Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• Care home evacuated and two women taken to hospital after fire, external
• First phase of town centre roads revamp complete, external
• 450,000 Covid jabs given across Shropshire, external

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City fans might have to wait a while before seeing Will Forrester scoring for the club, because he feels he needs to go out on loan next season.

The 19-year-old scored a goal on his first team debut, but said: "I still feel that I need a loan to go and play 30 games in men's football."

The actor, presenter and comedian Adil Ray has become the first patron of the Screen and Film School in Birmingham., external

It's due to open in September and said he was being recognised for "his contributions to film, television, the arts and his passion for diversity".

Image source, Getty Images

The new college will also be introducing a £30,000 scholarship in his name, to pay the tuition fees for one student.

Mr Ray said: "I want families to know that things are changing in the industry and that a career in film and television is possible; even if you haven't been reflected on-screen while growing up, it is achievable."

He was appointed an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2016 for his services to broadcasting.

One person has been taken to hospital, after jumping from a first floor window to escape a fire in the Hall Green area of Birmingham.

West Midlands Fire Service said seven fire crews were called to Stratford Road at about 08:00 and the fire is now out.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

A second person was checked over at the scenes after suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke.

Coventry Live

Here are three stories from the Coventry Live website today:

• Million pound cannabis factory raid, external
• Former Sky Blues Supporters Club near Highfield Road to be sold, external
• Taylor Wimpey looking to start work on 621 home development, external

BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

Shrewsbury Town have released 12 players, external who had reached the end of their contracts, including fan-favourite Dave Edwards.

Another two players, Matija Sarkic and Harry Chapman, will return to their parent clubs after the end of their loan spells.

Image source, Getty Images

Of the players whose contracts expire during the close season, only defender Matthew Pennington and striker Daniel Udoh have been offered an extension.

BBC Radio Stoke

Two men have been left with wounds after a disturbance on Queensberry Road in the Longton area of Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police said a 33-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent has been arrested and a weapon has been recovered.

People living in Redditch are being encouraged to get tested for Covid 19, after people in the town tested positive for the South Africa variant.

The affected area is mainly in the west and south west of the town, but people are being asked to check their postcode on the county council's websites.

Image source, Google

A mobile testing van is being set up at the Abbey Stadium this morning and home testing kits will also be available.

Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

A nurse who has been diagnosed with long Covid says she is slowly getting better, more than a year after being diagnosed.

Felicia Selvaraj was admitted to hospital in April 2020 and her family said they feared they might lose her.

Having survived the worst of the illness, she said recovery has been slow: "Last year, I thought one step, I cannot walk, even I could not put my feet down."

There is no universally agreed definition of long Covid, but it covers a broad range of symptoms., external

An NHS Service set up in the BMI Hospital in Edgbaston has been assessing her and they hope soon she can come off oxygen.

Her son, Rev Emmanuel Selvaraj, said: "Mum has always been active, she never just sits there doing nothing.

"Today, to see her running up and down, making the doctors chase her, that was incredible to see the progress."

BBC Weather

We're forecast more light rain, but it's going to stay warm, with temperatures up to 15C (59F) in parts of the West Midlands.

The rain is expected to clear by the evening and tomorrow is likely to be dry.

But after that we're due another week of rain.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

We are here to bring you news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We want to feature your contributions so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook., external

Five politicians aged under 30 speak about why they stood in the local council elections.

For young Muslim footballers like Omar and Rahma, it's vital that faith and football go together.

But officers' representatives are concerned the roles of police and paramedics are becoming blurred.

Worcestershire County Council said the cases have not been traced back to international travel.

Reece Cox was killed after stepping in to help when a gang began attacking another man, police say.

Footage released by police shows an attack on Reece Cox who tried to help another man also being hurt.

Coventry City release seven players - including strikers Max Biamou and Amadou Bakayoko - but hand out eight new deals.

The partner of Lance Shingler, who served in Iraq, pays tribute to him as an inquest begins.

Live updates have now ended for the West Midlands.

We'll be back with you from 08:00 on Thursday with all the latest news, sport, travel and weather.