Allen Cook
BBC News

The leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council says it's unacceptable that the authority isn't giving the best protection to vulnerable children in the area.

It comes after Ofsted released its latest inspection report into the council's children's services and said vulnerable children are "not being protected".

It added that the authority had "seriously declined" since the last inspection in 2015.

Immediate action's been promised by the city council,, external with leader Ann James admitting that "our practices are not robust enough to provide the best protection".

She went on to say that "we are committed to improving our service at pace for our children".

BBC Weather Watchers

River levels are still rising this afternoon in Shrewsbury and there are still two flood warnings for the town , externalwith the River Severn bursting its banks in several places.

The Environment Agency says it expects river levels to stay high over the next few days.

This photo from Shrewsbury was taken this morning by BBC Weather Watcher STFC Goose:

Image source, STFC Goose

And here's the view across the river towards the Quarry.

A number of roads remain closed in Shrewsbury, including Gravel Hill Lane, Sydney Avenue Old Coleham Victoria Avenue.

Chilton Farm Lane, in Atcham and the Cross Houses to Atcham road are also affected, Shropshire Council says.

The Frankwell, Riverside and St Julians car parks are all still closed.

Wolves have shown all season that they can compete with the best, but their FA Cup win over Manchester United was a statement of their growing intent.

BBC News England

Football fans who say they thought they were buying a share in a "real life club" are demanding their money back from an app firm.

Image source, OWNAFC

Thousands signed up to OWNAFC after its director said it would enable them to make decisions over the running of a club it took over.

Hednesford Town FC in Staffordshire had considered a takeover by the app but a "collective decision" was made to not go ahead.

Customers said they thought paying £49 would mean they had a share in a club and be entitled to help run it.

But OWNAFC denies wrongdoing and said the £49 was to access the app.

There has been 32 carjackings in Coventry since the beginning of March, West Midlands Police has revealed.

The force said the "significant rise" in vehicle crime included car key burglaries and violent carjackings, external.

A spiralling demand for car parts is fuelling the rise in vehicle crime, police said.

Three people, aged 16, 17 and 23, arrested in separate incidents on suspicion of robbery, have been released while enquiries continue.

Drivers are being warned to be vigilant when parking or stopping at traffic.

Worcester News

The Worcester News is covering these stories today:

• Teen dangerous driver in high speed chase through Worcester, external
• Council forced to apologise in row over Jeremy Corbyn room hire during election, external
• Church hosts its first arts festival, external

Flood defences are being increased in Herefordshire and Worcestershire this afternoon as the counties prepare for the chance of more flooding.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Flood gates have been shut in Upton upon Severn, external, Worcestershire and there are five flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, across both counties. , external

Worcestershire County Council says Hylton Road, Worcester, will be shut for about three hours from 18:30 this evening so water pumps can be installed as part of flood defences., external

BBC Sport

Worcester Warriors Josh Adams (pictured, with ball) is on a six-man shortlist for the 2019 Six Nations Player of the Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

He joins fellow Wales players Alun Wyn Jones, Liam Williams and Hadleigh Parkes after their side clinched a Grand Slam with a 25-7 win over Ireland.

Wing Jonny May and flanker Tom Curry make the list selected by the media after England finished second.

The winner is decided by a public ballot which closes on 20 March.

Three women have been taken to hospital after a crash involving five vehicles in the West Midlands.

Image source, Google

Newton Road was closed off for a time in West Bromwich after the crash close to All Saints Church shortly after 10:00.

One driver had to be cut free from her vehicle, said the ambulance service.

All three were taken to hospital in Sandwell.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, police said.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The risk of flooding along the River Severn is set to continue for the next couple of days, according to the Environment Agency.

Image source, Environment Agency

There are still several flood warnings in place in the West Midlands , externalafter the heavy rain at the weekend.

Dave Throup, from the agency, tweeted that the River Severn was "a slow river" and it would take a couple more days for levels to fall. , external

Meanwhile, police in Shrewsbury are warning drivers that several car parks have been affected by flooding, including St Julian's here:, external

Image source, West Mercia Police

Over the past decade, about 550,000 more Britons left London than moved to it, an article by the Centre for Cities reveals.

Image source, Getty Images

The movement is most pronounced for very young children, people aged 18-20 and people in their 30s, with many young people moving to cities like Coventry in order to study.

These flows of people - the arrival of large numbers of young people and the departure of many of those who are older - also explains why London is such a young city.

With an average age of 37, its population is the sixth youngest of any large town or city in the UK. Coventry, Oxford and Cambridge and all have populations with an average age under 36.

BBC Shropshire

Good luck getting a parking space here!

The University Centre Shrewsbury says Frankwell car park is under water, after the heavy rain over the past few days caused the River Severn to burst its banks.

The centre put the photo on Facebook,, external adding: "There are currently 8 parking places available in Frankwell Quay, but no way to get to them."

Image source, University Centre Shrewsbury

Coventry Live

These are some of Coventry Live's headlines today:

• Man left with horrific facial injuries after suspected hit-and-run, external
• Cannabis grower caught for second time finally sent to prison, external
• How huge multi-storey car park is progressing in city centre, external

BBC Shropshire

Telford Tigers ended their season third after hopes of a late title-challenge were dashed by defeat at the weekend.

Image source, Steve Brodie

The Tigers needed to beat Hull Pirates but lost 6-3 on Saturday, external and a 9-3 win over Solihull Barons could only be a consolation.

Their third-place means they will next take to the ice in the play-offs on 23 March away at the Barons.

Fans say they feel misled by OWNAFC amid claims they could "take charge of a real life football club".

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A man reportedly armed with a hammer has robbed a newsagents after threatening a member of staff., external

Image source, Google

West Mercia Police said he went into the shop on Deansway, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, on Saturday morning.

They say he made off with cigarettes and cash along with another man who was waiting by the door.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two Stoke-on-Trent MPs have called for swift improvements from the city council after a damning report said vulnerable children were "not being protected" by the local authority.

Image source, Getty Images

Ofsted rated children's services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council "inadequate" and said the council had "seriously declined" since the last inspection in 2015.

The Stoke Central Labour MP, Gareth Snell, tweeted, external that "this is an outrageous dereliction of duty on the part of the city council leadership".

While the Conservative MP for Stoke South, Jack Brereton, said it was "very disappointing" and called for "rapid improvements".

The city council's leader, Ann James, said the authority was very concerned by Ofsted's findings and pledged to improve the services, external "at pace".

Allen Cook
BBC News

A school had to be evacuated this morning after a chemical "incident" which turned out to have come from a fridge., external

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Fire Service says it was called to St Nicholas CE (VC) First School off Chillington Drive, Codsall, just before 11:00.

Firefighters removed the fridge and started ventilating the school so pupils and staff could go back inside.

However, they later tweeted to say the head teacher and local council had decided to shut the school for the day as a precaution so more samples could be taken., external

Work started four years ago, it's cost about £275m, external, but now Cheshire Police says roadworks between J16 and J19 of the M6 in Cheshire are complete., external

Image source, Cheshire Police

Officers add that there might be some night-time work still to come but all four lanes are now in use, although there's still a 60mph limit from J16 to J17 "for a few days".

Highways England has converted that stretch of the M6 into a smart motorway, meaning the hard shoulder has been converted into a fourth lane.

A man who was injured in a police van in Perth has admitted having a knife before the incident.