BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Port Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown is pleased defender Nathan Smith has signed a new two-year contract, describing him as as "goalies' dream".

Brown added he was "really surprised that clubs from the Championship didn't come in".

Image source, Getty Images

The defender had been expected to leave the club this summer and Brown said: "There wouldn't have been many free transfers out there better than Nathan Smith."

Worcester News

From the Worcester News:

• Worcester swimmer's contact lens warning, external
• Tributes to vet who survived bite from rabid cow in Canada, external
• Sledgehammer burglar will be 'out by Christmas', external

BBC Sport

Warwickshire are chasing a target of 239 on the final day of their Bob Willis Trophy match against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

They've lost early wickets though and are now 10 for three.

Image source, Getty Images

Warwickshire bowler Oliver Hannon-Dalby took six wickets as they bowled Gloucestershire out for 275 in their second innings.

The RSPCA says it dealt with more than 900 animal welfare incidents in Shropshire during lockdown - an average of seven a day.

Nationally, between 24 March and 5 August it handled more than 100,000 cases.

Image source, RSPCA

The charity says as well as operating an emergency service rescuing animals in need, officers have also been collecting animals from the homes of people who've been admitted to hospital with Covid-19.

BBC Weather Watchers

We're seeing temperatures reach 30C (86F) this afternoon and the BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing their summer sunshine with us.

But thunderstorms could be on the way later...

Image source, Shaun

Image source, Suttonwalker

Image source, OgySnaps

Shropshire Star

From the Shropshire Star:

• Big increase in demand to see a doctor, external
• Village pub could be converted into housing, external
• Council communications boss will earn up to £86,000, external

A man and a woman have been arrested after the death of a three-year-old girl at a home in the Kingshurst area of Birmingham on Sunday.

The 21-year-old woman was questioned on suspicion of wilful neglect of a child and the man, also 21, was questioned on suspicion of wilful ill-treatment of a child.

Both have since been released on bail while the investigation continues.

Overnight thunderstorms lit up the skies around England and more are forecast this week.

A community dental service in Worcester city centre is to get a £2m upgrade.

Moor Street clinic supports people with a disability, learning difficulty or behavioural conditions such as dental anxiety.

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust is investing in new facilities there, which it says will allow it to carry out additional treatments.

Moor Street will close by the end of August for works to start, with patients been seen at either Lowesmoor or the Dental unit at Malvern Community Hospital.

The work is expected to last until next spring.

Lightning strikes were caught on camera in Merseyside and Cheshire.

The heavy rain that fell overnight has brought worries of flooding in some parts of the West Midlands.

The Environment Agency has flood alerts for where the rivers Severn and Vyrnwy meet in Shropshire, along with the rivers Blythe, Cole, Rea, Stour and Tame.

Image source, Environment Agency

It said river levels were likely to fall during the day, but could rise again, with more thunderstorms expected.

Firefighters tackle hot spots the morning after a huge fire in Tyseley, Birmingham.

Plumes of smoke were visible for miles across Birmingham after Monday's fire at a plastics factory.

Fire crews at Tyseley Industrial Estate have this morning been addressing hotspots, with people living nearby still urged to keep doors and windows closed.

Here's a roundup of images from the scene yesterday:

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

About 100 firefighters tackled the blaze at its height.

Group commander Mark Price, who confirmed nobody was hurt, said a fire of this size was "quite rare".

"We usually have about two of these a year," he said.

The ambulance service didn't need to treat anyone at the Tyseley Industrial Estate fire in Birmingham and said everyone was accounted for.

Here's its drone footage from the scene:

An investigation is under way into a large fire at a plastics factory in Birmingham.

The blaze on Tyseley Industrial Estate began on Monday afternoon.

West Midlands Fire Service described it as a "significant incident" and said it expected to get only one or two fires of this size a year.

The radiated heat from the fire melted fencing and frontages on nearby businesses.

Walsall sign midfielder Rory Holden from Championship side Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.

BBC Weather

The Met Office is warning the thunderstorms forecast for this afternoon could bring flash flooding.

And it said that in turn could cause traffic problems and delays on public transport.

Image source, Windways

The thunderstorms are forecast to continue through the weekend, with temperatures up to 30C (86F).

Hundreds of new electric vehicle charging points are going to be placed across Birmingham in the next two years.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

The city council scheme, external is part of a drive to cut emissions and will start this autumn.

Initially, 394 charge points will be installed, with a focus on the city centre, to support the electrification of Birmingham's taxi vehicles.

The local authority says they'll also be available to firms and residents and their aim is to get the charge points across the city in the next 12 years.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

The remaining workers on a Herefordshire farm which experienced a coronavirus outbreak have tested negative for the virus.

In total 142 cases of coronavirus have been linked to Rook Row Farm in Mathon.

Herefordshire Council and Public Health England said most of the workers at AS Green and Co can now return to work, although some are still self-isolating.

They praised the farm for acting swiftly and decisively to prevent a bigger outbreak.

BBC Weather

After the overnight storms, it should be dry and sunny for most of us this morning, but more thunder and lightning is forecast for the afternoon.

Temperatures will remain high though, and could reach 30C (86F).

This photo was taken by BBC Weather Watcher Greg in Stoke-on-Trent overnight.

Image source, Greg