BBC Midlands Today

The story of a teenager who suffered serious burns after touching a 25,000-volt overhead power cable's being used in a new campaign to try and cut the number of trespassers on the country's railways.

Tom Hubbard was 16 when the accident happened at a depot near Rugby railway station in June 2014.

At the time, the ambulance service said he'd climbed on top of a stationary freight train when he touched the cable by accident and suffered third-degree burns across 57% of his body.

Now, Network Rail's telling his story on social media , externalto show the life-changing impact that the accident had on him and his family.

The organisation said their latest figures show there were 250 cases every week of people 'messing about on the railway' with teenagers involved in a third of cases., external

A war hero dog who was awarded the Dickin Medal for saving lives in Afghanistan is said to be settling down well to civilian life.

Mali was wounded while searching a building in Kabul in 2012 and new owner, Lou Hackney, said she thought they may be a few issues when he came to live with her.

But, after he'd "searched the house quite thoroughly" he "absolutely took to retirement", she said.

Ms Hackney, who works for the PDSA in Telford said animals do suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and some things, such as smoke alarms, do cause him to get stressed.

Dudley News

The Dudley News' headlines today include:

• College closure slammed as 'deeply damaging', external
• Teen charged for suspected machete possession, external
• Conservatives look to take control of Dudley Council, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

Children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) 'continue to be let down' by Walsall Council, a report from Ofsted has said.

Image source, Getty Images

Some parents told inspectors they had had to give up work to 'fight' on their children's behalf.

The main findings from a joint inspection of services by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission earlier this year, external included SEND school exclusions are far too high and that poor communication is taking an "emotional toll" on families.

Ofsted has ordered the council, along with the clinical commissioning group (CCG), to draw up a written statement of what they'll do to tackle "significant areas of weakness".

The authority and the CCG have apologised for any poor service, external and say they recognise improvements need to be made.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Independent group on Herefordshire Council is in talks with other parties in the hope of forming a coalition administration.

The party, led by councillor Bob Matthews, is the largest at the council after winning 16 seats in last week's elections.

Image source, Google

The Independent group could form a coalition of 31 councillors with their two Herefordshire Alliance partners - It’s Our County and the Greens.

An agreement with the Conservatives seems unlikely due to differences over policy, in particular, on where the proposed Hereford bypass should go.

Two men, aged 19 and 20, are also being treated in hospital following the shooting in Birmingham.

Hereford Times

Three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Prefab homes face demolition, external
• Independents aim to lead council, external
• Thugs knock man senseless in Hereford, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A road's shut this afternoon after a crash between two cars, one of which reportedly ended up on its roof.

Image source, Google

The emergency services were called just before 14:00 to Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury., external

They said it's too early to say whether anyone's been hurt but Sandwell Council said the route's shut at the junction with Brandhall Road., external

Walsall Council's provisions for pupils with special needs has "serious weaknesses", Ofsted says.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Part of Hereford County Hospital has been closed to visitors because of an outbreak of norovirus.

Patients on Frome Ward are being affected by the diarrhea and vomiting virus, thought to be brought into the hospital by a visitor.

Image source, Google

The hospital is reminding anyone who's showing symptoms not to visit until they've been well for at least 48 hours.

BBC Weather Watchers

Soggy-looking squirrels in Bromsgrove, a large knife-angel sculpture in Birmingham and commuters hiding under umbrellas in Dorridge are among our photos from the BBC Weather Watchers.

Image source, Our Woddis

Image source, Di's Walk

Image source, Dammo

A number of students in Stourbridge and Kidderminster will have to continue their studies in new locations, following the announcement , externalthe Stourbridge College and Kidderminster Academy buildings are to close.

Birmingham Metropolitan College, which operates both sites, says students at the Hagley Road campus in Stourbridge will be transferring to Dudley or Halesowen colleges from September.

Image source, Google

Students at Kidderminster Academy who are on hair and makeup, hospitality and animal care courses will transfer to Kidderminster College and those studying fashion, media, games design and textiles will move to the Art and Design Centre at Brierley Hill.

BMet said the moves were part of a shake-up of its courses in West Midlands and "concluded that this change is in the best interests of our learners both in the Black Country and Birmingham."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A pothole in Coventry is going to be fixed by the city council after the reappearance of penis graffiti on the road.

Council staff removed the spray painted images when the first set of phallic graffiti appeared on Monday, but didn't address the pothole.

It hasn't said whether the decision to carry out the repairs was prompted by the return of the images.

Now a spokesperson for the authority said the pothole on Farber Road would be filled, but criticised the vandal(s) for "putting residents and drivers at risk."

It hasn't said when the repairs will take place.

BBC Sport

Two Birmingham City players have been named in England's squad for the World Cup in France this summer.

Midfielder Lucy Staniforth (below, left) and forward Ellen White (below, right) were both picked for Phil Neville's 23-strong squad.

Image source, Getty Images

They begin their campaign against Scotland on 9 June and also face Argentina in the group stage, along with 2011 champions, Japan.

England finished third in 2015 and are the third-ranked team in the world.

Shrewsbury Town's former captain Mat Sadler says his playing career isn't over, despite being released by the club.

The 34-year-old has played more than 200 games for Shrewsbury but wasn't offered a new contract for next season.

Image source, Getty Images

Sadler said "that determination hasn't left me" and added: "I'm desperate to continue to achieve, desperate to be playing as long as I can."

Allen Cook
BBC News

A police officer's been banned from driving for more than two years after admitting a drink-drive offence.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Sgt Karl Breen, 38, based in Stoke-on-Trent, had previously pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath, following a road traffic collision in March.

At Derby Magistrates' Court, he was disqualified from driving for 29 months and fined £85 in costs.

Staffordshire Police said Sgt Breen remains suspended from duty and they have started an internal misconduct investigation., external

BBC Shropshire

Shropshire is missing out because it has two health authorities with differing priorities, according to an MP.

Plans to merge the Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group with the CCG for Shropshire are taking place and Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski says Kawczynski said that, in the past, the two groups had some highly different suggestions.

The Conservative MP is also in favour of merging Shropshire Council with Telford and Wrekin Council, a suggestion which has been opposed by the leaders of both authorities in the past.

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

The leader of Cheshire East Council’s Conservative Party is to stand down after the party lost 19 seats in last week’s local elections and control of the authority.

Image source, Cheshire East Council

The party's majority was eaten away by Labour, which gained nine seats, and candidates representing hyper-local independent interests.

Conservatives occupy 34 of the council's 82 seats.

Wybunbury councillor Janet Clowes will replace Rachel Bailey later this month after she was unanimously elected by her party colleagues at a meeting last night.

Birmingham Live

From the Birmingham Live website:

• Major police investigation after man shot dead, external
• Woman charged after Birmingham city centre attack as victim fighting for her life, external
• Motorists warned of major city centre road changes due to tram works disruption, external

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Coventry Blaze have signed experienced American defenceman Dillon Eichstadt, a player head coach Danny Stewart has described as a "proven winner".

The 25-year-old left-handed shot has spent four years at Bemidji State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and was the team's captain last season.

Image source, Bemidji St. Beavers

But Coventry will be losing Alex Nikiforuk, who is moving to Germany to play for Heilbronner Falken GmbH next season. ‬