While social media users lead double lives on Instagram, "Finstagram" accounts reveal their reality.

BBC Sport

Former Aston Villa player Micah Richards has been talking to BBC Sport about the dark side off the game as his career came towards an end.

Richards, born in Birmingham, made his final appearance as a professional footballer for Aston Villa against Wolves in October 2016 at the age of 28.

Image source, Getty Images

"You're a money grabber", "You don't respect the shirt", "You're a virus, you are killing this club".

"Those were the kind of messages I was getting every day on social media during the final months of my time at Aston Villa, and of course they hurt," Richards said.

"I would be wondering how anyone could say that about me if they knew where I had come from, how hard I had worked, and what I was like as a person.

"I was in a lonely place for a long time, and I did not know how to get out of it."

Read more.

Birmingham MP Jess Phillips says her constituency office remains closed after an attack yesterday.

Despite that, she said constituents could still ring or email if they needed to get in touch.

A man has been charged with a public order offence.

The Labour MP for Yardley said lots of well-wishers had been in touch from across the political spectrum.

She also told Sky News she had also received unrelated threats yesterday and overnight, which had left her feeling "jumpy and worried and frightened".

A man has suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car in Coventry earlier.

The pedestrian was taken to hospital after being struck on Binley Road shortly after 09:30, said West Midlands Ambulance Service.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

More than 65,000 people are expected at this year's Malvern Autumn Show at the Three Counties Showground, which takes place this weekend.

As well as the hundreds of traders and marquees, there are the finals of a national vegetable-growing competition.

Image source, Malvern Autumn Show

Last year growers broke five world records, including one for a 42kg (93lb) celery a 10.7kg (24lb) leek and a 23.7kg (52lb) red cabbage.

There was also a giant gourde (above) and this 420g (15oz) chilli.

Image source, Malvern Autumn Show

Rebecca Woods
BBC News

Neale got in touch via our We Are Stoke-on-Trent section to ask about how long roadworks in the city take and especially "between Asda and Longport".

"Why oh why can't the contractors work seven days per week and get the job done quicker, taking into account longer daylight hours," he added.

Sara Wilcox of Cadent Gas said: “We understand people’s frustrations and we really appreciate their patience. Since May we’ve been working on two complex gas mains upgrade projects, firstly in Davenport Street and then later in Newcastle Street.

“We are replacing ageing iron gas mains with tough new plastic pipes that will keep local gas supplies safe and reliable for the rest of the century. We have been working to get these projects finished as soon as possible.

“We have done some seven-day working. In fact we have specialist contractors working in Newcastle Street tomorrow, to help complete the works and we expect the whole project to be finished by the end of next week, ahead of the expected completion date of 23 October.

“Also, some of the work we’ve been doing hasn’t necessarily been visible to commuters. For example, we have had to do some work on some pipe valves in a canal bridge, which wasn’t visible from the road.”

The College of Bishops has called on politicians to "speak to others with respect", adding that the result of the EU referendum "should be honoured".

Their intervention follows angry scenes in the House of Commons earlier this week.

The Right Reverend David Urquhart is the Bishop of Birmingham, and Convenor of the Lords Spiritual, or the bishops who sit in the house of Lords, and was among the signatories.

He said he knew of threats to MPs in his diocese, such as Dame Caroline Spelman and Jess Phillips, and it had to stop.

Police say they've arrested 15 people since a series of stabbings and fights broke out in Stoke-on-Trent this summer and they now believe some of the attacks were carried out in retaliation for others.

Officers have been investigating the possibility of links between the violence in Shelton, Norton, Northwood and Tunstall which started in July.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Det Ch Insp Rob Taylor, of Staffordshire Police, said: "These are not large groups of people, rather smaller groups of known associates who are looking for revenge for earlier attacks."

Leamington Observer

Some of the Leamington Observer stories today include:

• Kenilworth man dies from serious head injury, external
• Yesteryear Leamington brought to book twice, external
• Ex-jewellery designer becomes Garden Organic ambassador, external

Police were called to a disturbance outside MP Jess Phillips' constituency office on Thursday.

Josh McEachran joins Birmingham City on a two-year deal after a successful trial with the Championship club.

The BBC will stream Halesowen Town v Altrincham in the FA Cup third qualifying round on Saturday, 5 October.

BBC Radio Stoke

A Stoke-on-Trent man who claimed he dropped his trousers to prove he hadn't been shoplifting has said he's shocked and angry about what happened.

Steve Whitehurst from Sneyd Green was shopping with his girlfriend when staff at Scotts Menswear in Hanley stopped him because they could see a bulge in his trousers.

He said he felt humiliated and admitted he got angry with staff.

JD Sports, which owns Scotts Menswear, said the customer was acting suspiciously, and when the store manager confronted him, became abusive.

It also said at no point did any member of staff ask him to remove any clothing and it was investigating what happened.

Four men are jailed after failing to complete work and leaving customers out of pocket, a court hears.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to demolish a former Worcester nightclub and replace it with student flats are being opposed by people living nearby, with one resident saying it would "be a travesty to future generations of Worcester people”.

The proposal involves creating an eight-storey block of 89 flats on the site of the former Images building on The Butts.

Image source, Getty Images

The objectors say it is a historic building near the town walls, have raised concerns about extra traffic and noise, and claim the planned block is ugly and unnecessary.

BBC News Travel

A bus replacement service is running between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley due to a broken-down train.

Tickets are also being accepted on local buses, said West Midlands Railway.

CCTV images have been released of a man police would like to speak to after a man was violently punched and kicked in a "brutal" attack.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The attack happened outside a petrol station at Birchley Island last month.

The 34-year-old was taken to hospital with head injuries.

Officer are keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the Shell garage at the time - shortly after midnight on 27 August.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

David Artell says his Crewe Alexandra players have been having fun with their own Wheel of Fortune at their training ground this week.

Chris Porter and Nicky Hunt were behind the idea and as players spin the wheel, each section has either a punishment or reward.

Image source, Getty Images

Artell said: "I was in my office and I heard a roar like we'd just scored a goal, so I thought it must be working."

He praised the idea for helping create a bond between the players.

Coventry Observer

Some of the Coventry Observer headlines today include:

• Kenilworth man dies from serious head injury following altercation, external
• Daughter who beat and burgled her own mum, 73, gets restraining order, external
• Streets closed in Coventry to promote cycling to school, external

BBC Sport

Coventry Blaze travel to Cardiff tomorrow, looking for a repeat of last weekend's challenge cup victory over the Devils.

They beat last season's play-off winners 5-1 at the Skydome, and the two sides meet again in the same competition, with head coach Danny Stewart saying "It’s the way we need to play every night".

Image source, Scott Wiggins

On Sunday, Coventry play Manchester Storm at home in the Elite League.

And Telford Tigers have games against London Raiders and Swindon Wildcats in the National League.