Local Democracy Reporting Service

A man who announced yesterday that he was withdrawing as a candidate in a town council by-election, has been told he can't take his name off the ballot paper, because he missed the deadline to pull out.

Andrew Griffin was one of five people to put their name forward for election to Newport Town Council, but later decided he wanted to back the Lib Dem candidate, Nick Garvey instead.

Image source, Andrew Griffin

He says he won't go out to canvas votes, after Telford and Wrekin Council told him the deadline for withdrawing from next month's by-election was 5 July.

The vote is being held after the Conservative candidate who was elected in May declined to take up the seat.

The other candidates are:

• Independent - Wendy Hesbrook
• Labour’s Sarah Branton
• Conservative Sarah Pearson

Rail passengers using the West Coast Main Line through the West Midlands can expect major disruption, because of engineering work which is due to start tomorrow.

For the next 16 days Network Rail is upgrading track, cabling, overhead lines and signalling at the Acton Grange junction between Crewe and Preston.

Image source, Network Rail

Trains will be diverted during the £27m project, with replacement buses also running.

A full list of services affected is available on the Network Rail website, external, alongside details of replacement buses.

Daniel Ward, from Birmingham, admitted being part of banned far-right group National Action.

Thirty seven police officers could be lost from the West Midlands force unless the government funds the pay rise it's set to announce, says the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

Image source, West Midlands Police

The armed forces will get a 2.9% rise, teachers and school staff 2.75%, police officers, dentists and consultants 2.5%, senior civil servants 2%, the Times said, external.

It is thought the rise will come from existing budgets.

PCC David Jamieson said the estimated pay rise could leave the force needing to spend a further £1.8m from its current budget.

The 25-year-old is due to appear in court on Saturday in connection with the death of Malik Hussain.

The chief executive of an NHS trust in the West Midlands says that he expects to lose the work equivalent to that done by 60 consultants, as doctors reduce the amount of overtime they do.

Image source, PA Media

Consultants have begun refusing to work beyond their planned hours after receiving unexpected tax bills, following new pension rules in 2016.

The government has indicated it will come up with new proposals in an attempt to resolve the dispute, which has led to increased waiting times for routine surgery.

BBC Shropshire

Wem in Shropshire will hold its final Sweet Pea Festival this weekend, but the organisers say they want the town to remain a centre of learning for growers of the flower.

The annual two-day event is coming to an end because of a lack of volunteers to run it.

Henry Eckford, from Wem, is widely credited with transforming the flower by breeding important new varieties in the 19th Century.

A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder after a fatal stabbing in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham last Friday.

He is due to appear before magistrates in the city tomorrow.

Malik Hussain, who was aged 35, was found with serious injuries in Baker Street and died at the scene.

Twenty-four sheep were slaughtered and butchered in a field in Warwickshire earlier this week, police say.

This new incident means that since the beginning of the year, 103 sheep have been reported butchered in fields and 74 sheep have been reported stolen from farms in the area.

The latest attack happened in a field near Harborough Magna near Rugby overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Officers are appealing for the public's help to identify where the meat may be being sold.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

"Important announcements" about Shrewsbury's main shopping centres could be made later this year, according to Shropshire Council's deputy leader.

Councillor Steve Charmley was responding to questions from other councilors about the future of the Pride Hill, Riverside and Charles Darwin centres, which were bought by the authority for £51m last year.

Councillor David Vasmer asked if he could confirm some retailers had been offered reduced rental deals, to trade there, but Mr Charmley said he couldn't do that, for commercial reasons.

But he did say: "Upon lease renewals we balance our commercial imperatives with our vision for an active, vibrant retail centre that we can all be proud of."

The pair are due to appear in court on Monday over Emmanuel Lukenga's death.

Thousands of people are expected at the Sandwell & Birmingham Mela this weekend for what claims to be the biggest Asian music festival in Europe.

The annual event, now in it's ninth year, takes place at Victoria Park, Smethwick on Saturday and Sunday.

Image source, Sandwell Council

The event showcases some of the best in pop, folk, and classical music from across the globe as well as dance acts and arts activities.

The event showcases the West Midlands "at its diverse, lively and open best", said Sandwell Council's leader Yvonne Davies.

There will be road closures in the area for the duration of the festival, with drivers being warned to allow extra time for journeys.

BBC Sport

The local derby between Worcestershire and Warwickshire at New Road looks in doubt, because of the rain.

The start of the T20 match has been delayed and the rain is forecast to continue in Worcester all through the evening and into tonight.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Here are three more of the stories written by the Local Democracy Reporters today:

• A bid to reopen a pub called the Moonshine Inn in Birmingham has been rejected by councillors over concerns about noise, nuisance. One neighbour also objected to its name, because Moonshine is the term used for a high-strength illegally distilled alcohol.
• A plan to build 62 affordable homes near a floodplain near Worcester, which were rejected once over flooding fears, will go before council planners again next week.
• Concerns have been raised about the lack of sprinklers included in the plans to refurbish Wolverhampton's Civic Halls.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal crash in Derby.

David Teesdale died after his van collided with another on the A38 near the Kingsway island on Wednesday 10 July.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

The 66-year-old from Walsall has been described as a "loving father and grandad".

The driver of the other van, a 56-year-old man from Somercotes, has been arrested and released under investigation.

An MP who has resigned as a minister after voting against the government has described Boris Johnson's possible approach to leaving the EU as a "bridge too far".

Leadership contender Boris Johnson has not ruled out suspending Parliament top allow a no-deal scenario to progress.

The Conservative MP for Stourbridge, Margot James resigned as minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport after she voted for an amendment designed to block the next prime minister from suspending parliament.

In her resignation letter, posted on Twitter, she said "leaving without a deal would be a disaster for this country" and "reckless in the extreme".

Sarah Boyle was incorrectly told she had an aggressive cancer after noticing problems breastfeeding.

Hampshire paceman Fidel Edwards joins Birmingham Bears on a month-long loan for their first 10 T20 Blast fixtures.

Star Wars toys and memorabilia are going on display this weekend, and you won't have to travel to a galaxy far, far away to see them.

The May the Toys Be With You exhibition opens at the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum tomorrow morning and these Stormtroopers will be there, to welcome the first visitors.

Image source, Museums Worcestershire

Visitors are being encouraged to dress up in their own Star Wars costumes for the opening and children can dress up as Jedi and play with lightsabers.

It's the first time this touring exhibition, which features a number of vintage toys, has been to the West Midlands.

Image source, Museums Worcestershire

Police say there is "a lot of speculation surrounding the remains".