A man is detained under the Mental Health Act after Ann Turner, 82, died in Pembridge.

Text messages have been sent to more than 2,000 people whose numbers were found in a suspected Solihull drug dealer's mobile phone, encouraging them to seek addiction help.

The phone was seized during an operation to disrupt the supply of drugs from Birmingham to Worcestershire, police said.

Image source, West Midlands Police

When officers looked at the phone they found the contacts were getting SMS marketing updates from the dealer.

Many of the customers appeared to be "middle class professionals with ‘social’ cocaine habits," a spokesman said.

Four men, aged 24, 31, 33 and 35, have been charged with supplying drugs and are on remand in prison awaiting trial.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The latest seven-day figures show the number of new cases of coronavirus in Walsall has fallen by 30% to 515 per 100,000 people.

Image source, Jacob King/PA Wire

Members of Walsall Council's Scrutiny Overview Committee were also told yesterday that the total number of cases currently present in Walsall was currently at 1,287.

Walsall is one of eight areas across England where the South African variant has been detected, leading to the roll-out of enhanced - or surge - testing via mobile sites to trace any further transmission.

Staffing pressures are causing problems at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, a report finds.

Cheshire officer Alan Friday is sentenced to a two-year community order for harassing his ex-wife.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City don't want to rush young striker Christian Norton in to the first team, despite a lack of options up front.

He has scored regularly in the under-23 team, but the head of the club's academy, Gareth Owen, said he needs to be allowed time to develop.

Image source, Getty Images

Owen said Norton had been getting better at dealing with physical contact since joining from Southampton in the summer.

He said if the striker continues his progress he could see more action in the first team towards the end of the season.

Coventry Live

Here are three stories from the Coventry Live website this morning:

• Concerns over Covid-19 vaccine waste, external
• Suspicious car leads cops on drugs raid, external
• Snow may return to Coventry and Warwickshire, external

BBC Sport

Telford Tigers have been given the go-ahead to start playing competitive matches again later this month.

They are one of five teams who will compete in a cup competition, to be played behind closed doors, and if all goes well a league competition could be launched in April or May.

Image source, Steve Brodie

Each team will play 12 games over a seven week period, but the fixture dates haven't yet been announced.

The other teams are Sheffield Steeldogs, Swindon Wildcats, Bracknell Bees and the Raiders team, based in Romford.

The Tigers have not played since March.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

The decision to scrap road schemes in Hereford has disappointed Conservative councillors.

Herefordshire Council has decided to ditch the proposed Hereford bypass and the Southern Link Road projects.

Instead, it says it will look at improving public transport and cycling and walking routes.

Image source, Herefordshire Council

The road schemes had been put forward by the Conservative group on the council before it lost control to a coalition group in 2019.

Conservative group leader Jonathan Lister said: "If you don't provide the infrastructure for the future you are blighting Hereford and Herefordians for generations to come."

He said the scheme had been on track and would have been funded by house building.

The council had agreed in December to investigate other options and yesterday the full council voted against the plans.

BBC CWR

A development for 200 new homes in Leamington Spa has failed to win planning approval.

More than 400 people signed a petition against the East Whitnash development and MP Matt Western also backed calls for the plans for be scrapped.

Image source, Google

Warwick District Council turned the plans down over worries about whether roads could cope with the extra traffic.

Plans for the roads were approved in 2018 but put on hold after local elections the next year.

Two people have been rescued after getting stuck in deep river water on marshland near Stafford.

The walkers used the what3words app to help emergency services identify their location on Doxey Marshes nature reserve last night.

A boat was used to help get them out of the water before they were treated by paramedics.

BBC Weather

It's going to be cloudy and we could have some rain by the afternoon.

Temperatures could reach 8C (46F).

Image source, Ken M

Andy Giddings
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external

Mohammed Haroon Zeb's death is described as "simply tragic" by West Midlands Police.

Arsenal have two players sent off as they throw away a lead and lose at Wolves - who win for the first time in nine Premier League games.

Nottingham Forest win at Coventry in the Championship thanks to a Michael Rose own goal.

Lillian Greenway turns 100 next week and her care home appealed for help celebrating.

Wycombe Wanderers are 12 points from safety as they are held to a goalless draw by 10-man Birmingham.

People in the WS2 area of Walsall are being targeted following detection of the South African version.