Local Democracy Reporting Service

A Wolverhampton pub that has been raided by the police on a number of occasions in recent years has lost its bid to get its licence back.

The Talisman, in Wildtree Avenue, The Scotlands, was forced to close earlier in December for the second time in two years after police carried out the most recent raid on the premises.

Image source, Google

Sgt Jake Flanagan, from West Midlands Police, told the city council’s licensing sub-committee that a lot of the recent problems had occurred after the most recent tenant was diagnosed with a serious illness, resulting in a "power vacuum" developing there.

The committee said the pub could not be allowed to trade until a number of major issues were resolved.

BBC News Travel

The rail disruption between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury is now expected to continue for the rest of the day.

It has been caused by signalling problems and at one stage engineers hoped to have services running again by 16:00.

Coaches are being put on to transport affected passengers.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City manager Gary Rowett isn't making any promises about the January transfer window, saying "there's not going to be many top players available at this stage".

They are five points outside the play-off places, after defeat to Birmingham on Boxing Day and he's describing it as a "difficult market".

Image source, Getty Images

Rowett nevertheless says he will look for "sensible additions" to "fill some gaps" in the squad and he expects there to be interest in some of his players.

BBC News

After the excesses of the holiday season, many of us will be planning to lose a couple of stone or setting a target for how many times we go to the gym each week.

Image source, Getty

But the problem with "arbitrary" goals like these is that they are often difficult to achieve and failing to reach them can be demoralising, says Dr James Gill.

"There are lists of specific things that you can do to actively make your life healthier, but if you are not enjoying your life you probably won't stick to any difficult or challenging changes for the coming year," says Dr Gill, a locum GP and researcher at Warwick Medical School.

Dr Gill recommends making one change in your life that will make you smile more often.

A man has died in hospital, two months after being injured in a crash in Stafford.

Andrew Williams, 79, from the Highfields area of the town, was involved in the collision on West Way on 16 October.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police said it was continuing to investigate the crash.

A man has been arrested, accused of a "horrific assault" on a man in Birmingham.

The 27-year-old was arrested after a 55-year-old was attacked in Somerford Road, Weoley Castle just after midnight on Sunday 23 December, said West Midlands Police.

He remains in police custody.

The 55-year-old was treated in hospital for a fractured cheekbone and bruising.

Hereford Times

Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Council floats city centre refurb, external
• School to become 'landing site' for Air Ambulance, external
• One lane closed of A49 in Hereford, external

Birmingham City Women goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger rejects the offer of new contract with the Women's Super League side.

BBC News Travel

The rail disruption between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury is now expected to last until at least 18:00, National Rail has said.

The cancellations have been caused by signalling problems and coaches are continuing to take passengers.

BBC Weather Watchers

Here's another selection of photos from the BBC Weather Watchers on a chilly December afternoon.

These ones were taken in Kenilworth, Bromyard and Aston on Dunsmore.

Image source, Red Robin

Image source, Postman Les

Image source, Melanie

BBC Sport

West Bromwich Albion will assess 13-goal top scorer Dwight Gayle before the visit of Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

Image source, Getty Images

Hal Robson-Kanu may deputise again, having replaced the on-loan Newcastle striker who hurt a hamstring setting up Jay Rodriguez's opener in the 2-0 Boxing Day win over Wigan.

Managerless Wednesday could be unchanged after their 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

Fernando Forestieri could again miss out with a hamstring injury.

A fire on the doorstep of a house in Cannock yesterday is being treated as arson and a 39-year-old woman has been arrested.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police said the fire was reported at 07:23 at a house on Whitby Way, but it was put out before it had the chance to spread to the house.

Nobody was hurt.

Worcester News

A few of the stories making the headlines on the Worcester News website today:

• Worcester unaffected by Boxing Day sales slump, external
• Hairdresser crashes car in Worcester after drinks, external
• Fairytale princesses set to visit children at hospital, external

BBC News Travel

Rail services between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton are likely to be disrupted until 17:00, National Rail has warned.

Passengers are being offered coaches instead.

The problem has been caused by a signalling failure.

The family of a mother and two sons, killed in an explosion in Leicester have paid tribute to their "rock".

Three men, including one from Coventry, have been found guilty of murdering five people in the blast.

Shane Ragoobeer, 18, his 17-year-old brother Sean, Shane's girlfriend Leah Beth Reek, 18, and the brothers' mother, Mary Ragoobar, 46, were in the flat when the explosion occurred on 25 February.

In a statement read out following the verdicts, Jose Ragoobeer said he and his family's lives would "never be the same" and his wife of 22 years was "our rock".

Mr Ragoobeer said: "Not a day goes by when we don't think about Mary, Shane and Sean."

BBC News Travel

A signalling system fault is delaying trains between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.

Worcester Warriors will include Ben Te'o in their starting line up for tomorrow afternoon's Premiership trip to Saracens.

The England international replaces Ryan Mills, who is out with a wrist injury.

Image source, Getty Images

Worcester make four changes to the side beaten by Northampton Saints, with Perry Humphreys, Gareth Milasinovich and Ted Hill coming in for the injured Josh Adams, Nick Schonert and Marco Mama.

Police in Staffordshire are hunting a man who stole a charity donation box on Christmas Day.

They say the theft happened at business on Derby Street in Leek.

A pedestrian who died when he was hit by a lorry on the M6 in Staffordshire on Thursday has been identified as Richard Langford, from Penkridge.

Image source, Google

The 40-year-old was struck just after midnight at J11, on the southbound carriageway near Featherstone.

Officers are still exploring the circumstances of the crash, said Staffordshire Police.

Leamington Observer

Some of the Leamington Observer headlines today are:

• Funding on offer for crime-reduction schemes, external
• First residents move into Station Approach, external
• Business leaders warn MPs 'no deal' Brexit could lead to cuts, external