The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross, West Park and Cannock Chase hospitals, is launching a campaign to go smoke-free.

Smoking is already banned at many hospital sites across the Midlands, with the NHS saying two years ago, external that they "cannot be a place for a behaviour that leads to the illness and death of so many".

Image source, Getty Images

The hospital trust said a recent survey showed many staff members were unhappy about the amount of cigarette smoke they are exposed to, while evidence showed second-hand smoke could be damaging to health.

It says it would be keeping smoke away from entrances, taking an e-cigarette friendly stance and providing areas for vaping.

The project will be phased in, with staff to go smoke free by 1 January 2020, while support for patients and visitors will be developed over the next year, with the goal of having a totally smoke free trust by October 2020.

The Environment Agency says there is still a danger of flooding around the West Midlands, as river levels remain high.

It has issued a new flood warning for the River Severn, external in Shrewsbury and still has warnings in place for the River Vyrnwy in Shropshire and the River Sence in Warwickshire.

Image source, Wanderlass

It has stood down a number of other flood warnings, including those in Staffordshire, and flood alerts, but says they could be reintroduced, with more rain forecast at the end of the week.

More than 140 vehicles were stopped by police on roads around the region during last week, for a range of offences, including one person trying to do paperwork while at the wheel.

Officers from Warwickshire Police and the Central Motorway Police Group said they patrolled the area in a lorry cab and handed out 71 fines for seatbelt offences, and caught 31 drivers using their mobile phones at the wheel.

One person was arrested for failing a roadside drugs test and for possession of drugs.

Image source, Central Motorway Police Group

Warwickshire Police said one lorry driver was found to have faulty brakes, defective tyres and no number plate.

Other offences included no insurance, insecure loads, careless driving, and reversing on the hard shoulder.

Detectives investigating the death of Mark Lloyd have charged a woman with murder.

The 39-year-old victim, from Kingstanding was left in a critical condition after being assaulted on Aldridge Road in Perry Barr at about 23:10 on 21 September and died in hospital on Sunday.

Image source, West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police said 23-year-old Shannon Cronin, from Clyde Street, in Cradley Heath, will appear before Birmingham Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning.

New artists impressions show how a revamp could transform Coventry city centre in time for its year as UK City of Culture in 2021.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle cabinet member for jobs and regeneration said the city council has been given £40m in grant funding for improvements in the city.

Image source, Coventry City Council

Image source, Coventry City Council

“We are still working on the detail – but we have been clear that we are planning something really top class with impressive planting, water features and new paving," he said.

“Changes in our city centre are long overdue and although I know there will be some disruption to shoppers, visitors and traders while the work is under way I think it will be worth it.”

Image source, Coventry City Council

Image source, Coventry City Council

A Shropshire grass cutter who was invited to mow the pitch at Wembley in the summer after finding fame on social media has had his van broken into.

Jimmy Broadhouse, who is known as Jimmy the Mower, said it happened while he was cutting a children's football pitch in Pattingham.

Image source, Jimmy the Mower

He said two windows were smashed and power tools were taken.

Mr Broadhouse, from Ditton Priors, helped to prepare the pitch for Sunday's Community Shield after impressing Wembley's head groundsman with his work.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell said he had to talk to some of his players about their behaviour after a number of sendings off this season.

Olly Lancashire, Paul Green and Perry Ng have all been shown a red card in the first 11 games and Artell said: "I don't want to take the edge off players, but at the same time they've got to know where that line is."

Image source, Getty Images

Artell said some players needed the warning more than others and added, "what we can't be is our own worst enemy".

A gang of cable thieves caused the power outage at an NHS hospital in Kent, a court hears.

Passengers are being warned about possible delays or cancellations on the line between Birmingham New Street and Redditch, in Worcestershire.

West Midlands Railway said it is due to signalling fault.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Broseley town council says it hasn't got the money needed to preserve a rare World War Two turret.

Councillor Simon Harris (pictured below) has argued the Allan Williams turret should be moved to the town's memorial garden and looked after a "reminder of all the sacrifice and effort that went into the war by the people of Broseley".

Image source, Simon Harris

But town clerk Kate Howe said was not part of the town's history and one option being put to local residents was that it should be returned to its original location, so that someone else could look after it.

And she said the matter would be debated at a future council meeting.

Nearly 200 of the small turrets were built during the war, but only a few dozen are thought to remain now.

BBC Weather Watchers

The BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing their photos of the flooding which is still affecting parts of the West Midlands today.

These photos were taken in Lydbury North, Redditch and Knockin.

Image source, Ken M

Image source, Mollies Meadow

Image source, KnockinAndrew

The haul is only the sixth hoard of Roman hacksilver found in Britain and is declared treasure.

In total seven men have now been arrested on suspicion of murdering Neville Staple's grandson.

Hereford Times

These are among the headlines on the Hereford Times website today:

• Balaclava-clad burglars raid Hereford shop, external
• Dismay over alcohol sales plan, external
• Lorry hit by fuel thieves, external

A man from Sutton Coldfield says his family now feel secure after a Romanian gang who broke into his home were jailed.

Police believe the five people who were sentenced yesterday targeted hundreds of properties in the West Midlands and stole millions of pounds worth of valuables.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Catalin Zaharia, Constantin Stoian, Marian Molocia, Daniel Stoean and Florina Spiru admitted conspiracy charges after the discovery of an "Aladdin's cave" of stolen goods.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Dare

The government should give more powers to the regions to drive the economy and improve people's lives, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says.

Joining eight other metro mayors from across the country, Mr Street, called for the current devolution deal to be extended.

Image source, PA Media

The joint statement, ahead of the government's 2020 spending review, called for "long-term flexible budgets, powers and support to deliver on our ambitions”.

“As a group, our responsibilities vary but we are united in our focus on driving economic growth, increasing productivity, and improving outcomes for the people, businesses and places that we represent."

The City of Wolverhampton Council will launch a mobile pop-up furniture factory later this month to provide training opportunities for refugees and migrants to carry out home makeovers for vulnerable residents.

Participants will be trained in recycling and restoring furniture, painting, decorating and DIY to deliver home makeovers and run repair cafes to encourage self-repair and upcycling.

Image source, Getty Images

Activities will take place across Wolverhampton in Blakenhall, Whitmore Reans and Heath Town up to February 2021 and will provide migrants with new skills to help them become more independent.

The £110,000 pop-up factory is being funded by the European-funded MiFriendly Cities project.

A gang of cable thieves knocked out power and lighting at an NHS hospital, endangering the lives of patients including a man who had suffered a stroke, a court has heard.

The trial of James Kiely was told the three-hour power outage at Margate's Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital disabled a lift, forcing nurses to wrap a stroke patient in blankets and push his wheelchair around the site's perimeter.

Mr Kiely, from Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, denies a charge of damaging property being reckless as to whether life was endangered on the night of 20 February.

Four other men have pleaded guilty to causing damage.

Opening the case against Mr Kiely at Birmingham Crown Court, prosecutor Adam Western said Mr Kiely accepted being at the hospital but denied agreeing to the cable being damaged or being aware that it was attached to a hospital.

The trial continues.

Firefighters have battled a blaze in a student flat in Leamington, Warwickshire.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue crews from Leamington and Kenilworth stations were called to a fire in a first-floor bedroom of a student property on St George's Street, Leamington at 10:47.

It is believed the fire was started by an electrical power point charger.

Coventry Live

Here are three of the stories featured on Coventry Live today:

• Pictures of how the city centre could be transformed in time for its year as UK City of Culture year have been unveiled., external
• Protesters set up camp to stop HS2 cutting down woodlands, external
• Pedestrian taken to hospital after city centre hit-and-run, external