Allen Cook
BBC News

A woman suffered a potentially serious injury after the car she was driving was involved in a crash with another car in Staffordshire.

The ambulance service said they were called at 19:39 on Wednesday night to the A34 in Chesterton, near Newcastle-under-Lyme.

They said the man driving the other car was treated for minor injuries and both he and the woman were taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

James Bond
BBC Shropshire

A hotel in Bishop's Castle is going to mark its 300th birthday this weekend.

The Castle Hotel on Market Square was built in 1719 and was taken over in 2010 by hotelier Henry Hunter.

Mr Hunter is planning a garden party, which will be open to everyone, on Sunday.

A survey of businesses in Ludlow found 90% of participants reported a fall in turnover since the introduction of new parking charges.

The study was carried out by the town council after Shropshire Council brought in a new tariff system in November.

Ludlow's mayor Tim Gill says traders are calling for the "pop-and-shop" scheme - which gives shoppers half an hour free parking - to be reinstated.

BBC News UK

Cheryl Shaw has spent most of her life hiding her body because it is covered in large patches of mole-like pigmentation.

The 33-year-old from Castle Bromwich, Solihull, has the rare skin condition, congenital melanocytes nevus.

At a young age she was called names such as "Dalmatian" and "spotty face".

But the mother-of-two has begun to embrace her situation to encourage people to love themselves unconditionally.

After setting up an Instagram account she has been scouted by a modelling agency which celebrates diversity.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The family of a five-year-old boy with leukaemia have said it's now a "waiting game" after he had a stem cell transplant this week.

Image source, Family handout

Oscar Saxelby-Lee, from Worcester, was told he needed a transplant within three months of chemotherapy otherwise his chances of survival would "severely diminish".

He has been treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which was diagnosed when he became unwell over Christmas.

After a huge drive to get people to sign up to the stem cell register to find a donor, three matches were found and the transplant was carried out on Wednesday.

On his Facebook page, his family have said, external side effects have started to appear including skin particles breaking down and they're now waiting to see if new cells have their expected impact.

Nearly two cannabis farms a week are being found on average in the West Mercia Police area, figures for the last three years reveal.

The Warwickshire force, which has been sharing resources with West Mercia colleagues, has found a similar number, with the two forces finding a further 38 in the first half of 2019.

Image source, West Mercia Police

The West Mercia force, which covers Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, found 110 farms in both 2016 and 2017, and another 72 last year.

Express and Star

The Express and Star's covering these stories today:

• Teenager locked up after hitting love rival with hammer in 'savage and premeditated' attack, external
• Warning to boost security after rise in rural crime across Staffordshire, external
• Traffic woes continue as 10-week gas mains project starts in Wolverhampton, external

Vicky Norton
BBC Radio Stoke

The cause of a large fire in Stoke-on-Trent overnight's, external being investigated.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Staffordshire Fire Service was called to the detached building on Clough Street, Hanley, at about 22:30.

Police have cordoned off the road from the junction with Marsh Street South.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

A murky start to Friday in the West Midlands with a lot of low cloud around but that will change through the day, here's the full weather forecast:

To get a latest forecast for your part of the region at any other time, head to the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to the live service for Friday.

Throughout the day, until 19:00, we'll bring you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

You can get in touch with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external

Cheryl Shaw has spent most of her life hiding her body due to a rare skin condition.

Crewe Alexandra sign centre-back Olly Lancashire on a free transfer following his release by fellow League Two side Swindon Town.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow.

Allen Cook
BBC News

This may make you feel old - it's 20 years to the day since trams officially returned to Birmingham and the Black Country.

Image source, West Midlands Metro

Midland Metro services launched on 30 May 1999 between Wolverhampton St George's and Birmingham Snow Hill, before being extended to Birmingham's Grand Central in 2016.

To mark the birthday, a tram's been painted with an anniversary logo and there's on-board entertainment before the afternoon peak services., external

Dudley News

The Dudley News' headlines today include:

• Travellers site approved despite fears over rising crime, external
• Teen out of intensive care after being hit by Mini, external
• Mystery surrounds death of man found with knife wounds, external

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Hereford FC have signed the former Kidderminster Harriers goalkeeper Brandon Hall.

The 26-year-old spent two seasons at Aggborough and was named their player of the season after the 2017-18 campaign.

Image source, Hereford FC

The 6ft 1in keeper started his career at Charlton Athletic and has also played for Ebbsfleet, Hayes & Yeading and Woking.

An archaeological dig has got under way today at Attingham Park in Shropshire.

It follows an excavation at the National Trust property near Shrewsbury last summer that revealed crop marks, which suggested a previously unknown building was once built there.

A team has gone back to the site to get a better understanding of the suspected structure and its relationship to the estate.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

A dry start for tonight but it'll still be cloudy - here's the full forecast for the West Midlands including tomorrow's weather:

You can get a latest forecast for your part of the region at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.

BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith says he's confident the club will catch up with Norwich City and Sheffield United in being prepared for life in the Premier League.

Image source, Reuters

Villa confirmed their promotion in the Championship play-off final on Monday, while the other two clubs have been able to start preparations from the season's end on 5 May.

However, Smith's backing the club's sporting director, Jesus Garcia Pitarch - nicknamed Suso - to make the difference for them.

Jeetan Patel takes a career-best 8-36 as Warwickshire beat champions Surrey despite Gareth Batty's hat-trick.