An academy trust says it's been given approval to change when pupils can start and finish at its first and high schools.

Image source, Google

The Avonreach Academy Trust runs four schools in Worcestershire - three first schools (Cherry Orchard, Inkberrow and Norton Juxta-Kempsey) and Pershore High School (pictured).

At the moment,, external children at its first schools leave in year four to go to a middle school and can then return to the high school in year eight.

But today, the trust says the Regional Schools Commissioner has approved changes , externalso the first schools teach up to year six and the high school takes students from year seven - bypassing any middle school.

The organisation adds that the changes will happen over two years, starting from September, subject to discussions in the new year over how the changes will be brought in.

The script of It's A Wonderful Life has been painted on to railway platforms as part of a mental health campaign.

Birmingham's New Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Rugby, Stafford, Crewe and Birmingham International stations all feature lines from the film, among others across the UK.

Image source, Pin Pep

The scheme started at London Euston last month and now the final lines have been painted at Glasgow Central station.

Workers spent more than 60 hours painting over 4.5 miles of words.

The initiative was developed with Virgin Trains' charity partner Rethink Mental Illness in recognition of how difficult the festive period can be for some.

Image source, Pin Pep

Coventry Live

Some of today's Coventry Live headlines include:

• Almost 150 UHCW patients face 'distress' of cancelled operations, external
• Knife arches to be taken into schools in weapon crackdown, external
• Rogue trader bullied OAPs to pay £11,000 for work they did not want, external

BBC Spotlight

Royal Marine commandos from Lympstone in Devon have given an early Christmas surprise to a 14-year-old boy from the Midlands who has arthritis in his eyes.

Royal Marine commandos from Lympstone in Devon have given an early Christmas surprise to a 14-year-old boy from the Midlands whohas arthritis in his eyes. M alachi Neat, from Coventry, wants to become a Royal Marine but fears his hopes will be dashed due to his condition.

So the marines gave him the chance to spend the day with them.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Fans of Port Vale FC are being asked to head to their stadium this lunchtime to pay tribute to a big supporter of the club, who died earlier this month.

Image source, Port Vale FC

The club described Errol Yorke as a "hugely popular figure"who was also known as the dad of mascot Boomer. , external

His funeral cortege is going stop at the ground in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, between 12:10 and 12:30 this afternoon, on its way to the crematorium, so fans can pay their last respects.

The man's arm was saved by surgeons while his girlfriend suffered a head laceration, police say.

A Coventry company, offering online GP services via a mobile app, has been awarded £1m funding to help expand its services.

Image source, Getty Images

The "virtual doctor" services will also be offered on terminals in community pharmacies and will cost £25 per consultation.

The GP Service (UK) Limited, based at Coventry University Technology Park, secured the sum through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, creating 60 jobs, nationally the company said.

Founder former pharmacist Hiren Patel, said the service, which is completely independent to the NHS, gives an alternative to waiting to see a doctor.

Knife arches and surrender bins are to be taken into schools in Warwickshire to try and deter children from carrying knives.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Officers will be visiting schools in Nuneaton and Bedworth, North Warwickshire and Rugby to talk to pupils about the consequences of carrying blades.

The initiative was launched following concerns nationally about a rise in knife crime, said Warwickshire Police. , external

Insp Wayne Boulton, from the force, said: "Nobody wants to see knife arches and knife surrender bins become permanent fixtures in schools. But used sparingly they can help to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying a knife."

BBC Weather Watchers

The crisp, frosty morning in parts of the West Midlands has seen some tremendous sunrise photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from users Julian in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Splashdog in Birmingham and Fiona D in Staunton on Wye, Herefordshire:

Image source, Julian

Image source, Splashdog

Image source, Fiona D

BBC Radio 5 live

A woman whose family were hurt when a lorry ploughed into their broken-down car on a so-called "smart motorway" in Cheshire has described the schemes as "a deathtrap".

Image source, Samantha Cockerill

Over the weekend, a group of MPs said the rollout of smart motorways, where the hard shoulder has been converted into a fourth lane, should be stopped.

Highways England, which operates the motorway network, says the technology used on smart motorways makes journeys more reliable and insists they are as safe as traditional motorways.

Ellie Montgomery, her husband, and three young daughters were hit by a lorry last December when their vehicle broke down on the M6 in Cheshire.

The family's people carrier came to an abrupt halt in a live lane and there was no hard shoulder for them to pull on to. It was sealed off because the stretch of motorway concerned was being converted into a smart motorway.

Ellie, her husband Duncan, and one of their children were knocked unconscious, while Ellie suffered a hairline fracture to the base of her neck.

Have you noticed more empty shops on your high street in the last year?

Cafes and restaurants had previously escaped much of the turmoil affecting high street retailers, but the last 12 months have seen some high profile losses.

Popular chains such as Carluccio’s, Prezzo, Jamie’s Italian and Strada have all closed branches.

Image source, Carluccio's

In the 12 months to the end of September, some 1,219 restaurants went bust in Britain, according to accountants Moore Stephens.

“Closures in the restaurant sector are at epidemic levels now,” said Jeremy Willmont, head of restructuring and insolvency at the firm.

Do run a local cafe or restaurant?

We'd love to hear your experiences of the last year - whether it's the secrets of your success or an insight into how tough it is at the moment.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

A few of the early headlines on the Stoke-on-Trent Live website:

• 'He's risking himself to make me better' - twin ready to donate a kidney to his brother, external
• Pub company creating 150 new jobs, external
• 'Manic gunman' told shop worker: 'I'm going to kill you', external

BBC News Travel

All lanes have reopened on the M40 in Warwickshire, after a multiple-vehicle crash close to Warwick Services.

There is a warning, however, of lengthy delays in the area.

A 13-year-old boy is due in court charged over a stabbing outside a school, which left two teenagers in hospital.

The victims, aged 14 and 15, suffered stomach and arm injuries respectively near the University of Birmingham School in Selly Oak last Monday.

The defendant, who cannot be named, has been charged with two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one of attempted wounding.

Another 14-year-old victim has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.

He's set to appear at Birmingham Crown Court today.

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Four children's homes in Worcestershire are to be permanently closed.

Image source, Worcestershire County Council

The county-council-run sites offer places for children who've been taken into care, or whose foster care placements have broken down.

The closure of children's homes - for children without disabilities - was first proposed by Worcestershire County Council in October.

By reducing its children's homes from six to two, Worcestershire County Council said it would release funds which can be spent on keeping teenagers out of care.

BBC News Travel

A multi-vehicle crash has closed the M40 southbound, close to Warwick services.

The road is closed between the services to J12, for Gaydon.

BBC News Travel

Some bus services in Coventry are being diverted due to an incident on Kenilworth Road, close to War Memorial Park.

BBC Business News

Fashion and home furnishings retailer Laura Ashley is to close about 40 shops in the UK - a quarter of the total - the firm has announced.

The firm has about a dozen stores in the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Telford, Stafford, Rugby, Leamington Spa, Solihull, Wednesfield, Worcester and Hereford.

Image source, Getty Images

It has not yet revealed which stores will shut, but the latest news follows 40 other closures since 2015.

The company's chairman says he wants fewer - but possibly larger - stores, and would open shops in China once the business had established a significant online customer base there.

Trees have stopped a crashed car from going further down a bank, after it left the road in Warwickshire.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Worcestershire Police tweeted, external that slippery conditions have resulted "numerous collisions" this morning.

No one was seriously hurt in the Hockley Heath crash, it said.

Express and Star

These are some of the early headlines on the Express and Star website:

• Dirty Dudley takeaways are fined £30,000 between them, external
• Walsall Argos worker jailed for £22,000 mobile phones scam, external
• Three arrested after driver flees police with flat tyres, external