Updates from Monday 8 April to Sunday 14 April
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Plans have been drawn up to cut queues heading into Crewe's Grand Junction retail park.
The new road would be one-way and take traffic off Manchester Bridge.
Image source, GoogleCheshire East Council is due to consider the plans at the end of next month.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Stafford's County Hospital has set itself a target of discharging at least seven patients a day to reduce the number of medically fit people still on site.
A meeting of the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust was told the patients could be transferred to other services in the community to continue their care.
Image source, GoogleThe trust has a target of no more than 18 medically-fit-for-discharge patients at the Stafford site.
In February, the average figure was 42.
More foster carers are urgently needed in Staffordshire according to the County Council.
Image source, Staffordshire County CouncilThe authority has released a short film called Truth be Told which features the real-life stories of two sets of children and their foster carers.
The council says it's keen to hear from anyone interested in fostering, and in particular people interested in caring for teenagers, siblings, or children with disabilities.
Training and on-going support will be provided, the authority says.
West Midlands Fire Service said it appeared the crane was being dismantled when it fell.
Read MoreThe Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has quit the pro-Brexit European Research Group and tweeted , externalthere is a "hardcore group of "Unicorn" daydreamers now actually endangering EU departure.
Mr Kawczynski opposed the prime minister's withdrawal bill when it was first brought before parliament, but is now supporting it and says the ERG is preventing it from passing.
Image source, TWITTERThe North Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson, who remains a member of the ERG has tweeted, external his morning to point to a poll which suggests the majority of Conservative voters would be in favour of a No Deal exit on 12 April.
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Stoke City manager Nathan Jones says the Football League needs to "have a little think" about teams travelling long distances for midweek fixtures.
His team makes the 185-mile (298km) journey to south Wales to play Swansea tonight and Jones says the distance means it is difficult to gain any momentum from its win over Blackburn.
Image source, Getty ImagesStoke City haven't had back-to-back wins since October.
Quote MessageIt'd be lovely to have a home game now on a Tuesday night in front of a big crowd to add some momentum, but no, we've got to go back to God's country and see if we can get three there."
Nathan Jones, Stoke City manager
From the Hereford Times today:
A bid to raise money to repair three scouting facilities in Coventry attacked by vandals at the weekend has exceeded its target.
Image source, Sarah MillerThe toilet block at one site, in Rough Close, was destroyed and windows were smashed at two other sites in the Radford area of the city.
Image source, Sarah MillerCounty commissioner for scouting in the city, Andrew Morris, said support from the community across the city had been "overwhelming".
A crowdfunding site has raised more than £2,000 in fewer than 12 hours.
Police officers have cordoned off an area around Streetsbrook Road in Shirley, Solihull, after responding to reports of an unexploded device in a garden.
A number of nearby homes have also been evacuated as a precaution.
Image source, GoogleStaff at Ludlow's Minor Injuries Unit say it's under-used because not enough people are aware of the injuries that can be treated there.
The unit, based at the town's community hospital on Gravel Hill, is open from 08:00 to 20:00 and can save patients a trip to Shrewsbury, Telford or Hereford, they say; taking pressure of A&E departments.
The owner of an unfinished student accommodation block in Newcastle-under-Lyme says it's looking to sell the building.
Ascot Property Group is in talks with investors over the former Jubilee swimming pool site and isn't planning on continuing the works.
The Sky building on Brunswick Street hasn't been worked on for more than a year.
A homeless man was found dead at the site last week, but the owners have told Newcastle Borough Council it has robust security arrangements in place.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds has written to headteachers to say it's up to individual primary schools what they teach about same-sex relationships.
Instruction on the topic - including the No Outsiders programme taught at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham - has prompted protests by parents, with teachers saying they "feel alone" and unsupported..
In his letter to the National Association of Headteachers, Mr Hinds says primary schools are encouraged to cover LGBT content if they consider it age-appropriate.
He also says he recognises that following recent protests, some people have strong feelings on the issue and says it is right that parents are consulted and involved in developing how schools deliver relationships education.
Construction work on a hospital in Smethwick has been halted to allow for the removal of a crane that fell at the site earlier.
A 20m section fell on to the flat roof of a building at the Midland Metropolitan Hospital.
Construction company Balfour Beatty confirmed it fell while the crane was being dismantled.
Nobody was hurt.
“The surrounding area was immediately secured and works have now ceased on site while the crane section is safely removed, after which works will resume," a Balfour Beatty spokesperson said.
Barclays has confirmed a total of 335 roles in the West Midlands will be impacted by the relocation of hundreds of jobs to Glasgow, Greater Manchester and Northampton.
Image source, PA"Staff that are impacted will be offered support to find alternative roles within the Barclays Group," it said.
The sites are Westwood Park in Coventry and Birmingham Snowhill.
The workers there comprise a total of about 450 from across the UK set to be affected by the bank's plan.
The union Unite says it is vigilant for redundancies. Barclays says there will only be about 50 cuts in total, with the majority of workers redeployed.
A spokesperson added: "We remain committed to Birmingham and Coventry and following these changes, we continue to employ over 1,000 people in Birmingham and over 500 at Westwood Park in Coventry as well as further staff across our branch network in the West Midlands.”
Barclays has announced the relocation of hundreds of jobs, with about 350 people at sites in Coventry and Birmingham affected by the plan.
That's raised union fears of redundancies. Unite says the jobs of workers at Coventry's Westwood Park and Birmingham Snowhill are at risk, in addition to a further 100 or so from across the country.
The banking giant says there'll be a reduction of about 50 jobs in total, with the remaining 400 moving to Glasgow, Greater Manchester and Northampton.
Image source, GoogleBarclays in Coventry
Staff at the two West Midlands sites were informed today, Unite said.
Unite national officer Dominic Hook called the decision a "huge blow" for the workforce in the West Midlands.
"This is even more alarming in light of 170 staff from Fraud Operations cut in Coventry last year," he added.
A Barclays spokesman said "in order to best serve our customers and clients Barclays is moving teams closer together at our core UK sites".
We've seen some hazy cloud in the photos from the BBC Weather Watchers around the West Midlands today, but some bright skies too.
And plenty of sheep.
And some boats.
So, if you'd been feeling woolly, we hope you're now more afloat.
Image source, Graham's View
Image source, Peter Steggles
Image source, Julia DabchickWest Midlands PC Colin Noble is found not guilty of misconduct in a public office.
Read MoreGurpreet Singh murdered his second wife after trying to have his first wife killed, a jury is told.
Read MoreBBC Radio Stoke Sport
Port Vale's John Askey has been shortlisted for the League Two manager of the month award for March after a run of 11 points in six games, which has seen the club pull away from the relegation zone.
He'll be up against Lincoln City's Danny Cowley, Tranmere's Micky Mellon and Paul Tisdale from MK Dons.
Image source, Getty ImagesA police officer accused of having "sexually groomed" a woman, leaving her feeling intimidated in her own home, has been cleared.
Image source, PAPC Colin Noble, 47, denied any wrongdoing over the domestic violence victim, and was found not guilty of misconduct in a public office.
She had secretly recorded the West Midlands Police officer eight times because of his "uncomfortable questions", the court heard.
He was acquitted today after a week-long trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
