Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder, following a stabbing in Stoke-on-Trent at the start of the month.

The victim, who is 16, was treated in hospital for a number of stab wounds after the attack on Keelings Drive on 1 December, but has since been discharged.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The two youths were arrested on Sunday and have now been released on conditional bail, while further inquiries are carried out.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Signing a winger will be Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill's priority in the January transfer window.

Image source, Getty Images

With the Potters still in the bottom three of the Championship, he only has Tom Ince (pictured) and James McClean as recognised wide players in his squad.

Youngster Thibaud Verlinden is set to return from his loan at Bolton in the new year.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's cold outside and the shops are jam-packed, but at least we've had some sunshine.

These photos were taken this afternoon by BBC Weather Watchers in Worcester and Solihull.

Image source, Mikesnapper

Image source, Dammo

BBC WM

Parking charges at two hospitals are going to be suspended for 48 hours as a festive gesture.

Image source, Google

Bosses say, external patients and visitors will be able to park at Wolverhampton’s New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals for free from midnight on Christmas Eve until midnight on Boxing Day.

Charges will also be suspended on New Year's Day.

Lucie Plant
BBC Hereford and Worcester

Hereford city centre has been transformed for a live production of Christmas favourite The Box of Delights.

Hereford's 2Faced Dance Company has put on an immersive performance of Ledbury writer John Masefield's 1935 fantasy novel, which was adapted by the BBC in 1984.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Who doesn't love a pun at Christmas?

BBC Radio Stoke have been trying to put together a team of footballers with festive-sounding names.

We think there might be a place in that team for Crewe Alexandra's Ryan Wintle-wonderland.

If you can add better suggestions, you can get in touch with us via email,Twitter , externaland Facebook., external

Coventry Live

Here are three of the stories from to Coventry Telegraph website today:

• Geoffrey Robinson referred to police over suspected 'claims irregularities', external
• Trolley-full of goods worth £500 stolen, external
• Man jailed after stabbing victim with combat knife, external

Birmingham City's 16-year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham is named the English Football League's Young Player of the Month for November.

Warwickshire Police said it's been "intercepting drivers and vehicles that could be overweight or in a poor, potentially dangerous condition." around Leamington Spa.

We're all slightly out-of-shape this time of year, but in this case apparently they didn't mean the drivers themselves - 11 vehicles have been taken off the road, after checks were carried out last Friday.

The most common issue with the vehicles stopped was defective or under-inflated tyres, but the officers also found problems with lights and brakes.

In addition, a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and is awaiting questioning.

Two Warwickshire MPs have signed a letter, external to the prime minister, urging him to look at alternatives to HS2.

The Kenilworth and Southam MP Jeremy Wright and North Warwickshire MP Craig Tracey said "HS2 is widely seen as a project that is beset by problems, consistently running over time and over budget".

Image source, Twitter

They are among 20 MPs to add their signatures to the letter, which questions whether the current review of the project is able to go far enough and raises concerns about the management of HS2.

It goes on to say: "It is not too late for the government to change course" and says "our fear is that if the project goes ahead as planned, costs will continue to spiral".

A draft copy of a review into the HS2 high-speed railway linking London and the North of England says it should be built, despite its rising cost.

Cordelia Farrell is accused of murdering Wayne Coventry and is set to face trial in April.

BBC WM

Smoking is to be banned at all NHS sites across Walsall.

Image source, Getty Images

The pledge will come into affect at Walsall Manor Hospital and community buildings run by the NHS trust on 31 March. , external

No-one will be allowed to smoke or vape and smoking shelters will also be removed.

BBC Midlands Today

A charity's making final preparations today, external as it prepares to open its doors this week for people who are homeless, vulnerable or on their own during the festive period.

The Birmingham Christmas Shelter starts its annual "shelter week" tomorrow and it runs until Saturday. , external

The group, currently based at St George's Hub, Newtown, has been operating for more than 40 years and expects to welcome up to 150 guests every day over the Christmas week.

Guests can enjoy hot meals, a shower, a bed for the night and entertainment.

BBC Weather Watchers

We really have had a mixture of cloudy skies and the sun bursting through at times, at least from the look of the photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from users Mr Twister in Leek, Staffordshire, Solar Hill in Leek Wootton, Warwickshire and Stormchaser Al in Halesowen, Dudley:

Image source, Mr Twister

Image source, Solar Hill

Image source, Stormchaser Al

While some delays and cancellations have been beyond the control of West Midlands Railway, the company accepts staffing issues have also been a cause.

The company said "there are a number of reasons why train crew may not be available", including "historic terms and conditions in staff contracts, the amount of train crew on leave at the same time may be greater than the rosters can accommodate".

Another problem, the company said, was staff being unable to reach their trains, because of disruption elsewhere on the network.

West Midlands Railway added: “We are actively reviewing the procedures we use to plan our resources and are also recruiting more train crew in order to help reduce the need to cancel services in future."

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Kerry Ashdown

A major hospital has struggled to open extra beds for patients at the start of the busy winter period due to a lack of staff to run them, managers have said

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust had earmarked more than £4m for 102 extra beds this winter to deal with the expected surge in A&E patients in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford.

But, at its latest board meeting, chief nurse Michelle Rhodes said it hadn't been able to use the additional beds as "we just don’t have enough staff to staff them safely".

"It’s that time of year when people are exhausted, want to have time with family and don’t want to put in extra hours,” she added.

The board also heard the level of staff sickness was higher now than over the past few months.

Aston Villa will look to reinforce manager Dean Smith's squad in January.

Shropshire's giant knife angel has had a busy year, touring the country to raise awareness of knife crime.

It was made out of knives surrendered to police forces around the country and has been on display in Liverpool, Hull, Coventry, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Rochester, Derby and Chester.

It was due visit Gloucester too, but the British Ironwork Centre near Oswestry insists that hosts run educational programmes and said the city wasn't "ready to commit to our youth engagement requirement".

Right now it's back at the place it was made, the British Ironwork Centre near Oswestry, and today is the last chance to see it there, before it heads off to Newtown in Wales for the new year.

Rather than a wandering feline, the owner's house move is behind the surprise reunion.

A bedroom fire that badly damaged a house in Birmingham is believed to have been caused by hair straighteners falling on a carpet, West Midlands Fire Service says.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

Eight firefighters were called to Knightlow Road, in Harborne, just before midday.

They said two people who were inside the house at the time had got out by the time they arrived and didn't need medical attention.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service