New officer checks are in place in the West Midlands after an officer was jailed for sexually abusing boys.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Allan Richards, a 54-year-old officer, was jailed for 22 years in November. The trial heard he access used a police database to access information about young men.

The region's police and crime comissioner, David Jamieson, says the culture at the force now means officers who break the law will be reported by their colleagues.

He also said "proper checking systems" were now being used to make sure information gathered from police databases wasn't being used "in an improper way". 

Martin Winch
BBC Local Live

West Midlands Ambulance Service has tweeted from a busy-looking George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.

It comes as health organisations across the patch are reminding people of all the NHS services on offer to deal with urgent care over the winter.

Coventry GP, Dr Steve Allen, says patients with minor illnesses and injuries could avoid hospitals and GPs and "are often better treated more quickly elsewhere, or at home using simple remedies".

Ben Russell
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Here are your latest news headlines this Wednesday afternoon:

• The chair of the NFU in Warwickshire says farming cannot be ignored in Brexit negotiations
• Coventry lags behind other cities when it comes to restaurants, according to developer
• A care of the elderly ward at Warwick hospital has been closed over suspicions of an outbreak of norovirus

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Nuneaton Town have appointed former Bedworth manager and Leamington coach Liam O'Neill, external onto their coaching staff.

O'Neill will work with the first team and the academy in a full-time role. 

Stratford Herald

A ward at Warwick Hospital has been closed on suspicion of Norovirus, external.

Nicholas Ward, a care of the elderly ward, has been closed to visitors, except on compassionate grounds.

Martin Winch
BBC Local Live

Coventry City FC has confirmed supporters will no longer be provided with pies and hot food in the corporate areas of the Ricoh Arena on matchday.

Image source, Getty Images

Fans were first denied in Monday's 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers.

The club says that Arena Coventry Limited, the company that runs the stadium, has "taken the decision to withdraw the snack service".

A spokesperson added that VIP hospitality dining is not affected - and pies are still available in the other parts of the stadium. 

Coventry Observer

The family of a man killed in a Coventry collision just days before Christmas have paid tribute, external to their “kind-hearted husband and father who brought a smile to everybody’s face.”

Robert ‘Rob’ Morris was struck by a car on Ansty Road on Saturday, December 17.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

On-loan defender Jamie Sterry has returned to Newcastle United, external following a five-month stint with the Sky Blues.

Image source, Getty Images

Sterry made 20 appearances for Coventry and follows fellow loanee Daniel Agyei out of the club as manager Russell Slade continues to shape his squad.

It is hoped work on creating more restaurants at Coventry's Cathedral Lanes will begin in the summer.

Owners have submitted plans for new outlets to sit next to the three created in the first phase, and the proposals have been welcomed by the city council's cabinet member for jobs and regeneration. 

Councillor Jim O'Boyle said: "Broadgate has been transformed in the evening. There is a real buzz in the area and new restaurants will only add to this." 

Alec Blackman
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Here are some of the stories we are looking at this lunchtime.

• Coventry's City of Culture bid team is seeking suggestions for potential cultural events
• A Warwickshire businessman says hackers targeted his website and sent him a ransom demand
• Work on new Cathedral Lanes restaurants could start in the summer

Alec Blackman
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

The team behind Coventry's bid to be City of Culture in 2021 is after your ideas of cultural events you would like to see staged.

The bookies make Coventry the favourites ahead of Perth and Cardiff, with a final decision to be made later this year.

Emma Harrabin, from the bid team, says it is a "really good opportunity" for people suggest some big events.

Coventry Telegraph

Whistle blowing by Coventry City fans during League One clash with Bolton Wanderers has been reported to the Football Association, external.

A small number of supporters blew whistles during Monday’s 2-2 draw at the Ricoh Arena - and some fans have blamed the whistling for causing confusion in City’s ranks ahead of Bolton’s equaliser.

There is a call for the Government to ensure European Union laws of the protection of the countryside, wildlife and farming are incorporated into UK law when Brexit happens. 

Image source, Getty Images

MPs say farmers are facing significant threats including loss of income and tariffs on exports.  

The chairman of the NFU in Warwickshire, Duncan Hawley, agrees and said: "We've already got very high standards but what we've got to be careful of is that we don't lower our standards just to compete with other world producers."  

More restaurants are set to be created at Coventry's Cathedral Lanes in a bid to further revamp the site and create more offerings in the city centre.

Image source, Shearer Group

Owners Shearer Property Group, external have put in plans to turn the former Blacks unit into more eating outlets, and hope to attract a specialist burger restaurant to join the likes of Cosy Club, Las Iguanas and Wagamama.

Coventry Observer

Unions have hit out at Coventry City Council’s proposals to axe youth clubs, close some libraries, children’s centres and nurseries under its ‘Connecting Communities’ plan., external

A three-month consultation period ended last month and key decisions are set to be taken from this month when the universal youth service is set to end.

Unison the union, which represents thousands of council workers, has issued a statement saying ‘fundamental questions have not been answered’.

More people could to be engaged in the culture of Coventry, according to the team behind its bid to be UK City of Culture.

Image source, Coventry City Council

Bookies have installed Coventry as the front-runner and an appeal has been launched for ideas to form part of the cultural programme.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Sky Blues defender Chris Stokes continued his return from injury, external by playing the full 90 minutes for the club's Under-23s on Tuesday.

Image source, Getty Images

Stokes was joined by a number of other first-team players, including Jodi Jones, Ruben Lameiras and Vladimir Gadzhev, as Coventry drew 1-1 with Birmingham.  

If you've ever lost your friends at a musical festival, sporting event or shopping centre, there's now a solution...probably.

Stay still or search? Crunching the numbers to work out the optimum strategy for finding lost friends.

Alec Blackman
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Here are some of the stories we are looking at in the Coventry newsroom:

• Coventry is the bookies' favourite to be the next City of Culture
• A man is critically ill in hospital after a flat fire in Stratford
• Coventry needs more restaurants in the city centre, according to the man in charge of Cathedral Lanes.