BBC Radio Stoke Sport

David Artell has threatened to drop players after their 3-0 defeat to Burton at the weekend.

And he said: "If anyone gets left out on Saturday and comes and knocks on my door, they're not going to get much of a response from me I'm afraid, it's as simple as that."

Image source, Getty Images

Crewe face Northampton on Saturday and after the defeat, Artell said the players have "got to understand the gravity of it".

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

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.

The Brine Memories campaign hopes to collect stories relating to the Droitwich's spa heritage.

Lee Bowyer wins his first game as Birmingham City's new boss as Blues complete a Championship double over Reading.

Birmingham defender Ruby Mace struck in the 94th minute to seal a dramatic late point against West Ham.

Brighton make it four wins in a row with victory at lowly Aston Villa to move into the top half of the Women's Super League.

That's all for now. We'll have any breaking news here this evening and more updates on news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands from 08:00 on Thursday.

Families met with the Home Secretary as part of their campaign for a full account into the blasts.

A Worcester road has been closed for work to locate and repair a gas leak.

All pupils at Henley-in-Arden School will return to home learning until 29 March.

Police are appealing for information, after a vehicle failed to stop at the scene of a collision in Worcestershire.

Image source, Google

At about 05:20 a cyclist was hit by a vehicle on Oakenshaw roundabout on to Rough Hill Drive (generic image above) in Redditch, the West Mercia force said.

The cyclist, a man in his 30s, suffered cuts and a "significant injury" to his head, police said.

He was taken to hospital where he was still receiving treatment in the afternoon.

Officers have been carrying out inquiries to trace the driver.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Environment Agency will dig exploratory pits along Ironbridge's main riverside street in preparation for new flood defences, the councillor for the area has said.

Image source, Reuters

Carolyn Healy, who represents the Ironbridge Gorge ward, said the England-wide body was hoping to install new aparatus that could be similar to the demountable metal barriers used in Shrewsbury's Frankwell car park.

She admitted the work on that and other flood defence and mitigation projects would be "disruptive", but said most people would understand their importance.

The councillor, who has updated The Gorge Parish Council, added that Telford and Wrekin Council had allocated money to reduce the risk of drain flooding at Dale End, Coalbrookdale, while properties at Jackfield could use the Flood Resilience Scheme to install individual defences.

She said: "We need to do some investigation work with the Environment Agency along the Wharfage that will involve digging trial pits."

The River Severn forced temporary barriers out of place in Ironbridge last year (pictured).

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A £5.7m support package to help ease Birmingham airport through the coronavirus has been agreed by councillors in Coventry.

Image source, Birmingham Airport

Coventry City Council is one of seven local authorities in the West Midlands who are shareholders of the airport holding company BAH.

Four of those, including Coventry, are providing loans totalling £32.8m. Birmingham City Council has confirmed a loan of up to £18.5m, £3.7m is being loaned from Solihull Council and up to £4.9m from Walsall Council.

Coventry cabinet member for finance Richard Brown said the authority was "putting an arm around a key asset".

The loan would be made available as and when needed by the airport to ensure it can have the maximum impact on recovery.

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan - 48.25% shareholders - will also provide a loan.

A man has been rescued, after becoming stuck in a 20ft well.

Fire service crews from three areas went to Strongford sewage works in Staffordshire.

A rapids ride at Drayton Manor had a history of failings before a child's death, a court is told.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

More than £700,000 is to be spent on creating a green corridor between the centre of Birmingham and a rural park in Warwickshire - and that will include investment in Coleshill.

North Warwickshire Borough Council has worked with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to secure the £705,000 from the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund to help transform the Cole Valley.

Image source, Getty Images/sarayut Thaneerat

A report considered by this week’s community and environment board of the council said: "The valley itself is a haven for wildlife and the proposed works will involve tree planting, wildflower meadows and wetland habitat creation, as well as improvements to access paths and trails."

It added the funding would "support local green jobs".

Money will be spent on various locations along the route in Birmingham, Solihull and Cole End Park in Coleshill.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Several prominent buildings in the centre of Worcester look set to be bought by the city council.

Image source, Google

As part of efforts to regenerate the high street around Angel Place and Cornmarket, the authority wants to buy Trinity House, the Scala Theatre (pictured) and the former Panama Jacks restaurant.

Councillors will meet next week to discuss the purchases, using £17.9m of funding from the government.

Express and Star

Here are some of the stories on the Express & Star website:

• Arrests after serious assault closes Walsall Railway Station, external
• PCC predicts 'tidal wave of violence' in parting shot to ministers, external
• Regeneration of Dudley town centre gets triple boost with £8.4 million investment, external

Listen to local BBC radio commentary as Newcastle Falcons host Wasps in the Premiership following a 55-19 victory for Ealing Trailfinders at Coventry in the Championship.

A £1.9m loan to support the regeneration of 4.5 acres of brownfield land in Kidderminster has been awarded.

Image source, Frontier Development Capital

The scheme, led by Suma Developments Ltd, will deliver 17,000 sq ft of new light industrial units and also a drive-through Costa Coffee as part of a larger employment project.

Located on the old British Sugar factory site, the property will form part of Silverwoods Park, a mixed-use development on the outskirts of the town, which already offers hundreds of new homes, a supermarket, a pub and a community leisure centre.

The £1.9m development loan has been awarded by Wyre Forest District Council.

Phase one of the Suma-led development is set to create about 40 new jobs.