Kent seal all-southern T20 Blast Finals Day as they beat Birmingham Bears to make the last four for the first time since 2009.

People are evacuated from their homes following the blaze at a plastics manufacturer, police say.

Maths graduate Oliver Bel was jailed in May for possessing a bomb-making instruction manual.

BBC Radio Stoke

Farming groups in Staffordshire said there is a shortage of workers to help move produce from farms.

A recent workforce survey found the industry is a third short of people needed to pick fruit and vegetables.

Image source, Getty Images

Staffordshire County Advisor for the NFU Jeremy Lowe said it was an issue.

"We do have a lot of soft fruit growers, we've also got a few sort of poultry producers, egg producers," he said.

"They are also experiencing similar problems getting chickens off farm to get to the processing plants."

David Morris was serving a 32-year sentence for killing three generations of the same family.

The 20-year-old was trying to bring high strength ecstasy tablets into the Daresbury event, police say.

An intoxicated man decided to ride his scooter along the Aston Expressway after a night out.

PA Media

Sir Lee Pearson said he hopes his status as one of the world's leading Paralympians can inspire greater tolerance of homosexuality and disability.

The equestrian star, one of Great Britain's most high-profile gay sportsmen, cantered to the 12th Paralympic gold of his distinguished career by winning the grade two individual dressage on day two of Tokyo 2020.

Staffordshire-born Pearson gave an impassioned speech regarding the ongoing fight against discrimination.

Image source, PA Media

"I am a horse rider from the middle of Britain. I just ride horses, but if me riding horses can help one person in a sticky situation or they cannot accept themselves, or their family is struggling, then I hope it does help somebody. Love has to prevail," he said

The latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Explosions have been reported at the scene in Leamington Spa, as fire crews battle to control the fire.

Flame and thick, dark smoke fills the sky above Leamington Spa.

Karen Foster, who worked in Birkenhead and Oldham, is struck off after a string of complaints.

People in Leamington Spa are being advised to keep doors and windows closed as smoke billows from a fire in the town.

The commercial or industrial fire has broken out on Juno Drive, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Warwickshire Police said it is also in attendance and has road closures in place.

It said more updates will be put out shortly.

The BMW X7 was stolen from Church Street, Birmingham, near to the hotel where the actor was staying.

A man suffered "potentially life changing injuries" in a collision involving a quad bike, police said.

West Mercia Police said it happened at around 17:55 on Wednesday when the vehicle is believed to have lost control and caused damage to a residential garden on Willow Drive in Highley, Shropshire.

The force has asked anyone with information to come forward.

Image source, Google

BBC Weather

It may have been a slightly cool start for some but the day it is set to warm up quickly.

There will be plenty of warm sunshine into the afternoon, but it will turn a little cloudy from the east later.

That cloud will break up during the evening, allowing for late sunny spells for many.

That clear sky will be prevalent through the night, causing temperatures to drop and it should feel cool come dawn.

A new safety campaign hopes to remind drivers there is a real person behind every cyclist.

For years an NHS trust in Worcestershire had a backlog of thousands of unchecked X-ray results.

A Skoda Fabia, driven by Joshua Parkes ploughed through a lamppost and hit a tree, an inquest hears.

The accused is due to appear in court on Friday over the stab death of Jason Bentley-Morrison, 25.