An artwork made out of hundreds of ceramic poppies has been unveiled as Staffordshire launched its 2018 county Poppy Appeal.

Image source, JCB

The event was held at digger-maker JCB's headquarters in Rocester where the porcelain poppies were produced by staff who had been members of the Armed Forces.

This year marks 100 years since the end of Wold War One.

The firm says the artwork will be open for public visitors from 29 October until 9 November, only on weekdays.

Image source, JCB

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A man's exposed himself to a woman in a car park, police say., external

Image source, Google

It happened on Beoley Road West, Redditch, this morning.

Officers say the victim, aged in her 50s, was walking there when she saw a man who exposed himself, carried out a lewd act, and then fled.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

A virtual reality version of Coventry's roads is being used to make sure driverless vehicles are safe.

The Warwick manufacturing group is part of a £2.7m project to test the cars in an environment where no one can be in danger.

The simulation includes pedestrians and other vehicles powered by Artificial Intelligence to test various scenarios

We want to know if the traffic jams are also being simulated.

Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire

The man in charge of Shropshire's two main hospitals says the planned temporary overnight closure of Telford's A&E will only mean five patients a night transferred outside the county.

Princess Royal Hospital is expected to shut its emergency department overnight for a period of six months.

At a hospital board meeting yesterday, it was confirmed that - subject to final approval - the closure will happen from 5 December in a bid to ensure patient safety.

But neighbouring NHS trusts, such as in Wolverhampton, have voiced concerns over it leading to more admissions every month at their hospitals.

In sentencing the gang for drugs drops at seven jails, Judge Simon Drew said they had targeted prisons which had increased levels of prison violence.

He said about 100 deliveries in all may have been made using 11 drones.

The judge - who jailed seven men and handed suspended prison terms to five other defendants - said: "Deterrent sentences are not only justified but essential."

David Mesher denies being a racist and said he had "a fit of temper" when he shouted at Delsie Gayle, 77.

Birmingham Live

Birmingham Live are looking at these stories:

• School run horror as child hit by Range Rover outside Tamworth primary school, external
• Ryanair issues statement over David Mesher's racism storm rant - and denies victim Delsie Gayle's claims, external
• Victim sits zombie-like outside KFC as 'thief picks white rocks' from his lap in Dale End, external

A judge at Birmingham Crown Court - who handed suspended jail terms and a community order to six others involved in the plot said deterrent sentences were "essential" to help prevent similar offending.

A trial was told drone pilots, drivers and look-outs conspired with prisoners to smuggle drugs into seven jails, including HMP Birmingham and HMP Liverpool.

A total of 11 drones, including some which had crashed, were seized during police inquiries into flights which also targeted HMP Wymott in Lancashire, HMP Hewell, in Worcestershire, HMP Risley in Cheshire, and Oakwood and Featherstone jails in Staffordshire.

Image source, AP

Passing sentence on a total of 13 defendants convicted of conspiracy charges, Judge Simon Drew QC said: "Each of you falls to be sentenced for your part in conveying controlled drugs, mobile phones and Sim cards into prisons up and down the country.

"The method you chose to do this was both carefully planned and executed.

"Each of you played a part in a wider conspiracy which resulted in approximately 100 separate deliveries.

The judge told the plotters: "I have no doubt each one of you knew exactly what you were getting involved in."

The ex-footballer and TV presenter says such abuse isn't "acceptable in 2018".

Sima Kotecha
Midlands Correspondent, BBC News

The gang jailed today smuggled drugs, mobile sim cars and other contraband into prisons at least 55 times over a 14-month period, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Fake food cans containing cocaine were among items found in cells raided by prison officers.

The group serviced jails including HMP Oakwood, HMP Featherstone and HMP Dovegate in Staffordshire, HMP Wymott, HMP Birmingham, HMP Liverpool, HMP Hewell, and HMP Risley in Cheshire, the court heard.

Judge Simon Drew QC described it as a "sophisticated commercial operation".

The seven men and their sentences are:

• Lee Anslow, of Boundary Hill, Dudley - 10 years
• Brandon Smith, of Kingstanding Road, Tipton - 7 years
• Paul Ferguson, of Boundary Hill, Dudley - 4 years 9 months
• Stephen Rattray, of Attingham Drive, Dudley - 4 years 6 months
• Shane Hadlington, of Clay Lane, Oldbury - 4 years 3 months
• Paul Payne, Farley Steret, Birmingham - 3 years 8 months
• Justin Millington, of Kingstanding, Birmingham - 3 years 4 months

Police are appealing for information about a car, external that they think could be linked to the murder of Richard Helm.

Mr Helm, 37, was pronounced dead at Raven Crescent, in Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton, at about 05:15 on 12 October.

Image source, Family handout

West Midlands Police is asking for anyone who saw a red Audi A3 displaying the partial registration of AV14 to get in touch.

The car was seen leaving the scene and is thought to have travelled towards to the Darlaston area of Walsall.

It has not been seen since and detectives need to find it.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with Richard’s murder. Two men have been charged with his murder, two were released with no further action and three remain on police bail.

Sima Kotecha
Midlands Correspondent, BBC News

Seven men have been jailed for transporting drugs with a street value of £500,000 into prisons across the country by using drones.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Some of the top stories on the Stoke-on-Trent Live website include:

• Salesmen used 'bullying tactics' to overcharge vulnerable OAPs, external
• Neighbours win fight to board up council flat after gunman and drug-taking made their lives hell, external
• Council splashes out £26m on consultants and agency workers in just four years, external

Press Association

Train drivers and guards employed by Great Western Railway could be balloted on strike action after an incident at Evesham station in August.

Image source, Google

The RMT union says a guard was suspended after he was assaulted by a member of the public at the station.

The guard is due before a disciplinary hearing today and the union is threatening action if he's not reinstated after that.

The train company says it has a fair and robust disciplinary process that will come to an "evidence-based decision".

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray says he still has a fondness for West Bromwich Albion on his first return to his old club.

Sophie Madden
BBC News

An elderly woman who was rescued from the bungalow fire in Telford this morning is not thought to be seriously hurt.

The ambulance service has released more details after the blaze on Park Lane at around 07:00.

Police had revealed a body was found and paramedics say the person was rescued by firefighters but they couldn't save them.

The 89-year-old woman who was rescued is in hospital getting more treatment.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A fleet of gritters have been given new names including Gritty Gritty Bang Bang, Spready Mercury and - inevitably - Gritty McGritface.

Image source, Shropshire Council

Shropshire Council became the latest local authority to let the public vote on names for its vehicles, ahead of winter.

One of them was already given the name Zac Oliver, in honour of the four-year-old from Broseley with a rare strain of leukaemia.

Two of the successful 24 names from the public vote this week are Charlie Desmond and Jack Edwards, both young, local boys who died within the past three years.

The rest of the names are pretty much all puns, including Usain Salt, Spready Salted, Basil Salty and Phillip Snowfield - the full list is here on the Shropshire Council's website., external

BBC Business News

Patisserie Valerie has announced that its finance director has resigned, with immediate effect.

Finance director Chris Marsh was arrested on 11 October and released on bail.

Image source, Getty Images

He was suspended after the Birmingham-based cafe chain uncovered "significant, and potentially fraudulent, accounting irregularities".

The next day, the Serious Fraud Office said it had "opened a criminal investigation into an individual". The person in question was not named, and no additional information was released.

Patisserie Valerie was later saved from collapse after entrepreneur Luke Johnson provided £20m in loans to the firm.

Three art galleries, a theatre and an orchestra in the West Midlands are sharing £1.5m of Arts Council funding - largely aimed at making them more environmentally friendly., external

Image source, Google

The organisation's announced its latest round of grants, saying it's about helping groups to have the right buildings and equipment they need for the future.

They include: , external

• The Courtyard Trust, Hereford, will use £499,999 to improve disabled access and add a shop and a new meeting room
• The Compton Verney House Trust, Warwickshire, will use £120,000 to improve their electrics and lighting
• The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's getting £215,000 for a new truck to carry their instruments to concerts
• The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, (pictured) is getting £376,353 to make the venue more energy efficient
• Equipment at the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, will be upgraded with £331,000 which the Arts Council says will cut their carbon footprint

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these stories today:

• Vandals cut down two trees in Fort Royal Park, Worcester, external
• 18 drivers still on the road in Worcester despite having enough points for a ban, external
• Faulty fan that brought hot air into vehicle a 'contributing factor' in death of police dog, external