Updates from Monday 16 December to Sunday 22 December
A jury has retired to consider its verdicts in the trial of five men accused of sex offences against a 12-year-old girl in Telford in the early 2000s.
Mohammed Ali Sultan, Amjad Hussain, Shafiq Younas, Nazam Akhtar and Mohammed Rizwan, from Telford, are all appearing at Birmingham Crown Court and deny all charges.
Image source, Helen Tipper
BBC News Travel
Horses on the railway line at Atherstone are causing disruption to services between Nuneaton and Tamworth.
Trains may be delayed by up to 30 minutes or cancelled until about 13:30 GMT, National Rail said.
The horses got onto the tracks at about 12:15 GMT and are delaying Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services.
Warwickshire fans have got a taste of what to expect from their new overseas T20 captain, Chris Green.
The all-rounder has been playing for his Australian side, Sydney Thunder, in the opening game of their 20-over tournament.
He scored 25 off 17 balls before taking two wickets as they beat Brisbane Heat by 29 runs.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe off-spinner, who mainly plays limited overs cricket, opens the bowling for Sydney Thunder.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
The candidates in Stoke-on-Trent spent £2,323 on social media campaigning during the general election.
Five of them spent money on Facebook adverts with the Conservative Jack Brereton (pictured below) spending £1,082 on nine in his successful bid to be the Stoke-on-Trent South MP.
Image source, Getty ImagesBut big spending on social media wasn't a guarantee of success - Labour’s Ruth Smeeth and Gareth Snell both spent more than £400 each on their Facebook ads, but failed to get re-elected.
They were beaten by Conservative candidates Jonathan Gullis and Jo Gideonm, who spent just under £200 each on the adverts.
Mr Brereton said he didn't have any direct involvement in the paid adverts, but added: "I think Facebook is quite a good way of communicating with people in the community about things that you’re doing and that are going on in the area."
Stoke-on-Trent Live
From the Stoke Sentinel:
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Dave Evans, the head of the Telford and Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Groups, said "there's still some clarity to be sought" over what Telford's planned A&E Local will provide.
Under proposals to reorganise hospital services in the county, Shrewsbury will get Shropshire's main emergency department, with Telford getting a downgraded A&E - "A&E Local".
Its now clear the A&E Local will be run by consultants, he said.
He also said there are no plans to make changes until all the building work in Shrewsbury and Telford was complete.
From the Shropshire Star:
It's been a frosty and misty morning around the West Midlands and these are some of the photos the BBC Weather Watchers have shared with us.
They were taken at Wroxeter, Clee Hill and Sutton Coldfield.
Image source, SAFC Giz
Image source, Shiver Me Timbers
Image source, Di's Walk
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM
The demolition of a Birmingham flyover has been given final approval by the city council - despite ongoing concerns about the effect on traffic.
Image source, GoogleProposals for changes to the A34 in Perry Barr are necessary because of the amount of housing due to be built there as part of the Commonwealth Games regeneration, the Labour-run city council says.
But thousands of people have signed petitions saying it will cause total gridlock on one of the city's major routes - and both the local Labour MP Khalid Mahmood and the Conservative West Midlands Mayor say it's not the right move.
Dozens of protesters gathered at the council house and held up signs at this morning's cabinet meeting - they say they'll now look at taking legal action.
A woman had to be cut free from her car after it crashed at Leebotwood in Shropshire this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called out at 08:36 and she was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Despite the icy weather, the ambulance service said it hasn't seen an increase in the number of calls so far.
West Midlands Police has released an image of its latest police dog recruit: Edgar.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceThe force introduced him to his namesake, Excitable Edgar, from the John Lewis Christmas advert, and a Christmas pudding.
PD Edgar is six weeks old and will spend the holiday with his puppy walkers, police said, as the force encouraged any hopeful walkers to get in touch as the police dog will need lots of socialisation.
Tuesday's action from the first round of the FA Trophy - listen to BBC local radio commentaries.
Read MorePrison officers did not consider whether an inmate needed medical attention and should have tried to speak to him before he died, inspectors have found.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has written to HMP Birmingham with recommendations after Martin Mahon died in his cell.
Image source, PA MediaMr Mahon was 51 when he died on 27 September 2018.
A post-mortem examination found he had died from heart disease, however the watchdog highlighted missed opportunities to check on him when he was seen on the floor of his cell in the hours before he died.
Those with a journey to make in time for Christmas Day are being advised of how they can plan ahead.
The West Midlands is set to be particularly congested.
The RAC and AA motoring groups expect sections of the M1, M5, M6 and M25 to see the worst delays and drivers are being warned to expect "bumper-to-bumper" traffic as millions of people head home.
Rail passengers have also been advised to plan ahead due to engineering works and strikes.
Coventry Live
From the Coventry Telegraph:
BBC Radio Stoke
Pensioners are being asked to make a donation to keep a north Staffordshire bus route running.
Image source, Getty ImagesScraggs operates the number 44 service between Hanley and Stanley which is subsidised by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council.
But the operator says the route has become a drain on resources because it is so popular with bus-pass users who travel for free after 09.30.
It means they're being asked for a £1 donation when catching the bus.
Stoke on Trent's City Central Library will be moving next year to a new site in Smithfield.
Image source, GoogleThe City Council says the library's current Hanley building home - which is almost 50 years old - has become expensive to run. It expects to save about £100,000 a year by moving.
The new site, a three-minute walk away, will cost about £1.5m.
Quote MessageWe’re very excited about making these plans a reality as part of the continued transformation of the city."
Lorraine Beardmore, Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Birmingham City Council is set to confirm its decision to demolish the Perry Barr fly-over this week, despite the decision being called in by councillors.
The £27.1m scheme, part of a regeneration of the area, would see the removal of the A34 fly-over in favour of putting all traffic on to a dual carriageway at ground level.
An initial decision to go ahead with the proposals was called in for review back in October by opposition councillors.
Image source, GoogleThe subsequent public consultation saw 81% of respondents objecting to the plans, with residents concerned about the impact two years of works could have on the local area.
However the consultation has since been debated by the council – and it seems that they intend to go ahead with the scheme regardless of the objections.
A decision will be made during the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
BBC Radio Stoke
Police want to trace four people after a 33-year-old man was assaulted at a petrol station in Crewe.
Image source, GoogleHe suffered serious facial injuries at the Esso garage on Victoria Avenue at about 02:40 GMT on Sunday, and was taken to hospital.
He was attacked by a group of men after leaving the store. They fled the scene in a silver car, travelling towards West Street.
Cheshire Constabulary is appealing for information - particularly dashcam footage.
Birmingham Live
From the Birmingham Mail:
