Updates from Monday 27 January to Sunday 2 February
Tomorrow's scheduled race meeting at Hereford has been abandoned due to the track's condition following heavy rain.
Officials said there was no realistic chance of conditions improving before Wednesday.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe amount of passengers satisfied with the punctuality of West Midlands Trains has nosedived to 60% - the worst satisfaction rating for punctuality in the country, according to a new report.
The rating dropped by 15% between autumn 2018 and autumn 2019, with the company facing recent criticism for delays and cancellations.
Figures in the most recent survey, external of rail customers by passenger group Transport Focus also show the number of people satisfied with their West Midlands Rail journey fell by 11% to 73% during the same period.
Only Northern Rail produced a worse figure.
West Midlands Trains has promised to recruit more staff and said part of the problem was the introduction of new timetables in May.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Here are some of the stories our Local Democracy Reporting Service has been covering in and around Stoke-on-Trent:
Former England goalkeeper Tim Flowers leaves his role as Solihull Moors manager by mutual consent after 19 months in charge.
Read MoreA football fan, walking from John O'Groats to Land's End wearing only swimming trunks, has reached Coventry.
The Liverpudlian, Mick Cullen, also known as Speedo Mick, started the journey in December and has so far raised £158,000 for community projects for disadvantaged young people.
He earned his nickname after swimming the English Channel for charity five years ago - and then turned up at Everton's Goodison Park in the same swimwear outfit to raise more funds.
He said the people of Coventry had given him a "brilliant" welcome.
"I went into the pub for something to eat and the shocked looks on their faces, but they fed me and gave me a cup of tea for nothing."
Birmingham Live
From Birmingham Live:
Could this be the beginning of a beautiful friendship?
Coventry University is set to offer programmes at a purpose-built campus in Casablanca under a partnership approach with a Moroccan institution.
Image source, ReutersAn aerial view of the Moroccan city
The university is working with Morocco's Superior Institution of Science and Technology (SIST) to "provide teacher training and other business and science and technology programmes", it said.
The SSIT institute, which operates in English, will invest £14m to develop the campus.
The agreement will also enable the partners to explore opportunities for joint research, teaching, and mobility to and from Coventry University’s UK campuses for staff and students.
Quote MessageWe see Morocco as a gateway to Africa and a country where higher education in the UK overall could have more and further collaborations."
Professor John Latham, Vice-chancellor, Coventry University
The new Bishop of Dudley will be ordained and consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a service at Southwark Cathedral in London today.
Image source, Church of EnglandMartin Gorick is a former chaplain to the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.
He will officially begin his ministry in the Diocese of Worcester next month.
Quote MessageAs a Black Country bishop I look forward to the church playing its part in the regeneration of Britain’s heartland in the West Midlands, and to working in partnership with all people of good will.
Martin Gorick, Bishop of Dudley
Some West Midlands Trains passengers will get a 10% discount this summer to apologise for poor service performance.
The company has been criticised for delays, cancellations and overcrowding in recent months and the National Rail Passenger Survey, published today, reveals a drop in overall passenger satisfaction.
The new managing director of West Midlands Trains, Julian Edwards, said: “Our performance during the second half of last year was simply unacceptable."
The company said the problems were caused by the introduction of a new timetable and staffing issues. It has promised to recruit more people in the first part of this year.
The discount will be available to people buying their tickets on the day, throughout July and August.
Coventry Live
From Coventry Live:
Local Democracy Reporting Service
More than 1,200 motorists have been fined for parking or stopping on red routes in Hanley since the double lines were introduced in October 2017.
The drivers were given a £70 fine, but only 932 of the fines have been paid.
Image source, Getty ImagesStoke-on-Trent City Council said the red routes, which affect five roads, were about keeping the city moving and improving safety, and were not to raise revenue through fines.
Red routes are due to be introduced on another 10 roads across Burslem, Tunstall, Fenton, Longton and Stoke.
It was a chilly start for some across the region, with a smattering of snow and ice on higher ground.
These are some of our favourite early morning pictures from BBC Weather Watchers Our view in Clun, Shropshire; Shaun in Gnosall, Staffordshire; and Whinney in Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire.
Image source, Our view
Image source, Shaun
Image source, Whinney
BBC News Travel
An "emergency incident" is blocking rail lines between Cheltenham Spa and Birmingham New Street, delaying train services.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Wintery showers and ice could lead to travel disruption in parts of the West Midlands, the Met Office is warning.
Image source, Met OfficeA yellow warning is in place until 10:00 for Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Alex Moore
The history of coracles in Shropshire could be marked with a statue if the idea's given planning permission.
Image source, Ironbridge Coracle TrustThe Ironbridge Coracle Trust wants to place the six-foot steel structure in a flowerbed outside the Museum of the Gorge.
Their plans say the monument, of a coracle man carrying one of the boats, would have an "attractive, rust-like appearance".
Telford and Wrekin's planning department will make a decision at a future date.
Victoria Derbyshire
Experts have raised concern over a new medical procedure that claims to allow women to delay the onset of the menopause by over a decade.
Image source, Getty ImagesIts long-term safety and success remains untested - but some women have already paid at least £6,000 for the procedure.
Prof Simon Fishel, the leading IVF expert behind ProFam, the Birmingham-based company that has created the procedure, says it increases their chances of having a baby in later life and can combat health issues associated with the menopause - such as heart conditions and bone weakening.
The procedure involves surgically removing a small portion of one of the ovaries - which is then formed into tiny strips and frozen.
From the Express and Star:
Workers at Coventry University will walk out in the first of two days of strike action over the staff appraisal system.
Image source, Coventry UniversityMembers of the University and College Union (UCU) have already staged five days of action in the ongoing dispute.
The union claims the system makes it difficult for staff to achieve the annual pay award that is standard at other institutions.
The university said it has worked hard to establish a common ground with UCU and they regret the disruption this may cause to students and the majority of its staff, and will work hard to minimise the impact to them.
West Brom were handed a home tie with either Premier League Newcastle or League One Oxford United in last night's FA Cup fifth round draw.
The winner of Birmingham's replay with Coventry City at St Andrew's will be away to Leicester in round five.
If Shrewsbury Town can get past Liverpool at Anfield next week, they'll play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Those ties are scheduled for the week beginning 2 March.
In a change to the usual format, all eight ties will be played across three midweek nights from 3-5 March, with no replays.
If any of the ties are level after 90 minutes there will be 30 minutes of extra time and, if necessary, penalties to determine a winner on the night.
Here's the draw in full:
Lee Blakeman
BBC Radio Stoke
Port Vale defender Shaun Brisley (pictured) says he's got to "take my chance now" after team-mate Nathan Smith's injury.
Image source, Port Vale FCSmith limped off during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Swindon with a hamstring injury and is expected to be out for several weeks.
Quote MessageYou've got to be ready for these sort of situations. Injuries are part and parcel of the game, shame for Smith, think he's been different class all season but hopefully it's not too serious and hopefully I can take my chance now, get a run of games which is what I've been waiting for."
Shaun Brisley, Port Vale defender
