Telford's MP Lucy Allan has criticised the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust over a decision to cancel some elective appointments.

Nigel Lee, chief operating officer, said in line with pressures across the NHS, the trust was seeing high levels of demands for patients needing urgent care, as well as rising numbers of Covid-19 patients needing inpatient treatment.

As such, he said, the trust "had to temporarily step down some of our least clinically urgent planned surgeries", but urgent procedures were still taking place.

Image source, UK Parliament

Ms Allan said: "I have constituents who are in debilitating pain and who have had to wait throughout the pandemic for an operation, but even now cannot be offered a date for surgery.

"A surgery date gives people hope that their suffering will end."

The government offices in Wolverhampton will serve as HQ for some civil servants from April 2022.

The former West Midlands PC attacked a man, then kicked and punched a 15-year-old boy.

Imran Ahmad Khan appears at the Old Bailey to deny the offence alleged to have happened in 2008.

A woman has died after two cars crashed in Warwickshire on Thursday.

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A man was also airlifted to hospital after the incident on Campden Road, in Shipston on Stour, shortly before 13:40.

Two other people, a man and a woman, were also taken to hospital suffering potentially dangerous injuries.

A further patient was assessed at the scene and discharged, said the ambulance service.

A CCTV image has been released of a man police want to trace following a series of cashpoint vandalism attacks in Coventry.

Image source, West Midlands Police

More than 50 cashpoints have been targeted with a glue-like substance inserted into the card reader, police say.

Machines on Tile Hill Lane, Jubilee Crescent, Earlsdon and Holbrook lane have been damaged.

Damage totalling thousands of pounds has been caused, says the West Midlands force.

He is widely regarded as one of country's finest contemporary classical actors.

The National Portrait Gallery is to send some of its best pieces of Tudor art out on loan together, for the first time, to exhibitions across England.

Image source, National Portrait Gallery

Well-known works from the London-based gallery will head to Sheffield later this year, then on to Bath, Liverpool and York in 2022.

Gallery bosses have called the tour "a once in a generation opportunity".

Other exhibitions and displays will open in the coming months in Coventry, Plymouth, Sudbury and beyond.

Jonathan Houseman is jailed for life over the "executions" of Will Henry and Brian McIntosh.

Suzanne Van Hagen's family say they have fought for more than eight years to get the truth.

A show marking a small theatre's 10th anniversary has opened in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

Blue Orange Theatre says it is "proud to have survived the tough times" and finally put on The 39 Steps, external which has been delayed several times because of coronavirus restrictions.

Image source, Blue Orange Arts

Mark Webster, Blue Orange founder, said it took more than a year to transform the premises in Great Hampton Street "from a shell with concrete ceilings" to a thriving theatre.

He established an arts charity to run the venue, which opened in April 2011. It is involved in social projects and has an active youth theatre.

In The 39 Steps, a cast of four delivers "over 150 zany characters".

The sun pendant is one of the most important finds of the last 100 years, the British Museum says.

The Labour member breaks down in tears as she recalls being treated as an "enemy of the country".

A 24-hour programme of theatre, music and art , externalstarts later, celebrating faith within Coventry as part of the City of Culture programme.

Image source, Coventry Cathedral

The event - which has Faith as its title - will see theatre productions transferring to the streets and the city centre becoming a "tapestry of lights".

Places of worship have been tied together with blue ribbons, "creating a beautiful temporary tapestry through the city", says the City of Culture Trust.

Later, faith and community leaders will meet to share food and engage in discussions about how faith shapes their lives.

Tomorrow, faith centres will open their doors, and visitors can book free tickets to four new plays performed on the city's streets.

The project is a collaboration between the Coventry City of Culture Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The family of a man who died after his car crashed with a coach have described him as a "gentle giant with a heart of gold".

The collision happened on the afternoon of 8 September as Simon Harris was driving a Jeep Renegade at Halfpenny Green near Bobbington in Staffordshire.

The 28-year-old, from Claverley in Shropshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family said he was "generous and kind-hearted, a true gentleman".

The tribute continued: "A larger than life personality who loved creating cosplay characters, travel and helping others.

"You will be greatly missed by all.”

Image source, Family handout

Staffordshire Police has appealed for any witnesses, or anyone who may have dash cam footage of the collision, to come forward .

The number of coronavirus cases in Telford and Wrekin has increased for the fifth week in a row, with "significant" growth among young people, the council says.

The "concerning" trend can be expected to continue as schools return, according to a public health official.

Image source, Telford & Wrekin Council

The area currently has the highest Covid-19 infection rates in the West Midlands, with 828 new cases reported in the seven days to 5 September.

On 8 September, there were 31 patients with Covid-19 in hospital - with a further two deaths reported within 28 days of a positive test.

The total number of deaths in the borough since the start of the pandemic is 270.

A man has been arrested in connection with an attack in Stoke-on-Trent that left two men in hospital with serious head injuries.

Police were called to reports of a disturbance in Stafford Street, Hanley, shortly after 05:00 on Sunday.

The suspect, aged 23 and from the city, is being questioned on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, the Staffordshire force says.

He remains in custody.

BBC Midlands Today

Investigations are continuing into the cause of a major industrial fire in Kidderminster.

Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Service remains at Betts Metals on Park Street, with roads closed around the site and specialist teams continuing the clean-up effort.

People who live nearby started to return to their evacuated homes yesterday and more than a dozen schools had to close.

Three men have been arrested after a shooting in a Birmingham street.

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Armed police were sent to Bellefield Road on Thursday night after people reported hearing a gunshot and a group of men were seen running away.

Three men, aged 20, 24 and 26, were arrested in the street on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and remain in custody.

West Midlands Police said a 22-year-old man later turned up in hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg.

Officers are investigating whether his injury is connected to the Bellefield Road incident.

BBC Midlands Today

Boxer Sam Eggington says he's still targeting a world title shot as he prepares to return to the ring in Coventry later.

The 27-year-old from Stourbridge is defending his WBC silver middleweight title against the unbeaten Bilel Jkitou.

He takes on the French fighter at the Skydome Arena in front of a live crowd and says it's nice to be able to share the experience with supporters once again.