Tributes have been paid to the former boss of Jaguar Land Rover and Labour peer, Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, who has passed away "after a short ilness".

Labour's leader in the House of Lords, Baroness Angela Smith said: "The suddenness of losing Kumar has shocked and deeply saddened his many friends and colleagues in and beyond Parliament.

"They will quite rightly speak of his great achievements and commitment to engineering, education and business."

Image source, Coventry City Council

The founder of Warwick Manufacturing Group was made an Honorary Freeman of Coventry in 2015, and the city council said, external the "profound and enduring impact" of his work in the city "could never truly be measured".

“Without him, Coventry would not be the great centre of innovation and manufacturing that it is today. His vision and determination have put us right at the heart of the automotive industry of the future."

West Brom's players have paid for coaches for fans to attend their game at Championship promotion rivals Leeds later.

Image source, Getty Images

The fourth-placed Baggies visit Elland Road for a 19:45 kick-off, with just four points between the teams in the Championship play-offs.

All the players have chipped-in to show their appreciation to the Baggies travelling supporters.

Skipper Chris Brunt told the club website:, external"Everything suggests it's going to be a big game at Elland Road and if this gesture helps a few more of our fans get there then that's great."

BBC Entertainment and Arts

Ryan Adams has cancelled his upcoming tour of the UK, in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct by the star.

Image source, Getty Images

Nine dates, including a date at Birmingham's 02 Academy have been scrapped.

Several fans had already sought refunds, saying they could no longer support the artist.

"Full refunds to ticket purchasers will be processed by end of day on Monday," said Ticketmaster in a tweet announcing the news, external.

A series of raids have been carried out and four people arrested, following a number of tractor thefts.

Staffordshire Police officers led raids in Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Walsall yesterday morning and recovered farm equipment, believed to be stolen.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Last month, six tractors worth more than £100,000 were taken from a site at Yoxall in Staffordshire and the recovered machinery is thought to have been taken from farms in Coven and Nottinghamshire.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says they need to "get back on the horse as quick as we can" after their defeat to Exeter City last weekend.

He's warning the game against Keith Curle's Northampton Town will "be another toughy".

Image source, Getty Images

Artell said Northampton are, "big and strong, physical and he knows the league and he knows what to do with a team in League Two".

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three stories from the Stoke-on-Trent Live site today:

• Nude swimming session is coming to Stoke-on-Trent, external
• Teenagers arrested after petrol bomb thrown, external
• Gordon Banks family gives fans chance to attend funeral, external

Birmingham Bears sign Australia all-rounder Ashton Agar for their entire T20 Blast campaign in 2019.

The businessman who played a key role in enabling car giant Tata to take over Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has died, it was announced today.

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya founded Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, which said he had passed away today "after a short illness".

Image source, University of Warwick

"His passing was peaceful and he was with his family, who are in our thoughts and prayers," the university said.

Sir David Normington,chair of council and pro-Chancellor of University of Warwick described him as "a force of nature".

"He pushed at boundaries, he changed lives, he created jobs, and he set the standard for how universities should work with industry. Most of all, for so many of us, he was also a kind and generous friend.

"We shall miss him terribly but here at Warwick he will remain our inspiration for many years to come."

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Christian Barnett

A former police officer who chairs two safeguarding boards in Worcestershire has been paid more than £75,000 in the last two and a half years, despite only working five days a month.

That includes travelling expenses of more than £7,000 claimed by Derek Benson, who travels 130 miles to meetings from his home in Hemel Hempstead.

Mr Benson, who was a deputy chief constable of Essex Police before taking up the roles, also chairs similar boards in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire.

The chair of Worcestershire County Council's children and families overview and scrutiny panel, Councillor Fran Oborski, said the role needed someone properly qualified and impartial.

"If you pay peanuts you get monkeys. I think there is, unfortunately, a very limited pool of people who are qualified to do this job across the whole of the country and I think we absolutely have to make sure that person is highly qualified."

Mr Benson's role is funded by Worcestershire County Council, the CCGs and the police.

The council said his pay was "comparable with other areas of the country”.

A petrol bomb is believed to be been thrown during a large street fight in Newcastle-under-Lyme earlier this week, Staffordshire Police has said.

Officers were called to Cedar Road in Crackley on Tuesday evening to reports of a disturbance involving between 15 and 20 people, but no-one was injured.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Four local teenagers aged between 15 and 18 have been arrested on suspicion of arson and released while investigations continue.

Concerns are raised about the numbers cared for in the corridors of two Worcestershire hospitals.

Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

The Hereford packaging firm Vision Gelpack is being closed down by administrators, with 50 jobs going.

Administrators Duff and Phelps said the company had attracted "substantial investment", but remained loss making.

The administrators went on to say, "with no immediate buyer for the business as a going concern we were left with no option but to close the business and inform the staff that they had been made redundant."

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Joe Sweeney

So-called "undetectable" blades that can pass through metal detector checks unnoticed should be outlawed, a Wolverhampton councillor says.

The knives, which are made of finely sharpened ceramic or fibreglass, are easily available on the internet, sometimes even for free, Councillor Phil Bateman said.

He has now made a renewed plea for a crackdown on the ease with which people can obtain the "undetectable" daggers.

He said he was "horrified" to have received an unsolicited email offering the weapon for free, and has passed the information on to police.

Sex offenders are grooming children on Instagram more than on any other online platform, a charity has found.

Police in England and Wales recorded 1,944 incidents of sexual communication with children in the six months to September 2018, the NSPCC said.

Image source, Getty Images

West Mercia Police recorded 140 offences with the Staffordshire force recording 85.

West Midlands and Warwickshire forces recorded 48 offences each during the 18-month period.

Instagram was used in 32% of the 1,317 cases where a method was recorded, Facebook in 23% and Snapchat in 14%.

A lorry driver has been caught reading emails connected a new job as he was travelling on the M6, police say.

Motorway police tweeted: "I'm not sure of his chances".

John King spoke to the BBC a week before his death to raise awareness of motor neurone disease.

Cardiff Blues close in on signing Wales wing Josh Adams from Worcester Warriors next season.

A lorry has managed to end up on its side under a bridge, blocking the A47 Old Hinckley Road, in Nuneaton.

Image source, Paul Lathbury

The one-way eastbound carriageway is closed between the A444 Weddington Road and Leicester Road.

Local Green councillor for Weddington, Keith Kondakor said the bridge is struck "about four times a year".

The disused rail bridge has been earmarked for demolition later this year after being "frequently struck by high sided vehicles", Warwickshire County Council has previously said.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Chris Pennell will equal Worcester Warriors' record of 149 Premiership appearances, set by Craig Gillies, when he plays against Newcastle Falcons tomorrow.

The team is set to name an unchanged team for the match, the first time this season this has happened.

Image source, Getty Images

Josh Adams misses out after he picked up a knock after he scored the crucial try in Wales' win over England last weekend.

John King spoke before his death to raise awareness of the effects of motor neurone disease.