Three men have died during nights out in Birmingham as lockdown restrictions ease.

West Midlands Police has released an image of a pair of slippers worn by a woman who was found dead in a Smethwick canal, in a bid to identify her.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The force said her body had been recovered from the water near Steel Bright Road earlier on Wednesday but officers had so far been unable to identify her.

Detectives described the victim as being in her 60s or 70s, with short grey afro hair and wearing a black bob style wig.

She was found wearing a pink anorak over a blue and white striped T-shirt with lobsters on, with a beige cardigan and a long blue and white floral skirt.

Police are treating her death as unexplained while they appeal for the public's help in finding out who she was.

A father died from a blunt force head injury after he was attacked on a night out in Birmingham, a post-mortem examination has revealed.

Image source, Family handout

Matthew Carroll, 50, was assaulted in Brindley Place at about 01:30 BST on Sunday. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and later died from his injuries.

He had been out with his son and some of his friends who were involved in a fight off Broad Street, police said.

His family said their hearts were "shattered into a thousand pieces" and remembered Mr Carroll, known as Matty, as "a loving father, always devoted to his children".

Driver Tom Reddy says he saw his salary rise £7 per hour overnight.

About £100,000 is to be invested in reducing fly-tipping across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.

There were more than 10,000 reported cases of fly-tipping across the West Mercia area in the past year, a 6% increase on the year before.

It's hoped the money from the police and crime commissioner can be spent on prevention schemes.

Richard Brumby's lifeline is horse riding, but in the pandemic he has been unable to have lessons.

The free service sees a huge increase in demand with requests for help over debts and benefits.

Callum Baker-Osborne, of Coventry, died after getting into difficulty off the Dorset coast in July.

BBC Midlands Today

A mother of four who only took up weightlifting two years ago has become the strongest woman in the Midlands and the second strongest in England.

Naomi Hadley, from Rowley Regis, in the Black Country, is now hoping to take on the world's best in an international competition in the US later this year.

She trains four times a week and includes doughnuts and pizzas in her diet.

Nick Hayes says there is a "huge sense of gratitude" among the cast, who are "so happy" to be back.

Worcestershire's big-hitting batman Ross Whiteley is to leave after nine seasons at New Road.

Tributes are paid to bus driver Ghulam Nabi, described as a "dear friend" and dedicated key worker.

A pedestrian has died in a collision in Hanbury, near Droitwich, police said, external.

The crash happened at about 08:15 BST on Tuesday in School Road.

The pedestrian, a woman in her 80s, was struck by a car and later pronounced dead, West Mercia Police said.

Image source, Google

The force added her next of kin had been informed and it was appealing for witnesses.

PC Ian Sweeney said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the woman who died in this tragic incident.

"We would like to speak to any witnesses who we have not yet spoken to or anyone who has dashcam footage and was driving along School Lane."

BBC Radio Stoke

Friends of a Staffordshire musician who died with Covid on Friday are trying to get one of his songs into the chart as a tribute.

Marcus Birks, 40, made headlines after he spoke to the BBC from his intensive care bed as the former Covid sceptic who was hospitalised with the virus went on to urge other people to get vaccinated.

He toured the world performing music with his wife Lis and now his friends are now trying to get the song he wrote, Should I Stay, into the charts.

The chart bid has received the backing of 90s DJ legend Sash, external.

A charity supporting Afghan refugees has said public support for the cause has been "really positive" as people fleeing the Taliban arrive in the UK.

Fahim Zazai, who runs the Afghan Community and Welfare Centre in Walsall, which helps asylum seekers across the West Midlands, told the PA news agency: "When refugees were arriving, we found out most of them had come with few belongings and just clothes on them, so we had to ask for donations from the public.

"We received lots of donations from different organisations and individuals. It has been really positive. We received more than we asked for and it's growing."

The 42-year-old came to the UK as an Afghan refugee 20 years ago and added: "That is why I understand how the people arriving here are feeling and that is why I have to help.

"I don't want to see other people in a similar situation to when I first came."

BBC Weather Watchers

It might only be 1 September, but are we seeing the early signs of autumn? Our BBC Weather Watchers seem to think so...

Image source, Tippytoes

Image source, Di's walk

Police say despite the efforts of officers and paramedics the man was declared dead at the scene.

BBC CWR

The funeral is being held later for a Coventry teenager who died trying to rescue a group of children in trouble in the sea in Poole.

Eighteen-year-old Callum Baker-Osborne's body was found days after he disappeared in the water last month.

Image source, Family handout

A service is being held at Coventry Cathedral later.

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the stories on the Shropshire Star website:

• Hundreds of care workers yet to be jabbed as compulsory vaccine deadline looms, external
• Developer appeals refusal to build 145 homes next to Shrewsbury retail park, external
• New electronic traffic signs to inform Shrewsbury drivers, external

BBC Radio Stoke

A government-funded plan for a series of regeneration projects across Crewe has a £2m shortfall.

It has emerged officials are trying to make up the gap with funding from elsewhere.

Image source, Google

New leisure facilities at Cumberland Arena (pictured), refurbishing the old Flag Lane baths, a new youth centre and a new cycleway are some of the 10 projects that have been approved for funding by the government's Towns Fund.

A few months ago it was announced Crewe will get £23.9m from the fund, but it's now clear that is £2m less than it was asked for, according to BBC Cheshire political reporter Phil McCann.

Members of Crewe Town Board who put the bid together are now trying to get match funding from elsewhere, but could decide not to fund some parts of the plan.