He is widely regarded as one of country's finest contemporary classical actors.

Jonathan Houseman is jailed for life over the "executions" of Will Henry and Brian McIntosh.

Suzanne Van Hagen's family say they have fought for more than eight years to get the truth.

A show marking a small theatre's 10th anniversary has opened in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

Blue Orange Theatre says it is "proud to have survived the tough times" and finally put on The 39 Steps, external which has been delayed several times because of coronavirus restrictions.

Image source, Blue Orange Arts

Mark Webster, Blue Orange founder, said it took more than a year to transform the premises in Great Hampton Street "from a shell with concrete ceilings" to a thriving theatre.

He established an arts charity to run the venue, which opened in April 2011. It is involved in social projects and has an active youth theatre.

In The 39 Steps, a cast of four delivers "over 150 zany characters".

The sun pendant is one of the most important finds of the last 100 years, the British Museum says.

The Labour member breaks down in tears as she recalls being treated as an "enemy of the country".

The family of a man who died after his car crashed with a coach have described him as a "gentle giant with a heart of gold".

The collision happened on the afternoon of 8 September as Simon Harris was driving a Jeep Renegade at Halfpenny Green near Bobbington in Staffordshire.

The 28-year-old, from Claverley in Shropshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family said he was "generous and kind-hearted, a true gentleman".

The tribute continued: "A larger than life personality who loved creating cosplay characters, travel and helping others.

"You will be greatly missed by all.”

Image source, Family handout

Staffordshire Police has appealed for any witnesses, or anyone who may have dash cam footage of the collision, to come forward .

The number of coronavirus cases in Telford and Wrekin has increased for the fifth week in a row, with "significant" growth among young people, the council says.

The "concerning" trend can be expected to continue as schools return, according to a public health official.

Image source, Telford & Wrekin Council

The area currently has the highest Covid-19 infection rates in the West Midlands, with 828 new cases reported in the seven days to 5 September.

On 8 September, there were 31 patients with Covid-19 in hospital - with a further two deaths reported within 28 days of a positive test.

The total number of deaths in the borough since the start of the pandemic is 270.

A man has been arrested in connection with an attack in Stoke-on-Trent that left two men in hospital with serious head injuries.

Police were called to reports of a disturbance in Stafford Street, Hanley, shortly after 05:00 on Sunday.

The suspect, aged 23 and from the city, is being questioned on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, the Staffordshire force says.

He remains in custody.

Three men have been arrested after a shooting in a Birmingham street.

Image source, Google

Armed police were sent to Bellefield Road on Thursday night after people reported hearing a gunshot and a group of men were seen running away.

Three men, aged 20, 24 and 26, were arrested in the street on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and remain in custody.

West Midlands Police said a 22-year-old man later turned up in hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg.

Officers are investigating whether his injury is connected to the Bellefield Road incident.

It will be a cloudy day with showers - some of them heavy and thundery.

There's the possibility of sunny spells between the rain later, with highs of 22°C (72°F).

Crowds lined the streets for stage five of the Tour of Britain, saying it was a "real spectacle" .

The partner of a gay man from a religious family who killed himself is trying to spark change.

Some residents return home following evacuations due to gas canisters at the metal works.

Found in St Martins, near Oswestry, the cause of the man's death is not yet known, say police.

Paramedics arrived to find the cancer patient wearing his coat, with a bag packed for hospital.

Bodycam footage captures the not-so-high-speed chase across the park in Birmingham.

Mark Savage
Music reporter, BBC News

Birmingham musician Laura Mvula will perform at the Mercury Music Prize later, and is vying for the trophy after her third nomination.

Image source, Reuters

After releasing two Mercury-nominated albums - 2013's Sing To The Moon and 2016's The Dreaming Room - Laura Mvula was unceremoniously dumped by Sony Music, who informed her of their decision by forwarding an email that was just seven lines long.

She subsequently said it was "a hard thing to make sense of and to come back from", but, earlier this year, she bounced back in style, with her triumphant, joyous, liberated third album, Pink Noise.

She is up against favourites Arlo Parks and Sault.

You can read more about the nominees here.

John Trotman, twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, has got behind the controls once more.

Noel Brown, from Birmingham, said he had been left distressed by the repeated cancellations.