Only Fools and Horses actor John Challis, who has died aged 79, was a wonderful ambassador for the Midlands Air Ambulance, the charity said.

Image source, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

Challis was best known for playing Boycie in the BBC sitcom and his family said he died "peacefully in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer".

On Facebook,, external the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said it was "deeply saddened" by the news.

It added Challis attended events and helped raise awareness of its work.

Murder police are investigating what they say is thought to be a domestic incident.

A charity has raised more than £180,000 for homeless people by asking for donations via a smartphone app.

The scheme, known as Change into Action, asks contributors whether they want the money to go towards a general fund, or say how the money should be spent.

It is being promoted as a "better way" to give to rough sleepers.

The app has already been introduced in six areas of the West Midlands and has just launched in a seventh, Dudley.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

Only Fools and Horses star John Challis was a "great advocate for theatre", according to a venue where he was a patron.

The 79-year-old died in his sleep after a long battle with cancer, his family said at the weekend.

Tori Wakeman is vice-chair of the Nonentities Society which runs the Rose Theatre in Kidderminster. She said Challis agreed to become a patron about seven years ago and helped them raise more than £16,000 this year to stay afloat during the pandemic.

She added he never had a problem dropping into his famous Boycie character for fans.

"I think he was quite a different character in himself but he was always willing to turn Boycie on for you, always willing to do the laugh and have a giggle with fans," she said.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

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BBC Radio WM

A 5ft (1.5m) python that a shocked couple found in their bedroom may soon be going to its rightful home, according to a veterinary nurse.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Police were called to the couple's home in Quarry Bank, Dudley, after the reptile was discovered.

The couple speculated it may have arrived in a delivery, or slithered in through pipes, before it was spotted on Wednesday.

The python was taken to Manor Vets, Halesowen, and stayed overnight before being transferred to its exotic animals branch in Edgbaston and then a rescue centre.

Kirsty Humphries, a senior inpatient nurse with the vets, said she heard the potential owner saw the news and may have come forward to claim her.

She added: "[The snake] was so friendly, she just let us pick her up, she was no trouble at all."

BBC Weather Watchers

We've had some brilliant blue skies and sunshine this morning, and our local BBC Weather Watchers have been sending in photos from their locations.

These three are from users Purple Heather in Gornal Wood, Dudley; Sunshine Seeker in Stoke Edith, Herefordshire; and Vad in Church Stretton, Shropshire:

Image source, Purple Heather

Image source, Sunshine Seeker

Image source, Vad

BBC Radio WM

A man who had his lung cancer operation cancelled four times amid hospital Covid pressures suffered a cardiac arrest as he was finally undergoing surgery.

Noel Brown, 70, from Harborne, Birmingham, was diagnosed in May and told that removing part of his lung may mean he would not need chemotherapy.

His daughter Carly Ward said he was at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Friday and, as surgeons began to operate, her father's heart stopped.

She said staff managed to restart his heart within two minutes and her father was okay, but the operation could not go ahead until medics understood what had happened.

"They are trying to get to the bottom of that but obviously they are keen to do that as quickly as possible so we can get him straight back to surgery," she said.

Mrs Ward added her family were worried about her father who had been left "really upset", and they were hoping to get some answers from tests on Monday.

A man is being questioned on suspicion of murder after the death of a 73-year-old.

Image source, Google

The male victim was found with head injuries at a house on Hordern Road, Wolverhampton, at about 23:30 on Saturday and later died in hospital.

West Midlands Police said it was not looking for anyone else in connection with the death and said it believed there had been a domestic incident.

The 32-year-old suspect is currently in police custody.

BBC Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen has paid tribute to his close friend John Challis, best known for playing Boycie on Only Fools and Horses, who has died at the age of 79.

His family said he died "peacefully in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer".

Challis, who lived in Herefordshire, starred in the show, alongside Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, throughout its run from 1981 to the final show in 2003.

Two Blues fans, arrested following a Peterborough United player's allegation of racist abuse, are currently not allowed to enter Birmingham city centre on match days, Cambridgeshire Police says.

Image source, Getty Images

United captain Nathan Thompson made a complaint to the referee during a 3-0 Championship win over Birmingham City at Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday.

A statement from United , externalsaid two away fans were arrested in the second half following the incident.

The Cambridgeshire force said a 52-year-old man from Solihull and a 17-year-old boy from Birmingham have been released on bail to appear before police on 17 October.

They were both arrested on suspicion of contravention of the public order act and sporting ground offences.

Birmingham Live

From the Birmingham Mail:

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• Sainsbury's closes its Birmingham city centre supermarket, external
• Police arrest teenager on suspicion of sexually assaulting child at Rowheath Park, external

Officers are appealing for information about the death of a teenage boy whose body was found in the road in Bishops Castle in the early hours of Sunday.

Tributes are continuing to be paid to the actor John Challis, best known for playing Boycie in BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

His family said the actor, who lived in Herefordshire, died "peacefully in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer". He was 79.

Co-star Sir David Jason paid tribute to Challis as a "a wonderful actor" and "a gentleman in the true sense of the word".

Sue Holderness, who played Marlene, Boycie's wife, paid tribute to Challis as her "beloved friend".

She said: "Marlene without Boycie - it's unthinkable.

"John Challis was my partner on screen and stage for 36 years and my beloved friend. RIP darling John. I will miss you every day."

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

There's plenty of sunshine expected this morning and this afternoon.

It will stay largely clear first thing and into the second half of the day although there may be some patchy cloud edging from the east.

But it's mainly blue skies and sunny spells, with highs of 21C.

Welcome to our live service for Monday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external