Allen Cook
BBC News

The Irish President has paid tribute to the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings on a visit to the city as part of a three-day visit to England.

Speaking at Birmingham Town Hall, Michael D Higgins said he wanted to offer sympathies to all the innocent victims and their families.

He also thanked the organisers of a memorial to the 21 victims of attack on 21 November, 1974, saying "these dark days are now behind us".

The sculpture, which was unveiled outside New Street Station last year, is made up of three steel trees with "leaves" bearing the names of each victim.

Three teenagers were injured near the University of Birmingham School in Selly Oak in December

Allen Cook
BBC News

A fresh appeal for help's been made by police after rare whisky bottles, worth tens of thousands of pounds, were stolen in a burglary., external

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Thieves smashed their way into the home on Sneyd Lane, Essington, Staffordshire, through a patio door in November.

Officers say they made off in a panel van with the bottles which were from a specialist collection.

They say the house suffered another break-in a month later when the alarm was disabled and burglars forced their way in, although they left empty-handed in this case.

The force hasn't said if it's linking the two burglaries.

A father accused of plotting an acid attack on his young son planned to "mark the child" in a bid to win back his estranged wife, a court has heard.

The three-year-old suffered serious burns to his face and arm at the Home Bargains store on the Shrub Hill retail park, Worcester, in July.

Image source, SWNS

During his third day of giving evidence, the 40-year-old agreed that he had become obsessed with the outcome of family court proceedings after his wife filed for divorce.

But he denied allegations that he said his child should be marked or that he had found someone who could mark him with a sharp object.

The father is on trial alongside Adam Cech, 27, of Farnham Road, Birmingham; Jan Dudi, 25, of Cranbrook Road, Birmingham; Norbert Pulko, 22, of Sutherland Road, London; Martina Badiova, 22, of Newcombe Road, Handsworth, Birmingham; Saied Hussini, 42, of Wrottesley Road, London, and Jabar Paktia, 42, of Newhampton Road, Wolverhampton.

All deny conspiring to commit grievous bodily harm and the trial continues.

Central Motorway Police Group says the driver was followed on an empty toll road for three miles.

The Irish President has expressed his "sadness" at the decision of the British people to leave the European Union.

Image source, PA

Speaking to business leaders, artists and members of the Irish community at Birmingham Town Hall today, Michael D Higgins said: "We have been sharing so much, much more than use of the English language in meetings of the Union.

"However, I wish to reiterate today that however the challenge of Brexit is resolved it will be more important than ever in the years ahead to sustain and build upon the deep friendships which have grown between Britain and Ireland.

"We will still continue to live in the shadow of each other."

Fire crews were called earlier today to deal with a car on fire on the M42.

It is one of several motorway fires reported today in the West Midlands.

Coventry City Council said it is looking at charging people who live outside the city from 2020.

Worcester News

The Worcester News features these headlines on its website today:

• School denies claims children are forced to eat lunch in silence, external
• Former Worcester student could face jail after fracturing kitten's skull, external
• Heritage railway wins awards for station initiative, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Alex Moore

Telford won't see any new police officers over the next two years, the chief constable has said, despite West Mercia planning to recruit an extra 215 officers.

Image source, PA

With the latest West Mercia Police finances agreed, 100 extra officers are in the budget for 2018-19 and a further 115 expected the year after.

But, at the latest police and crime panel, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said Telford would miss out on any extra personnel.

Instead, he said the town would benefit because constables there who currently have to plug gaps in shifts elsewhere in Shropshire won't have to once the new recruits are deployed.

Staff at a football club say they're "absolutely shocked to the core" after thieves ransacked their clubhouse and kitchen and caused damage put at thousands of pounds.

Image source, Eastwood Hanley FC

Police are investigating the break-in at Eastwood Hanley FC in Stoke-on-Trent, which was reported to them on Saturday morning.

In a statement on their Facebook page, external, the club say windows have been smashed, equipment damaged and items including six TVs stolen.

Image source, Eastwood Hanley FC

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith returns to Griffin Park to face Brentford looking to outwit his old assistant Thomas Frank.

BBC Shropshire

A former cinema could be turned into a huge community space after hundreds of people backed the idea.

Image source, Google

The old Regal in Oswestry hasn't shown a film for decades and, most recently, it's been a large shop.

But that's closed and proposals have been put forward to open it up as a multi-use space for the arts, culture, learning and entertainment, and other ideas which were explored at a workshop yesterday in the town.

One of the organisers, Ingrid Knowles, told BBC Radio Shropshire: “The 200 people who came along with ideas and questions show there’s a real need for something like this.”

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times has these stories today:

• Motorists warned not to open flood gates as alerts remain in force, external
• Hospital rejects waiting time estimates, external
• Mistake on road sign brings smiles to Hereford motorists, external

Evha Jannath, 11, died after falling from a water ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park in May 2017.

The Irish President has arrived at Birmingham Town Hall to begin a three-day visit to the UK.

Image source, PA

Michael D Higgins and Pat Breen, Irish minister of state, were greeted by Lord Mayor Yvonne Mosquito outside the Town Hall.

Image source, PA

The Birmingham City Council Choir sang a rendition of You Raise Me Up as he arrived to attend a private lunch.

Officers investigating a "grotesquely violent" robbery in which a man was stabbed in his own home have arrested seven people.

Image source, Google

A group of masked men forced entry to the address in Titford Road, Oldbury, just after 16:00 on Sunday where they attacked the 71-year-old with a knife.

The man suffered serious injuries to his head, face and throat during the attack and remains in hospital.

The gang made off with jewellery, an iPhone and £700 in cash, said West Midlands Police, which believes it was a targeted attack.

Shropshire Star

A few of the stories making the headlines in the Shropshire Star today:

• County lines link to rise in Shropshire child drug arrests, external
• 'Indirect boost for Telford' as new police recruited across West Mercia, external
• Ambulance queues worse on Sundays and Mondays, says Shropshire hospital boss, external

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The front of a shop in Stafford has been demolished as a car smashed into it., external

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Police say the vehicle crashed on Gaol Road, early on Sunday morning but no-one was hurt.

They say the building was made safe and the driver's now helping them with their enquiries.

Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Worcester Warriors' director of rugby says his side missed out on making their first ever major domestic cup final because they didn't take their chances when they had them.

Image source, Getty Images

Instead, Saracens won the match at Sixways 38-22 and the home side were always chasing the tie, despite scoring three tries in the second-half.