The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme has been awarded £353,225 by Arts Council England for upgrade works.

The theatre says the money will pay for part of major plans to transform the venue.

They include replacing the theatre’s 600 seats, improving the theatre balcony, building a new stage and improving access for visitors.

But, the venue said, the timescale for the work meant it would take an "extended break" from producing shows in summer 2020.

Image source, Google

The New Vic is one of 46 organisations across the country to receive investment from the Capital: Small Grants programme in the latest round of funding.

The theatre will also be launching a fundraising campaign to cover the remainder of the £600,000 plan.

A schoolboy’s Remembrance poem has won praise from across the world after his mother posted it on Facebook.

Josh Dyer’s poem, One Thousand Men Are Walking, has been read by hundreds of thousands of people online.

The 14-year-old was interviewed by a radio station in Canada.

Josh, from Leominster, Herefordshire, attends Tenbury High Ormiston Academy in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire and will read his poem at a service in High Wycombe.

A HGV trailer fire has closed the southbound M6 near Coventry.

The blaze started earlier this morning and caused debris and a large spillage across both sides of the motorway.

However, the northbound carriageway has now reopened and trapped traffic has been released.

Highways England is advising drivers to take the "hollow triangle" for the diversion route; exiting at junction two onto the M69 northbound to junction one onto the A5 eastbound to the A246 junction, travelling southbound to rejoin the M6 at junction one.

Birmingham Live

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West Bromwich Albion are back at the top of the Championship after beating manager-less Stoke City, two-nil last night.

Any hopes from Stoke fans that Friday's sacking of Nathan Jones after less than 10 months in charge might provoke an immediate change in fortune took just eight minutes to evaporate.

But, to the credit of the Stoke players, led by the tireless Joe Allen, it took until the 69th minute before the Baggies wrapped it up from the spot.

Image source, Getty Ima

There will be periods of rain throughout the day with a cold frost later on tonight.

The showers are due to ease off overnight but persistent cloud means temperatures will remain in the mid to high single figures.

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The M6 southbound is shut and there are delays of about 30 minutes, Highways England has said.

Traffic is spanning three miles back to junction three in Bedworth, Warwickshire, due to a vehicle fire.

Average speeds on the approach to junction two at Coventry are 5mph.

Diversion routes have been sent up and motorists are advised to allow for extra travel time.

There's a fire at the Cemex plant in Rugby.

The fires are located on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors of the building, Warwickshire Fire Service said.

The service tweeted about the fire at 04:45 GMT. Binley Fire Station said its officers were assisting at the scene.

Jessica Labhart
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Tuesday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

You can get in touch via email,Twitter, external and Facebook., external

Josh Dyer's One Thousand Men Are Walking is read by hundreds of thousands of people online.

Reanne Evans loses 4-3 to world number eight Shaun Murphy on her Champion of Champions debut, with Murphy then beaten 6-5 by Neil Robertson.

West Bromwich Albion ease back to the top of the Championship table as they comfortably see off managerless Stoke City.

Zarah Sultana said she was "exasperated by global suffering and needless killing" after 2015 posts emerge.

Preston North End drop their formal complaint of an alleged illegal approach from Stoke City for manager Alex Neil.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 on Tuesday, but keep an eye out here for more updates before then.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A teenager's been attacked during a burglary.

Image source, Google

Three men knocked at an address on Coniston Road, Milverton, near Leamington Spa, on Saturday afternoon, Warwickshire Police said. , external

They forced their way in and threatened a man inside with a screwdriver before making off with jewellery.

Officers said the individual, in his 50s, wasn't hurt, but a teenager was assaulted during the break-in.

BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith says captain Jack Grealish will be fit for Sunday's game with Wolves after he missed the defeat by Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

The skipper didn't play in the 2-1 loss at Villa Park due to the calf injury he picked up against Manchester City the weekend before.

A 17-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with murder after a man died in Rugby.

Warwickshire Police said it was called to reports of a 24-year-old man with suspected stab injuries in Meadow Road at 18:00 GMT on Thursday, and he died at the scene.

The teenager from the town has been remanded in custody to appear at Warwick Crown Court on Wednesday.

Hereford Times

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