The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has said he will hold a public hearing next year unless the "dangerous" and "failing" railway system improves in the region.

Labour PCC David Jamieson says bad services in recent weeks have become "a danger to public safety" adding that the industry must "significantly improve its act" to end the "chaos" and the "lamentably bad service".

Mr Jamieson previously used his powers to call for a similar meeting in 2016 over failures with the region's motorway network.

Paul Appleton, deputy director of railway safety at the Office of Rail and Road said the organisation "takes concerns about crowding seriously" and that it expected train and station operators to "fully comply with their health and safety responsibilities to protect passengers from risks on crowded trains and at stations".

West Midlands Railway said British Transport Police is the professional body for policing the railway and that they have one of the safest in Europe. A spokesperson added that things were due to improve for travellers thanks to its new timetable.

Network Rail, which runs a number of stations in the region, has been approached for a comment.

Claire Johnson very publicly thanks her friend Jo Stretch with an advert in Birmingham city centre.

A man was left blind and disfigured after being shot in the face when violence erupted in Birmingham.

Worcester News

Here are the main headlines on the Worcester News website today:

• Tributes to Worcester darts legend Jason Knight who has died at 47, external
• Persimmon reveal plans to build more homes, external near Worcester
• Hundreds of Worcestershire girls miss out on vaccine for HPV, external

A waste expert is urging people to think about how much we throw away at Christmas.

Experts say about 250,000 tonnes of food will go uneaten across the country - and one billion Christmas cards will end up in landfill instead of going for recycling.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Stuart, waste prevention officer at Worcestershire County Council said: "I think the most important thing is to actually think about what you are buying.

"Buying things that are less packaged, making your own Christmas gifts is quite a good thing.

"Get rid of the wrapping paper, don't use shiny paper and ribbon, how about brown paper and string?"

A number of commemorative stones are to be laid in Wolverhampton to mark the 100th anniversary of council housing in Britain.

A property on each of seven new housing sites in the city will see the special stones set into the brickwork.

Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council

The sites include Whiston Avenue in Ashmore Park, Hylstone Crescent in Wednesfield, Westcroft Avenue in Underhill, Moat Green Avenue in Wednesfield, Wilkinson Avenue in Bradley, Fairway Green in Stowlawn and Foster Road, Low Hill.

Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton Council deputy leader, said the stones would "provide a constant reminder of what has been achieved to support the people of the city into housing".

Coventry City and Ipswich Town are fined following a melee in a League One match between the two clubs earlier this month.

If it seems wet out there, here's why:

A gymnast from Birmingham is to represent Britain at the 2020 Gymnastics World Cup taking place in the city on 28 March.

Parallel bars world champion Joe Fraser will join GB teammate Giarnni Regini-Moran to compete against 10 of the world’s finest gymnasts in the event at Arena Birmingham, with Olympic qualification points up for grabs.

Image source, British Gymnastics

Mr Fraser made history earlier this year when he became world champion on the parallel bars, making him the first British gymnast to receive a medal on the apparatus at a world championships.

The World Cup will be the first chance since then for audiences to watch him compete on home soil.

BBC Shropshire

It might have been wet and windy but that didn't dampen the festive spirit in Shrewsbury last night.

BBC Radio Shropshire held its annual Carols in the Square in the town last night.

Music was provided by Shrewsbury Brass Band with members of Shrewsbury Male Voice Choir leading the crowds.

If you are feeling festive and want to listen back, you can do so here.

Earlier we told you about how some families have concerns about a drama being broadcast tonight, based on the Stafford Hospital scandal.

But the woman, on whose account The Cure is based says she is happy it is to be shown.

Hundreds of people died unnecessarily at the hospital in the years leading up to 2008, including Julie Bailey's mother.

Image source, PA

Charles Ellis, 60, is jailed for repeatedly sexually assaulting pupils in his care over eight years.

The company that owns Ironbridge Power Station has submitted an outline planning application to redevelop the 350-acre site.

Harworth Group says plans include 1,000 homes, a centre for leisure, commercial, retail and health use, a primary school, and the reuse of the pump house.

There is a separate application to extract up to 1.9 million tonnes of sand and gravel from the site before the development takes shape.

The firm also says rail connection remains "central" to its plans, with an intention for passenger services to help connect local villages to Telford and Birmingham.

Image source, Harworth Group

Image source, Harworth Group

Stuart Ashton, Head of Planning at Harworth Group, said: "Local people’s feedback has been very clear – that we need to take the utmost care with the former power station site to create a long-term development to be proud of.

"As a result, our vision for the site is to create a sustainable mixed-use community that integrates with its historical roots and takes full recognition of the fact the World Heritage site is close by."

It comes just weeks after the power station's prominent cooling towers were demolished as part of the redevelopment plans.

BBC Midlands Today

Highways experts are warning of potential traffic jams on our roads today - as commuters mix with drivers getting away early for Christmas.

It is thought 31 million leisure journeys will be made by car this week.

About 98% of roadworks on motorways and A roads will be lifted from tomorrow, but this afternoon is expected to be extremely busy on major routes.

Among places pinpointed by the RAC as likely to see delays on Friday are the M6 north from J5 Sutton Coldfield to J10A Wolverhampton.

Five members of a gang are found guilty of a plot to kidnap a man who stole £275,000 from them.

Queen's Speech: What's in it for the Midlands?

Police are appealing for information following the death of a man who was hit by a vehicle in Birmingham city centre.

Officers were called to the junction of Park Street with Bordesley Street just after 11:00 on Monday.

The man died at the scene. He has not yet been formally identified and the authorities are looking to trace his family.

The driver of a white Mercedes Sprinter van stopped at the scene and is helping officers with their inquiries.

Sgt Alan Hands, from the force's serious collision investigation unit, said the area would have been busy at the time of the crash and urged anyone who may have dashcam footage of the incident to get in touch.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Health bosses have revealed the long-term future of two Herefordshire minor injury units hangs in the balance.

Wye Valley NHS Trust, which controls Herefordshire hospitals, decided to temporarily close the units at Ross-on-Wye and Leominster community hospitals from November, saying there is a shortage of emergency nurse practitioners.

Managing director Jane Ives told Ross town council the MIUs will remain closed until it is safe to relocate staff back to the towns.

Image source, Google

However, they hope to conduct a review and consultation into the MIUs around February and may replace the service with one similar one provided in Kington, where it is run by GP surgery staff .

Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes has just finished an address to the House of Commons to open up proceedings following the State Opening of Parliament.

He followed fellow Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, who got the house in full panto voice, including shouts of "oh no it isn't" and swipes at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former speaker John Bercow.

No less entertaining, Mr Hughes had a dig at the much-depleted Labour benches and made a cheeky request for favouritism - to much laughter - from the new Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Shropshire Star

Here are today's main headlines on the Shropshire Star website:

• Mortality rates for neonatal babies double UK average in Shropshire, Staffordshire and West Midlands, external
• Flood alerts and rain warning in place, external
• Youth injured in hammer and machete attack, court told, external