Tyrese Dibba, 16, created a series of videos to teach people British Sign Language during lockdown.

BBC Midlands Today

There are calls this morning for greater investment in swimming pools in the Midlands.

Latest research from Swim England shows many are in a state of disrepair and need refurbishing or even replacing.

The organisation says the region faces a predicted shortage of 83 pools by 2030. It's written to the government urging them to take action.

A 16-year-old from Birmingham who helped thousands of people to learn British Sign Language through online lessons has been given a Points of Light award by the prime minister.

Tyrese Dibba is a deaf and partially sighted student who has a rare genetic disorder which can affect many areas of the body including sight and hearing.

The disability charity Sense said he was the star of its Sense Sign School and estimated he had helped up to 80,000 people.

Image source, Sense

The Points of Light , externalawards recognise one individual each day who has made an outstanding contribution to volunteering in their community.

Tyrese said he was "a bit surprised" to be recognised for his work.

A 15-year-old school girl has been selected as the new Young Poet Laureate for Staffordshire.

Erin Gascoigne-Jones, from Sir Thomas Boughey Academy in Newcastle-under-Lyme, will be mentored during her one-year post by the county's current Poet Laureate, Mel Wardle-Woodend.

Erin will be creating poems to mark special occasions celebrated by the libraries service as she works with Mel and develops her poetry writing skills.

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

“Hearing my name when it was announced really shocked me because the other shortlisted poets were so impressive," she says.

“It's such an honour to have this role and I'm very grateful for all the opportunities I'll have throughout my year."

Councillor Victoria Wilson added: “We’re very proud of our Young Poet Laureate scheme and I’m delighted to welcome Erin to the role.

“This is all about promoting a love of poetry across our great county and showcasing the creative writing talent of teenagers across the area."

PCs Lee Phillips and Christopher Donovan saved a man's life, the police federation says.

His family pay tribute to the "happy person" who played football "seven times a week if he could".

The 80-bed home will be built after the demolition of the former Guttercrest factory in Oswestry.

The firm says it is "devastated" by the death of Shaun Potter, 39, from Middleport.

BBC Midlands Today

Jobs within the ceramics industry could be at risk if the soaring costs of energy are not tackled, according to the body representing firms.

Royal Overhouse Manufactury in Burslem - once operated by the Wedgwood family and now Royal Stafford - is spending £2,000 a day a day on gas and electricity and is joining calls for prices to come down.

There are reports that the government is considering business loans to help firms, but Norman Tempest managing director of Royal Stafford, said firms just want to prices to come down.

"People still have Covid loans so don't loan us money, get the price down," he said.

"We pay more [in energy] in the UK than anybody else in Europe.

"If I picked this factory up and took it to France, I could halve my energy bill."

The British Ceramic Confederation, which represents pottery firms, says energy usage usually accounts for about a third of some of its members production costs, but now that's gone up to 65%, which the organisation says means without help, jobs are at risk.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has been meeting representatives of firms which rely heavily on energy - like those producing steel, ceramics or paper.

Spin bowler Danny Briggs extends his contract with county champions Warwickshire until the end of the 2024 season.

More than 4,000 people have objected to plans for Shrewsbury's north west relief road.

BBC Radio CWR

Coventry's plans for a tram system is a great example of collaboration", the West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has said.

City councillors have approved £3.2m extra funding for it and the local authority says when it's complete, the very light rail system could offer people a London-style transport service that's more reliable than buses.

Image source, Coventry City Council

Mr Street said: "Lots of people have come together to make this happen, the city council, the combined authority, also the University of Warwick have done a lot of the design work and now Coventry manufacturing companies have actually built the first prototype, so it's a great example of collaboration."

About £14m has already been spent on the project - with bids in for almost £100m of future funding.

A Newport couple said they were worried after being left without a working landline for a month.

Elizabeth Beeston, who is in her 80s, is disabled, blind and has type one diabetes. She and her husband Philip say they rely on the landline for emergencies.

Mrs Beeston said she had "cried every day" over the issue since they moved to their home. Her husband has a mobile, but she is unable to use it because of her disabilities.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Beeston said they were on priority at their old address, but moved about half a mile away into a bungalow, where a phone was fitted but they were told there was an existing fault.

They were put on a temporary line, but that also failed.

"We just can't understand what has happened," he said.

Provider Shell Energy said they were told about the fault two weeks ago, and have chased Openreach every day since and hope the fault can be repaired quickly.

People with proof of a TF postcode can visit Blists Hill Victorian Town free over three days.

BBC Radio WM

A petition has been launched calling for the A38 Queensway tunnels through Birmingham city centre to remain open.

It's after the finalised Birmingham transport plan was approved by the city council’s cabinet yesterday. Among many other ideas, it suggests closing the tunnels to traffic in the future may be one consideration.

The council's Conservative group started the petition, but the councillor responsible for transport, Waseem Zaffar, has accused them of “scaremongering".

Image source, Getty

The survey is withdrawn a day after its launch as the force makes "some revisions".

BBC Weather

It will start rather cloudy in the West Midlands today, with a chance of the odd spot of light rain. Any rain will ease by the afternoon, and cloud will break to reveal some warm sunshine in places.

Max: 16C (61F).

Tonight, it will be dry with a mixture of patchy cloud and clear spells. Min: 8C (46C).

For the latest weather updates, visit the BBC Weather website.

Welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

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A year after Tamba Momodu was shot dead, police urge those with information to come forward.

The remains are those of David Boswell, a worker at the plastics factory ravaged by flames.