The closure of Birmingham's John Lewis store will be a "huge blow to the city", the Confederation of British Industry has said.

Its regional director, Richard Butler, said it showed the "depth and breadth of the economic challenge facing Birmingham and the wider West Midlands".

Image source, Google

Mr Butler described John Lewis as an "iconic brand" and that, "we need these businesses to survive and thrive to support our region in months ahead”.

Detectives investigating an assault on a taxi driver in a row over a fare have appealed for the public's help to trace the main suspect, Adam Clancy.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The 52-year-old taxi driver needed hospital treatment after he was repeatedly punched in the face by a passenger in Druids Heath, Birmingham, on 30 June.

West Midlands Police said Mr Clancy, 39, was quickly identified as the prime suspect after footage of the attack was shared widely online.

The force said it had tried to arrest Mr Clancy at more than seven different properties but so far had been unable to track him down.

It said "as a last resort" it had now released his image as part of "an appeal to locate and arrest him".

Det Sgt Patrick Simpson urged members of the public not to approach Mr Clancy and instead contact police.

A van driver who was suspected of being involved in thefts of lorries in Leicestershire has been arrested in Staffordshire after being spotted travelling through Derbyshire.

Derbyshire Police said he was stopped on the A513, near the junction with the A38 and the van was found to be stolen and carrying cloned plates.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Derbyshire Police tweeted, external: "Criminals don't fuss borders so neither can we."

The arrest is thought to be the first relating to the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has described the decision by John Lewis to close its "flagship" Birmingham store as "incredibly disappointing news" and risks being "a dreadful mistake" by the firm.

Mr Street, himself a former managing director of the firm, said his thoughts were particularly with the employees - or partners - who are affected.

Image source, PA Media

“There is no question that the coronavirus pandemic has caused severe economic damage and uncertainty, but I still have enormous faith in Birmingham as a place to do business," he said in a statement.

"The city is one of the top three in the whole of the UK for retail, with high footfall and many other retailers thriving in recent years."

Despite John Lewis's decision he said his belief in the store was "unwavering" and that it could still "be a great success".

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

A paramedic who was stabbed while on a job has been discharged from hospital.

Michael Hipgrave and Deena Evans, of West Midlands Ambulance Service, were hurt at a property in Wolverhampton on Monday after being called to check on the welfare of a man.

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

The ambulance service said earlier that Deena was released from hospital yesterday afternoon after suffering a knife wound to her chest.

After being discharged from hospital earlier this week, Michael is also at home, recovering from injuries to his back.

"Both Deena and Michael are in good spirits as they recover from their ordeal," the ambulance service said.

Martyn Smith, 52, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with two counts of wounding with intent.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at crown court on 5 August.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• Man in court over Wellington murder case, external
• Medieval Pope’s seal discovered in Shropshire, external
• Council to discuss selling off Shirehall, external

Police investigating a planned illegal rave in North Warwickshire have arrested a man.

Tickets were being sold online for the unlicensed music event, but Warwickshire Police has asked people not to turn up.

The 39-year-old from Coventry is being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.

John Lewis has said its stores in Birmingham and Tamworth were already "financially challenged" before the coronavirus outbreak.

It said the pandemic had accelerate the shift in shopping from stores to shopping online

Before the virus struck the internet accounted for around 40% of sales, but that is estimated to rise to between 60% and 70% over this year and next.

Image source, Google

John Lewis said it would continue to "invest heavily" in internet sales to meet the changing demand and has doubled the online capacity of its Waitrose stores.

About 1,300 John Lewis staff across the eight shops will be affected and the company has said some may be transferred to its online operation or to Waitrose stores.

The John Lewis store in Birmingham's Grand Central shopping centre is going to close.

It is one of eight stores that won't be reopening, following coronavirus lockdown, as part of a "major business strategy review".

Image source, Google

The John Lewis At Home store in Tamworth will also close and the company said "if redundancies are confirmed, every effort would be made to find new roles where possible for Partners who wish to remain within the Partnership."

The opening of the rebuilt Park Hall visitor centre at a Stoke-on-Trent country park has been delayed again.

The £370,000 building was intended as a replacement for the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's old headquarters (pictured below), which was destroyed by arsonists in 2011.

It was originally due to open last spring, but that was put back to early this year.

Now, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has said coronavirus has delayed the opening again.

Amir Sajjad Malik says he was left "screaming in pain" after one of his passengers attacked him.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City have a "massive three points" to play for against Leeds United tonight, manager Michael O'Neill has said.

They go into the game just one point outside the relegation zone and O'Neill said their opponents also have a "massive prize to play for", because they are close to winning automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

O'Neill said Leeds have been at the top of the Championship for most of the season, while Stoke have been near the bottom and called on his players to match their opponents' intensity.

Blackpool sign attacking midfielder Oliver Sarkic on a two-year deal after his release by Burton Abion.

Pep Clotet will leave his position as Birmingham City head coach at the end of the season.

Coventry Live

Here are three stories from the Coventry Telegraph today:

• Council building forced to close for deep clean, external
• Artist's social distancing work to be displayed, external
• Man arrested after police discover plans for illegal rave, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathan Gullis has closed his Twitter account and says it follows abuse and threats of violence from people outside his constituency.

But local Labour councillors claim the Conservative is "avoiding scrutiny" and has even blocked them on Facebook.

Image source, UK Parliament

Mr Gullis has kept open his Facebook page and says he feels it's a better way to communicate with local people.

And he said the abuse "has had an impact on my own mental health", adding "I’ve simply had enough".

A 700-year-old papal seal has been discovered in a ploughed field in Shropshire.

Metal detectorist Andy Bassett made the find, which is the 1,500,000th to be recorded by the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Image source, British Museum Portable Antiquities Scheme/Birmingham Museums' Trust

Peter Reavill, the Portable Antiquities Scheme finds liaison officer for Shropshire and Herefordshire, said the seal may have ended up in Shropshire because the Pope was trying to obtain Henry III's support in his claim for Sicily.

Or it may have been given as an "indulgence" to a rich, powerful individual who gave money to the church in exchange for "so many years out of purgatory".

People in part of Malvern are being asked to leave their homes today, so the spire of an old church can be safely removed.

Emmanuel Hall is on the A449 through the town and after a recent inspection, the road had to be closed, with the spire deemed in danger of collapsing.

Image source, Google

A large crane is being brought in to remove the structure.

BBC Weather Watchers

We're forecast more grey cloud and some light rain today, but the weather is expected to clear up by tomorrow.

We might see some sunshine over the weekend, although temperatures will remain in the high teens.

Image source, Gumboots