Drink-driver 'dozed off' before crash killing friendpublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Sukhdeep Gill, who was drinking whisky at the wheel before the fatal crash, is jailed for five years.
Read MoreSummary
Updates from 15-19 June
Drink-driver 'dozed off' before crash killing friendpublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
New trial planned for cash-stricken townpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Kevin Peachey
Personal finance reporterOne of Stoke-on-Trent's six towns is one of eight locations in the UK which have been chosen for trials to help solve problems with access to cash.
The Community Access to Cash Pilot will test new subsidised cash machines and local deposit centres for retailers.
Organisers hope the trial will inform debate over the future of cash in the UK, particularly for those who rely on it.
Burslem is one of the locations after last year it was revealed it had lost all its free cash machines after a number of major banks closed on the high street.
Twenty-four thousand residents were forced to choose between paying 95p per transaction to withdraw cash from a chargeable ATM or driving a mile to the nearest free machine.
Steam railway looks to return in Augustpublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
The Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway is planning to resume some services in August.
The heritage railway, which also runs through Worcestershire, said a limited number of round trips from Toddington, stopping at Broadway and Cheltenham Racecourse will be available.
Image source, PA MediaPassengers will travel in old-fashioned compartment coaches with a side corridor, to reduce interaction with other travellers.
The Severn Valley Railway has already said it's working towards resuming services in August.
Body found in hunt for missing snorkellerpublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Oscar Montgomery, 17, was last seen off the coast near Church Ope Cove, Portland, three weeks ago.
Read More'Sense of excitement' at Premier League's returnpublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
BBC SportThere is a "palpable sense of excitement" around the Premier League resuming today, Aston Villa's chief executive has said.
Image source, PA MediaVilla will feature in the first game when they host Sheffield United from 18:00.
The match will be played behind closed doors, due to the pandemic, with safety measures meaning fans are not yet allowed to attend matches at the stadiums.
Chief executive Christian Purslow said he believed being able to watch football again would lift everybody.
"We will have the eyes of the world on us but the level of planning and preparation that has gone in makes me extremely confident that it will be a great success."
Autumn show cancelled because of uncertaintypublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
The organisers of the Malvern Autumn Show in September have announced this morning that it's been cancelled.
They said exhibitors, growers and traders spend months getting ready for the two-day event at Three Counties Showground and they couldn't guarantee it would go ahead.
A statement said: "We have followed the government’s advice and guidance throughout this difficult period but there is no indication on when measures will be altered sufficiently to allow the necessary planning for a show of this size and complexity."
Arrest after car seen being pulled along by cyclistspublished at 11:12 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsTwo men on bicycles were stopped by police as they pulled a car along a road in Burton-upon-Trent this morning.
Staffordshire Police called the case , externala "creative way to recover a vehicle but really not safe".
The force added it turned out the driver was drunk and he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
Money to build new homes on brownfield landpublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
About £19m is being spent in Telford to build 500 new homes along with buildings for businesses and leisure facilities.
The money has come from the Marches Local Enterprise Council and Telford and Wrekin Council and will be used to transform brownfield sites.
The local authority said up to 60 new jobs would be created and the homes would be built around Telford town centre, Donnington and Wellington.
Nearly 200 flood calls made to fire servicespublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsNearly 200 cases of flooding were reported to the fire services in Staffordshire and the West Midlands last night., external
Image source, West Midlands Fire and Rescue ServiceThey an incident at Walsall Manor Hospital which saw severe flooding with the NHS trust warning of disruption to visitors and staff today, external, although patients are unaffected.
Fire crews warned of more heavy rain this afternoon and tonight.
Around the web: Extent of bank closures revealedpublished at 10:22 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
The Express and Star's top stories today include:
Watch: Dog enjoys flash floodspublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Rather you than me here.
After all the heavy rain overnight, BBC WM's Rob Trigg recorded this this morning in Codsall, Staffordshire:
Media caption, Flooding in Codsall
Your photos: Lightning strikespublished at 09:48 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
We had dozens of photos of the lightning from yesterday's thunderstorms from our local BBC Weather Watchers.
Here are three from users Rollingstart in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Jam Jam in Willenhall, Walsall and Louise2805 in Weeford, Staffordshire:
Image source, Rollingstart
Image source, Jam Jam
Image source, Louise2805Cars stuck in flood-water and homes left submergedpublished at 09:34 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Several homes were flooded in Shropshire during the thunderstorms yesterday and people had to be rescued from cars stranded in floods.
Image source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue ServiceFire crews were called to houses in Oswestry and Albrighton., external
Image source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue ServiceThey also helped several stranded cars on the A41, near Cosford, including a family of five who had to be rescued from their vehicle., external
Lightning strike causes house firepublished at 09:15 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
A lightning strike caused a fire at a property in Sutton Coldfield.
Smoke could be seen billowing from the roof of the home in New Leasow Road, New Hall.
Fire crews tweeted the occupant was alerted by his television "popping".
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on TwitterThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Skip twitter postThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
End of twitter postLack of loos 'a big barrier' to high street returnpublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
The stores might be back open but will a lack of available toilets put some shoppers off?
Read MoreHomes and roads flooded during stormspublished at 09:03 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsSeveral homes and roads flooded during yesterday's thunderstorms.
West Midlands and Staffordshire fire services said, external they had a large number of calls to flooding.
Image source, @AldridgeFireIn Aldridge, Walsall, fire crews said, external they were called to help a vulnerable resident after their house flooded (pictured above).
Driving conditions were described as "awful" by the Central Motorway Police Group, external (CMPG):
Image source, CMPGWhile Planetary Road in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton was under water yesterday evening, police said, external.
Image source, Wednesfield PoliceThis morning, highways teams in Sandwell said , externalthey were working to drain Cranford Street, Smethwick, which was closed due to flooding.
Hospital floods during thunderstormspublished at 08:51 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
Floodwater had to be pumped out of Walsall Manor Hospital last night as the storms passed over, with disruption expected at the site today.
Image source, GoogleThe NHS trust said , externalthe heavy rain and hail caused severe flooding and affected the rear Sister Dora entrance as well as other areas.
Patients weren't affected but the hospital's said there will be disruption. Staff and people attending appointments will have to take extra care.
Cat shot with crossbow 'lucky to be alive'published at 08:37 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
The arrow missed all of Shearer's vital organs by millimetres, the RSPCA says.
Read MoreWarning of more thunderstorms todaypublished at 08:35 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
After another night of thunderstorms across the West Midlands, more are being forecast for this afternoon. We're also being warned to prepare for more flash floods.
Image source, Met OfficeThe Met Office has another yellow weather warning in place covering the whole of the region from midday until 21:00., external
Weather: Showers set to continuepublished at 08:20 British Summer Time 17 June 2020
A cloudy start with more showers, which could be heavy and thundery, forecast.
These could be mixed with some sunny spells later. High: 21C/70F.
Image source, Hoffy44Image caption, Lydbury North, Shropshire, this morning
The showers should ease through the night although there may be the odd one still around. Low: 13C/55F.
You can keep up-to-date on the latest forecast for your area by checking the BBC Weather website.
