Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A train operator's insisting its new timetable should improve their service after months of delays, cancellations and overcrowding.

Image source, West Midlands Rail

West Midlands Trains operates London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway, running services from London Euston to Birmingham and around the Midlands.

The firm is publishing its performance figures through December, external.

It's had a lot of disruption due to shortages of train crews, particularly, over the past few weeks and months and it's affecting services today in parts of the region., external

Francis Thomas, from the operator, told BBC WM it was making progress.

"We have put in additional rolling stock and we're going to get more over the coming months and a brand new fleet arriving in the second half of 2020 so we're on the case, we're not pretending that we've solved everything," he said.

BBC Sport

Warwickshire's Dominic Sibley was out for 22 in England's tour match against South Africa A this morning.

He was the first man out, bowled by Andile Phehlukwayo.

Image source, Getty Images

England are fielding a batsman-heavy side for the three-day game in Benoni, with Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach all suffering from flu.

England's first test match against South Africa is due to start on Boxing Day.

Worcester News

Here are three of the stories on the Worcester News website today:

• Mum punched pub landlord on daughter's 18th birthday, external
• Prison for city drug dealers, external
• Plan to build flats and bungalows rejected, external

A woman who was sexually abused as a child in Telford believes young girls are still at risk.

A woman who was raped by men in Telford when she was 13 believes other girls are still at risk.

BBC Sport

Tomorrow marks the fifth anniversary of Wasps' first game in Coventry, and the club's deputy chairman has said he still hopes the city's football club will return to join them.

But for that to happen, the rugby club is insisting Coventry City drop their legal action over the sale of the stadium and Nick Eastwood said: "They have a choice to make, they either pursue legal action through the courts or they play here."

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City are playing in Birmingham this season and have said they are looking to build a new stadium of their own.

"A football club belongs in its local city, it belongs in its local community and that clearly is here, so we hope that will be resolved at some point," Mr Eastwood said.

The head teacher of a primary school which was at the centre of demonstrations against LGBT inclusive education has been named "person of the year" by the Times Educational Supplement.

The TES website says, external Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, who runs Anderton Park, in Birmingham, "emerged as a champion for the importance of teaching children about equality".

The protests at the school in Balsall Heath this year aimed to stop LGBT relationships inclusion, with some parents and activists claiming it contradicted their Islamic faith and was not "age appropriate".

Last month, a High Court judge permanently banned the demonstrations outside the school.

There are flood warnings for the rivers Teme and Severn in Worcestershire this morning, at Kempsey and Stanford Bridge, with the Environement Agency warning homes and roads could flood.

The River Severn in Worcester is set to peak tomorrow.

Less serious flood alerts, external are also in place for parts Shropshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire.

Image source, Dave Throup

The Environment Agency said river levels were expected to remain high over the coming days, with more rain forecast.

Low-lying land is expected to be underwater again and people are being advised to stay away from the edges of rivers.

Leintwardine Endowed CofE Primary School, on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border is closed today due to localised flooding and said staff were unable to get to school.

This was the scene near Condover, outside Shrewsbury, earlier this week, although more rain has fallen in recent days:

Image source, Dave Throup

Birmingham Live

These headlines are from the Birmingham Live website:

• Brutal murder of innocent mum - doused in petrol, bundled into van in Birmingham and set alight in cemetery, external
• Man caught at Birmingham Airport after fleeing to Pakistan convicted after death of teen, external
• Scheme to turn old Rackhams building into shops, bars and restaurant 'destination' is approved, external

News about a new mobile in Telford follows the release of the latest A&E statistics from NHS England, external - and they paint a bleak picture.

Figures for November showed the worst ever level for A&E performance - just 81.4% of patients treated/assessed in A&E within the target four hours, down from 83.6% in Oct, then a record low.

And Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital was one of the worst in the country, treating just 65.6% of patients inside four hours.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust's figures were even worse at 64.7%.

The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford has brought in a mobile ward to help alleviate winter pressures.

The seven-bed mobile unit is expected to remain at the PRH until the spring and has seen its first patients this week.

Image source, Google

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust said a similar unit was used at its Shrewsbury hospital earlier this year and the ward would be parked around the back of the hospital.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Four cats have been given oxygen by fire crews, external after being rescued from a house fire.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

West Midlands Fire Service said, external more than a dozen firefighters were called to the blaze in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, yesterday evening.

The cats suffered smoke inhalation and were given oxygen using special animal masks.

The service confirmed no people were hurt in the blaze.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

BBC Midlands Today

Air pollution experts say the design of Stoke-on-Trent means it disperses pollutants much better than most major towns and cities in the region.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham, external have been investigating whether urban planning can reduce concentrations of pollutants.

They found that while Stoke-on-Trent did better than expected, the design of both Coventry and Leamington Spa mean their air pollution levels were worse than anticipated.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

A Birmingham chef who won the final of the BBC's Masterchef: The Professionals says the result's been "overwhelming".

Over seven weeks, 48 people battled it out for the title and, last night, viewers saw Stu Deeley triumph out of the final three.

The 28-year-old's menu included a salmon starter, guinea fowl main and a dessert based around a milk chocolate cookie.

He told BBC WM he watched the final as it was broadcast: "Sitting with all my family, my little lad was on my lap and it was such a nice feeling, something that I'll treasure for ever."

The RAC and AA motoring groups expect the M1, M5, M6 and M25 to see the worst congestion.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

From the Stoke-on-Trent Live website:

• Multi-million pound vision for new-look Stoke station, external
• Police bust six-strong drugs gang supplying heroin and cocaine across Stoke-on-Trent, external
• Stormzy helps schoolchildren's cover version of one of his songs go viral, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

The House of Fraser site in Birmingham city centre's going to be redeveloped.

Image source, Google

The building on Corporation Street will be turned into nine floors of offices along with space for retailers, bars, restaurants and other uses on the ground and lower ground floors., external

The city council's approved the plans, external from owners Legal and General subject to safeguarding conditions including drawing up a security strategy for the site.

The plans don't reveal what will happen to the House of Fraser store which had been earmarked for closure in 2018 before retailer Sports Direct bought the chain.

The House of Fraser store is still trading and Sports Direct has been contacted about its future.

BBC Midlands Today

A memorial service will take place today for a Warwickshire woman killed in the London Bridge terror attack last month.

Image source, Family handout

Saskia Jones, 23, from Stratford-upon-Avon and Jack Merritt, 25, were stabbed to death by Usman Khan as they attended a prisoner rehabilitation event on 29 November.

Ms Jones's life will be celebrated at a service in her home town at midday.

The Liberal Democrats on Shropshire Council say the ruling Conservative group paid too much for Shrewsbury's three shopping centres.

Councillor Roger Evans says the value of the shopping centers is falling and the local authority should have invested in housing instead.

He said their worth has gone down since they were purchased by the authority for about £51m in 2018.

Shropshire Council needs to find a further £14m in savings next year.

Mr Evans said he had seen a recent valuation of £41m on the assets, £10m less than they were bought for.

Conservative council leader Peter Nutting said the overall budget shortfall was "under control" and could be dealt with by "moving money around", by not necessarily filling posts when they become vacant and by using technology better to improve efficiency.

BBC Sport

Macclesfield Town have been docked six points by the English Football League after pleading guilty to charges over non-payment of wages and failing to fulfil their fixture with Crewe.

Image source, PA Media

The League Two club have failed to pay their players on time on numerous occasions in recent months.

Their players refused to play against Crewe on 7 December citing concerns over their emotional wellbeing.

The club will still have to fulfil the fixture with Crewe, although a new date has yet to be arranged.