A serious crash in Tividale, Dudley is partially blocking the A461 Birmingham Road at the junction of New Birmingham Road, Burnt Tree traffic lights.

Image source, Siobhan Michaels

The crash involves a pedestrian and a van, said the ambulance service, with the air ambulance currently at the scene.

It's affecting all approaches to the junction and surrounding roads within the area.

Some buses are being diverted away from the area.

Drivers are being warned to avoid Birmingham New Road in Burnt Tree, Tividale, in Dudley, due to a serious crash.

The incident, which happened shortly before 14:00, involves a pedestrian and a van, said the ambulance service.

Three ambulances and the air ambulance from Cosford are currently at the scene.

Police said the victims of Gemma Watts, who posed as a teenage boy, were "completely taken in".

BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith says it's highly unlikely that a new player will be coming in ahead of Sunday's Premier League game at home against Manchester City.

Image source, Getty Images

With the Brazilian striker Wesley and goalkeeper Tom Heaton long-term injury victims, Villa's need to strengthen is urgent.

It's hoped Jonathan Kodjia will return after missing the EFL Cup game against Leicester because of illness.

Aston Villa have lost nine of their past 11 Premier League meetings with Manchester City. Their only victory in that run came back in September 2013.

Cheshire East Council must do more to protect children from harm, an inspection has found.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Labour says it will announce its candidate for the West Midlands Mayor elections on 6 February.

The party put the selection process back when the general election was called last year, but now plans to open its ballot to members on 15 January.

Image source, Timbo

The party members will have a choice between MP Liam Byrne, former Dudley mayor Pete Lowe and Salma Yaqoob, the former leader of the Respect Party.

The post is currently held by Conservative Andy Street, who was again confirmed as the party's candidate in September.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star's website today:

• Farmhouse worth more than £500,000 to be raffled off, external
• Shropshire pre-school slammed by Ofsted, external
• Mural dedicated to unusual bird is vandalised, external

Gemma Watts convinced victims she was 16-year-old "Jake Waton" and may have assaulted up to 50 girls.

A man has been charged following a series of thefts where tills were snatched across Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The 38-year-old is accused of rive robberies, three thefts and threatening a person with a blade, police said.

He's set to appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court later.

Instant political redundancy rarely involves walking into a high-flying role - it means a trip to the job centre.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A new climate change plan for the West Midlands is suggesting a complete ban on petrol and diesel cars by the year 2041.

The plan, drawn up for the West Midlands Combined Authority, also suggests the creation of a national park and one tree for each of the three million people living in the area.

Image source, Getty Images

Proposals set out a series of aims for the next five, 10, 15 and 20 years and also suggest the expansion of clean air zones, increasing the number of electric taxis and extra drainage for urban areas to help them cope with increased rainfall.

In the final five years of the plan, it says there should be a ban on the sale of new petrol and a ban on diesel cars and fossil fuel-powered vehicles on West Midlands roads.

BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

Telford Tigers head coach Tom Watkins says he's got a "great relationship" around the rink with his son, Sam, who made his debut for the senior team last weekend.

Tom said he played "extremely well" against Sheffield Steeldogs and added:"He knows I'm boss and he's very focused on his ice hockey."

Image source, Steve Brodie

The Tigers go into this weekend's matches seven points clear at the top of the table, with a game in hand on second-placed Swindon Wildcats. They travel to Solihull tomorrow to play Leeds Chiefs.

Their opponents are still waiting for their own rink to be completed and are playing at other rinks around the country.

BBC Radio Stoke

Police have seized heroin and and crack cocaine with a street value of about £4,000 after stopping a car in Newcastle-under-Lyme last night.

The vehicle was driven off at speed after officers initially attempted to stop the car on Fifth Avenue in the Kidsgrove area, just after 17:00 last night, hitting walls and garden fences as it tried to escape.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The police later arrested a 40-year-old man from the Kidsgrove area for possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply and for driving offences.

Jaguar Land Rover, has announced sales of its vehicles have fallen for a second year running.

In 2019 it sold 557,706 vehicles, 5.9% fewer than the year before.

Image source, Jaguar Land Rover

The company, rooted in Coventry and Solihull, has put the the slump down to a weakening market in China and a falling demand for diesel vehicles in Europe.

But after a challenging first six months, the company saw sales in China bounce back, which delivered double-digit growth.

Hereford Times

Here are three of the stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Fears over speeding after car strikes wall, external
• Market house bin fires could have been 'major disaster', external
• Biking bishop ready to start new role, external

Some women who have recurrent miscarriages might benefit from taking a tablet designed to treat diabetes, researchers say.

A trial of 38 volunteers suggests it helps better prepare the womb lining for pregnancy by boosting certain cells.

Image source, University of Warwick

One of the researchers, Prof Siobhan Quenby, from the University of Warwick's Clinical Trials Unit, said it was too early to say whether the drug could prevent miscarriages, adding larger studies were needed to confirm that. But the treatment, she said, did appear to boost stem cell numbers in the womb lining to support the placenta, which she called "very exciting".

She said: "It basically helps the body to repair itself.

"It's a step towards finding a new cure for miscarriage - and that's why I'm so excited."

A man has been arrested after a woman was critically injured in a hit-and-run.

The pedestrian was struck by a car on College Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham yesterday evening.

The 23-year-old was arrested from his home address in Birmingham on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop following a collision and driving while unfit through drink or drugs, police said.

Officers are trying to trace two male members of the public to whom he may have spoken at the scene.

He remains in police custody, says West Midlands Police.

BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

Shrewsbury Town could be facing a battle to keep hold of young midfielder Josh Laurent, with a couple of Championship sides thought to be interested in signing him during the current transfer window.

The 24-year-old will be able to leave on a free transfer in the summer and manager Sam Ricketts said the club was trying to agree a new deal to prevent that.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City and Reading are thought to be among the clubs interested in him, but Ricketts said: "I think it's really important he keeps playing regularly like he is with us."

But he added: "I'm not surprised that there is some interest, because he's a young lad who's just starting to understand his game."

A pedestrian has been taken to hospital after being hit by a car in Staffordshire this morning.

She was struck shortly after 08:00 outside The Rigger pub on Marsh Parade, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Her injuries are not thought to be serious, said the ambulance service.

Visiting restrictions have been put in place on one ward at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.

Image source, Google

Increased levels of sickness and diarrhoea is being managed at the site, the hospital says.

Patients with flu have also been confirmed.

Friends and family are being urged to avoid visiting Alexandra Ward until further notice.