BBC Make A Difference

A West Midlands charity says it has given more than 300 gift bags to women in hospital being treated for breast cancer during the pandemic.

Image source, Getty

Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer's, external "Hug in a Bag" packs contain items such as lip balm, blankets and puzzles to bring comfort, particularly to those in hospital alone because of restrictions.

Veronica Kumeta, the charity's co-founder, said: "If you are going through chemotherapy or radiotherapy it's really, really tough and quite scary.

"So I wanted to find a way to support women through this process - especially if they are forced to attend hospitals alone."

British Transport Police officers are the latest to spot Tom Cruise in the West Midlands.

There have been a Cocktail of sightings of the A-list actor, who is currently filming the seventh instalment of the Mission Impossible series at Grand Central in Birmingham.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Benjamin signs a three-year contract with Warwickshire after impressing on a rookie deal.

Police in Coventry have run a series of summer activities for children in the city.

PCSOs Kelly White and Emma Coffield have been running activities throughout the school holidays in Coseley’s Clayton Park and Jubilee Park.

The pair have run activities like First Aid training to litter picks and outdoor games.

Image source, West Midlands Police

PCSO White said: “We have wanted to do something to reach out to vulnerable families for a while but Covid and lockdown has restricted this somewhat.

“We thought that we would use the summer holidays to provide some positive, educational activities for the children.

“We have also used this opportunity to build a more positive rapport with parents and carers.

"It has been a great way to be able to provide a meal for the children, thanks to One Stop, for at least for one day a week throughout the school holidays when school meals are not available.”

The hunt is on for a man who has escaped police custody in Staffordshire.

Christopher Brennan, from Stoke-on-Trent escaped Northern Area Custody Facility in Etruria at around 15:30 BST on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old had been remanded following a recall to prison, Staffordshire Police said.

He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, grey trousers and black pump.

Anyone with information bout his whereabouts is urged to contact the force.

BBC CWR

The Environment Agency says it believes the discovery of dead fish in Coventry is likely to be connected to a severe warehouse fire.

In total, 70 firefighters were needed to tackle the blaze at RAM Enterprise in Ash Green at its height last Thursday.

The run off water from crews is suspected of polluting the River Sowe.

Aeration equipment has been used to improve levels of oxygen in the river.

Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

BBC Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy or overcast with plenty of low cloud.

It should be generally dry but the odd spell of light rain or drizzle is possible.

This evening and overnight will remain overcast, with the chance of some patchy light rain, but generally it should remain dry.

Find your local forecast at BBC Weather.

Jay Stansfield's stunning strike crowns a dominant display for Fulham as they knock Birmingham City out of the Carabao Cup.

Tom Ince and Sam Surridge fire Stoke City into the third round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of Doncaster Rovers.

Wolves secure their first win of the season by beating Nottingham Forest to reach the Carabao Cup third round.

Warwickshire sign West Indies fast bowler Chemar Holder for the rest of the County Championship campaign.

Boots has become the latest high street brand to sign up with Deliveroo.

The company is launching a 14-store pilot in cities across the country from Monday, with plans to roll out in other areas if successful.

Image source, Reuters

About 400 products will be available to customers on Deliveroo, including pain relief, vitamins and plasters.

Other items will include No7 products, make-up, sandwiches, snacks, toiletries and baby essentials, the company said.

Birmingham's High Street branch of Boots is among the 14 stores offering the service.

A request to land a helicopter carrying an unnamed VIP leads to an encounter with Hollywood royalty.

BBC Radio WM

A Birmingham MP is calling for tougher penalties for those who abuse retail staff.

From today it is a specific offence to abuse, assault or threaten retail staff in Scotland.

Jack Dromey, the Labour MP for Erdington, said it should come into force in England too.

Image source, Parliament UK

"Four-hundred-and-fifty shop workers are assaulted every day [and] 88% of shop workers say that they've suffered verbal abuse," Mr Dromey said.

"I've seen it personally, and whenever I see it, I intervene and I stop it.

"We are dragging our heels in England and it is absolutely wrong, absolutely wrong that shop workers go to work in the morning and too many of them are in fear of assault. That must end."

The ambulance service says staff will be consulted over any proposals resulting from the assessment.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Residents in Coventry say fly-tipping is attracting "rats the size of cats" and have called on the city council to help put a stop to the problem.

Image source, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Communal garages behind homes on Seymour Close have been used as a dumping ground for years and are filled with items including refrigerators, bin bags, broken glass and chairs.

Resident Paul Owen said: "I have found one [rat] in my cupboard... as it chewed a hole in a box of porridge."

Another resident, Brian Folan, said: "Some of them are the size of a domestic cat."

Seymour Close is largely maintained by the city council, but the end of the road is private and the access point to the garages is also thought to be private, but it is not known who owns it.

Ward councillor Roger Bailey said: "One of the biggest issues is trying to find out who owns the garages and the land and taking the responsibility to not only clear it but sort out its future."

Coventry City Council was contacted for comment on multiple occasions but has not replied.

A man arrested following a homophobic attack in Birmingham has been bailed, West Midlands Police says.

Two men in their 30s were abused and attacked outside the Missing Bar on Bromsgrove Street in the city's Gay Village on 15 August.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding in connection.

Detectives say they still want to speak to two other men - Sohail Khan, 24, and Ishaaq Ayaz, 21, both from Birmingham - about the attack.

Image source, West Midlands Police

BBC Radio WM

Birmingham City Council has secured a new home-to-school transport provider to replace North Birmingham Travel.

The authority terminated its contract last week because it could not demonstrate the correct checks for all its drivers.

Healthcare and Transport Services will take over the routes from September.

Police checking if Michael Sherwood was wearing a seat belt found drugs, cash and phones in his car.

A 16-year-old boy suffered facial injuries when he was assaulted, Warwickshire Police said.

It happened at about 22:00 BST on 19 August on Wood Street in Southam.

The teenager needed medical assistance, the force said.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 20s and the force has appealed for anyone with information to come forward.