BBC Radio Shropshire

Former defence minister Philip Dunne believes the West was taken by surprise by the speed of the Taliban advance into Kabul.

Mr Dunne, who is also the Conservative MP for Ludlow, said: "Military planning was saying we'd got until the end of the month to evacuate people and that would be done on a regular flight coming in and out of the airport, supported by British and US troops."

Image source, UK Parliament

And the MP also said the unexpectedly rapid fall of Kabul "leaves those people left behind in a very perilous state".

A woman in her 70s was conned out of hundreds of pounds in Warwickshire by fraudsters posing as police officers, police said.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

The Warwickshire force said the woman, from Arley, had been told money had been taken from her account and that she needed to withdraw the rest to keep it safe.

She was then told the cash was counterfeit and a courier would need to collect it.

A 21-year-old man from Coventry has already been arrested since the woman was targeted last year. However, the force is now appealing for help to trace a woman they believe may hold vital information.

Anyone who recognises the woman in the CCTV image has been asked to contact police.

A 63-year-old man and his dog were killed in the crash in Alvechurch, Worcestershire.

Miles Routledge, from Birmingham, claims he visited Kabul because he enjoys "extreme tourism".

Local Democracy Reporting Service

One part of Worcestershire has seen the number of new coronavirus cases rise by more than 60% in the past week.

Public Health England said 170 new cases were recorded in Malvern Hills in the week up to 11 August - a rise of 62% compared to the week before.

The number of new Covid cases recorded has continued to rise throughout most of the county in the past week - particularly in the north. A total of 1,585 cases were recorded in Worcestershire in the week - a rise of 13% compared to the previous seven days.

Image source, Google

The biggest surge in new cases was seen in Kempsey and Ryall with 30 cases recorded in the week - rising by 650%.

The most cases recorded in the week up to 11 August were in Bromsgrove (pictured above) at 309.

A house in Dudley where police recovered class A drugs, weapons and cash has been closed following a court order.

Image source, West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police secured the order for the house in Gorsty Avenue following concerns from locals about anti-social behaviour.

It means nobody is allowed in the house "for any reason whatsoever" - even if they live there, the West Midlands force said, adding anyone who breached the restriction risked being arrested or fined.

About 2,000 people attended Tamworth Pride over the weekend, say organisers.

Emma Keeble, from the event, said the town's first pride festival had been an "amazing weekend".

Image source, New Urban Era

The event, external, which had the theme "let's start celebrating you", featured acts and stalls at the town's rugby club and White Lion pub.

To mark the occasion, art group New Urban Era commissioned a 12-metre mural created on the pub's wall by street artist Mig29.

Fereba's mother is stuck there after flying to the country to attend a funeral.

Jomaa Jerrare's body was found burnt in a lay-by in Perton, near Wolverhampton.

BBC Weather Watchers

These great images have been shared by some of our BBC Weather Watchers. The first two were taken in Shropshire by STFC Goose, in Longnor, and Peter Steggles, in Rushbury.

Meanwhile in Herefordshire, Postman Les captured grazing sheep in Bromyard and Step Counter photographed a wheat field in Bodenham.

Image source, STFC goose/ BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Peter Steggles/ BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Postman Les/ BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Step counter/ BBC Weather Watchers

If you'd like to see more, or get involved yourself, visit the BBC Weather Watchers webpage.

Birmingham Live

These are some of the stories Birmingham Live is covering today:

• Birmingham student stuck in Afghanistan evacuated in tense airlift after going to Kabul 'on holiday', external
• Malala Yousafzai calls on UK to open borders to Afghanistan refugees, external
• Birmingham tourist planning to propose to girlfriend on glamping trip ends up in police cell, external

BBC Weather

It should be largely overcast but dry today but the odd spot of light rain or drizzle is likely in areas where the cloud is thickest. A moderate westerly breeze. High: 18C (64F).

It should stay overcast for many throughout the night, remaining largely dry, but spots of light rain are likely to drift through at times. A few patches of mist or fog may form. Low 14C (57F).

You can stay up-to-date on the latest forecast for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.

A motorcyclist has died in a crash in Bewdley.

West Mercia Police said the man came off the Black Kawasaki on Heightington Road at about 14:30 BST on Friday.

Image source, Google

The force does not believe another vehicle was involved and that the motorcyclist lost control of the bike "for unknown reasons".

He died at the scene and detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forwards.

The leader of South Staffordshire Council, Brian Edwards, has died after a short illness at the age of 81.

Image source, South Staffordshire Council

Mr Edwards was elected to represent Kinver in May 1983 and had been a councillor ever since, leading the local authority for the past 14 years.

His colleagues remembered him as an "exemplary" leader who was "incredibly proud" of the council's work.

In 2015, Mr Edwards was made MBE for services to the community, something he held as one of his proudest moments.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, whom he married in 1964, their three children and seven grandchildren.

A photographer from Coventry says she is "begging" British forces to help her vulnerable mother return to the UK safely from Afghanistan.

Image source, PA Media

Fereba said her 79-year-old mother Layloma, who is a dual Afghan-British national, flew to Kabul last month to attend a funeral and has been unable to return.

"My mother is low on medication which was provided by the NHS. It's not available in Afghanistan," Fereba said.

"Once the Taliban enter the airports, there will be no hope for them, they will be slaughtered. All I'm asking for the world to do is to show some compassion for the Afghan nation."

The government has deployed hundreds of troops to Kabul to assist with the evacuation of British nationals.

Welcome to the start of our live service for Tuesday

We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates for the West Midlands.

You can let us know about stories in your area via Twitter, external and Facebook, external.

Isaac Bowry is from a Manchester council estate and wants to show that "dancing is for everyone".

Mark Chilman set his victim's car on fire in a bid to make it look like suicide, the court hears.

Nobel peace laureate, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012.

One man was knocked unconscious in an attack which began with abuse being shouted from inside a car.