A University of Warwick engineer has won a top prize at the Institute of Engineering and Technology Young Woman Engineer of the Year.

Image source, Institute of Engineering and Technology

Dr Claire Lucas, from the School of Engineering, won for her "passion in developing a curriculum that attracts female students to engineering," the university said.

Since joining the university in 2015, 40% of the cohort have been female students studying a mixture of mechanical, electronics and software engineering together with data science, it added.

Police footage shows Joseph McCann trying to outrun officers after stealing a car belonging to one of his victims.

Tim Wedgwood
BBC News

A motorcyclist's died in a collision with a lorry in Stoke-on-Trent.

The crash happened at the junction of Chemical Lane and A527 in Tunstall and forced Staffordshire Police to close the sliproads off the junction on to the A500., external

The ambulance service said the man was in a critical condition when crews arrived and, despite their efforts, died at the scene., external

The roads have reopened, Highways England tweeted., external

Kidderminster Shuttle

A few of the stories making the headlines on the Kidderminster Shuttle website:

• Petition against plans for hundreds of new homes near Stourport, external
• New warehouse in Kidderminster creates 40 jobs, external
• Stourport pupils will help plant 3,000 trees at Riverside Meadows, external

Police were called after reports that a train driver had been assaulted.

BBC Sport

One person who didn't get to see the Ironbridge cooling towers come down today was Shropshire's world-championship winning boxer, Richie Woodhall.

He's in Riyadh as part of the BBC's team covering the Anthony Joshua versus Andy Ruiz II fight, but sent us this video message.

Allen Cook
BBC News

The closure of a road in Ludlow for much of the week after a burst pipe badly damaged it has been defended by Shropshire Council.

Image source, Shropshire Council

The surface of the A4117 ruptured when the burst happened in Rocks Green on Monday morning.

Shropshire Council said, external most of the carriageway was "structurally undermined" and the damage caused couldn't be repaired in stages.

It added engineers couldn't do the work overnight as it wouldn't have been safe to reopen the road between phases of work.

The road should be back open tomorrow afternoon, the council said, as long as nothing unforeseen happens.

Serial rapist Joseph McCann was hiding up the tree in Cheshire when he was arrested.

A lorry driver has been jailed for 21 months over the death of a doctor who was hit while cycling in Birmingham in 2017.

Dr Suzanna Bull, 32, worked at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Robert Bradbury, 50, of Cambridge Way, Acocks Green, Birmingham, denied causing death by careless driving but was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court.

S & J Transport Ltd, the firm he worked for, was fined £112,500 with costs of £3,000 paid at £5,000 a month.

Image source, Jacob King/PA Wire

Worcester News

The headlines from the Worcester News:

• Worcester ranked 9th worst area of England for rising levels of deprivation, external
• Drug dealer out of jail early tries to keep his cash, external
• ‘Drunk’ lorry driver arrested at service station on M5, external

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Tests on female human remains found in a septic tank earlier this year's now finished, police have said.

The bones were discovered in Kempsey, Worcestershire, on 12 July during a routine emptying of the tank.

At the time, officers said the deceased was "likely to be" local woman Brenda Venables, who went missing in 1982.

However, while West Mercia Police said DNA testing had finished, it added it can't yet release the identity of the woman.

Macclesfield's League Two game against Crewe is suspended by the EFL, with players "adversely affected" by financial issues.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Hats worn by people such as Sir Chris Hoy, Cillian Murphy and Coldplay are going to be auctioned today in Birmingham by a woman with an incurable brain tumour.

Katie Smith, 33, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, was told she might not make it to 40 a few weeks after returning from her honeymoon in 2015.

She has since raised tens of thousands of pounds for Brain Tumour Research and has been asking celebrities to send her signed hats.

Image source, Katie Smith

The auction will be held at Villa Park this evening and Mrs Smith said she'd be "chuffed to bits" if it helped her raise £45,000 by the end of this year.

A man who carried out a string of sex attacks on 11 women and children across England over two weeks has been found guilty of 37 offences.

Image source, Met Police

Joseph McCann's victims were aged between 11 and 71 and included three women who were abducted off the street at knifepoint and repeatedly raped.

As he was convicted on Friday, it emerged that six people had been arrested and released under investigation on suspicion of assisting an offender - including four men and two women who were arrested at addresses in Birmngham, Cheshunt, Watford and Aylesbury.

The 34-year-old also raped a mother in her home and then tied her to a bed as he molested her son and daughter.

McCann, of Harrow, was found guilty of offences including rape and kidnap.

BBC WM Sport

Blues head coach Pep Clotet says he doesn't fear losing centre-back Jake Clarke-Salter in January.

Image source, Getty Images

Some newspapers have suggested that Chelsea could recall the loan defender due to his lack of football.

But he's in line to start a fifth successive game at Reading tomorrow and Clotet said he feels Clarke-Salter's benefiting from his time at St Andrew's.

Shropshire Star

A few of the headlines from the Shropshire Star:

• Ironbridge Power Station cooling towers demolished, external
• Man dies after being hit by car near Bridgnorth, external
• Council responds to complaints about Ludlow road closure, external

A last call is being made for views on the proposed railway station and bus interchange in Perry Barr.

Image source, Transport for West Midlands

The public consultation into the scheme , externalcloses tomorrow, said Transport for West Midlands.

The existing railway station will be replaced, it said, with improved accessibility and appearance, representing a "significant investment in the local area".

Allen Cook
BBC News

Seven teenagers have been arrested after a train driver was reportedly attacked.

Staffordshire Police was called, external to Sandy Lane, Rugeley, just before 19:00 yesterday and said there was also more disorder near the town's railway station.

The seven arrested, from Walsall, Cannock and Brownhills, were arrested on suspicion of affray and are still in custody.

BBC Weather Watchers

We've had a mix of cloudy and blue skies today in the West Midlands, along with the odd rainbow from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

Here's three from users Mr Twister in Leek, Staffordshire, Grum in Oswestry, Shropshire and Step Counter in Hereford:

Image source, Mr Twister

Image source, Grum

Image source, Step Counter

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says the "integrity" of football is at stake as Macclesfield Town players decide whether they will fulfil tomorrow's fixture against the Alex.

Image source, Getty Images

Macclesfield's unpaid players say they will not play as their emotional and mental wellbeing is at "rock bottom".

As of Wednesday evening, staff and players' wages remain unpaid, following last month's late payments.

The EFL says it "fully understands" the players' position but the club will face disciplinary action if the game isn't played tomorrow.