BBC Hereford and Worcester

One thousand new council homes could be built in Herefordshire as part of plans to create "affordable" and "sustainable" homes in the county's bigger villages and market towns.

Image source, Getty Images

The council says up to £100m could be spent on the scheme - the first such large-scale project in the county in more than 50 years.

Finance and Corporate Services cabinet member Liz Harvey says some of the £38m which came from the controversial selling-off of council farms in 2017 will be used to fund the plans.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

West Midlands businesses are being urged to get involved in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 and encourage their staff to volunteer.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

Confederation of British Industry regional director Richard Butler has written to businesses, calling the event a "once in a lifetime opportunity".

The games need about 10,000 volunteers to help run and manage the event.

Coventry Live

From Coventry Live:

• "You don't pay for drinks, you don't pay for snacks, you pay for your time": New pay as you stay cafe arrives in Coventry, external
• Hospital speaks out on THAT video of birds falling out of the sky in Coventry, external
• Ricoh Arena row the biggest ‘downer’ – Coventry in 2019, external

BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith [pictured] has praised striker Wesley, who scored in the 2-1 win at Burnley, but was also forced off with a knee injury.

Image source, Getty Images

Villa have moved out of the Premier League relegation zone following the victory.

Jack Grealish scored, but also had a goal ruled out for a marginal offside by the video assistant referee system. Wesley was deemed inches offside in the build-up.

Villa goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who was also taken off, and Wesley will have scans to find out the extent of the knee injuries they picked up.

BBC Midlands Today

Shropshire police say they are winning the war against county lines drug dealers after Oswestry was named as Shropshire's most at-risk town.

Concerns have been raised that youths are "vulnerable" to temptation and are being exploited by dealers from Liverpool.

But officers say recent work in the area has led to several arrests and disruption to the criminal activity.

BBC Midlands Today

Season tickets with West Midlands Trains (WMT) won't be affected by national fare increases in recognition of its services' "drop in performance".

Image source, West Midlands Rail

Instead WMT says it will reduce prices for season tickets. The news comes as fares increase by almost 3% across the country.

The Campaign for Better Transport is calling for a full reform in the way fares are decided.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

A few mist patches to start the day. Thereafter, it will be a dry but grey day with a good deal of cloud around. Rather breezy with fresh southwesterly winds. Highs of 7 to 10C (45 to 50F).

Andrew Dawkins
BBC News

We'll have the latest news, sport, weather and travel information for the West Midlands region.

Sci-fi fanatic Simon Cox achieves his lifelong dream of creating his own science fiction film.

Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley says he is sure the club will investigate after sectarian chants were allegedly aimed at Stoke midfielder James McClean.

Daniel Powell makes it four goals in two games as Crewe keep up their promotion push by beating Carlisle.

West Brom's Semi Ajayi scores at both ends as Albion and promotion rivals Leeds play out a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.

Watford's remarkable revival under Nigel Pearson continues as they hang on with 10 men to beat Wolves and move a point from safety.

Josh Gordon nets the winner as 10-man Walsall hold on to earn a single-goal League Two victory at home to Orient.

Coventry striker Matt Godden scores a hat-trick for the second successive match in the Sky Blues' victory over Tranmere.

Port Vale share four goals with former boss John Askey's Macclesfield in a 2-2 New Year's Day draw in Burslem.

Lucas Akins scores twice as Burton recover from 2-0 down after 10 minutes to win a seven-goal thriller at bottom side Bolton.

Jake Beesley scores twice against his former club as Solihull returned to winning ways with victory over struggling Chesterfield.

Daniel Powell makes it four goals in two games as Crewe keep up their promotion push by beating Carlisle.

Wigan Athletic win away from home for the first time this season as Birmingham City suffer a fifth defeat in six games.