Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils are considering a proposal to merge, creating a new district council covering the whole of South Warwickshire.

A public consultation on the plans starts today and runs until 24 October.

The consultation document and online questionnaire can be viewed and completed online.

Councillor Andrew Day, leader of Warwick District Council said: "As much as the pandemic has been a crisis for us, it has presented a challenge and an opportunity for us to re-imagine what local government services in South Warwickshire might be like in the future.

"We need to hear your views – we need to listen and respond to what our residents want."

Councillor Tony Jefferson, leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council added: "Both Councils face significant financial challenges - the impact of dealing with the pandemic, when combined with the increased costs of delivering existing services, such as waste management, as well as responding to the climate emergency."

The crumbling begins after the school run, with one onlooker saying "it could have been so much worse".

Preparations have started on a faith-themed event as part of Coventry's year as City of Culture.

The event on 10 and 11 September - which has Faith as its title - will see theatre productions transferring to the streets and the city centre becoming a "tapestry of lights".

In the meantime, designer Tom Piper, who created the poppy memorial at the Tower of London, has started to create a "visual representation" of the ties between faith groups in the city.

Image source, Coventry City of Culture Trust

Blue ribbons are being installed at faith sites, with city-based composer Sayan Kent creating an original score to accompany the project.

The event is set to end with a ceremony in which people will be invited to Millennium Square to light one of 500 flames.

Image source, Coventry City of Culture Trust

Image source, Coventry City of Culture Trust

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the headlines from the Shropshire Star website today:

• Grieving couple speak out as hospital trust admits liability over baby death , external
• Warnings of delays throughout September as lorries transport huge wind farm sections , external
• More than 60 Shropshire patients waiting more than two years for surgery, external

With hot weather expected over the next few days, people in Staffordshire are being reminded of the dangers of swimming in open water.

Even the strongest swimmers, it said, can find themselves at risk from the sudden change between air and water temperature and hidden hazards beneath the surface.

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s communities leader, said: "Unfortunately we hear far too often about people getting into difficulties swimming in reservoirs, lakes and quarries.

"Our message is very much enjoy being near the water and the supervised activities on offer when it comes to places such as Chasewater reservoir, but when it comes to swimming be safe and go to public, supervised pools."

Express and Star

The Express and Star has these headlines today:

• Wolves' Romain Saiss evacuated from Guinea as Villa players face deportation from Brazil, external
• Mourning Wolverhampton woman thought cancer symptoms were caused by grief, external
• Crime spike fears leads to police opposing HMO plan, external

A Birmingham hospital has apologised after an error led to a healthy twin being terminated in error.

The Sunday Express said, external a pregnant mother made the decision to abort one of her twins, which was suffering from restrictive growth, raising the chances of stillbirth and putting the healthy baby at risk.

But during the procedure at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, the healthy twin was targeted and both died.

It said the case was among 700 incidents, detailed in a Freedom of Information request, from NHS hospitals in England where basic errors caused deaths.

Image source, Getty Images

Dr Fiona Reynolds, Chief Medical Officer at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Sadly, during a highly specialised fetal procedure in 2019 that involved operating within the womb to separate and potentially save the life of a single twin that shared a placenta, a fatal error occurred.

"A full and comprehensive investigation was carried out swiftly after this tragic case and the findings were shared with the family, along with our sincere apologies and condolences.

"The outcome of that thorough review has led to a new protocol being developed to decrease the likelihood of such an incident happening again.

"This has been shared with centres that carry out this complex procedure."

A man has died after coming off his motorbike in the early hours of Sunday.

The crash happened on Aldridge Road, Oscott, Birmingham, at about 03:00, said West Midlands Police.

The force, which said the victim was 38, asked for any witnesses to come forward.

Designs for Birmingham City Council's 2021 RHS Chelsea Flower display have been revealed.

The display, following on from Baroness Floella Benjamin's 2019 garden, gives examples of how to make a positive environmental difference in your own home, garden or the community you live in, the city council said.

Entitled Floella's Future Generation, it is sponsored by Veolia.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

Councillor John O'Shea said: "The nurseries team always put together a visually stunning and thought-provoking display for the Chelsea Flower Show and I am sure the judges will be impressed again this year."

Tour manager Bernard Young says the band faced difficulty with a "messed up car".

Improvements began at Cromwell Crescent Park in Worcester on Monday.

The city council says all-weather paths are to be introduced, along with more bins, park benches, cycle hoops, picnic tables and natural play features in the play area.

The iron entrance gate and posts - originally manufactured at a Worcester foundry - will be restored, and new railings installed next to Cromwell Crescent.

Image source, Worcester City Council

Councillor Andy Stafford, chairman of Worcester City Council’s environment committee, said: “This investment will really improve the experience of visitors to this much-loved park."

The site will remain open while improvements are being made but the entrance on Cromwell Crescent will be closed for two months, with alternative access offered from Foxwell Street.

Warrington Wolves will sign Hull Kingston Rovers centre Greg Minikin at the end of the 2021 Super League season.

Birmingham Live

Some of today's Birmingham Live headlines include:

• Brave mum tells how she fled with three kids after domestic abuse terror, external
• Man knifed and boyfriend beaten up in homophobic attack in gay village, external
• Tragedy as healthy baby terminated at Birmingham hospital in mix-up with sick twin, external

More than 41,000 people have applied to be a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year.

Image source, Birmingham 2022

Organisers say, external interviews begin on Monday at the Library of Birmingham to whittle the number down to a final 13,000.

Volunteers will carry out roles including drivers, first aid practitioners and meet and greeters.

Laura Easton, Volunteering Special Project Lead, said the final group would be notified in February and later trained.

“We want to create a diverse and passionate group of people who truly represent Birmingham and the West Midlands," she said.

Police reveal the supposed first name of the Bournemouth sea rape suspect on BBC Crimewatch Live.

Darren Oakey fraudulently claims mileage after pretending to go to a London Pride parade.

Charlotte Jackson's son died after she reported fluid loss to staff at an under-fire hospital trust.

Money is raised to buy equipment for premature babies after Pamela Harvey's son Louis died.

Two men suffered serious head injuries following disorder in Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday, police say.

The pair, aged 19 and 25, were taken to hospital following the incident on Stafford Street, Hanley shortly after 05:15.

They remain in hospital in a serious condition, says Staffordshire Police.

Officers are urging two other men they believe to have been involved to come forward.

BBC Weather

After early pockets of mist, it will be a dry day with plenty of warm sunshine and highs of 27°C (81°F).