People in Kidderminster are being encouraged to head to Brinton Park next month dressed as an astronaut, in the hope of setting a new world record.

The Kidderminster Arts and Food Festival is organising the bid, to launch this year's event.

Image source, Getty Images

The record for the most people in one place dressed for space stands at 257.

A man is in hospital after his car left the A483 near Oswestry and landed in a ditch.

Firefighters were called to cut him free from his vehicle just after 10:00 and West Midlands Ambulance Service said he was driven to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for treatment, but could not say how serious his injuries were.

West Mercia Police said the road was closed for around two hours, while they dealt with the incident.

BBC Sport

Former super-middleweight world champion Nigel Benn is preparing a return to boxing at the age of 55.

Benn, whose last professional bout was 23 years ago, is expected to confirm his comeback fight will take place on 23 November in Birmingham.

It will be licensed by the British and Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA), rather than the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).

Image source, Getty Images

His promoter Mark Peters said: "I wouldn't support Nigel if I didn't believe he was fit to box."

Benn has passed all Biba's medical tests, while there will be a specialist in head trauma and a portable brain scanner available at ringside on fight night.

A man who was arrested after police said they followed a trail of his blood through the streets of Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for 14 years.

Officers were called out to the Hanley area on 14 December 2018 to reports of a woman with a baby in distress and said it emerged she had stabbed Mohammed Gohir Ayub with a knife in self-defence.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The woman also suffered stab wounds, the force said, and surgeons removed a broken piece of pen that was two inches long from her neck.

Gohir Ayub, who is 34 and from Barret Street Burslem, was convicted of grievous bodily harm and sexual assault at Stafford Crown Court on 8 April and was sentenced on Monday.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carl Jackson

Fraud investigators have recovered 64 homes in Birmingham that were set aside for social housing, a report covering the last financial year has revealed.

Social housing fraud includes illegal sub-letting, non-residency, false applications and Right to Buy applications.

Demand for social housing in the city outstrips the supply of properties, despite Birmingham Social Housing Partnership providing more than 40,000 homes.

City council auditor Neil Farquharson said: “There are obvious social benefits in ensuring that only those with the greatest need are allocated social housing" and estimated the homes were worth about £6m.

The council also cancelled 212 housing applications and stopped two Right to Buy applications as a result of their investigations.

Four people have been injured by pellets fired in Newcastle-under-Lyme last night.

Staffordshire Police said firearms officers were sent to a park known as the Wammy, off Wilmot Drive at 18:30, and tests are now being carried out to find out what sort of weapon was used.

Image source, Google

None of the injuries are believed to be serious and detectives are trying to trace a slim man wearing a black hoodie who was seen in the area and are are also trying to trace a blue VW and a silver VW Golf.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips tells BBC Radio 5 Live that she was "more flabbergasted" by the prime minister's reaction than by the Supreme Court's ruling itself.

She says: "He’s handing to people the excuse that we don’t have to listen to judges. That’s deeply dangerous."

Saying sorry can be a strength, the Labour MP says, rejecting the idea that an apology would undermine Mr Johnson in his dealings with the European Union.

But she adds: "He should have to resign."

This afternoon, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told the House of Commons that the government acted in "good faith" when it suspended Parliament and believed its approach was "both lawful and constitutional".

As MPs return to Parliament, following yesterday's Supreme Court ruling, it's fair to say their reaction is split very much on party lines.

You can follow the latest updates on the BBC Politics live page as Attorney General Geoffrey Cox explains to the House of Commons the government's reasons at the time for suspending Parliament.

A teenager is among two people injured in a stabbing in Smethwick this morning.

The 17-year-old boy has been taken to hospital with a serious injury to his back after he was attacked at about 06:30, West Midlands Police said.

A 24-year-old man has injuries to his arms and hands, which are not thought to be serious.

Detectives are at the scene in Dartmouth Road at the junction with Halfords Lane and anyone with information is asked to contact the force.

Hereford Times

Here are three of the stories featured in the Hereford Times today:

• Driver trapped and road closed after crash, external
• Patient spat at policeman in waiting room, external
• Have your say on Herefordshire's roads, external

West Midlands Police paid out to ten Bristol City fans who were held before a Birmingham City game.

A man charged with murdering 20-year-old Keeley Bunker in Tamworth last week is expected to face trial in March next year.

Wesley Streete, who is 19 and of no fixed address, did not enter a formal plea during a 15-minute hearing at Stafford Crown Court and was remanded in custody.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

He will face another hearing on 16 December, when he will be asked to either plead guilty or not guilty to the charge.

Keeley Bunker's body was found in woodland near Roman Way last Thursday and Staffordshire Police said a post-mortem examination had taken place, but further tests are required.

A police boss has said he's "not embarrassed" by a recent letter that warned of a "very real danger to public safety" and that lives would be "at risk", despite saying no such risk exists as things stand today.

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police are set to end their "strategic alliance" on 8 October and divorce negotiations have been going on behind the scenes, with West Mercia expected to pay reasonable costs.

In a confidential letter to the home secretary dated 22 July, following months of negotiations and planning, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe and Chief Constable Martin Jelley warned that following the split the force "would be unable to access its own data or properly assess and respond to 999 calls".

They added that criminal cases could collapse in court and lead to "victims being failed".

Just nine weeks later and following further "commercial negotiations" Mr Seccombe said he was happy there was "no need to be worried".

Currently about 80% of shared alliance operations, including ICT and forensics are located in the West Mercia force area and would need to be reinstated in Warwickshire.

He said "a considerable amount of work" had gone on over the last two months to "make sure that all those services, both police services and administrative services will be properly continued".

A beauty spot in the Staffordshire Moorlands is being leased to the RSPB for the next 100 years.

It will manage and run Consall Nature Park on behalf of Staffordshire County Council.

Image source, Google

The charity already runs nearby Churnet Valley reserve, and says it will use the extra land to try and boost bird numbers.

The council has been looking for groups and charities to run its country parks, while it retains ownership of them.

This image of young environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg has appeared on a wall in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham overnight.

Esme Jane spotted the Banksy-style graffiti on Silver Street this morning and said: "No idea of the artist but good on them for doing it. Very important to highlight her efforts."

Image source, Esme Jane

Birmingham has been one of the worst cities in the UK for air pollution for several years, with a study previously warning it was cutting the life expectancy of children in the area by up to seven months.

The city is set to introduce a clean air zone from next year to charge the most polluting vehicles.

BBC Cumbria Sport

The third-lowest crowd ever for a competitive first team fixture saw Carlisle United go down to a 4-2 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers' under 21 side.

United’s lowest attendance was 859 for a visit of Hartlepool United in 1992.

There were 893 supporters at Brunton Park for last night's match.

The Prison Officers Association says last night's disturbance at Long Lartin prison could have been prevented if its members had been allowed to use the same incapacitant spray that police officers use.

It accused the jail of "dithering" over introducing the Pava spray, which is similar to pepper spray.

Specialist riot teams had to be called in after staff were attacked with pool balls and inmates took control of one wing at the prison. Control was restored by 04:30.

One prison officer is recovering at home after being hurt in the disturbance and the Ministry of Justice has said it will push for the strongest possible punishment for those involved.

A hawk called Boris is being employed to chase away the pigeons making a mess in Walsall town centre.

Walsall Council is paying £10,000 to have him patrol the streets several days a week over the next six months, in the hope they will take the hint and move elsewhere.

The council said the money being spent was worthwhile because they would spend more on cleaning up the town and that the pigeons have to learn people won't feed them any more.

Veteran winger Lloyd Dyer rejoins League One side Burton Albion on a short-term contract.

BBC Sport

There's going to be a delayed start to Warwickshire's county championship match against Yorkshire at Egbaston, because of water on the outfield.

The umpires have decided to take an early lunch at midday and then take another look at 13:00.

Image source, Warwickshire CCC

The whole of yesterday was lost to the wet weather, but there was some play in the match between Worcestershire and Sussex at Hove and they're hoping to resume this morning.