Live updates from Monday 4 February to Sunday 10 February
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Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
An inquest into the death of a man who went missing on holiday in Crete in 2005 is set to open in April.
Image source, www.findstevencook.co.ukSteven Cook, 20, from Sandbach, Cheshire, was last seen outside a pub in Malia, Crete, asking for directions.
The coroner in Cheshire's confirmed a four-day inquest into his death will be held from 9 April.
Two men have been taken to hospital after a two-car crash in Washwood Heath.
Image source, Dr Iqtidar CheemaAmbulance crews were called to the scene, at the junction of Washwood Heath Road and Ward End Park at about 09:30, it said.
The two were taken to Heartlands Hospital by land ambulance.
North Warwickshire has been named as one of the worst places for killings over the last five years.
There were 11.1 homicides per 100,000 people the Office for National Statistics analysis showed., external
The figures cover cases of murder, manslaughter and infanticide.
Across England and Wales last year saw the highest numbers of fatal stabbings since records began in 1946.
The figures also show 25% of victims were black - the highest proportion since data was first collected in 1997.
A meeting at Wolverhampton Racecourse has been cancelled on Saturday due to an outbreak of equine flu.
Three infected horses raced on Wednesday at Ayr in Scotland and Ludlow, Shropshire.
The course said a horse from the infected yard ran there this week and a deep clean has been ordered.
Racing is not permitted for four days afterwards.
All customers will be offered a full refund or transfer.
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The Hereford Times is covering these stories today:
Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A father who’s accused of plotting an acid attack on his own son broke down in tears today as he denied hurting the toddler.
Image source, SWNSThe man, who cannot be named, is one of seven defendants on trial at Worcester Crown Court after the three-year-old was sprayed with acid at the Home Bargains store last July.
He was in tears as he described how much he loved his children and, when asked if he arranged for acid to be thrown over the child, said he would never do that.
All seven defendants deny conspiracy to plot the attack, and the trial continues.
The Japanese concept is the practice of taking time to relax surrounded by woodland
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Allen Cook
BBC News
The brother of a man who was killed 10 years ago says his family are still suffering as the murder has not been solved.
In February 2009, David Currier, 35, was found dead in his home on Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, with a stab wound in his right thigh.
In 2011, West Mercia Police reopened its investigation into his murder and today, on the 10th anniversary of his death, the force is making a fresh appeal for witnesses. , external
David's brother Nick Barry says they are still desperate to find out who killed him and "cannot find closure until the offenders are brought to justice".
Worcester Warriors rugby club makes sure no one misses out on their matches - and that includes Andy, who's living with dementia
Read MoreThreats allegedly sent to football manager Nathan Jones after he quit his former team to join Stoke City are being investigated by police.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 45-year-old left Luton Town last month to take over at the Championship side.
The Welshman's departure from the League One club was criticised by some Hatters supporters.
Hertfordshire Police said the force was investigating reports that a man in his 40s had received malicious communications.
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
An Army bomb disposal team has been called out this afternoon to "a suspicious package" found in part of Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffordshire Police says they've cordoned off Knight Street, Tunstall, which includes the junction with Roundwell Street.
A video showing a schoolgirl being attacked by a large group of pupils near a Birmingham school has prompted a police investigation.
Footage shared widely on social media shows the girl being pulled to the ground, beaten and verbally abused while surrounded by a crowd of more than 20 other pupils near Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School in Kingstanding.
Image source, GoogleWest Midlands Police were called to the incident on Kingstanding Road at about 15:40 on Wednesday, amid reports of disorder.
The video originated on Snapchat but has been shared thousands of times on Facebook, the Press Association reports.
The school has been approached for comment.
A few the stories making the headlines on the Shropshire Star today:
Worcester Warriors' Ted Hill will captain England's Under-20s , external side in their Six Nations Championship match this Saturday against France at Exeter's Sandy Park.
Image source, Getty ImagesWorcester team-mate Ollie Lawrence will start the game in the centre while two more Warriors players, Kai Owen and James Scott, are among the replacements.
Their opponents are both the world champions and the reigning Six Nations champions while England's Under-20s lost to Ireland in the opening round.
The owners of the racecourses in Hereford and Worcester say they're stepping up their biosecurity following news of an outbreak of equine flu.
Image source, GoogleAll British horse racing meetings today have been cancelled by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) after three vaccinated horses in an active yard tested positive for the disease.
Horses from the infected yard raced on Wednesday, potentially exposing a significant number of horses and recovery can take weeks, or even months.
Arena Racing Company, who run Worcester and Hereford Racecourses, say they're taking "every measure" to have high levels of biosecurity.
They add that, as far as upcoming races are concerned, they're waiting for further updates from the BHA.
Good news, an updated forecast from the Met Office suggests the West Midlands will now escape the worst wind and rain this weekend, with earlier severe weather warnings now cancelled.
Storm Erik is likely to mainly affect parts of Ireland and Scotland.
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These are a few of the photos from this morning as strong winds brought down trees and left hundreds of people in Kenilworth, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Worcester without power.
Image source, @AcocksGreenBID
Sima Kotecha
Midlands Correspondent, BBC News
More than 100 parents have protested outside a school in Birmingham against its teaching about same sex relationships.
Parkfield Community School in the Alum Rock area of the city has a majority Muslim population, but in recent days some of its parents have spoken out about its "no outsiders" programme which involves story books with same sex couples.
Some parents claim the teachings contradict the Islamic faith.
The architect of the programme, Mr Andrew Moffat, who is also assistant head teacher at the school, has told the BBC he is "devastated" by the protest.
He has previously said the scheme was about "teaching young children that we are different in reception and year one, that's as far as this work goes. We're just talking about being different and being friends".
A woman of Muslim faith said her child was too young to be exposed to homosexuality.
The Worcester News is covering these stories today:
The charity's assistant director says the animal's body should not have been left in a public place.
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BBC Business News
Jaguar Land Rover has posted another loss, reporting pre-tax profits of £273m for the three months to 31 December.
Image source, PAThat's down from a profit of £192m in the third quarter last year, and follows a loss of about £90m in the second quarter of 2018.
The Coventry-based carmaker sold 144,602 vehicles in the period - down from 154,447 a year ago - blaming "continued challenging market conditions in China".
However, it hailed "encouraging growth" in North America and the UK, adding that its £2.5 billion cost saving programme was on track.
