Local Democracy Reporting Service
Aran Dhillon

A so-called "newt spa" is going to be built after plans for a new supermarket were approved.

Cheshire East councillors ignored the recommendation of their officers to turn down Aldi's proposals for land off University Way, Crewe.

The retailer's closing its branch at the Grand Junction retail park next year and said the new store would be a replacement and allow 28 jobs to be kept with a potential further 20 created.

The firm's also going to spend £40,000 protecting eight great crested newts on the site, describing the scheme as a spa for the animals.

The windows of a police car have been smashed with a brick in Stoke-on-Trent.

It's the third attack in the same area in two months, said Staffordshire Police.

The attack happened at about 08:00 on Wednesday, while officers were at a property on Sun Street Shelton dealing with an unrelated issue.

The car is now out of service and officers are urging locals to help them find out who is behind the attacks.

Express and Star

From the Express and Star:

• Clubs left in limbo as sports ground locked up, external
• Civic Hall contract was signed weeks before Shaylor collapse, external
• New Sandwell care home will create 100 jobs, external

A Birmingham secondary school will remain open to all pupils as some teachers strike today.

The NASUWT union says its members have safety concerns due to poor pupil behaviour and are taking action at the Hob Moor Road site of Starbank School "as a last resort".

The city council says conversations are ongoing with unions "over concerns that have been raised by staff".

The authority adds "suitable provision has been made to ensure that lessons will continue".

A woman had to be cut free from a vehicle after two cars crashed on the A34 in Staffordshire last night.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

The road was closed for a time after the incident at Huntington between Stafford and Cannock shortly after 20:30.

The woman was taken to hospital along with a man who suffered potentially serious injuries.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Almost 20,000 people have signed a petition, calling for Stoke-on-Trent's deputy mayor to stand down, because of her BNP-past.

Councillor Melanie Baddeley represented the far-right party on the city council between 2008 and 2011 and stood as its candidate for Stoke-on-Trent North in 2010, but is now an independent and has said she has "fully rennounced" the party and its views.

Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

In a letter to Stoke-on-Trent Live, external, she also said: "I realised that this was the wrong path for me to serve my community, I was naïve and made a mistake."

Traditionally, the deputy mayor becomes Lord Mayor after one year in the post.

Joshua Worwood went missing on Monday but has now been found safe and well.

Teachers at a Birmingham school are going on strike over fears for their safety due to what their union calls poor pupil behaviour.

Image source, Google

NASUWT says, external bosses at Starbank School's secondary school site on Hob Moor Road haven't taken teachers' concerns seriously.

It says members will take the first of two planned days of action today saying they've been left with "little choice".

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “Teachers are entitled to a safe working environment and employers have a legal duty of care for their employees."

The BBC understands the school will stay open during the strike.

BBC Shropshire

A Shropshire church with links to William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens has been successful, for a third time, in securing money from the National Lottery.

St Bartholomew's at Tong has been awarded £120,000 and the minister in charge, the Reverend Prebendary Pippa Thorneycroft, says some of the money will pay for a new toilet and repairs to the church's pinnacles and gargoyles.

For years it's been known as the "Westminster Abbey of the West Midlands'' because of its fan-vaulted ceiling and the number of tombs and memorials it contains.

A "vulnerable" boy who's been missing from Coventry since leaving school on Monday has been found "safe and well" police say.

On Wednesday, police said they were concerned Joshua Worwood, 18, may have travelled to London.

It's not been confirmed where he was found.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Early cloud should clear leaving a dry day with lots of sunshine and highs of 24C (75F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external

Why one Birmingham school has decided to save money by sending children home early on Friday.

Three women explain what it's like to work in the traditionally male-dominated trade of chimney sweeping.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

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

A community-run cinema is going to show its first film this weekend.

The Wellington Orbit has been set up inside the former HSBC bank in Wellington and the cinema has 63 seats.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

The arts venue also has a cafe, which opened in May, and the first film to be shown will be The Secret Life of Pets 2.

Campaigners bought the bank after failing in a bid to buy the town's former Clifton Cinema.

Worcester News

Here are three of the headlines from the Worcester News today:

• Upgrade plan could see an extra train an hour travel from Worcester, external
• Thieves steal 70 cartons of milk delivered to school, external
• Bin collections delayed while police investigate death, external

A bridge in Birmingham has been named in honour of local heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath.

Hundreds of fans turned out this afternoon to watch the unveiling of Black Sabbath Bridge over the canal on Broad Street.

Guitarist Tony Iommi and bass player Geezer Butler were there to enjoy the tribute and even try out a new bench installed on the bridge.

The move coincided with a new exhibition celebrating the band's legacy.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

We should be in for a dry start to tonight in the West Midlands with some clear spells.

Here's the full forecast:

Keep up-to-date with the latest forecast for your area at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.

Birmingham council's opposition leader says repaying a debt to fund the games will take 40 years.