Live updates from Monday 10 December to Sunday 16 December
Click Related Stories to read news from your area
These spectacular clouds were seen all over the West Midlands by BBC Weather Watchers this morning.
They appear to be Cirrocumulus, external, but some of them could be Altocumulus., external
Image source, Angus and me
Image source, Di's Walk
Image source, Master Chief
Stoke-on-Trent Live
Headlines from the Stoke-on-Trent Live:
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carl Jackson
Costs for the revamp of Centenary Square have spiraled by £3.8m prompting a call for the "vanity project" to be scrapped.
Image source, Graeme Massie ArchitectsJohn Hunt, leader of the Lib Dem group on Birmingham City Council, made the call as it was revealed a host of issues have held up the redevelopment ranging from the Metro extension to the Conservative Party Conference.
The project was originally set to cost in the region of £10m but that has since crept up closer to £12m, and now expected to cost around £16m.
The city council’s cabinet approved the extra funding required at a meeting today with leader Ian Ward stressing that it was important that the scheme is finished.
A machete and a hammer were found inside a stolen car which jumped a red light in Telford earlier.
The VW Golf, which was carrying false number plates, crashed into another car at crossroads in Madeley and the occupants escaped on foot.
Image source, West Mercia Police
Image source, West Mercia PoliceThe driver of the other car was taken to hospital as a precaution, police said.
Shelley Phelps
BBC WM, Political Reporter
Care workers have handed over a Scrooge Christmas card addressed to Birmingham's council leader as part of an ongoing dispute over plans to cut their working hours.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
A group of about 25 staff gathered outside the council house to protest today.
Unison said working hours had been proposed which would see staff working triple split-shifts over a 16-hour day.
The council said change was "vital" to better meet patient needs.
A former Cheshire chief constable who was suspended amid allegations of bullying has said the claims cost him a job which spanned "35 years of public service".
Simon Byrne, 55, was cleared of misconduct at a hearing at Warrington Town Hall earlier.
Mr Byrne was suspended from the top role at Cheshire Constabulary last year after being accused of breaching standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct.
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane announced the panel had found no allegations were proved.
In a statement released after the hearing, Mr Byrne said he was "very pleased" to have been "totally exonerated of any wrongdoing".
He added:
Quote MessageThis whole affair has been an ordeal for all parties that has gone on too long and wasted precious public money scrutinising my conduct when leading what Mr Keane has described himself as a high-performance force.
Quote MessageIn some ways, it still feels like upside-down justice as I have lost my vocation after 35 years of public service.
Quote MessageI would like to take this opportunity to thank the fantastic men and women I have had the privilege to work alongside in four police forces over nearly four decades of my life.
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Crewe midfielder Paul Green is set to make a quicker return from injury than expected.
He damaged his knee against Carlisle in August and wasn't expected to be fit until February, but his rehabilitation has gone better than planned.
Image source, Getty ImagesGreen is expected to play with the under 23's against Nottingham Forest on Monday.
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
It should be a cloudy night with the chance of light rain and highs of 7C (45F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Leamington Observer
Headlines from the Leamington Observer:
Firefighters spent nearly eight hours on Monday afternoon and evening tackling a blaze involving 10 tonnes of wood chipping near Nantwich.
They also had to move another 140 tonnes away from the smouldering wood at a farm in Baddington.
A former chief constable who was suspended over allegations of bullying has been cleared of misconduct.
Simon Byrne, 55, was suspended from Cheshire Police last year accused of bullying and humiliating staff between May 2014 and March 2017.
His contract as chief constable has expired since his suspension.
A misconduct hearing held at Warrington Town Hall today found none of the allegations were proven and all have been dismissed.
Byrne said he has been "completely exonerated".
John Broadhurst will be sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Read MoreHere are three of the headlines in the Worcester News today:
Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today
A major junction in the centre of Birmingham could close permanently if a proposed clean air zone comes into force.
Paradise Circus is already shut for Midland Metro work to take place and the affected slip roads are part of the clean air zone consultation, the city council has revealed.
A final business plan for the controversial zone, which is designed to reduce pollution, has been approved by the city council.
All free on-street parking will also be removed from the city centre zone.
The scheme is awaiting government approval, which should happen around February 2019.
It was first mooted that drivers may have to pay up to £10 under the planned pollution charge but the council has since indicated it may drop the charge to £8.
Worcester Warriors fly-half Jamie Shillcock signs a new two-year contract with the Premiership club.
Read MoreDetectives are continuing to interview a 13-year-old boy after three teenagers were stabbed in Selly Oak, Birmingham, on Monday afternoon.
It happened at 16:20 in Weoley Park Road and the victims' injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
West Midlands Police says it's working with schools, gathering CCTV evidence and taking statements to find out what happened.
Charlene Sergeant initially claimed that her mother's injuries were self-inflicted, police said.
Read More
Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent
The government considered terminating G4S's contract to run Birmingham Prison as conditions at the Victorian jail deteriorated this year, MPs have heard.
Michael Spurr, Chief Executive Officer of the Prison and Probation Service, told a Justice Committee hearing it was "on our agenda" because of the "significant challenge" facing the global security company.
But the Justice Committee was told G4S was allowed to carry on running the jail until it was taken over temporarily by the Prison Service in August.
Mr Spurr confirmed the additional costs since then, of extra staff and managers, will be paid for by the firm.
The committee heard that a decision to reduce the capacity of HMP Birmingham by 116 places in November 2017 had cost G4S £1m.
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Stoke City striker Saido Berahino says he's frustrated with the number of draws they're getting and that it's costing them a spot in the Championship promotion places.
They've drawn nine so far this season, including five in their last eight games and would lead the table by five points if they'd converted them all into wins.
Image source, Getty ImagesInstead, they are in 10th place in the table and are 12 points off the two automatic promotion spots.
Quote MessageWe've been disappointed with certain draws that we've collected, because they were games to be won, especially the one against Reading. I felt we had so many chances to get the three points."
Saido Berahino, Stoke City striker
Headlines from the Coventry Observer:
