Local Democracy Reporting Service

Villagers in Severn Stoke have welcomed plans for an embankment to protect it from flooding.

And the parish council said: "We cannot stress enough how welcome a flood defence would be and how much the future of the community depends upon it."

Severn Stoke parish councillors have raised some concerns though and have asked for changes to the design, height, slope and location of the proposed barrier.

The village was badly hit by major flooding in 2007, 2012 and earlier this year.

Patrick Burns has reported from 11 UK general elections and interviewed seven prime ministers.

Two men have been arrested in connection with an attack in Nantwich which left a 39-year-old man in a critical condition.

A 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 50-year-old man detained on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Image source, Google

The victim was found inside a flat on Arnold Street on Sunday suffered what police described as "horrific injuries to his head".

He is now in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Breast Cancer Haven says it has seen a 50% fall in donations since the start of the pandemic.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Another bid is being made to turn an old country pub into two homes, with another build beside them.

In June last year Herefordshire Council rejected an application to convert the Cliffe Arms in Mathon, near Malvern, on the grounds it could still be a viable pub.

Image source, Google

Back then, the council said Thomas Hayes hadn't provided enough evidence to demonstrate the pub could not be made a viable business and that it was important to the social well being and vitality of the village.

The Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale said it was "surprised" to see another application and that the owner should look to sell the building to someone willing to run it as a pub.

A deer has had to be rescued after getting itself wedged between a gatepost and gate in Warwickshire.

Image source, Warwickshire Fire Service

The animal was freed after crews removed the gate, in Tanworth-in-Arden earlier.

The force said it was also called on Tuesday to rescue a duckling from a storm drain near Stratford-upon-Avon.

After some "quack thinking" by the fire crew, the duckling was removed and reunited with its mother on the river.

Image source, Warwickshire Fire Service

Image source, Warwickshire Fire Service

Birmingham Live

Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today include:

• Man charged with murder after four-year hunt leads police to Norway, external
• Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow has manslaughter conviction quashed, external
• Man continues evidence after claiming he 'accidentally' killed Keeley Bunker, external

BBC Weather Watchers

It;s been a mixed day weather-wise today, with some of you seeing blue skies and others thick black cloud.

Here is a collection from BBC Weather Watchers based in Stowe, Severn Stoke and Studley,

Image source, Dodger

Image source, J at Severn Ridge

Image source, Balding Baggie

A woman has suffered serious smoke inhalation after being rescued from a property in West Bromwich.

Emergency services were called to the house on Eden Grove just before 11:00, said the ambulance service.

She was treated at the scene before being taken to Sandwell Hospital.

The drivers of 4x4 vehicles who have been taking them up and down a south Shropshire river are being warned they are "crushing" important habitats.

The Environment Agency says while it is not illegal, drivers could face trespassing fines if they don't get permission from landowners.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Bainger from the Environment Agency said: "They are crushing the gravels and all the ecology that lives in there. That is the life support system of the river."

He said the vehicles have been "doing a lot of damage" and that it would affect other creatures up the food chain, including fish, river mammals and birds.

Zakir Nawaz, was stabbed in the chest on 10 September 2016 on Highfield Road, Washwood Heath.

Coventry Live

These are some of the Coventry Live headlines:

• Coventry getting new city centre drive-thru coronavirus testing unit, external
• Jailed rapper using police mugshot to promote drill music from behind bars, external
• Warning after ‘slight increase’ in Covid-19 cases after lockdown easing, external

People who have dug up parts of Cannock Chase to create mountain bike jumps have been warned they could face a fine of up to £20,000.

Staffordshire Police said it would be treated as criminal damage, because the area is a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The force also tweeted to urge everyone to "respect this beauty spot".

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Express and Star

Some of the Express and Star headlines today include:

• Fears grow over local lockdowns for Sandwell and Wolverhampton, external
• Hundreds legally keeping 'dangerous' firearms , external
• Plans to create national park in West Midlands 'would aid virus recovery', external

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Dare

A 1,000-apartment complex, spread out over 13 separate blocks, looks set to be built in Birmingham city centre.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

The Bristol Street complex, on the site of the old Monaco House, has been recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers.

The development features 353 one-bedroom homes, 525 two-bedroom homes and 131 three-bedroom homes.

Image source, Google

Eleven of the blocks from the proposed development would range in height from 3 to 10 storeys, though the two tallest towers would reach heights of of 26 and 29 storeys.

The plans are being discussed at a meeting on Thursday.

The ballet world is competitive and the pressure on young dancers to achieve the "perfect physique" is high.

Surrounded by mirrors all day during practice, it is easy for some students to have anxiety about their appearance.

This can lead to issues with body image and diet.

The BBC's Claudia Redmond went to Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham to find out how they support young dancers.

This video was filmed before social distancing rules were in place.

A head-on crash that closed part of the main road between Worcester and Kidderminster for several hours yesterday afternoon is being investigated.

West Mercia Police said a Ford Focus reportedly swerved across the road into the path of a Mazda 2 near the Caunsall Road junction at around 13:45, causing "extensive damage" to both cars.

Image source, Google

Both drivers were taken to hospital for treatment, but neither are thought to have suffered live-threatening injuries.

The MP for Stone wants to know the scale of a coronavirus outbreak in the town as soon as possible.

Health officials are trying to trace anyone who was at the Crown and Anchor pub there between 16 and 18 July after 10 people tested positive for Covid-19.

Image source, Getty Images

MP Sir Bill Cash said photos that have appeared, appearing to show its beer garden packed over the weekend, showed "a degree of lack of concern for other people.

"It just is completely unacceptable and inappropriate for people to gather in such circumstances."

There's a walk-in testing centre on the Crown Street car park in Stone until 17:00 today.

But Sir Bill said: "It’s a massive precautionary effort. It doesn’t mean to say that those who were there is automatically going to get it."

A Battle of the Brits tennis event saw Birmingham player Dan Evans beat Kyle Edmund on Tuesday, while Johanna Konta and Cam Norrie were also victorious.

Image source, PA Media

The team event features the country's leading men and women at the National Tennis Centre, split into two groups chasing points in singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches.

The event has been organised by Jamie Murray to provide competitive action for British players while the professional tours remain suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The action will unfold throughout the week, culminating on Sunday, with the first team to reach 60 points crowned Battle of the Brits champions.

Evans will next take on Cam Norrie with today's play starting at 11:30.

Covid-19 travel restrictions kept Robert Smallman, 86, on the other side of the world.