BBC Radio Stoke

A teenage pedestrian has suffered possibly life-changing injuries in a suspected hit-and-run crash.

The 15-year-old boy was on Baths Road, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday evening when it happened, Staffordshire Police said. , external

The victim was hit by a silver Ford Fiesta and suffered a fractured skull, a broken thigh bone and a shoulder injury.

Officers believe the driver and at least three passengers left the scene shortly afterwards.

Shrewsbury Town re-sign attacking midfielder Marc Pugh on a short-term deal until January.

The government should have a "real think" about extending free school meals for children over half-term, the leader of Warwickshire County Council said.

Image source, PA Media

Pressure has risen on Boris Johnson over his refusal to rethink the issue but he said they were supporting families through extra money for Universal Credit and the £63m given to councils.

In Warwickshire, county council leader Izzy Seccombe said it would support families this half-term.

"We've recently had a further £65,000. That will help us to cover this but it won't cover all of it and we've decided we want to do this ourselves so we're going to have to find the resources ourselves," she said.

Image source, PA Media

The campaign, led by footballer Marcus Rashford, has led to firms promising to dish out free food to eligible children over half-term, which began on Monday in many areas.

They include coffee shop Picnic Box in Malvern. Owner Carly Weyman said she wanted to give back to the local community who had supported her.

"It just felt like something we could do to support the local community and those children that might go hungry this half-term," she said.

Coventry Live

The Coventry Live website is covering these stories today:

• Girl, 11, dies after being hit by a car in Coventry, external
• Stabbing victim treated outside Coventry pub, external
• Major new yellow-lines scheme approved in Coventry, external

BBC Weather Watchers

We've had some great views from across the West Midlands this morning from our local BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from users Tillymint in Rugby, Warwickshire, Videoman in Leek, Staffordshire and Snapper Simon in Church Stretton, Shropshire:

Image source, Tillymint

Image source, Videoman

Image source, Snapper Simon

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gurdip Thandi

A protest has been held in Walsall this morning demanding the council fund meals for vulnerable children during half-term.

More than two dozen demonstrators, organised by trade union and community campaigners, waved placards and chanted outside Walsall Council House.

Their protest came after the government refused to extend free school meals for children over half-term and said extra money had been given to councils to help struggling families.

Many councils, including Birmingham, Telford & Wrekin, Wolverhampton and Staffordshire have pledged food or vouchers to help those most in need.

Today the Conservative leader of Walsall Council Mike Bird said it would cost the local authority £213,000 per week, which was money it did not have.

He also said it had a crisis fund to help families in need all year round.

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star is covering these stories today:

• Half-term rush for food banks in Shropshire as school meals row continues, external
• Shropshire MPs defend voting against free holiday school meals, external
• Test and trace continues to struggle as Shropshire success rate falls again, external

BBC Midlands Today

A teacher has been given an award for keeping up community spirits during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Ben Millington and his students from Telford Priory School, in Shropshire, recorded songs on their mobiles from their bedrooms.

Their version of I'm Still Standing found its way to the singer, Sir Elton John, who sent them a personal message to say it had "really cheered me up".

Ben's been given a Telford and Wrekin Hero Award.

Murder police say David Williams is not being treated as a suspect after his mother's body was found.

BBC Midlands Today

Burial space at a Birmingham cemetery for the city's Muslim community will be full within a fortnight, the city council said., external

The local authority said Covid-19 meant space at Handsworth Cemetery had been used at a faster rate than anticipated.

The site will also be full to other communities within a few months.

But the council said there were 12,000 new burial spaces at Sutton New Hall and capacity in King's Norton.

The woman, in her 40s, is being treated in hospital along with the girl.

BBC Radio WM

The leader of Walsall Council has defended the decision not to provide free meals in half term for vulnerable children, saying the local authority can't afford it.

The UK government extended free school meals to eligible children during the Easter holidays earlier this year and, after a high-profile campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford, did the same for the summer holiday.

But it has refused to do so again.

Some councils are providing meal vouchers, but Walsall council is not one of them.

Mike Bird, leader of the Conservative council said: "One of the main reasons being we haven’t got the money to do it, if you do it for this half term, then the next request would be for Christmas, Easter and the summer break and for Walsall council that means £1.5m and that's a figure we just haven't got.

He told BBC Radio WM the half term was a "foreseen expenditure".

"We're doing our bit," Mr Bird said, adding there was help available through the local authority's crisis fund.

"It’s no good feeding a child for just one week, it has to be an all-round package, there has to be better ways of doing it than throwing money at one week."

The council has previously reduced its spending, external by £193m and needs to save a further £18m to balance its budget for this year.

A woman has been arrested after a young girl was hurt at an address in Staffordshire this morning.

Police said, external they were called to Warren Road, Chell, Stoke-on-Trent, at about 07:30.

The girl is being treated in hospital for her injuries.

The woman, in her 40s, is also being treated in hospital.

Two pedestrians have been hurt after a van hit them and then a wall, causing it to collapse.

The crash happened in the car park of the Dunelm store on Bilston Road, Wolverhampton, on Sunday afternoon, the ambulance service said. , external

One of the pair, a man, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital.

The other, a woman, was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital.

BBC Radio WM Sport

West Bromwich Albion are at Brighton this evening still looking for their first Premier League win this season at the sixth attempt.

Image source, EPA

Having drawn at home to struggling Burnley in their last game, Baggies manager Slaven Bilic wants his players to take that extra step to get a victory.

"We found a lot of positiveness we can build on and the next game we are expecting to build more confidence and more patience and more good vibes and experience."

Birmingham Live

A few of the headlines from the Birmingham Live website today:

• Brummies rally to feed poor kids after furious response to free school meals vote, external
• 'Scumbag' Corsa cannibals strip car in Acocks Green in just seven minutes, external
• Reality of Covid impact in Selly Oak as customers stay away, external

A driver who stopped at the scene is to face questions from police officers.

Two people have been seriously hurt after a car ended up on its roof after a crash.

The vehicle was the only one involved in the incident which happened near St Nicholas Church on Oldbury Road, Bridgnorth, on Saturday night, the ambulance service said., external

A woman in the back seat had to be cut free by firefighters with all five in the car taken to hospital for treatment.

BBC Midlands Today

A dog has been rescued from the middle of a lake a week after she went missing from her home.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The pet, called Amora, had to be carried in a boat after getting stranded on an island, West Midlands Police said. , external

The dog was reunited with her family and would get a "warm bed and grub", the force added.

Image source, West Midlands Police

A prison officer was dismissed after failing to spot a man who had been "dead for some time".