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.

However they are not deemed a person of interest to security agencies or police after an investigation.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has given the go ahead to recruit the first medical students to study at the Three Counties Medical School at the University of Worcester.

Applications for the graduate-entry medical school will open next month for entry in September 2022.

Prof David Green, the University of Worcester’s vice chancellor and chief executive, said: “We are delighted that we have passed [the GMC's] tests and may now proceed to select and admit the first cohort of students."

Image source, Google

The university already educates nurses and midwives and work is continuing to transform the former Worcester News building and print factory into a new centre for health and medical education.

Robin Walker, MP for Worcester, said: “I am immensely proud that we will soon be able to welcome medicine students to Worcester where they will receive the highest quality training to become the doctors of the future."

A motorcyclist has been seriously injured in a crash with a car in Worcestershire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called at 08:23 BST to the collision at the junction of the A456 and Broome Lane in Hagley.

The male motorcyclist received specialist trauma care at the scene, it said, before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The car driver, a woman, sustained minor injuries, and was conveyed to Alexandra Hospital.

Image source, Google

Pubs in Staffordshire are backing a campaign to tackle mental health issues.

Support organisation Brighter Futures, based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, is supplying more than 20,000 beer mats that point people towards a mental health helpline.

The Princess Royal in Dresden is one of those supporting the campaign.

Image source, Google

Landlady Sarah Williams said: "People come to be in touch with other people, not just to have a drink but to [talk] and not just be on their own all the time.

"If they can see that we are getting involved and we are there and we are there to help them...they don't have to keep it to themselves."

A heritage railway is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The first passenger train on the Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire ran on 24 August 1996 over a one-mile section of line between Cheddleton and Leekbrook. The attraction has since grown to cover a 10-mile stretch.

It will be marking the anniversary with a special celebration over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Image source, Churnet Valley Railway

Gregory Wilson, managing director, said: “We've reached this milestone due to the dedication and passion of our volunteers.

"Devoting a quarter of a century to anything requires commitment.

"Our volunteers come rain or shine and they are the main reason we are here today."

A Shropshire road has been closed to allow the fire service to attend a multi-vehicle collision.

The A49 is closed just south of Dorrington, near Shrewsbury.

Assistant Group Commander Jim Barker said the road was likely to remain shut for the next few hours.

Olympic boxer Ben Whittaker has just undergone surgery on his shoulder.

The 24-year-old won a silver medal in the light-heavyweight category in Tokyo on 4 August.

In a post on Facebook, he said he had had a "tear" for three years which had never properly healed.

He said he was told he needed the surgery "ASAP" but made the decision to delay it in order to fight in the Olympics.

"Surgery went great and I'll be back soon," he said.

Image source, Ben Whittaker

Earlier this week the boxer was made Mayor of Wolverhampton for a day, after he said in post-bout interview in Tokyo he wanted the honour when he returned to the UK.

Lottie Littlehales admitted she had an issue with alcohol, a professional conduct panel hears.

Earlier we told you how the A46 had been closed between Leek Wootton and Kenilworth due to a collision.

Warwickshire Police has now confirmed the road has reopened.

The collision, at 05:00 BST, it said, was between a van and a lorry.

The van driver has been taken to hospital with serious injuries, it added

Comedian Joe Lycett is set to present a life drawing programme for the BBC.

Life Drawing Live! will air on BBC Two and BBC Four in September.

The two-hour special will feature life models disrobing and assuming poses inspired by great works of art, producers said.

Image source, Getty Images

Lycett, 33, of Birmingham, said: "Like many people I found great solace from making art during lockdown and am really excited to help get the nation creative through learning about life drawing.

"Any nudity is just an added bonus."

A Shropshire charity says it has seen "unprecedented" offers of support for Afghan refugees.

Thousands of Afghans have been trying to flee the country after the Taliban seized control of the capital Kabul.

Shropshire Supports Refugees said: "We have had an unprecedented amount of phone calls, messages and emails all offering support or donations of one sort or another."

The charity said it was currently seeking donations of clothes and shoes for women, men and children as well as bedding, pots and pans, bowls, games consoles and TVs.

BBC Weather

The day will start mostly cloudy or overcast with the odd spell of light rain or drizzle.

In the afternoon, it will continue largely cloudy, but a few brighter spells may develop between the cloud. Highs of 20C (68F).

Find your local forecast at BBC Weather.

A Warwickshire road has been closed following a serious collision.

Emergency services are at the scene on the northbound carriageway of the A46 between junction two, for Leek Wootton, and three, for Kenilworth.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area.