Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

Porters at a hospital have voted for a two-day strike over working conditions.

Image source, Google

Unison said the ballot among members at Heartlands Hospital was 92% in favour of the 48-hour stoppage beginning on 30 October.

The planned walkout is over the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust wanting to bring in a rotating shift pattern.

Talks will be held tomorrow at the independent arbitration service Acas in a bid to resolve the dispute.

The trust said the new shift pattern was already in place at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and would create fair working practices across its sites.

A man has been arrested over a suspected arson attack on a car and a van.

The vehicles were set on fire on Monday night on Newbury Road, Norton Canes, near Cannock, Staffordshire Police said. , external

The 36-year-old, from the West Midlands, was arrested on suspicion of attempted arson with intent to endanger life and released on bail., external

Four 19-year-old men deny the murder of Keelan Wilson, 15, who was stabbed in Wolverhampton.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

A construction site at a hospital has closed for up to 14 days after several workers tested positive for coronavirus.

MTX, which is building the three-storey extension at Hereford County Hospital, said up to 12 additional staff are also self isolating and waiting for test results.

The director of the firm told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester the firm was working with Public Health England, Herefordshire Council and the Environment Agency, who it said were happy with how the site was being run.

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times has these stories today:

• Firefighters tackle huge barn blaze in Herefordshire, external
• Fly tipper caught after business waste dumped in Herefordshire, external
• Staff member tests positive for coronavirus at Herefordshire school, external

He was hit in the face after police were called to reports fireworks were being thrown at a crowd.

Wayne Coventry was stabbed at his home in Bromsgrove in October 2019.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A man's suffered a "brutal attack" on his doorstep which saw him slashed across the face and neck.

Image source, Google

The 20-year-old victim opened his door on Sunday evening on Queen Mary's Road, Coventry, when he heard a knock, West Midlands Police said. , external

A man wearing a face covering attacked him with some kind of weapon causing serious wounds which needed hospital treatment.

Tamba Momodu died from gunshot wounds in Horsehay, Telford on 13 October.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Local Democracy Reporting Service in Telford has been covering these stories this week:

• A development of 450 homes could be built on farmland near Telford if the plans are approved. Just over a third of the homes at Redhill would be affordable housing, developer Vistry Group Plc said, as it applied for full planning permission.

Image source, biT Group for IGMT

• Rules about tinted windows in taxis in Telford and Wrekin should be relaxed to protect child passengers from the sun, a petition signed by 100 drivers has argued. The council's licensing committee will review the issue later this month. A report by the local authority's officers said darker windows could make vulnerable passengers feel unsafe.
• Plans to boost slowing ticket sales at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum could see an adventure playground added to its grounds (pictured). The trust running the site has applied to Telford and Wrekin Council to build the structures which would also include a mock "sawmill". It says there haven't been big changes there since 2009.

West Midlands Police says the two men met their victim by chance and the motive was still unclear.

BBC Weather Watchers

We've had rain around this morning and here are some of the photos reflecting that from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from users Di's Walk in Sutton Coldfield, Melanie in Binley Woods, Warwickshire and BoardWalk in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire:

Image source, Di's Walk

Image source, Melanie

Image source, BoardWalk

Dudley News

From the Dudley News today:

• Mystery substance attack in Upper Gornal, external
• Family's tribute to Kingswinford crash victim, external
• Cases of coronavirus confirmed at Dudley College, external

Lesley Harper of Sanders Fitness is working out how to get people working out at her Droitwich gym.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith says his players are keeping their feet "firmly on the ground" to avoid a "bloody nose".

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

A school in Worcestershire has closed today after a teacher tested positive for coronavirus and another has symptoms.

Image source, Google

Droitwich High School put a statement on its website , externaland added work was under way to work out which students might have had close contact with the staff involved.

Lessons will be taught online, it added.

Bimla Devi, 87, was a regular at the gym before having to isolate but still finds ways to keep fit.

A new Covid-19 test centre has opened in Leamington today.

Image source, Reuters

The site on Court Street will be available to residents who have booked a test in advance, Warwick District Council said, external.

Infection rates in the area have increased to 141.2 per 100,000 people in the seven days to 16 October, compared with 109.2 for the week before.

While in Staffordshire, plans have been approved for a drive-through test centre at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council approved the proposals for a longer-term site to swab patients awaiting surgery and members of staff.

The rate in the city has increased from 99.9 per 100,000 up to 9 October to 171.6.

A gang of masked men have attacked and robbed a man of a gold bracelet.

The victim was in the Stratford Grove area of Penkridge, Staffordshire, when it happened on Sunday night, police said. , external

The group of about five men, described as being in their early 20s, were seen making off in a small, dark-coloured car after the robbery.

Organisers say the year-long programme will officially launch on 15 May 2021.