Nine people were arrested in south Staffordshire last night following reports of attempted break-ins and theft.

Staffordshire Police said two 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old and an 18-year old, all from Dudley, were arrested after reports of people in gardens in Womborne at 01:00.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Later, at 02:45, officers arrested four more teenagers and a 20-year-old man on suspicion of stealing a motor vehicle, after stopping a car in Featherstone.

All nine are in custody while inquiries are carried out.

The New Saints will be closer to knowing their Champions League qualifying opponents by the end of today.

They're facing the winners of a preliminary qualifying tournament and the semi-finals of that tournament take place tonight.

Feronikeli of Kosovo play Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar in one match and Tre Penne from San Marino face FC Santa Coloma of Andorra in the other.

All the matches are being played in Kosovo and the final is played on Friday.

John Bray
BBC News

A football fan whose social anxiety meant he struggled to attend matches has found baking helps him make friends and get out to support his club.

Simon Rickards, who has anorexia and Asperger's, managed to attend every away game Wolverhampton Wanderers played in the Premier League last season thanks to supporters who were strangers, but are now friends for life.

The 44-year-old, from Gloucestershire, has now written a book called Wolves. Battles. Bakes. chronicling his passion for baking and love for his favourite team.

Stoke sign Barnsley's Liam Lindsay for £2m, plus Adam Davies, Jordan Cousins, Nick Powell and Lee Gregory on free transfers.

BBC Radio Stoke

Safety standards have deteriorated at Werrington Youth Offenders Institution according to a report by inspectors, external.

The jail, just outside Stoke-on-Trent, holds about 120 males aged between 15 and 18.

Inspectors who visited in February downgraded its overall rating from “good” to “reasonably good”.

Image source, Google

The report said the number of assaults on children remained high, and violence against staff had doubled since a previous inspection.

But it recognised that incidents involving force remained lower than at similar sites.

Later today, MPs will debate whether it is time to end the use of prisons for young people.

A Shrewsbury GP surgery will is closing because no organistion has come forward to run it.

Whitehall Medical Practice in Monkmoor is currently run by Malling Health, but its contract comes to an end on 30 September.

Image source, Getty Images

Patients have been told to register with another practice.

Elijah Adebayo signs for League Two club Walsall following his release by Fulham.

A man in a wheelchair died after being pulled out of the lake almost a year after the death of a boy.

An MP says LGBT people must not be sent "back in the closet" over a row about teaching relationship and equality issues to primary school children.

One Birmingham school has been scene to weeks of protests over the issue, with a recent court ruling forcing demonstrators - mainly muslim - further away from the school gates.

Protesters say the teaching is incompatible with their faith and primary school children are too young to be introduced to same-sex relationships by way of story books featuring different kinds of families.

A debate on the matter is under way in the Commons, having been introduced by Birmingham Hall Green MP Roger Godsiff who has previously supported protesters - for which he was given a warning by Labour's chief whip.

He told the house parents had "just reason to complain and protest", saying the demonstrations "could have been avoided if the schools had taught the provisions of the Equality Act in different ways and taken the parents' concerns into account".

But his Labour colleague, Wallesey MP Angela Eagle, told the Commons: "We know the motivation of some of those involved in this are reactionary and they are to return us to an era where LGBT people should get back in the closet, and hide and be ashamed of the way we are".

A 23-year-old woman is arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

A driver who was chased across North Cumbria at speeds of up to 120mph has been jailed for 10 months for dangerous driving.

Rory Williams, 20, now living at Northleach Close in Redditch but originally from Carlisle, fled police who had smelled cannabis near his vehicle..

He travelled through Carlisle at up to 60mph, hit 100mph as he neared the M6, and then 120mph weaving through traffic on the motorway.

Williams, who was found hiding behind a wall near Plumpton, was not insured, had only a provisional licence, and had used cannabis.

He admitted dangerous driving and Recorder Tom Gilbart added a two-year driving ban with an extended test.

Joseph Smith is reunited with his late wife's items following nine-year-old Tamiia Laville's find.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will cost £778m, slightly above initial estimates, the government announces.

Robbie Fowler's Brisbane Roar sign Shrewsbury striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Bury defender Tom Aldred and Carlisle's Macaulay Gillesphey.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star:

• Thunderstorms and flash flooding hit parts of the county, external
• Consultation over rural midwife units closure, external
• Boxer backs out of bout after admitting part in street attack, external

A boy was left with a broken wrist and perforated eardrum after a robbery in which his mobile phone was taken.

Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the attack on the 16-year-old in Staffordshire.

It happened in Brampton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, on Monday.

The arrested trio, also 16, remain in police custody on suspicion of assault and robbery.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal crash in Worcestershire earlier.

Police said a man in his 50s was out of his car and tending to the vehicle when he was struck on the A46 Cheltenham Road, near Beckford, at about 06:45. He was declared dead at the scene.

Road closures are still in place at the island for the A46/B4077 by Long Carrant camping site.

The woman, 23, from Coventry, remains in police custody.

Officers investigating a sexual assault on a woman in Stourbridge have issued an e-fit image of a man they wish to trace.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The woman was attacked in the early hours of 9 June in Norton Road, close to Mary Stevens Park, as she was walking home from work.

A bald-headed man, believed to be in his 30s, made off in a black car with tinted windows and alloy wheels, said West Midlands Police.

Mike Taylor
BBC WM

Warwickshire have had a great start to the afternoon session on day three at The Oval against Surrey, with Oliver Hannon-Dalby dismissing Jamie Smithwalks lbw.

In the morning session, though, Mark Stoneman scored 71 for Surrey and Dean Elgar was the only other batsman to reach a half-century.

England all-rounder Sam Curran enjoyed himself with a flurry of boundaries and was still flourishing at lunch, offering Surrey considerable power to add this afternoon in seemingly the best batting conditions of the match so far.

Express and Star

From the Express and Star:

• Black Country care home put in special measures over risk of harm, external
• Reward leads to just one tip for police investigating house party murder, external
• Plans for homeless hostel in Walsall dropped, external