Stoke City's players are determined to atone for a miserable 2017-18 season, says new manager Gary Rowett.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A campaign to stop a new cattle grazing scheme on a public area of Cannock Chase has been supported by more than 6,000 people.

Staffordshire County Council is planning to reintroduce grazing at Moors Gorse as part of its management of the country park and up to six cattle are set to move onto a section of land near Rugeley..

Image source, Ann Elphick

The protesters are unhappy about the idea of free roaming cattle on land used by families and have concerns about parts of the land being fenced off.

But two local environmental groups, Sustainability Matters and There Is No Planet B! Stafford, are supporting the scheme, saying traditional grazing like this helps control the growth of plants like bracken, which has been a problem in the past, when it spread out of control.

A man accused of 21 offences including eight rapes across England has refused to attend a plea hearing at the Old Bailey.

Image source, Met Police

Joseph McCann, 34, was arrested near Congleton, Cheshire, and was due to appear via video-link from Belmarsh Prison.

But he did not appear on the screen and a dock officer confirmed he had refused to leave his cell.

Mr Justice Edis set a provisional six-week trial at the Old Bailey to start on 11 November.

He indicated that Mr McCann should be informed that, if he chose not to attend his trial, it would happen in his absence.

Mr McCann is charged with 21 offences against eight people, aged between 11 and 71, over a two-week period between 21 April and 5 May.

A string of alleged offences is said to have happened in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Crooner Michael Bublé sang to a Birmingham fan who could not afford tickets to his show.

A total of 38 children are set to be taught elsewhere as an intake shortfall hits funding.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

From Stoke-on-Trent Live:

• Teenage girl smashed over head with vodka bottle, external
• Police arrest woman after body found, external
• Doctor attacked at hospital, external

More than 80 staff, volunteers and students from West Midlands Ambulance Service are set to march in this weekend's Pride parade in Birmingham to "show support for the LGBT community".

A spokesperson said: "Attending this event enables the ambulance service to better represent the community that we serve and demonstrate the service as an employer that celebrates inclusivity and diversity within its workforce."

Derby County boss Gary Rowett asks for permission to talk to Stoke City about their vacant managerial role.

A man was "seriously injured" when his motorbike hit a barrier on the A40 in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

It happened shortly before 19:00 on Wednesday, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

According to a spokesperson he had serious injuries and was given trauma care at the scene before being airlifted to hospital in Bristol.

BBC News Travel

A fault with barriers at a level crossing are delaying rail services between Birmingham New Street and Cheltenham Spa.

Some services are being diverted via Worcester.

Wasps sign 22-year-old second row Theo Vukasinovic from Championship club London Scottish.

Express and Star

Some of today's headlines on the Express and Star website are:

• Police investigation as serious crash shuts Tansey Green Road, external
• Wolves boss Nuno still backing ‘super athlete’ Adama Traore, external
• British Steel jobs at risk in Wolverhampton after government talks fail

Peter Davies faces a £250,000 bill after his claim he designed Wolves' logo was thrown out of court.

A special ceremony will take place on Cannock Chase today to remember the New Zealand soldiers who trained there during World War One.

Image source, The Chase Project

The elite New Zealand Rifle Brigade were based at Brocton Camp, which was one of two training centres on the Chase, between 1917 and 1919.

The New Zealand High Commissioner will be joined by relatives of one soldier to unveil a memorial sign outside the Great War hut living museum.

Coventry City agree to sign Bradford City goalkeeper Ben Wilson when his deal at Valley Parade expires.

A teenage girl, killed in a crash in Dudley, died at the scene said the ambulance service.

Image source, Google

The 17-year-old was a passenger in a car which crashed into a wall on Tansey Green Lane, Pensnett just after midnight.

A man, also travelling in the car, was taken to hospital suffering injuries not thought to be serious.

A 27-year-old is in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and drink-driving.

Joseph McCann is due to appear next at the Old Bailey on 26 July.

A 17-year-old girl has been killed in a crash in Dudley.

The teenager was a passenger in a car which crashed into a wall on Tansey Green Lane, Pensnett, just after midnight.

A 27-year-old arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and drink-driving remains in police custody, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police.

An FA Cup winners' medal, which belonged to a legendary Wolves player, is going under the hammer later.

Image source, Hanson's auctioneers

The medal was awarded to Johnny Hancocks in 1949, and it's expected to fetch about £12,000 at auction in Derbyshire. , external

Hanson's Auctioneers also have one of former Wolves captain's Billy Wright's England caps and two Division One Championship winning medals from the 1958 and 1959 seasons - which were awarded to Bobby Mason.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A fraud prevention team saved Telford and Wrekin Council £227,735 in the last financial year.

The new team looks into “fraud, error and irregularity across the authority” and says nearly half of that money was recovered from housing benefit investigations.

Image source, Google

Of the 170 investigations it launched, only 71 resulted in a positive outcome, but a report due to go before the council later in the month says the work has been time consuming but resulted in beneficial outcomes to the authority.