BBC Sport

Coventry Blaze have lost their player of the month for October - netminder Miroslav Kopriva.

He's returned home to the Czech Republic for treatment to what the club describes as an "ongoing injury".

Image source, Scott Wiggins

The 34-year-old joined the Blaze in September after an injury to first-choice netminder Miika Wiikmann, but was hurt in a collision with a teammate in the recent game against Cardiff Devils.

Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

A man accused of killing a fellow inmate while serving a prison sentence at HMP Hewell in Worcestershire has told a jury he was acting “in self defence”.

James Johnson, who’s 38, is on trial for manslaughter following the death of Luke Derriman.

He told Worcester Crown Court he was trying to protect himself as he thought Mr Derriman was going to attack him.

Coventry Observer

From the Coventry Observer:

• Campaigners demand answers about healthcare plans to save £267m, external
• Warwickshire Police's former HQ up for sale, external
• Planning application to restore listed Drapers' Hall as classical music venue, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Children’s services in Sandwell are facing a multi million-pound overspend for the third year running.

Image source, Sandwell Council

The Sandwell Children’s Trust, which runs the department for the local authority, has predicted a £3.6m deficit by March next year.

The service was placed on a "red" risk rating last week, meaning that without extra money there could be a "detrimental impact on the financial resilience of the trust".

Steve Eling, leader of Sandwell Council, has said the overspend will not affect other services because the trust can carry over deficits.

The family of a 66-year-old cyclist who died in a collision with a lorry in Worcestershire last week has described him as "inspirational, energetic" and a "problem solver".

Barry Brettell from Brierley Hill died at the scene of the crash on the A449 at Hartlebury. A friend from Hagley who was cycling with him was treated in hospital for shoulder injuries.

Image source, Family photo

West Mercia Police says it is continuing to investigate.

Former Aston Villa and Coventry City midfielder Joe Cole has retired at the age of 37.

Cole, who came through West Ham's youth system before spells at Chelsea, Liverpool and Lille, along with the Midlands clubs, has played for United Soccer League side Tampa Bay Rowdies since 2016.

He also appeared for England in three World Cups.

Four-year-old Zac Oliver has flown to the United States for cancer treatment at a hospital in Philadelphia.

Friends and family of the boy from Broseley, Shropshire, raised more than £500,000 to pay for it after being told the treatment they wanted would not be available on the NHS.

Image source, Hannah Oliver-Willetts

The fundraising campaign was supported by celebrities such as Simon Cowell and Mark Knopfler.

Last year, almost £5m was donated to BBC Children in Need from across the West Midlands.

The money supports projects such as the Wolverhampton charity Base 25, which is helping to keep young people safe online.

This year's main appeal show is on Friday.

Wasps sign Italy and former Exeter centre Michele Campagnaro on a deal until the end of the season.

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A man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire at a property in Stoke-on-Trent earlier.

Police said a 30-year-old woman had to be rescued from the first floor of a building on King Street in Fenton, but wasn't hurt.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

A 38-year-old man and 35-year-old woman from the city are in custody as investigations continue.

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

Shrewsbury Town's chief executive says the club will take its time to make sure it gets the right man to replace John Askey as manager.

Brian Caldwell said the club had faith in the squad, adding: "We've spent a lot of money in this close season; £600,000 worth of transfer fees."

He said it was important to find someone who "feels they can take the club forward."

Askey was sacked yesterday after just five months in the job and goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne will be in charge for tonight's match against Crewe in the Checkatrade Trophy.

A woman was threatened at knife-point during a car-jacking in Coleshill, police say.

She was attacked by three men as she put shopping into the boot of her VW Golf in the Aldi car park on Station Road at about 14:00 on Friday 9 November.

She suffered minor head injuries, said the Warwickshire force which today appealed for information.

Coventry Live

From Coventry Live:

• New centre to make the home of driverless and electric car tech, external
• Upper Precinct's £11m makeover, external to bring it "into the 21st Century"
• Female runners warned over masked man incident, external

Former Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp is among those set to appear in this year's series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

Redknapp, 71, says he has never watched the programme.

The ITV shows starts on 18 November at 21:00 GMT.

The full lineup is here.

Image source, ITV

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Alex Moore

The mayor of Oswestry has confronted the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) over the town’s “ghostly” law-enforcement presence.

Councillor Sandy Best said pre-teen youths were acting “lawlessly” and intimidating residents, but not being dealt with by officers.

West Mercia PCC John Campion admitted police visibility was "below-par" in the eyes of the public, but urged them not to give up reporting incidents.

They were speaking at the AGM of the Shropshire Alliance of Local Councils, held in Telford.

Public consultation into the future of school crossing patrols, external in Staffordshire is under way, with communities being asked whether they could pay for the service themselves.

The county council said due to "unprecedented financial challenges" it was "reluctantly" considering its options, which include axing the service.

It's asked communities "to think about if and how they could fund a local patrol".

Consultation continues until the end of the year, ahead of a decision on patrols' future in early 2019.

Express and Star

From the Express and Star:

• How chilling neo-Nazi terror ring was smashed, external
• Anger after football club targeted in raid, external
• Free evening and overnight parking planned to boost businesses, external

Terror attack victims and injured soldiers are among those set to benefit from Britain's first specialist wound research centre.

Staff are developing new techniques to treat burns, with the goal of achieving scar-free healing within a generation.

It will also give mental health support to those with physical injuries.

The Centre for Conflict Wound Research at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be opened by the The Countess of Wessex later on Tuesday.

A report into badger culling says it can have a "modest" effect in reducing bovine TB but finds the policy will lead to more than 40,000 of the animals being killed per year.

Culling was authorised in Herefordshire and Staffordshire in September.

Image source, PA

The independent review, led by Prof Sir Charles Godfray of Oxford University, says such high levels of culling may not be publicly acceptable and urges the government to accelerate the development of non-lethal controls, such as vaccination.