Leona Smart
Broadcast Journalist, BBC WM

People living across the whole of the West Midlands have reported a really bad smell.

In fact the BBC Radio WM switchboard was full of people calling this morning to tell us about it.

It’s been described as "vile" and "like strong manure".

It was first smelt at about 17:00 on Tuesday, with people telling us it was gone by about 23:00.

No one knows where it came from.

The first suggestion was that it might have been caused by farmers spreading muck, which is common at this time of year.

I spoke to a farmer in Solihull who told me there is "no way" the smell caused by one farmer would spread as wide as this reported area.

It could be that several farmers were doing this yesterday at the same time, but that seems unlikely.

Around 1,000 people have been refused access to public transport in the West Midlands for not wearing a face covering, West Midlands Police has said.

The only exemption for wearing them on buses, trains and trams is a valid medical reason.

Image source, Getty Images

Laura Shoaf, the chief executive of Transport for West Midlands, said drivers have a supply of spare masks, so there should be no excuse.

Hereford Times

Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Pub temporarily closed after customer tests positive, external
• Tribute to charity walker killed by tractor, external
• Vandals spotted on roof of swimming pool, external

Police made seven arrests last night after reports of people fighting with weapons in Biddulph.

The police helicopter was used in the operation and the seven are all in custody suspected of of public order offences.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police said there was now a 48-hour dispersal order for the area.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

People caught taking laughing gas in north Worcestershire could be fined up to £2,500, as part of a police crackdown on the use of the drug.

West Mercia Police said it had become concerned about the number of canisters found littered across parks and play areas in the Bewdley and Kidderminster areas.

Image source, Getty Images

As a trial, the force will be issuing notices under a Community Protection order, which carry a potential fine or possibly six months in prison.

A discussion about the future of Shrewsbury's Clive of India statue is going to take place today.

More than 13,000 people have signed a petition calling for it to be removed, because of Robert Clive's involvement in Imperial rule in India and it's been suggested it should be moved to the town's museum instead.

Image source, Getty Images

A counter petition was also signed by more than 8,000 people, saying removing it would erase part of the town's history.

Shropshire Council's scrutiny committee will consider a report and then make a recommendation which will then be debated by the full council.

BBC Weather

We're forecast another sunny day, with temperatures up to 25C (77F).

Tomorrow should also be fine, but temperatures are expected to fall a little for the rest of the week.

Image source, HelenT

Venue owners say people may choose to visit more if they cannot socialise at home.

The device clicks over patients' masks to increase medics' safety during certain procedures.

Central Group leaders Gloucestershire are the first side to reach the T20 Blast quarter-finals after beating Birmingham Bears, while Northants lose at home to Worcestershire.

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish and Keinan Davis hit late goals after record signing Ollie Watkins scores on his debut to help knock Burton Albion out of the Carabao Cup.

Coventry City are knocked out of the Carabao Cup 5-4 on penalties by Gillingham, who rescue the tie with a 94th-minute spot-kick equaliser.

Fleetwood Town make the third round of the Carabao Cup for the first time in their history after beating Port Vale.

Peter Plisner
BBC Midlands Today

About 1,000 people have been refused access to public transport in the West Midlands because they're not wearing a mask, police say.

Officers have been carrying out spot checks on bus services in the region.

The new law was introduced on 15 June making it mandatory to wear face coverings on bus and rail services.

Only about 15% of passengers have returned to the railways compared to pre-Covid levels and yet about 80% of services are now running.

Transport for West Midlands says it is expecting numbers to rise and has plans in place to protect social distancing.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

With fans shut out of matches, this Crewe supporter used his initiative.

He got out his ladders and used them to watch his team lose by two goals to Charlton at the weekend.

After an appeal to their fans, the club have tracked him down.

His son, Jacob, said he had just wanted to go and watch a game of football quietly.

It turns out it's the third game he's seen.

Jacob said his father had enjoyed the view and was surprised to see the photos appear on social media.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Demand for some Shropshire food banks went up dramatically during the height of the coronavirus outbreak, the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance has said.

The group, which is made up of public bodies, faith groups and third sector organisations, said food banks had had a "challenging" six months, made more complicated because some volunteers had to isolate.

Image source, Getty Images

The demand has varied in different parts of the county and in some areas it didn't rise at all.

There have also been new food banks established at places including Bishop's Castle and Gobowen.

Businesses in Staffordshire are being encouraged to get involved in the construction of HS2 through the county.

Stafford Borough Council said more than 1,000 local firms were already part of the project, but it still needed construction workers, electricians and transport companies.

Image source, HS2

The authority said a range of trades were also needed on top of that though, including hairdressers, caterers and child carers.

People living in parts of Coventry are struggling to get coronavirus tests, an MP has told the Commons, with some being directed to testing centres in Scotland.

Image source, Parliament TV

Zarah Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South, said constituents had been telling her of their "distress and their despair" at not being able to book a test.

"Some can't book a test anywhere while others have booked only to be turned away, at the centres," she told MPs.

"And there are cases of people in Coventry being directed as far away as Inverness," she said, describing the system as "a complete utter farce".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the system was facing an "enormous challenge" after a sharp rise in demand.

He told MPs tests should be prioritised for those who needed it most, including those in care homes.

A new nature reserve is to be created in Herefordshire, following a fundraising appeal by the county's wildlife trust.

It has raised £200,000 to buy Oak Tree Farm, near Bodenham lake, which it will turn into a wetland area in the hope of encouraging wildlife such as wading birds, toads and dragonflies.

Image source, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust

The wildlife trust said it was planning to continue fundraising until the end of the month.

Rotarian Paul Simpson died while on a sponsored walk along Offa’s Dyke, his club says.