Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Staffordshire have all been given extra funding to improve the safety of their streets.

Those local authorities will share £1,974,787 along with the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner and Staffordshire's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The money is intended for projects to target crimes like burglary, vehicle theft and robbery through measures like better street lighting and CCTV.

Image source, Getty Images

The money for the West Midlands, from the Safer Streets Fund, is shared out like this:

• Birmingham City Council - £432,000
• Staffordshire PFCC - £432,000
• West Mercia PCC - £863,185
• Wolverhampton City Council - £247,602

In total £18.3m is being given to councils and police and crime commissioners around England and Wales.

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A van driver has died and two others have been taken to hospital after a crash in Herefordshire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to the junction of the B4203 and B4204 at Upper Sapey at 11:09 and found a car and a van had collided.

The van was on its side and despite the efforts of police officers and passers-by the man driving the van died at the scene of the crash.

A man who was a passenger in the van suffered what the ambulance service called "non-serious injuries" and was taken to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital for checks.

A woman who had been driving the car also suffered non-serious injuries and was also taken for checks there.

Dea-John Reid, 14, was described by his family as an "incredibly talented young boy".

BBC News Travel

A fault with the signalling system , externalis causing delays of up to 20 minutes, alterations and cancellations to trains at Birmingham New Street, the National Rail website reports.

This is expected to continue until 18:00.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

More than £1m could be spent on events and other initiatives to encourage people back to Birmingham's high streets after coronavirus.

The city council is proposing using £1,016,937 it received from the government and a quarter of that would be spent on cleaning, graffiti removal and tackling fly-tipping.

It proposed setting aside £248,000 for events.

Image source, Google

The money would also be spent on projects such as providing more outdoor seating, the removal of some social distancing measures if and when the time comes and improvements to green spaces.

The high streets set to get funding include Erdington, Northfield, Sutton Coldfield, Acocks Green, Colmore Business District, Harborne, Jewellery Quarter, Kings Heath, Retail Birmingham, Soho Road, Southside, Westside, Alum Rock Road, Bordesley Green, Coventry Road, Meadway, Perry Barr, Small Heath, Stechford and Stirchley.

The proposals will be discussed at next Wednesday's cabinet meeting.

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A medieval-inspired shelter to support rare horseshoe bat colonies for their summer roosts is just one of the entrants for this year's Shed of the Year competition.

Image source, PA

Hereford archaeologist Rebecca Roseff's shed is one of hundreds of entries to this year's competition, now in its 15th year.

Entrants were whittled down to a shortlist of 22 over nine categories, with the winners decided by a public vote.

Image source, PA Media

Voting opened on Wednesday and will close on 12 July.

The overall winner will receive £1,000, a plaque, £100 worth of Cuprinol products and "eternal shed glory".

Andrew Wilcox, head judge and founder of the competition, said: "The past year has been an incredibly challenging time for all of us and, now more than ever, we're aware of how important the humble shed can be."

Image source, PA Media

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

A road plagued with so many potholes it has been nicknamed "Coventry's Grand Canyon" is said to be "effectively ownerless" as locals call for action.

Image source, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Vanguard Avenue has proved a nightmare for motorists as it is pitted with more than 30 potholes but neither the council, nor the fast food outlets served by the road, own it.

Land Registry documents obtained by campaigners who want to see the road repaired show it is dealt with by the Crown Estate, however they confirmed the road is "now effectively ownerless".

The confusion continued when a Coventry City Council spokesperson said the authority believes it has "identified a company that may be linked to the site" and is seeking to contact them to resolve the issue.

In the meantime, local Christine Stewardson, 70, said she just wants to see the local food outlets "stand up and be accountable for an area that is extremely dangerous and causing their customers a lot of damage to their vehicles".

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Local Democracy Reporting Service

Worcester's former Scala Theatre could be bought by the city council and turned into an arts venue.

Councillors will discuss the likely cost of buying the former cinema when they meet on Tuesday.

That might involve a compulsory purchase, if its current occupant Shipleys Amusement Centre is unwilling to sell.

Image source, Google

The council has already reached an agreement to buy the neighbouring grade II-listed Corn Exchange building in Crown Passage, creating the possibility of a 500-seat venue.

It is looking to transform the area around Angel Street, The Foregate, The Cross and Trinity Street with new shops, cafes and bars and a new arts venue.

The project will cost about £29m and the city council and other local partners will pay about £11m, with the rest expected to come from the government.

The seven-week-old baby was found about 12 hours later at an address in Sparkhill, Birmingham.

Rob Yates commits his future to home county Warwickshire until the end of the 2024 season.

Four men have been charged after about 60 people protested on roads leading to the Port of Dover.