Allen Cook
BBC News

Two knifepoint robberies in the space of four days in Birmingham are being linked by police., external

Image source, West Midlands Police

The first on Saturday saw a postal worker slashed in Station Road, Stechford, and cash and cigarettes stolen, West Midlands Police said.

Then yesterday, a man threatened a worker with a knife in Newhall Green Express, Hall Green, and made off with cash.

The force has released a CCTV image of a man officers want to speak to in connection with the robberies.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A dog has had to be put down after being found abandoned at the side of a road with a maggot-infested wound, the RSPCA said.

Image source, RSPCA

The animal was discovered on Brinsford Lane, Wolverhampton, on Thursday by a jogger.

The charity said the dog was emaciated and had a badly injured left front paw and a vet decided to put her to sleep.

A mental health trust says Gary Parfitt's care "fell below" what he was entitled to expect.

Meriden MP Dame Caroline Spelman has sided against the government by backing today's bill aimed at avoiding a no-deal Brexit.

With a majority of 29, the bill now moves on to the next stage, with Prime Minster Boris Johnson expected to pursue a general election if it passes further stages in Parliament.

Image source, UK Parliament

Dame Caroline was not among the original 21 Tory MPs to rebel against the government yesterday and the BBC understands she may not be forced out of the parliamentary party, unlike local colleagues Margot James and Antoinette Sandbach.

The Daily Telegraph's Political Editor Gordon Rayner tweets, external that today's vote was not being treated as a confidence vote, unlike yesterday's - meaning she might well remain a Conservative MP.

In backing today's bill, Dame Caroline, who has long campaigned against a no-deal Brexit, was joined by almost all of the newly Independent MPs who lost the Tory whip.

A man in his 20s is recovering after being attacked with what appeared to be a screwdriver in Leamington Spa last night.

Image source, Google

Warwickshire Police said the victim was walking through Ford's Field, behind a McDonald's, when he was approached by a man in a hoody who demanded his phone and wallet before stabbing him in the abdomen.

He was taken to hospital but the police said his injuries were not life-threatening.

Ryanair pilots are set to strike again in an ongoing row over pay and working conditions.

Last month, Ryanair flights out of Birmingham Airport were unaffected by a similar walkout by pilots and all flights went ahead as scheduled.

Image source, Reuters

The next round of walkouts are pencilled in for 18 and 19 September, with others on 23 September, 25 September, 27 September and 29 September.

BBC WM Sport

Adama Traore feels he is making a greater contribution for Wolves this season and is developing as a player, after being asked to switch to the wing-back position.

He has been standing in for Matt Doherty and set up one of the goals against Everton at the weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves signed Traore for £18m from Middlesbrough a year ago and he said he felt he was "improving almost every day".

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

After a mixed day with rain around, tonight's expected to be mainly dry with clear spells:

Get a latest forecast for your area at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.

Two children and four adults have been treated by ambulance paramedics after being sprayed with an unknown substance in Birmingham this afternoon.

West Midlands Police said the victims were injured when staff members challenged two people who were attempting to rob a Co-op store on West Heath Road at around 14:30.

Image source, Google

West Midlands Ambulance service said none of the patients needed taking to hospital.

A car driver has suffered serious injuries and had to be flown to hospital after a crash near Shifnal this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to the A4169 at 10:16 and found a car and a van had collided.

Image source, WMAS

The car driver was taken to hospital in Birmingham after being cut free from his vehicle, while the van driver suffered minor injuries and was discharged at the scene.

BBC Weather Watchers

It looks like the grey rain clouds have been gathering around the West Midlands this afternoon.

These photos were taken by BBC Weather Watchers near Bodenham, Leek and Church Stretton.

Image source, Step Counter

Image source, Mr Twister

Image source, Snapper Simon

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Here are three of the stories being covered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service in the Telford area.

• Plans to close three branches of a Telford GP ‘super-practice’ have been delayed by a couple of weeks, to await feedback from a council committee.
• Interviews to find Telford and Wrekin Council’s new chief executive will take place this week, with the successful candidate expected to be in post within the month.
• A Newport primary school has been given the go-ahead to add three new classrooms.

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

A decision by an MP to vote against the government was "the final straw" for her town's local Conservative association, which is now looking for a new candidate for the next general election.

Stourbridge's Margot James joined 20 other Tory MPs in rebelling last night against Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a bid to ultimately block the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October.

Her Conservative association in the town has been told to select another candidate for the next general election.

Roger Spencer, chair of the association, said she had been a good MP "but this voting against the government was just the final straw basically".

While another member of the association, Nicolas Barlow thought she'd let the constituency down as "we expected her to support the government and do what was expected".

Hereford Times

Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Fatal crash prompts calls to reduce speed limit, external
• Grandmother died in A40 crash, inquest hears, external
• New university audit concerns remain mystery, external

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Warwick District Council is going to review its proposed headquarters relocation, external and subsequent redevelopment of the Covent Garden area in Leamington Spa.

The authority has decided the project won't now be delivered through a limited liability partnership it set up with a private company six years ago.

Image source, Google

The headquarters move was the only scheme the partnership was responsible for and its future will discussed by the council at a future date.

Arthur Pinches admitted causing the death of his 17-year-old girlfriend when he crashed into a wall.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The owners of a Hereford pub have decided to refurbish it, after being denied a request to knock it down.

Hawthorn Leisure had hoped to see a Co-op store built on the site of The Broadleys on Ross Road, but Herefordshire Council rejected its application in May.

Image source, Google

People living nearby had campaigned to keep the pub open and landlady Rachel Lunnon said the decision was “amazing news for the pub and it’s a huge relief".

A Hawthorn Leisure spokesman said: “We’re pleased that The Broadleys has proved so popular with locals.

“We’re always looking to invest in our estate, and we hope to carry out refurbishment work on the pub next year to make sure it continues to thrive.”

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A police investigation into the cause of a house fire that killed four children is expected to finish this autumn, Staffordshire Police said.

Image source, Police Handout

Riley Holt, eight, Keegan Unitt, six, Tilly Rose Unitt, four, and Olly Unitt, three, died in a blaze at their family home in Stafford on 5 February.

Det Insp Alan Lyford admitted, external it had been a "complex and lengthy investigation".

A 25-year-old woman and a man, 29, who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence, have been released by police while inquiries continue.

An MP has called for a compromise to be found between schools and parents opposing the teaching of LGBT equality issues.

Over the summer, Parkfield school in Birmingham, one of two schools at the centre of protests over equality lessons, said it would relaunch a new version of its programme this month, designed to respect parental concerns.

Image source, UK Parliament

Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham Daniel Kawczynski, who is openly gay, said: "I think it’s the role of the state to try to understand the sensitivities on both sides."

He suggested there should be "not too much emphasis on this issue in schools," but that it was important "pupils who are LGBT do feel comfortable in their school environment".

Mr Kawczynski is currently speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, external on the subject today and said: "I’ve been a member of parliament for 14 years. This is probably going to be the most emotional and heart-felt debate that I’m ever going to be talking in."

Nuneaton Borough FC are hoping to complete a deal in the next few weeks to buy back their stadium and have an investor wiling to fund it.

The non-league club is rebuilding under new owner Jimmy Ginnelly. He said he'd had a "positive meeting" with the landlord who owns the ground, Norman Smurthwaite, and added "he understands where we are".

Ginnelly said, it would be "great if people from Nuneaton owned it" and explained it would allow them to do more with the stadium.

He also said the club was going through a "massive rebuild" but behind the scenes it was "getting better and better".