Hundreds of students protested yesterday at the University of Warwick over the way it dealt with men involved in an online group chat threatening rape.

Protestors were angry that the university lifted a 10-year ban for two men on appeal, reducing it to a year.

The university has been accused of "condoning" rape culture and campaigners called for an inquiry into the investigation.

The University of Warwick said it had launched an independent review of its disciplinary procedure.

Jaguar Land Rover is expected to publish its latest financial results today.

Image source, Getty Images

Last month the company confirmed it was cutting 4,500 jobs, with the substantial majority coming from its 40,000 strong UK workforce.

JLR is facing several challenges, including a slump in demand for diesel cars and a sales slowdown in China.

The firm has also complained about uncertainty caused by Brexit.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a windy start with some outbreaks of rain, winds should drop leaving some sunny spells and highs of 9C (48F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

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

People can lose their jobs, reputation and even liberty over it - so why do it?

Glenn Murray comes off the bench to score twice as Brighton beat West Brom to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Lucy Allan attacks the progress of an inquiry into Telford grooming gangs, but is branded uninformed.

Former Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson says he spoke to ex-Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme prior to his decision to retire.

Hundreds of demonstrators marched at Warwick University in response to its handling of rape threats.

The RMT union said Northern rail had offered a guarantee of a conductor on all trains.

She has been charged with animal cruelty, after horses were found in a badly neglected state.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

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

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Port Vale's new manager says Sir Alex Ferguson has been acting as a mentor to him and passing on "little bits of advice".

The former Manchester United manager is a friend of John Askey's agent and Askey said he'd spent "quite a bit of time with him" at Ferguson's offices.

Image source, Getty Images

"If you can't learn off someone like that, then you can't learn off anyone," Askey said.

A new 210-place primary school is being planned for Telford, to cope with what the council calls "substantial housing developments scheduled".

If it gets planning approval, it will be built near junction four of the M54 and will be a free school, outside local authority control.

Image source, Google

There are currently two schools serving this area, Redhill Primary Academy and Priorslee Primary Academy.

Three men and two women have denied assisting the man who murdered 20-year-old Callum Lees (pictured below) from Solihull in 2017.

The five were all granted conditional bail today, after an appearance at Birmingham magistrates court.

Image source, Family handout

The five are:

Kelly Palmer, aged 40 from Letitia Avenue, SolihullZac Palmer, aged 22 from Fallowfield Avenue, SolihullKelly Casey, aged 38 from Letitia Avenue, SolihullCian Murphy, aged 22 from Colesbourne Road, SolihullBrad Hope, aged 21 from Lyndon Road, Fenheam, Newcastle

A trial will be held at Birmingham Crown Court, starting on 6 March.

James Atherley was sentenced to life in prison for killing Mr Lees following a row at a party.

A Birmingham City Council report says further strikes by refuse collectors could cost between £13.5m and £28.2m in clearing up rubbish, depending on whether the industrial action is continuous.

Huge piles of rubbish littered the streets during an initial three-month strike in 2017 and members of the Unite union are planning to walkout for two days a week from later this month.

Unite is scheduled to take the authority to an employment tribunal in February 2020 over payments to GMB members.

The council report says waiting for the tribunal would result in rubbish mounting on the streets, while paying off workers could set a precedent for future disputes.

Coventry Live

Here are three stories from the Coventry Live website today:

• Third Coventry shooting in 24 hours, external
• Man fined £50 for feeding seagulls, external
• Meeting held to resolve Ricoh 'impasse', external

The University of Warwick has said it is "deeply sorry" for the distress caused when it lifted a ban on two students involved in online rape chat.

The two men decided not to return to the university and the university's pro-chancellor David Norrington said the university council thought this was "the right decision".

The university has now promised a "thorough, external and independent review" of its disciplinary and appeals processes and Mr Norrington said: "We will begin this work immediately and we will treat this as a priority."

He added: "We are a University which values diversity, respect and trust. We will not tolerate abuse, harassment, prejudice and unacceptable behaviour of any kind."

Super-fan George Johnson kept his collection of Formby memorabilia hidden from his wife for years.

A 49-year-old woman has been charged with animal cruelty offences after a group of horses were found in a badly neglected state.

In July, 12 horses were found in a badly emaciated state near Bromsgrove and two of them had to be put down after they were found severely malnourished.

Image source, Google

No plea has been entered and the case at Redditch magistrates' court has been adjourned until 20 March to sort out legal aid.