Coventry Live

Here are a few of the stories making the headlines on the Coventry Live website:

• Driver cut free from car after crash on A45 in Coventry, external
• University names student who died in Coventry campus tragedy, external
• Closing in on leading Coventry City targets as player confirms move to rivals, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A man has been rescued from a car after it got stuck in flood water this morning., external

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

Cheshire Fire Service said he was suffering from shock and hypothermia and was treated by paramedics., external

Meanwhile, in Shropshire, where there are several flood alerts and flood warnings this morning, Shrewsbury Police said the road through Westbury was flooded , external(pictured below).

Travel service Inrix says the A49 at Woofferton, south Shropshire, Hanwood Road towards Edgebold Roundabout and the Mount outside Shrewsbury are all affected by flooding.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Worcester Warriors co-owner Jed McCrory leaves the Premiership club just eight and a half months after leading a takeover.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carl Jackson

Birmingham City Council has formally declared a "climate emergency" in the city and called on the government to help it become a zero-carbon city by 2030.

At a meeting on Tuesday, external, councillors agreed that climate change posed a "profound" risk to "life and property" in the city.

The newly formed Climate Emergency Task Force has been charged with creating a formal plan to cut the city's emissions by January, including a review of the Labour-run council's investments into transport, housing, waste and energy.

The authority's only Green Party member, Julien Pritchard, said it was a "watershed moment" and Labour's Lisa Trickett said the council "has to act and act now".

The declaration was welcomed by Birmingham Friends of the Earth who said it was an "historic" move.

Ronald Cooke killed his partner Tina Billingham after 18 years of "abusive and controlling" behaviour.

The rise will create problems for "hard-pressed" haulage companies, a trade association claims.

A children's hospice that announced it was having to close one of its centres due to a lack of funding has thanked people for support after "a really difficult week".

Emma Aspinall, the Director of Care at Acorns Children's Hospice, said the charity "still needs generous support" after it announced plans to close its Walsall hospice in October.

"We have been overwhelmed by the messages of support we have received across this really difficult week, following the announcement of our Walsall proposal," she said.

"I'd just like to say on behalf of Acorns, all the care team, all the staff, and the children and families that continue to use Acorns, a heartfelt thank you."

The charity cared for about 800 children, plus their families, across the West Midlands last year.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Worcestershire may or may not be hoping for play today on day three of their County Championship game with Lancashire.

There was no play yesterday due to the rain and that came after Lancashire had bowled the Pears out for 98 on day one.

It means when there is play, Worcestershire will be hoping for quick wickets when the visitors start their first innings.

You can follow the game either on BBC local radio or via the BBC Cricket website.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website's headlines today include:

• Roads closed and flood alerts issued for Staffordshire as more rain expected, external
• Police hope to trace driver after child hit by car outside school, external
• Worker's lies over street fight exposed after two men wrongly convicted, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

There are two flood warnings covering parts of Shropshire this morning and nearly a dozen flood alerts across the West Midlands.

The Environment Agency said the warnings covered the River Vyrnwy at Maesbrook , externaland Melverley, external, near Oswestry.

The flood alerts include five in Shropshire and four in Staffordshire, meaning flooding is possible., external

The agency's said rivers levels are continuing to rise with more rain forecast and they are fast-flowing.

A number of roads in the county are also blocked by floods.

BBC News Travel

No trains are running this morning between Crewe and Chester because the railway lines are blocked with flood water.

Services between Shrewsbury and Chester are also suspended due to flooding.

Image source, Network Rail

Network Rail said it was working to pump the water away, external and passengers should check with National Rail Enquiries for the latest travel information.

In Shropshire, Newport Road under the railway line in Shifnal is blocked by flood water.

Shropshire Fire Service's said, external it was "deeper than it looks".

Image source, Shropshire Fire Service

Coventry City Council has introduced a Public Service Protection Order (PSPO) which will give police powers to disperse groups of more than two people they suspect of causing trouble.

Image source, Coventry City Council

The order covers the whole of St Michael's ward - taking in everything inside the ring road and up to the station - as well as the city's Hillfields area.

Councillor Jim O'Boyle, of St Michael's ward, welcomed the move and said it was "about keeping young people safe" and tackling knife crime and drug dealing, which he said was "ruining lives".

He dismissed suggestions the PSPO might stigmatise certain areas, saying he believes it will be "intelligence led".

Birmingham artist Christopher Spencer - better known by his Twitter username Cold War Steve - said being commissioned to produce a cover for Time Magazine had been a "whirlwind" and a "bizarre experience".

Image source, Cold War Steve/ Time

Mr Spencer, whose work features Eastenders actor Steve McFadden in collaged scenes of a Brexit dystopia, said it started as a hobby but "peaked" when he was commissioned by the US magazine.

Speaking on BBC WM, he said he was looking at condiments in the supermarket, choosing between two brands of tartar sauce, when the email offer came through.

"I went for the more expensive one," he said, adding the commission "should keep me in condiments for a while".

Leona Smart
Broadcast Journalist, BBC WM

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition urging Walsall council to rethink proposed changes to the town's arboretum.

Image source, Google

Campaigners from the Walsall Arboretum Users Group are worried plans to remove an on-site park manager could lead to the park becoming run down.

Vice-chair Fiona Macmillan said "everything goes on here, people really love it" and described the arboretum as a "jewel in Walsall's crown", even if the crown "is a little bit battered and bruised".

The council said it "welcomes petitions" and will debate it on 15 July.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

This is the scene in Shavington in Cheshire today where several roads are closed due to flooding.

A yellow weather warning from the Met Office is in place today - drivers are advised to check their route before they travel.

Police say the blaze at a building in Marsh Street, Walsall is being treated as suspected arson.

Express and Star

Here are some of the stories making the early headlines on the Express & Star website:

• Chances missed to save Tina Billingham from killer partner, external
• Father's tribute to Dudley crash victim, external
• Probation officer 'not told of convicted rapist’s dark urges before murder', external

A huge fire at a derelict factory in Walsall is being treated as a suspected arson attack, police say.

Image source, @RICHARD_PRICE2

Part of the building on Marsh Street in Walsall collapsed after the blaze, which started just before 17:00 on Tuesday.

At its height, dozens of firefighters were tackling the blaze and one crew is likely to remain on site for the rest of the day.

West Midlands Police appealed for anyone with information about the fire to get in touch.

Comedian Lenny Henry has told politicians not enough is being done to increase diversity in television.

Addressing the House of Lords Communications Committee, the actor from Dudley said having more people from ethnic minority backgrounds without replicating that behind the scenes was "like putting lipstick on a pig - no one is fooled".

He criticised the BBC's most successful soap, Eastenders, which despite "being set in one of the most diverse cities in the world" has less than 1% of directors from BAME background.

A penguin chick - nicknamed Flash - has been hatched at Birmingham's Sea Life Centre.

The Gentoo penguin is "notoriously difficult to breed" according to curator Jonny Rudd.

Image source, National Sea Life Centre

Flash is the offspring of father Prince and mother Hyacinth.

Mr Rudd said staff were "thrilled to see Prince find a partner... after his failed attempts to woo a mate last year".