A group of dogs have been bringing a dose of happiness to the wards at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital as part of a new therapy service.

The eight animals have been funded by the hospital's charity.

As well as promoting well-being, a visit from a therapy dog has even been shown to reduce a patient's perception of pain.

A man has been arrested by police investigating a fire in Rugby that left a five-year-old boy critically injured.

A woman and two other children also suffered burns. Neighbours described her calling frantically for help.

The five-year-old is now reported to be in a stable condition in hospital.

A 21-year-old from Rugby is being questioned on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

Warwickshire Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward and say officers are not ruling anything out at this stage.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Early mist and fog should clear but it will stay cloudy today with the chance of a few bright spells and highs of 14C (57F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external

Jasmine Thompson was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company 'to attract diverse audiences'.

Birmingham voted for Brexit by just 3,800 votes - so what do they think of the PM's draft withdrawal agreement?

Wolves' record-breaking start to the season has been no accident, as BBC Radio 5 live presenter Jonathan Overend discovers on a behind-the-scenes tour at Molineux.

Gross misconduct is proven against Matthew Crowe from West Midlands Police after contacting a "vulnerable" woman.

An inquest into the deaths of five men hears the risk of falling concrete could have been identified.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow.

Work to refurbish three houses for accident and emergency doctors at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital is under way.

Telford and Wrekin Council is carrying out the work with the support of volunteers, local businesses and other councils, in the hope of attracting more staff to work there.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

The hospital's A&E department is due to close overnight, starting next month, because of a shortage of staff.

The council said the houses would provide free accommodation for junior and middle grade doctors.

Rail services between Worcester Shrub Hill and Moreton in Marsh won't be operating from this weekend as platforms on the line are being extended to accommodate GWR's new Intercity Express Trains.

From Saturday until 25 November, Network Rail will be carrying out the work at several stops.

Image source, Google

Peak weekday services will continue to operate between Hereford, Malvern, Worcester and London Paddington.

Other services will be replaced with buses.

A West Midlands Police officer who had a relationship with vulnerable woman has been given a final written warning by the force.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said Police Constable Matthew Crowe came into contact with her while on duty and gave her his mobile number.

Image source, Getty Images

The IOPC said the relationship ended when he told a supervisor.

PC Crowe accepted that his conduct had breached professional standards.

The teenager denied murdering Derek Whyteside, who died two days after suffering a skull fracture.

It will be a mild and cloudy night with some fog in places and the odd spot of drizzle with lows of 10C (50F).

John Broadhurst is accused of murdering his lover Natalie Connolly at their home in a village.

The Coventry Cross - said to possibly mark the spot at which a murderer is buried - is going to be moved after a decision by councillors earlier.

It is thought by some to be the resting place of Mary Ball, the last person to be publicly hanged in the city, in 1849.

A relative wanted the structure to be left alone, saying Mrs Ball had lived in fear of her husband whom she poisoned.

Image source, Google

It's set to move from its location at the rear of Holy Trinity Church to a spot on Ironmonger Row.

The move is being made to enable the redevelopment of that part of the city centre.

Leamington Observer

Here are some of the stories appearing on the Leamington Observer website this afternoon:

• Rugby house fire which left boy, 5, in critical condition being treated as suspicious by police, external
• HQ plans and car park closure pushed back due to report delays, external
• Rough sleepers to be offered free flu jabs, external

Three men accused of killing five people in a "massive explosion" were nearby at the time and did not help, a court has heard.

Image source, Matthew Cane/ Leicestershire Fire and Rescue

The blast in Leicester on 25 February destroyed a shop and the flat above it.

Hawkar Hassan, from Coventry, Aram Kurd of Leicester and Arkan Ali of Oldham, deny murder, manslaughter and conspiring to commit fraud.

David Herbert QC, prosecuting, said the men had planned the explosion and hoped to claim a £300,000 insurance payout for the supermarket on Hinckley Road.

Plans to replace a visitor centre in the Severn Valley Country Park are moving forward after a successful grant application.

Shropshire Council said it had the £411,000 it needs for the project after getting money from the European Union and plans to start work on the site near Highley in January.

Image source, Shropshire Council

The council said the new building would have more space to tell visitors about the history and wildlife of the area and a bigger cafe.

It hopes to have it open by June 2019.