BBC Business News

Insurance payouts to people hit by the recent floods in Yorkshire and the Midlands are expected to reach £110m, according to initial estimates from the Association of British Insurers.

So far 4,039 flood claims have been received - 2,250 related to flooded homes and businesses and 1,788 to damaged vehicles.

Of the estimated £110m payouts, £45m covers damaged homes and possessions; £58m for business property and stock, with £7.5m relating to damaged vehicles.

The ABI reckons the average household flood claim is likely to be about £31,000, and £70,000 for a flooded business.

“Now the flood waters have receded, the hard work begins. Insurers and loss adjusters are working around the clock to ensure homes and businesses are fully dried out, so that repairs can start as soon as possible, and people can get their lives back together,” said Mark Shepherd of the ABI.

Masked men forced their way into a family's home this morning and stole their car, police have said., external

Image source, Google

The burglary happened just after 03:00 on Meadow Road, Halesowen.

The four men confronted a 28-year-old woman inside, demanded her car keys and then drove off in her white BMW, taking other belongings as well.

Officers said two children were also inside the house at the time but no-one was hurt.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's still looking pretty soggy over the West Midlands as we've had more rain over the past few hours.

These photos are from local BBC Weather Watchers Step Counter in Bodenham, Herefordshire, STFC Goose in Ryton, Shropshire and Di's Walk in Moseley, Birmingham:

Image source, Step Counter

Image source, STFC Goose

Image source, Di's Walk

Shropshire Star

Here are three of the stories featured on the Shropshire Star's website today:

• Another 90 families come forward with maternity claims, external
• Pensioner admits to arson attack at sheltered housing, external
• Rail service loss 'in breach of law', external

Shrewsbury and Bristol Rovers are charged with failing to control their players by the Football Association.

Calvin and Jared Ainsworth tricked people into selling non-existent items and collected the profits.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two brothers have been jailed for an eBay scam which police said saw them trick hundreds of victims into using their accounts to con buyers.

West Midlands Police said, external Calvin Ainsworth claimed to be looking for assistants to help sell mobile phones and tablets on the auction site and unwitting victims posted the lots for him.

They then gave the cash profits to couriers, netting Ainsworth at least £106,000, but the goods were never delivered.

Officers said victims often saw their eBay or PayPal accounts frozen with bailiffs pursuing some for debts to the result that one woman was forced to remortgage her home.

Detectives traced the computer used to contact eBay users to Rugeley, Staffordshire, and arrested Ainsworth and his brother Jared.

Calvin Ainsworth, 26, of no fixed address, admitted 35 counts of fraud by false representation and was jailed for five years and seven months.

Jared Ainsworth, 31, of Cavendish Street, Sheffield, admitted three counts of possessing criminal property, one count of possessing a weapon and one of making an untrue statement to obtain a passport and was jailed for three years and four months.

Jlloyd Samuel was identified by blood and dental tests after dying in his burning car, an inquest hears.

There were more cancellations and delays to West Midlands Railway trains in and out of Birmingham yesterday evening and the company has apologised, blaming staffing issues.

It said a number of issues led to trains missing their slots and that meant train crews weren't at the station, to board their next train, when they needed to be.

The company has been criticised by commuters for delays and cancellations of services over the past two months, which have been blamed on timetable changes, staffing issues and the wet weather.

The issues which delayed trains, leading to the staffing issues were listed as:

• Road vehicles hitting two bridges
• A broken-down freight train
• A passenger taking ill and needing an ambulance
• Signal failures
• Trespass
• Two passengers fighting on a train
• Fare dodgers
• A case of arson

A look at how the political parties' public transport policies could affect people in Dudley.

Birmingham Live

A few of the headlines from the Birmingham Live website:

• Fans furiously defend Blue Story after Star City riots, external
• Woman crushed to death by her half-ton horse died accidentally, inquest finds, external
• Toddler found walking the streets after mother 'left her home alone', external

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two people have been arrested after an attack left a man "fighting for his life" in hospital, police have said., external

Image source, Google

Officers were first called to reports of a group fighting at an address in Uxbridge Street, Burton-upon-Trent, on Friday evening.

The victim, aged in his 40s, was taken to hospital where he's still in a critical condition.

Staffordshire Police said two men, both from Burton, had been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and released on bail.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Kidderminster Harriers have parted company with their manager John Pemberton.

Assistant Manager Russ Penn will take charge of the team for at least the next three or four matches.

Discussions with the manager took place earlier this week and as a result he offered his resignation - which was accepted by the board.

The club has released a statement, external drawing attention to the club's struggles in the National League North and their early exit from the FA Cup and FA Trophy.

The statement said the board expected better results from the squad of players that has been assembled.

Blue Story film-maker Rapman insists his movie had nothing to do with a mass brawl at a Vue cinema.

Cannabis and cocaine were found in packages at Coventry Airport which had been sent from Canada.

BBC Business News

The world's first management accountant. A pioneering early chemist. A successful lobbyist.

Image source, Getty Images

Master potter Josiah Wedgwood was all these, according to the BBC's Tim Harford, who has been profiling the 18th Century Staffordshire businessman in his ongoing series 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy.

He added one of Wedgwood's most impressive achievements was solving a problem in monopoly theory 200 years before it was even articulated.

You can read the full story - including a canny bit of canal business - here on the BBC website.

Without the story of victims, the inquiry risks having "half the story", its chairman said.

A man from the Sparkhill area of Birmingham has been arrested in connection with an incident in Worcester at the weekend that left a man in a serious condition in hospital.

The attack happened in the Wylds Lane area of the city between 23:00 on Saturday and 01:00 on Sunday and the 22-year-old is in a stable condition in hospital.

The 30-year-old suspect from Birmingham is still in police custody.

BBC Shropshire

Inquests into the deaths of a British couple who died in Australia within hours of each other are due to resume today.

Image source, Facebook

Jason Francis, 29, died of injuries sustained when he was hit by a car in Perth on 22 December, an earlier hearing in Shrewsbury heard.

His partner Alice Robinson, 26, was found dead in the city hours later on 23 December.

The inquest into their deaths will resume at Shirehall, Shrewsbury.

BBC Sport

World number 11 David Gilbert said he wanted to "smash up his cue" after losing to 118th-ranked James Cahill in the UK Championship first round.

Image source, PA Media

Gilbert, 38, from Tamworth, trailed his fellow Englishman 2-0 and 4-3 before levelling at 4-4 with his second century.

But Cahill, who beat Mark Selby at the York Barbican last year and stunned Ronnie O'Sullivan at the World Championship in May, rallied to win.

Gilbert, a four-time ranking event runner-up and semi-finalist at the World Championship last season, said there were "no positives" after losing to a player ranked 107 below him in the world.

The 38-year-old has only ever reached the fourth round once in seven appearances, having also lost in qualifying on 10 occasions.