Arman Rezazadeh smashed up five mosques in a spree that sparked panic among Muslims.

The new operator for the West Coast Mainline will be run under the brand name of Avanti West Coast, which yesterday revealed the new livery for the trains.

Image source, Avanti West Coast

The company, a partnership between the First group and the Italian state-owned Trenitalia, is promising new trains and a complete refurbishment of all the 56 existing Pendolinos, and more services by 2022.

The first Avanti trains will run on 8 December, after the government declined to renew the Virgin franchise which has run services since 1997.

BBC Shropshire

CCTV cameras are to be installed at a community centre to help fight repeated vandalism and intimidation.

Stirchley and Brookside Parish Council says it's finding it can't take action against anti-social behaviour at the Sambrook Centre, Telford, because it hasn't got video evidence.

It says there was trouble during the October half-term, with the police having to be called several times.

Members have agreed to spend £1,500 on four cameras.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is being investigated over the deaths of babies and mothers.

BBC News Travel

Trains are being delayed by up to 20 minutes between Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill due to a fault with the signals.

National Rail Enquiries said disruption could continue until 18:00., external

A man's been jailed after admitting smashing windows and doors at five mosques in Birmingham.

Image source, PA Media

Arman Rezazadeh, from Greenhill Road in Handsworth, caused damage estimate at least £11,500 to the buildings in Perry Barr, Aston and Erdington in March.

The 34-year-old, who has a history of mental health problems linked to use of cannabis, handed himself in at West Midlands Police headquarters a day after the attacks.

He was jailed for three years and nine months at Birmingham Crown Court.

Judge Michael Chambers QC said the offences had prompted "horror and terror" and had offended against Birmingham's history of religious tolerance.

Worcester News

These are the headlines from the Worcester News website today:

• Wylds Lane attack: Worcester men arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, external
• Homeless woman who targeted Worcester elderly faces begging ban, external
• Regulatory inspectors to visit Worcester restaurant over smelly ‘sewage’ stream, external

New Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes said it was an "exciting time" to be leading the team.

Rhodes will lead Warwickshire in the County Championship and One-Day Cup with opener and recent England Test debutant Dom Sibley his vice-captain.

"It's a real honour for me to step forward to lead this squad," Rhodes said. "With so many young players in the ranks, it's an exciting time."

The left-hander scored 770 runs, including five half-centuries and a century, in County Championship Division One last season. He also took 15 wickets with his right-arm medium pace, including a first-class career-best 5-17 against champions Essex at Chelmsford.

The county added that an announcement on who will captain Birmingham Bears in the T20 Blast next season will be made soon.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was attacked in Worcester., external

Image source, Google

The 22-year-old victim was left with potentially life-changing injuries after the assault on Saturday night in the Wylds Lane area, West Mercia Police said.

He's currently in a stable condition in hospital.

One man, a 30-year-old from Sparkhill, Birmingham, has already been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody.

Officers said the two other men they've arrested are from Worcester, aged 22 and 28, and are still in custody., external

BBC Weather Watchers

A grey day with rain around - that's pretty much how you can sum up Thursday as far as the photos we've had from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from users Littleacorns in Southam, Warwickshire, Les at Large in Wolverhampton and Angus and Me in Hednesford, Staffordshire:

Image source, Littleacorns

Image source, Les at Large

Image source, Angus and Me

The Pussycat Dolls will play a date in Birmingham during their reunion tour next year.

Image source, Live Nation

The tour was supposed to be top secret, but X Factor judge Louis Walsh seemingly let the cat out of the bag.

It's now officially announced that Nicole and Carmit, along with Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt and Jessica Sutta, are all set to return for nine live UK shows in April 2020.

Tickets for the Arena Birmingham date go on sale on Sunday.

Holyhead Road in West Bromwich is likely to remain closed in both directions for some time, police say, after a woman was hit and killed by a lorry.

The crash happened near to junction 1 of the M5, shortly after 12:00 West Midlands Police said.

The woman in her 50s suffered serious injuries and died at the scene, the force added.

Sgt Alan Hands said: "We are investigating the circumstances leading to this tragic event and have spoken to a number of witnesses already.

"We are appealing for anyone with information or dash cam footage to get in touch as soon as possible."

A brother and sister have denied defrauding a Sikh youth charity they were running.

Image source, PA Media

Kaldip Singh Lehal, 38, and Rajbinder Kaur, 50, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court earlier.

Mr Lehal, known as Deepa Singh, is charged with providing false or misleading information to the Charity Commission, as is Ms Kaur.

She is also accused of money laundering and six counts of theft amounting to £47,926.

The pair, both of Hamstead Road, Birmingham, each pleaded not guilty to all charges and were conditionally bailed to appear for trial on 29 June next year.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

A few of the headlines on the Stoke-on-Trent Live website:

• Two teenage boys 'seriously injured' and two more hurt in attack by masked gang, external
• Police arrest man and woman on suspicion of murder after death of Stoke-on-Trent baby, external
• Air ambulance called after pedestrian suffers 'potentially serious injuries' on road, external

Wasps and England lock Joe Launchbury signs a new undisclosed-length contract with the Premiership side.

James Heappey, the Conservative candidate for Wells, described the mistake as "very embarrassing".

Worcester lock Andrew Kitchener signs a two-year contract extension with the Premiership club.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Several structures at Rugeley power station were demolished this morning with a series of controlled explosions.

Staffordshire Police recorded , externalthis video of the work:

The site in Staffordshire closed in 2016 and it's being cleared so more than 2,000 homes can be built instead.

Rugeley Power Ltd said today's demolition brought down the turbine hall and other buildings with the main cooling towers, chimney and rest of the boiler house set to be demolished next year., external

The complete clearance of the site's expected to be finished in 2021.

A woman has died after being hit by a lorry, West Midlands Ambulance Service has said.

The pedestrian was struck on Birmingham Road, West Bromwich close to the football club shortly before 12:00.

“Sadly, it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene," said the trust.

The lorry driver was assessed for the effects of shock and discharged at the scene, it added.

A woman who had witnessed the incident was also treated for shock.

Paula Clark spoke after the leak of a report into the deaths of babies over 40 years.