Coventry Blaze have announced the signing of 24-year-old Canadian forward Johnny Curran.

The 5'10 right-handed shot has previously played 131 games for Niagara University in the American college league and this will be his first professional contract.

Head coach Danny Stewart said he was "young, hungry and has the work ethic to go with it."

Image source, purpleeagles.com

Another Coventry Blaze player, 18-year-old defenceman Ollie Lord, is being given the chance to play ice hockey for the Telford Tigers next season, while continuing to train with Coventry.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

An ambulance was attacked while paramedics were inside treating a patient.

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

A side window was smashed just after midnight while the crew and patient were in the vehicle on Macdonald Crescent, Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

The crew pressed their panic buttons and drove off and damaged vehicle is now off the road for repairs.

Staffordshire Police said a 19-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and remains in custody.

An inquest into the death of a retired Shropshire poultry farmer who was killed in a plane crash in Canada will take place in August.

Alan George Simpson from Prees was pronounced dead in Makkovik, in Labrador on 1 May.

Image source, Simpson family photo

An opening for the hearing, at Shrewsbury’s Shirehall, heard his body had been repatriated to Whitchurch, pending further information from the Canadian authorities.

The inquest will be held at Shirehall on 21 August.

Out-of-contract Doncaster Rovers goalkeeper Marko Marosi signs a three-year deal with Coventry City.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

From the Stoke-on-Trent Live website today:

• Terrified woman feared for life as mugger grabbed neck and dragged her off mobility scooter, external
• Heartbroken mum wants help to find precious keepsake to dead baby son, external
• Former school caretaker found in armchair after devastating fire, external

Lincoln City say there have been no approaches for management duo Danny and Nicky Cowley, despite reports linking them to West Brom.

BBC WM

Comedian Joe Lycett said he and other LGBT people are 'being treated as second class citizens' after a Birmingham MP said LGBT lessons were not always age appropriate.

Joe Lycett's tweet, external came after Roger Godsiff, Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, said he did not feel four or five-year-olds "could comfortably handle" discussions about sexuality.

His constituency includes Anderton Park Primary School which has seen weeks of large-scale protests over the lessons.

Previously, Andrew Moffat, assistant head of Birmingham's Parkfield Community School which has seen similar demonstrations, said there had been a "misconception" about such teachings.

BBC Business News

Thousands of jobs are at risk across the country as British Steel is entering insolvency.

Image source, Reuters

The move follows a breakdown in rescue talks between the government and the company's owner, Greybull.

The government's Official Receiver will take control of the company as part of the insolvency process.

British Steel has a metal centre selling products in Wolverhampton, external and a sales office in Stoke-on-Trent. , external

Accountancy firm EY will attempt to find a buyer for the business.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A man's been killed in a crash involving two cars, one of which caught fire, in Birmingham., external

Image source, Google

The collision was at around 01:10 today on Frankley Lane, near the junction with Scotland Lane, the ambulance service said.

One man died at the scene and four others in the cars were taken to hospital with injuries which paramedics said weren't life-threatening.

Warwickshire bowler Liam Norwell is aware he might have to be a hero with the bat, after starring with the ball against Somerset yesterday.

He took seven wickets as they bowled Somerset out for 164 and gave themselves a chance of snatching a win in their county championship match at Taunton.

Image source, Getty Images

Resuming this morning, they need another 136 runs to win, with four wickets remaining and Norwell said "It's definitely winnable" and praised the batting ability of his fellow tail-enders, Henry Brookes, Jeetan Patel and Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

Two truckers, both grandfathers in their 50s,, were killed in a collision on the A14 last week.

Firm says that Huawei's 5G phones will not be available initially.

The UK celebrity chef says he is "devastated" as his restaurant group goes into administration.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A service is to be held today to remember a USA pilot who died when she crash landed in Worcestershire in 1943.

Mary Webb Nicholson was delivering a Miles Master aircraft, like the one pictured below, to an RAF base when its engine failed and she crashed into a barn in Littleworth.

Image source, Getty Images

A memorial plaque is being unveiled in the village later.

Geoff Hudson, a local man who researched her story, said she was the first pilot to gain a flying licence in North Carolina and she did parachute jumps for money to pay for her training.

BBC Midlands Today

A public meeting will take place today to fight the planned closure and sale of Stourbridge College from September.

Image source, Google

Earlier this month, Birmingham Metropolitan College announced it would shut with almost 1,000 students transferring to Dudley and Halesowen colleges.

It said the site was "performing really well" but that the plan was in the "best interest" of students.

Unison, the University and College Union and the National Education Union have organised the meeting this evening at Stourbridge Town Hall.

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

Cheshire East Council's first ever Labour leader is due to be elected by councillors today, external, after the Conservatives lost their majority on the council in the local elections.

Image source, Google

Labour have reached an agreement with the Independent group to form a cabinet for the next year.

After that, they say the council will be run through a series of committees shared out between all the political groups.

The victim, in his 30s, was taken to hospital after he was injured in the attack in Wolverhampton.

Shropshire Star

Here are a few of the stories making the headlines on the Shropshire Star website:

• U-turn on 600% pavement permit increase for Shropshire businesses, external
• Schools trust is failing in mission, says Ofsted, external
• Oswestry pub hoping to extend its hours, external

BBC Midlands Today

Councillors in Shropshire will be asked today to sign off on a closure of a village primary school.

Image source, Google

Stiperstones Church of England Primary School, south of Shrewsbury, is struggling with funding and has just 38 pupils with no children ready to start school in September 2020.

The Shropshire Hills Federation, which runs the school, said the building could be shut temporarily with pupils moved to its two other sites.

Parents would have the option of having their children educated at Norbury Primary School or Chirbury Primary School in January 2020.

But the federation said it could reopen with a fresh intake the following year. Shropshire Council's cabinet will discuss the plan today., external

BBC Sport

Warwickshire face a battle to avoid their third straight defeat in Division One of the County Championship this season.

Image source, Getty Images

The Bears will resume today at Somerset on 103-6 in their second innings, needing another 136 runs to win on day three.

While in Division Two, Worcestershire are also facing a battle, just 120 runs ahead of Lancashire with one wicket remaining in their second innings.

Fourteen wickets fell yesterday and the Pears closed on 149-9.

With both games expected to finish with a result today, you can follow them on BBC local radio commentary or via the BBC Cricket website.