The human sculptures will eventually be part of a free-to-visit tour across the UK.

A man has been stabbed in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Police were called to Snow Hill at 16:20 on Monday by colleagues at the ambulance service with reports that a 19-year-old man had received stab wounds to his hand and bottom.

His injuries were not believed to be life threatening or life changing and he was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for treatment.

Staffordshire Police said inquiries are continuing.

Police were called to a house in Telford and found more than six people at the property.

An open call has gone out for artists and sponsors to help bring to life a "striking tribute" to the vital work of NHS staff and key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A glimpse of the planned public art trail, named Gratitude, which will eventually feature 49 human-form sculptures, was revealed on Wednesday.

Image source, Daniel Graves

Three of the unique free-standing figures - painted by Birmingham artists Amrit Singh, Jess Perrin and Nisha Grover - were unveiled at the city's museum and art gallery, as the campaign to gather support begins.

The fully completed installation will open in Birmingham on the NHS's official birthday next year.

Aston Villa forward Mbwana Samatta joins Turkish side Fenerbahce on an initial loan until the end of the season.

Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Hundreds of hospital patients were discharged into care homes during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic without being tested first.

Figures obtained by BBC Hereford and Worcester show that between March and May more than 200 vulnerable people were placed in care homes without anyone knowing if they were carrying the virus.

Image source, Getty Images

Bev Anderson runs Stretton Nursing Home near Hereford. Twelve of its residents died from Covid-19 during the first wave.

"It hit us so quick, one minute no-one had any symptoms then, 24 hours later, people started to die.

"We spent many many of our breaks just taking five minutes where we'd be crying."

The Department of Health says £1bn is being pumped into protecting care settings from the virus this winter.

Six rare blackchin guitarfish have been born at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, in what could be a "vital lifeline" for the species.

The species is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

It is thought Birmingham's National Sea Life Centre is the only place in the UK to have successfully bred the blackchin guitarfish - a species notorious for its slow breeding and difficulties in producing offspring.

Image source, National Sea Life Centre

Born in August and recently discovered by staff in the aquarium's Shark Lagoon, the new arrivals are the centre's third litter to a mating pair it acquired from overseas in 2018.

"The success we've had with these guys is really incredible," said aquarist Holly Peters.

"We are really, really lucky. The first litter we only had two survive but the second we had five."

Currently just 21cm long, the little fish are some way off full size - up to 1.8m long.

Image source, National Sea Life Centre

Express and Star

Here are some of the stories the Express and Star are covering:

• Teen arrested after man slashed with machete near West Bromwich shopping centre, external
• Woman taken to hospital after two-car smash on A5 near Staffordshire/ Shropshire border, external
• Student describes hiding in corner after bullet fired into Wolverhampton classroom, external

The MP for Rugby says young people "need to understand they can transmit" the virus after it was reported up to 200 students are believed to have gathered for a party, flouting coronavirus restrictions.

Mark Pawsey said: "Transmission in that group [young people] is happening and we've had a spike in the numbers in Rugby and in part that's as a consequence of young people getting together.

"We do need to get them to understand they can transmit the disease and more importantly they can transmit it to their families."

Image source, Coventry University

Ian Dunn, Provost at Coventry University said: "I'm afraid it's [the footage] outrageous and deeply unfair.

"Our university codes have been breached I believe and we’re working very closely with the police.

"We’re taking it very seriously indeed.

"It is certainly a pent up sort of feeling in the community, but what I really need to say is come on to our campuses and you’ll see that the vast majority of our students are behaving so responsibly."

Aston Villa have announced the signing of Ross Barkley on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

The 26-year-old had made three appearances for the Blues, scoring once, this season.

Villa manager Dean Smith said: "Capturing a player of Ross's quality is a real coup for our club and I am certain he will thrive here and improve our team."

A man has been shot and is seriously injured, police said.

He was found in a car in Upper High Street, Cradley Heath, just after 22:30 yesterday.

The man, in his 20s, was taken to hospital with arm and neck injuries and remains in a serious but stable condition.

Image source, Google

West Midlands Police said it was believed to be a "targeted attack" and the man initially drove away from the scene of the shooting.

The force is appealing for information.

Ian Cockbain bludgeons an unbeaten 84 as Gloucestershire beat Birmingham on a rain-affected night of T20 Blast action.

Politicians in the East and West Midlands ask for £20m from the government to fund the initiative.

Joan Cummins
Midlands Today reporter

The future of the region's only baby hospice looks bleak with donations plummeting by more than half since the beginning of lockdown.

Zoe's Place in Coventry has also been badly affected by the cancellation of fundraising events.

The charity has restructured and made 40% of their staff redundant, but says it's relying on the public to ensure its survival.

Gina Harris, head of nursing at the hospice, said: "The impact of Covid has been the reduction in the service that can offer... unless we get some more support or a real boost to our income I think we will end up closing.".

Communal areas at Coventry University are closed after reports up to 200 people attended the party.

BBC Radio Stoke

Police in Stoke-on-Trent are investigating the death of a man in Burslem.

Image source, Google

Officers were called to Manchester Court on Federation Road yesterday afternoon to reports there was a body in a flat.

The man's death is being treated as unexplained - no arrests have been made.

BBC News England

A Methodist church in Wolverhampton is at serious risk of being lost, the Victorian Society has said.

The society has listed 10 Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England or Wales it deemed to be of national importance.

Darlington Street Methodist Church was described by the society as an impressive 1900-built Baroque style church.

It was a significant local landmark with its copper dome and twin west towers, the society said.

Image source, The Victorian Society

Worship ended in 2019 and the building has been left vacant.

"The condition is poor and deteriorating with leaking roofs, failing rainwater goods, signs of dry rot and in places structural cracking," the society said.

"This irreplaceable building faces a bleak future as efforts to find a purchaser have failed."

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the stories in the Shropshire Star:

• Telford woman found guilty over hair switch for drug testing, external
• Plea for more support at Oswestry and Shrewsbury markets, external
• Shropshire care homes ordered to close to all but essential visits, external

The Woodland Trust says the early felling in Staffordshire could increase damage to eco-systems.

BBC Weather

It'll be a dry and cloudy start, becoming windier with some rain moving in this afternoon.

Highs of 14C/57F.

Image source, jeremyds

BBC Weather Watcher Jeremyds took this lovely snap in Kenilworth this morning.