Two students from Birmingham are among those taking part in today's climate change strike demonstration in the city.

Image source, Richard Wainwright

Harvey, 13, said he was taking part "because climate change isn't just affecting us, it's affecting every living thing on this earth".

"Kids voices have been ignored until now," said Olivia, 14, "but we'll be the most affected".

"I'm striking for our generation and for the forests and the wildlife that will be killed by climate change."

They will also be meeting councillors to hand over a petition signed by 200 people.

A man has been charged with starting a fire at a mental health centre in Tamworth earlier this week.

There were no reports of casualties in the fire at the George Bryan Centre, which broke out on Monday evening.

Image source, PA

The 43-year-old is due to appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre today, charged with arson with intent or to be reckless as to endanger life.

Trains on the West Coast main line are running again through the Stafford area, after repairs were carried out to a damaged bridge.

Network Rail said its engineers worked through the night after a vehicle, which failed to stop, dislodged brickwork on the Worston Lane bridge yesterday.

Image source, Network Rail

The disruption to trains will continue though, with two of the four tracks remaining closed and speed restrictions still in place so that more repairs can be carried out.

Schoolchildren and students all over the UK are swapping pencil cases for placards and going on strike to demand action on climate change.

Similar protests have been held across the world inspired by the 16 year-old Swedish teenager, Greta Thunberg, who stopped attending school on Fridays, to protest outside the Swedish parliament.

Ellie and Tara - aged 15 and 12 - are two sisters from Hay-on-Wye, close to the Herefordshire border in Powys, who will be striking today.

Speaking to the World Service, Ellie begins explains why she is taking a stand.

A burst water main is causing travel disruption in Oldbury and West Bromwich.

Temporary traffic lights have been put in place on the Oldbury Island on Brandon Way and Bromford Road for the works to be carried out.

South Staffs Water said engineers were working to complete the repair.

The finishing touches are being made to three houses, in the grounds of Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, which have been renovated to become homes for junior doctors.

The work has been carried out by local tradesmen, with funding from local authorities and businesses - work on a fourth house will start soon.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

The effort has been led by Telford and Wrekin Council, in a bid to attract more doctors to the hospital, which has been suffering staff shortages.

They will be made available for junior doctors for free, as an incentive for them to work at the Princess Royal.

A boy has been charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of a teenager in Birmingham on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old faces two charges of wounding and one of possession of an offensive weapon after a student, also 16, was found with serious stab wounds to his chest near Joseph Chamberlain College.

A 19-year-old man was left with minor cuts to his back and his hand, while an 18-year-old man was also treated for a cut to his hand, said West Midlands Police.

The teenager has also been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon, following an incident in December last year in Southacre Road, Highgate, where a man was stabbed in the wrist.

Rail replacement services are now running between Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford whilst repairs to a bridge are made in Staffordshire.

Image source, Network Rail

Some lines are blocked whilst the repairs take place, said Nework Rail, with trains having to run at a reduced speed.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

A police chief calls for a review into the sentence of an inspector who made indecent images of children.

Rail disruption is now expected to last until the end of the day, after a bridge was struck in Staffordshire.

Image source, Network Rail

Engineers are on site at Worston Lane, north of Stafford, repairing the bridge after the "entirely avoidable" strike, said Nework Rail.

The driver "appears to have failed to stop at the scene", a spokesperson said.

“This is the latest example of a driver hitting a railway bridge and causing unnecessary disruption to passengers."

Shropshire Star

Here are three early headlines from the Shropshire Star today:

• 1,080 people risk their lives at level crossing, external
• £31 million investment announced for Telford schools, external
• Jail for Market Drayton man in drug debt attacks, external

Councillors in Herefordshire are expected to approve a council tax increase of almost 5% today.

Image source, Getty Images

The 4.9% rise includes a 2% increase to pay for adult social care.

Councillors agreed the draft budget for 2019-20 at the end of January, and will vote on it today.

If approved, the changes will come into force from April, and will see council tax increase by more than £70 a year for an average Band D property.

Trams in Birmingham are currently terminating at Bull Street after a man was taken ill.

The ambulance service said staff are on site helping him.

A bridge over the West Coast main line in Staffordshire has been badly damaged after being hit by a vehicle.

Image source, Network Rail

Services through Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe are being delayed after the bridge was struck on Thursday.

A 20mph speed restriction is in place, said CrossCountry Trains.

Image source, Network Rail

Engineers are on site at Worston Lane, north of Stafford, making the bridge and surrounding area safe ahead of repairs taking place, said Network Rail.

Two men have been arrested after hundreds of cannabis plants were discovered in an underground bunker in Wolverhampton.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The secret cannabis factory was unearthed following a raid at an address in Bushbury Road on Thursday.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Almost 20 plants were found in the house, but the underground set-up was discovered during further searches to the rear of the building, said West Midlands Police.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Two men, aged 57 and 41, have been arrested on suspicion of producing cannabis and are currently in police custody for questioning.

Schoolchildren across the country are expected to walk out of lessons and protest this morning to demand action on climate change.

Events are planned for Birmingham, Hereford and Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as Hay-on-Wye, just over the Herefordshire border in Powys.

There, children from a number of local schools will march through the town before meeting councillors to call for more cycle lanes and increased use of renewable energy.

After years of being named among the worst in the UK for air pollution, Birmingham is set to introduce a clean air zone from next year.

The city council's own analysis found air pollution was responsible for shortening the lives of about 900 people.

The brain function of very late risers and "morning larks" during the hours of the working day is different, according to a study.

Image source, Getty Images

Researchers from the University of Birmingham scanned the brains of night owls with a bedtime of 02:30 and a wake time of 10:15, along with early risers.

The tests - performed between 08:00 and 20:00 - found night owls had less connectivity in brain regions linked to maintaining consciousness.

They also had poorer attention, slower reactions and increased sleepiness.

A former Worcestershire cricketer faces a "right-to-remain" hearing today, after being blocked from re-entering the country.

Image source, Getty Images

Collis King was a pivotal figure in the 1979 World Cup final which gave the West Indies one of their most famous victories at Lord's.

The 67-year-old has been stuck in Barbados and separated from his British wife since April.

Image source, Getty Images

The Home Office told Mr King - who has a son living in south Wales - he had 14 days to leave the country after he tried to apply for a spousal visa.

He was told to return to Barbados and apply from there but has since been unable to return.

Mr King said he understands the decision of the Home Office but said "it's not been easy, but it's something I have to do".

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

Plans for an 808-bed student flats block have been approved by Coventry City Council.

Image source, Coventry City Council

The six-floor building will be built on the site of Cannon Park Shopping Centre's overflow car park.

The plans also include nearly 500 parking spaces and 240 bicycle spaces.

Inquests into the deaths of four children killed in a house fire are set to open.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Riley Holt, eight, Keegan Unitt, six, Tilly Rose Unitt, four, and Olly Unitt, three, died in the blaze in Highfields in Stafford.

An inquest is due to be opened and adjourned by the assistant coroner for South Staffordshire, Margaret Jones.

A woman, 24, and a man, 28, arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence, have been bailed.