.

The mother of a four-year-old boy with a rare form of cancer has said reaching their £500,000 fundraising target is a huge relief.

A mystery donor stepped in to pledge the last £100,000.

Zac Oliver, from Broseley in Shropshire, has an extremely rare form of leukaemia and the money will be used to pay for potentially life-saving CAR-T treatment in the USA.

Although the treatment is now available on the NHS, he is not eligible.

The scheme is a trial and there is no "specific" threat to Stratford-upon-Avon, the council says.

Liz Ellis
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

A woman says she's devastated she and her mother have been told by the Home Office to leave the country and that her life is at a "standstill" as they fight to stay in the UK.

Opelo Kgari and her mum Florence, who live in Wolstanton, Staffordshire, have already been held in an immigration removal centre for nearly five months.

Image source, Opelo Kgari

The pair also narrowly avoided deportation to Botswana on at least two occasions, the BBC understands.

Now, the 28-year-old, who has lived in the UK for more than half of her life, says they've had their application to stay rejected by the Home Office.

She said the pair want to stay in Staffordshire.

The Home Office says, when someone is found not to need the government's protection, they "expect them to leave the country voluntarily".

More than 180 photographers are expected in Birmingham for the launch event.

BBC Midlands Today

A rare first edition of one of the most influential books in the world has sold for £65,000 after being found in a cupboard., external

Image source, Hansons Auctioneers

The copy of The Wealth of Nations by the 18th Century economist Adam Smith was found by Hansons Auctioneers' experts at Bishton Mall in Wolseley Bridge, near Stafford, Staffordshire.

The influential book was written in 1776 and is seen by experts as defining classical economics.

The auctioneers say the book went to a private bidder.

A man who drove at 101mph when his wife went into labour in their car is fined and given five points.

The bus driver had to be taken to hospital for the effects of smoke after the engine caught fire.

Worcester News

Here are three headlines from today's Worcester News:

• £50,000 fund to promote art in public spaces, external
• Councillor welcomes city centre cycling ban, external
• Sex show promising 'filth and flesh' heading to Worcester, external

The wife of a Sutton Coldfield man who died in a scuba diving accident says she's "relieved" after the Supreme Court ruled her son can sue the boat company for damages.

Lex Warner died in 2012 after getting into difficulties scuba diving in Scotland and the court has now said his son Vincent, who was six months old at the time, can take legal action against Scapa Flow Charters.

Image source, Collect

Debbie Warner said the legal process to get here has "been extremely traumatic" and added, "we just need answers to move forward".

The Supreme Court rules that legal action can be brought over the death of diver Lex Warner in 2012.

Health inspectors have told a struggling hospital that it now has to report to them weekly on what actions it's taking to improve patient safety in its A&E unit.

Image source, Alamy

Russells Hall Hospital's emergency department is already being investigated after concerns were raised over the deaths of 54 patients in a six-month period.

Now, the Care Quality Commission, external (CQC), which has previously rated the Dudley site as "requires improvement", says its latest inspection found more poor practice, prompting the latest urgent action.

The watchdog says it found patients going to the A&E weren't always getting a good enough assessment of their condition and there was a "lack of accountability" for patients while in the waiting room.

The CQC says it'll keep checking to see if any improvements are made and is promising more action "if needed".

Debbie Warner's six-year-old son wins the right to sue a company over his father's death.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Christian Barnett

Artwork in honour of one of Worcestershire’s most famous cricketing sons and a famous visit by two USA presidents could be created if a new public art scheme's approved.

Image source, Evening Standard/Getty Images

On Monday, a Worcester City Council committee will consider approving the action plan, external to develop and promote public art schemes and spend £50,000 initially to fund it.

Among the plans are works to honour cricketer Basil D'Oliveira (pictured) and the visit to Fort Royal Park of the second and third presidents of the United States, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, in 1786.

If adopted, the next move would be to set up two working groups to develop art in specific parts of the city.

Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

A speeding driver who travelled at 101 mph along the M5, because his pregnant wife was in labour has avoided a driving ban after magistrates agreed to be lenient on him.

Dad-of-three Louis Baker, of Rubery, was dashing to Worcestershire Royal Hospital in a "panic" back in April because his wife Laura was suffering complications with her pregnancy and needed urgent medical attention.

Magistrates in Kidderminster decided to step outside their sentencing guidelines today, agreeing that he faced an "emergency".

The 31-year-old was given five penalty points and told to pay £390.

More than 1,000 cannabis plants have been found, external after police were called to a report of men ram-raiding an industrial unit with a van.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Officers say they found a large cannabis set-up after arriving yesterday afternoon on the Granada Trading Estate, Oldbury.

They've arrested four men, aged between 21 and 30, on suspicion of burglary and cultivating cannabis.

A man has been fined for his part in disorder that broke out last month, following a match between Coventry City and Sunderland.

Image source, Google

Police said an officer was hurt when trouble flared as fans left the Ricoh Arena and they were treated for minor injuries in hospital.

Stuart Roddam, 22, of Eggerton Street, Sunderland, pleaded guilty at Coventry Magistrates' Court to being drunk and disorderly and was fined £150.

The chief constable of West Midlands Police says pension changes will cost the force more than £20m.

The Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones says if the town loses its football team, it will "rip the heart out of the community".

He is urging people to go and support Nuneaton Borough, which faces the prospect of collapsing, and has promised to get along to Liberty Way himself.

Image source, UK Parliament

Club officials are warning if a new owner isn't found by the end of the month the players' and staff wages won't be paid, which could lead to the Boro going out of business.

West Midland Police says two men wanted in connection with what could be a double murder could be dead themselves.

It released photos of Coventry men Ben Whyley and Ryan Hobday this morning, but Detective Chief Inspector Chris Mallett said: "We've got information that would suggest that the two of the people responsible at least are now dead."

Image source, West Midlands Police

The pair are wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Daniel Shaw and the disappearance of 33-year-old Johnny Robbins, who is also thought to be dead.

West Midlands Police said it could not reveal where the new information had come from, but it added there had been no sightings of them since March.