In the papers: Head coach sacked by Hereford FCpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
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Live updates on Monday 12 August to Sunday 18 August
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In the papers: Head coach sacked by Hereford FCpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Jobs set to go to fund children's servicespublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Conservative council leader Abi Brown says the authority has to "adapt to emerging risks".
Read MoreCause of retirement complex fire still unknownpublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio StokeThe cause of a fire which destroyed much of a retirement complex still isn't known but a fire service's said it's "relatively confident' it wasn't arson.
On Thursday evening, the blaze ripped through the Beechmere residential apartments in Crewe, forcing the evacuation of about 150 people.
Fire crews have been monitoring the site since then for hotspots and on Monday said they are still making sure there are no pockets of fire left.
As well as the cause, Cheshire Fire Service said it also wants to work out why the fire spread as fast as it did, adding that this will take a little bit longer.
Cheshire East Council said the evacuated residents have been found temporary accommodation and they're now working on how best to get their needs met in the future.
PC Gareth Phillips: 'The perfect front line officer'published at 17:49 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Peter Wilson
BBC Midlands Today Special CorrespondentPC Gareth Phillips,a West Midlands officer run over with his own car on Saturday,only ever wanted to be a policeman.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceHis father, Nigel, was a detective constable in the same force.
The father and son have a reputation for being true crime fighters. One friend of the injured PC told me that if you wanted to clone the perfect front line officer, you’d come up with PC Gareth Phillips.
Tonight, he’s still in a poorly condition but senior officers say whatever the outcome of the operations he’s undergoing, it’s unlikely that he will ever return to the front line job he loves and does so well.
Your photos: Golden fieldspublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Proving it's not just the sky our BBC Weather Watchers keep their eyes on, here are three photographs from fields.
They're from users Snow Crystals in Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire, Les at large in Wolverhampton and Mrs_Strivzy in Hanbury, Staffordshire:
Image source, Snow Crystals
Image source, Les at large
Image source, Mrs_StrivzyPolice get £3.3m to tackle violent crimepublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
West Midlands Police will receive a £3.3m share of new funding for police and crime commissioners worth £35m.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe "Violence Reduction Units", announced today by the government, will bring together different organisations - including the police, local government, health and community leaders - to tackle violent crime.
The teams will be tasked with identifying what is prompting violent crime in the area and coming up with long and short-term plans for tackling it.
The £35m will be split between 18 areas of the country most affected by serious violence - with the Metropolitan force receiving the largest share of £7m.
Quote MessageTo beat knife crime we must do two things: first we need assertive, high profile police enforcement and second, we need a coordinated approach to the long term solutions to violence in society, especially amongst the young.
Kit Malthouse, Policing Minister
Sheep butchery suspect released on bailpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
A 39-year-old man from Coventry who was arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage over the weekend after 65 ewes were stolen has been released on bail.
Image source, Northamptonshire PoliceOfficers from Northamptonshire and Warwickshire Police raided four properties in Coventry on Saturday.
Police say 81 lambs and sheep have been killed and 258 stolen in a string of incidents in Northamptonshire since February.
Officers believe the animals are killed - with many of them butchered in the fields where they were grazing - and then sold illegally to restaurants and shops.
'Fantastic' community spirit praised after blazepublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
More than 100 people lost their homes and many lost their "treasured possessions" in the blaze.
Read More'Faulty generator' behind pony rescue centre firepublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Allen Cook
BBC NewsA faulty generator caused a huge fire at a pony rescue centre, the fire service's confirmed.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue ServiceSix fire engines had to be called to Elverra Pony Rescue near Eccleshall, Staffordshire, just before 09:30.
Two dogs and all the horses were led to safety by firefighters from the stables, which were destroyed in the blaze.
The owners of the volunteer funded centre said on Facebook , externalthey now faced a massive clean up and rebuilding operation as the fire had "wiped out" their yard.
Image source, Elverra Pony RescueAgencies join up to tackle rural arson attackspublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Advice is being given on how to prevent fires on farms after police said they attended 300 such incidents during the last three years.
Farms are particularly susceptible to arson attacks "due to their isolated location and open boundaries", Warwickshire Police said.
The force, along with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue and the National Farmers Union, has launched an awareness campaign with "simple steps" farmers can take to keep their properties safe from fire.
The guidance includes repairing or replacing damaged fencing or gates, installing intruder sensors and security lighting and maintaining the security of out buildings.
Southend's ex-Wolves man Kightly retirespublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Southend winger Michael Kightly, who played in the top flight for Wolves, Stoke and Burnley, retires aged 33.
Read MorePM calls for more stop and search after PC run overpublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the alleged attempted murder of a police officer in Birmingham over the weekend was evidence of "the threats that they [police] face, the risks that the police run to keep us safe".
"The police need our backing," he told leading figures in the criminal justice system at a meeting in Downing Street, adding he would ensure they have "the powers that they need", in particular stop and search.
Image source, SnapperSKMubashar Hussain, 29, is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court later charged with attempted murder after the police officer suffered potentially life-changing injuries in the attack in Moseley on Saturday.
Inquest delay for teeth removal womanpublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Rachel Johnston's mother says the ten-month postponement is proving stressful for the family.
Read MoreFundraiser for Erdington drive-by shooting victimpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
A fundraiser to cover funeral costs for a man shot while playing football has so far raised more than £4,000.
James Teer, 20, was gunned down near to his home in Erdington on Thursday evening.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceWest Midlands Police said his family was "totally devastated and inconsolable" at his death.
"[James was] known for always putting a smile on peoples faces and making them laugh," Bailey Everett, who set up the fundraiser, said.
"This incident has shocked and deeply saddened everyone who James had made his lovely impression on."
Street attack on man 'not gang-related'published at 15:46 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Allen Cook
BBC NewsAn attack on a man by a group of men on a street was not gang-related, police have said.
Image source, GoogleStaffordshire Police said the victim, in his 40s, suffered head injuries in the assault on Belgrave Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday morning., external
They said the man was walking home with his partner and friends when an argument started following comments from men in a black car.
The car then stopped, the men jumped out and assaulted him.
What makes reality stars great TV presenters?published at 15:32 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Birmingham's Alison Hammond is seen regularly on ITV's This Morning these days, but remember way back in 2002 when breaking a table on Big Brother launched her TV career?
More and more reality stars are making names for themselves on the small screen, but what makes them so popular?
Image source, BBC/ GettyImage caption, Adele Roberts, Kate Lawler and Alison Hammond all came from the same series of Big Brother
"She breaks down that barrier between fan and A-list star - who she now gets to meet and interview - and seems like a normal person," says Laura Jane Turner - TV editor of Digital Spy, about Hammond.
"She sometimes says the wrong thing, makes mistakes on-air or even falls over, but all of that just adds to her charm."
Hacker detained over police cyber-attackspublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Liam Watts hacked into police websites as an act of revenge after being convicted of a bomb hoax.
Read MoreFashion student creates stab-proof jacketpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
A fashion student from Birmingham City University who says she has lost multiple friends and family members to knife crime has created a stab-proof jacket.
Image source, Birmingham City UniversityShelana Morton, 32, from Birmingham, created the gilet using a layer of ‘kevlar’ - a protective fabric which forms part of uniforms worn by army, military and police officers which helps to prevent slash and puncture wounds.
“An 11 year-old told me that my gilet garment could save his life,” she said. “What world do we live in when a child as young as 11 is saying that?”
She has also incorporated phrases stitched into the jacket's hood including: ‘Protect yourself with language not violence’, ‘Value your life’ and ‘Do you want to live with blood on your hands?’.
Image source, Shelana MortonQuote MessageI've lost multiple family members and friends to knife crime - I understand what families are going through, and because of that and the rise in knife crime, it all resonated with me. I just think it's time for change.
Shelana Morton, Fashion student
Man in court after PC run over with own carpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
PC Gareth Phillips's family say he is "still very poorly and faces a long battle to recover".
Read MoreJobs could go to fund 'inadequate' children's servicespublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 12 August 2019
Sophie Calvert
Political Reporter, BBC Radio StokeNearly 250 jobs could be cut so a council can redirect £5.5m into funding its struggling children's services.
Image source, Getty ImagesA report in March from watchdog Ofsted said vulnerable children were "not being protected" by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and rated the services inadequate.
The authority says the extra cash is needed to meet an "unprecedented demand", with the number of children in care increasing from 740 in March 2019 to 890 currently.
The planned job losses would see 248 jobs cut overall, including 86 vacant posts, with 75 coming from the street cleaning and parks maintenance department and 71 through a restructure of social care.
A consultation's now underway on the plans until 25 September.
