The latest generation of driverless pods has been unveiled at the University of Warwick.

Coventry-based Aurrigo has worked with scientists from Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) to create "swarm" technology.

The development means the pods can be programmed to identify each other and return to home base - a move considered to be a significant step forward in driverless tech.

Image source, University of Warwick

The technology also enables the pods, working within a fleet, to automatically optimise their behaviour by distributing themselves within a city to areas where they will most likely be requested, says WMG.

Image source, University of Warwick

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Property owners in the Stafford area whose homes have stood empty for years will have to pay several times the normal level of council tax in future.

Stafford Borough Council wants to persuade owners of unoccupied homes to bring them back into use.

Latest figures suggest almost 2,000 homes in Stafford Borough are empty, including 40 that have been empty for more than a decade.

Image source, Google

From April, owners of homes left empty for at least five years are set to pay a premium of double the council tax rate for their property type.

This increases to a 300% council tax hike for properties empty for five to 10 years, and 400% for homes left vacant for 10 years or more.

A Shropshire farmer has said he's "blown away" to have the name of his farm used by a crisp-maker.

Sam and Claire Barker raise around 100 Longhorn cows at the 220 acre Great Berwick Organic Farm near Shrewsbury and were chosen to be the face of Pipers Crisps new beef flavour.

Image source, Pipers Crisps

Great Berwick Longhorn Beef crisps are due to go on sale from 2 March and Pipers said the farm's "sustainable farming methods to produce the very best, the perfect partner for our crisps".

The company features the names of a number of local suppliers on its other flavours.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three of the stories from the Stoke Sentinel's website today:

• School goes into lockdown after suspicious man spotted, external
• Emergency services at crash on A34, external
• Pensioner pushed into post by robber, external

A public inquiry could be held into plans for 490 new houses on land off Whitford Road in Bromsgrove.

In December the district council rejected plans put forward by developers Catesby Estates and Miller Homes, despite the applicants saying they had listened to concerns of residents and a promise of millions of pounds for local roads.

Image source, Google

The developers have now asked for a planning inspector to make a ruling and the council will meet next month to agree its position.

Port Vale sign Leicester City defender Mitchell Clark on loan until the end of the season.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust wants to raise £150,000 to buy Gun Moor nature reserve near Leek.

It says the area doesn't get the same number of visitors as the Roaches nearby, but is home "to many species including snipe and curlew which are on the brink of localised extinction".

Image source, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

The trust said the freehold was put up for sale in 2018 and because it didn't have the money in its account, it reached an agreement with the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, which bought the land on its behalf.

The trust was then given two years to raise the money to become owner before the land was put up for sale again.

An online fundraising page has been set up and has so far collected £36,229.

The brewer faces health and safety charges after David Chandler died in 2016.

BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

Shrewsbury Town fans are being asked to bring Swedish flags to the FA Cup replay against Liverpool next week.

It's in memory of town fan Kenneth Lovgren, from Sweden, who sadly died suddenly this week.

Image source, Getty Images

Supporters are also hoping fans will join in with a round of applause for Kenneth during the match at Anfield.

A violent carjacker who "ferociously" struck a woman across the head with a hammer while targeting her vehicle has been jailed.

Image source, West Midlands

Blythe Mason-Boyle suffered a fractured eye socket in the attack when her Audi was stolen in Coventry Road, Sheldon, on 19 March last year.

The 24-year-old now struggles to see clearly through one eye and also received counselling to overcome the trauma, said West Midlands Police.

Majid Ali, 18, of Mountford Street, Sparkhill, denied robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and wounding but was convicted following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Yesterday he was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The Health and Safety Executive says it's prosecuting two companies, following the death of a 45-year-old Bridgnorth man who died after an ammonia leak at a Carlsberg brewery in Northampton.

The leak from the site’s refrigeration system which killed David Chandler in November 2016 also seriously injured a 56-year-old man and another 22 needed hospital treatment.

Image source, Northamptonshire Police

The HSE said Carlsberg Supply Company and contractor Crowley Carbon UK Ltd would both face charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The first hearing is due to begin at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 6 March.

A wonky cottage in Ironbridge is set to be sold at auction next month, with a guide price of £100,000.

Lloyds Cottage has been empty for 15 years and is owned by Telford and Wrekin Council, which has carried out work to make it safe.

Image source, Google

Conservation architect Tony Rowland said nothing could be done to straighten the building, but there was no sign of cracking, suggesting any movement happened a long time ago.

Hereford Times

From the Hereford Times:

• Brothers found with class A drugs, external
• Major blow to Hereford bypass plans, external
• Pedestrians injured after crash with van, external

BBC Shropshire

There are plans for a 6ft statue in Ironbridge to commemorate the work of local coracle builders.

Image source, Getty Images

The Ironbridge Coracle Trust has asked Telford and Wrekin Council for permission to erect it outside the Museum of the Gorge.

If approved, the statue would depict a man carrying one of the water vessels.

Up to £2m will be spent in Wolverhampton after cuts to youth services and a knife crime increase.

BBC Weather Watchers

It was a misty and murky start for many across the West Midlands, but that hasn't stopped the BBC Weather Watchers heading out to capture some lovely images.

These were taken in Sutton Coldfield by Sutton Walker; Leek, Staffordshire, by Videoman; and Rubery, Birmingham, by Lileth.

Image source, Sutton Walker

Image source, Videoman

Image source, Lileth

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

The mum of a baby diagnosed with a rare life-limiting disease says she wants to raise awareness of the condition even though "it won't help find a cure for my little princess".

Image source, Helen Gater

Helen Gater's seven-month-old daughter Olivia-May was diagnosed with Canavan disease in December. It affects the nervous system, meaning "Olivia-May will be paralysed, she won't ever be able to walk, talk and eventually she will be deaf and blind," said Ms Gater, 32, from Burntwood, Staffordshire.

Her friend Peter Brown shared the story via the BBC's questions site. A fundraising skydive is planned for the Canavan Foundation to help research into the disease.

Image source, Helen Gater

"It's really rare. I only know of about seven other cases in the UK," Ms Gater said.

"I've been told [Olivia-May] has about a 10-year life expectancy.

"I'd just like to help families in future to try stop this heartache."

The police officer was responding to a report of men acting suspiciously in Wythall when he was hurt.

Administration may mark the end of decades of success and struggles for Norton motorcycles.

Shropshire Star

From the Shropshire Star:

• Concerns raised over roads firm used by council, external
• Calls to pedestrianise more areas of town centre, external
• No jail for teenager caught with machete, external