The three men were arrested "in quick succession" in Stoke-on Trent after police received tip-offs.

Viktorija Sokolova, 14, was found dead on a park bench in Wolverhampton in April.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

Bromsgrove yachtswoman Susie Goodall will have to wait two days to be rescued having pulled out of the Golden Globe Race after losing her mast.

The 29-year-old was the youngest competitor in the non-stop solo round-the-world race but sustained damage during a ferocious storm with 60-knot winds.

Susie told Chilean Maritime Search and Rescue authorities she was injured when the boat rolled over end-to-end and she is unable to make up another set of rigging.

Officers are investigating after a woman threatened a taxi driver with a blade and demanded money in Nuneaton.

Image source, Google

The incident took place as the taxi was driving on Mallard Avenue at about 16:55 yesterday, said Warwickshire Police. , external

The passenger then made off along a footpath, leaving with no money, the force said.

Police are asking for any witnesses to come forward.

Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

More than 280 roles are set to be cut from the workforce at two of Staffordshire's main hospitals.

Trust board papers for the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) , externalsays they are proposing getting rid of just over 288 posts.

But hospital managers say the reduction will be made from roles which are already vacant.

The papers, which will be examined at the next board meeting on Tuesday, say the move should save £3.7m in a year and patient care shouldn't be affected.

The UHNM runs the Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent and the County Hospital, Stafford.

Joan Cummins
Midlands Today reporter

It's feared swans and ducks in Stratford-upon-Avon could be at risk of starvation this winter as visitors are worried about feeding them bread.

Now Stratford District Council is considering removing signs warning people against feeding the birds.

You'll be able to see my full report on Midlands Today on BBC One at 18:30.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carl Jackson

The city council risks eradicating Birmingham’s world renowned Jewellery Quarter if traders are forced out by controversial sell-off proposals, bosses have been warned.

Image source, Google

The authority has revealed its plans to dispose of dozens of buildings in the area as part of its new property strategy, which has been approved by the council's cabinet.

The proposals are intended to bring in investment and kick-start regeneration of the area – as well as generate cash – but they have sparked concerns among traders fearful for the future of their businesses.

The council’s opposition Conservative group has called for greater commitment from the Labour administration, to ensure jewellery firms are safeguarded.

Three more arrests have been made following the trouble at Port Vale's game with Stoke City's Under-21s this week.

Staffordshire Police says it acted on information from the public and made the arrests this afternoon in Stoke-on-Trent. , external

A 30-year-old man's been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage.

Two others, aged 34 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The violence during the Potteries football derby this week has been condemned in the House of Commons.

More than 150 police officers were deployed to the Port Vale ground as they played Stoke City Under-21s and 11 people were arrested.

In the Commons, Stoke-on-Trent North Labour MP Ruth Smeeth praised the response of the emergency services but called for a debate "on the rise of football hooliganism in parts of our country".

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom responded by calling the violence "unacceptable", adding that she did not want to see hooliganism make a return.

One of three men accused of causing a huge explosion in Leicester which killed five people has denied he was involved.

Hawkar Hassan (pictured, middle), of Eld Road, Coventry, is one of three men charged with murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to commit fraud in relation to the blast at a Polish convenience store on Hinckley Road in February.

It is alleged his role was to drive a co-defendant away from the scene to the home they shared in Coventry after the explosion.

The 37-year-old told the jury at Leicester Crown Court he first found out about the explosion the next morning from his Facebook feed and television news, saying he was "shocked".

Image source, PA

Mr Hassan also denied claims that he, Aram Kurd, 34, of Leicester and Arkan Ali, 37, from Oldham planned the explosion so they could benefit from an insurance payout.

The three men are accused of meeting at the city's Highcross Shopping Centre hours before the blast took place.

When asked if there was any discussion about starting a fire Mr Hassan said: "No, I didn't hear anything."

Mr Kurd, Mr Hassan and Mr Ali deny all charges. The trial continues.

BBC Weather has been trying to explain why many people in the West Midlands saw a spectacular sunrise, with turning shades of purple, pink and lilac.

BBC Weather Watchers in the region shared their vivid images, including this one from user Kingfisher Whisperer in Coventry.

Image source, Kingfisher Whisperer

BBC Weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas said one explanation for the colours could be recent "low pressure systems moving in from the Atlantic".

She said they caused "rapidly rising air over the sea, which can lead to more salt molecules in the atmosphere", leading to the light being scattered more prolifically and creating "more vibrant pink and purple colours during sunrise and sunset".

BBC Shropshire

Shropshire’s world famous Iron Bridge has reopened to visitors after more than a year of restoration.

The crossing has been undergoing a £3.6m makeover by English Heritage to clean and repair it.

The grey-blue colour that will be familiar to most people has been replaced by the bridge’s original red-brown colour.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A house has been shored up after a car smashed into it last night.

Image source, Hereford and Worcester Fire Service

The fire service said it happened at around 22:00 in Mordiford, near Hereford. , external

They said the driver of the car wasn't trapped and was treated by paramedics afterwards.

Image source, Hereford and Worcester Fire Service

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

It will be cloudy and mild overnight, with some patchy rain and lows of 11C (52F).

Image source, Google

An inquest will be held next year over the death of a man whose head became trapped under a cinema seat.

Ateeq Rafiq, 24, of Witton, Birmingham, died in hospital on 16 March, a week after his head became wedged under a footrest at Vue International's Birmingham branch, based at leisure complex StarCity.

The full inquest will hear evidence from the company that manufactures the chair along with medical staff who treated Mr Rafiq, a pre-inquest review at Birmingham Coroners' Court heard this morning.

The date of the inquest is yet to be confirmed.

Jane Eagles has allowed cameras into her son's flat to show the devastation monkey dust can cause.

The cost of HS2 could soar to "£100 billion" and should be scrapped as a matter of urgency, a senior Tory has said.

Image source, WSP

The chairman of the HS2 and Crossrail programmes, two of Britain's biggest infrastructure projects, has resigned from both roles.

In the Commons today former Cabinet minister Dame Cheryl Gillan described the project as "the Titanic of the railway world" as she heaped pressure on ministers to pull the plug on the scheme.

The scheme, linking London to Birmingham through Warwickshire, is set to be complete by 2026.

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, responding, said the issue was a matter for the Transport Secretary.

There has been a call in Parliament for limits on the hours local bus drivers can work, following a fatal bus crash in Coventry.

Image source, House of Commons

Two people died when then 72-year-old bus driver Kailash Chander ploughed into a Sainsbury's store.

Midland Red (South) Ltd admitted failing to ensure the safety of employees after allowing Mr Chander to work more than 70-hours a week, and was fined £2.3m.

The issue was raised by the Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington Matt Western, who called for a debate to ensure a "tragedy like this is never allowed to happen again".

Responding for the government, the Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom said there was always a "balance to be struck between ensuring people are fit for work and enabling them to earn a living".

Coventry Observer

These are some of the headlining stories from the Coventry Observer:

• Heartbreaking story books made by Coventry young people who lived as refugees, external
• Coventry MP Geoffrey Robinson 'recovering after heart operation', external
• Gingerbread tribute to those who fell in the First World War, external

Image source, Coventry Observer