The leader of Coventry City Council says the authority will fight Sky Blues owner Sisu's plans for another legal challenge "with vigour" and is "confident of victory". 

Image source, Coventry City Council

Sisu is seeking a second judicial review, this time over the council's sale of its share of the club's home ground, Ricoh Arena, to rugby club Wasps in 2014.

George Duggins said the council's actions had been legally sound but, while he restated his refusal to talk to Sisu, the authority would be unable to "walk away" from a legal challenge.

He said he imagined Coventry City fans were feeling "flat after a lack of activity in the transfer market, but a lot of activity in the courtroom".

An earlier judicial review centred on a council loan in 2013 to the then-stadium operator - a move ruled to be legal but challenged by Sisu, whose bid to appeal against the finding was rejected by the Supreme Court in December last year. Sisu had said the finding jeopardised the club's long-term future at the stadium. 

Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live

Seven officers were injured and four police vehicles damaged in a 30-minute pursuit which started in Nuneaton and went through the Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire policing areas.

The vehicle, a white van, failed to stop for police at around 02:50 while driving along Weddington Lane, Nuneaton, after reports it was following two women and causing them distress.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

The Warwickshire force was assisted by Staffordshire Police during the pursuit, which eventually ended on Pennine Way, Wilnecote, Staffordshire, when the van crashed with police vehicles.

The injured officers didn't require treatment for their minor injuries.

A 41-year-old man from Atherstone has been arrested.

Beleaguered Coventry City FC is continuing the new year in controversy after its owner entered into another legal row  – a move that has seen the leader of the council, which is at the centre of the dispute, back fans in their protests.

At the weekend, Sky Blues fans were arrested following pitch invasions in protest at owner Sisu’s handling of the club which they think is destroying it.

Within days of the latest show of frustration, Sisu is seeking a judicial review into the sale of the club’s home ground Ricoh Arena to rugby club Wasps. The council agreed a deal in 2014 to sell its share in the then-stadium operator ACL to Wasps amid a long-running row with Sky Blues over rent.

Image source, Getty Images

Sisu had the council in its sights in a previous judicial review over the local authority’s £14m loan of public funds to ACL. But it was upheld as being legal, with Sisu’s move to appeal the finding - which it said harmed prospects of the club’s stay at the Ricoh - rejected by the Supreme Court in December.

Council leader George Duggins said “I'm not prepared to talk to Sisu until they drop the judicial review” and had the following message for fans: “Continue the protest if you must do, you have public opinion on your side – not just in Coventry but nationally – but don’t spoil that by stepping outside the law”.

Sisu has been contacted for comment.

BBC Sport

England have picked Wasps pair Elliot Daly and Joe Launchbury to face France in Saturday's Six Nations opener after injuries forced a reshuffle.  

James Haskell is on the bench alongside Wing Jack Nowell.  

Leamington Observer

A flagship £13million council housing development has opened in Leamington.  , external

Image source, Leamington Observer

BBC Weather

The Met Office is warning about wet and windy weather, external on Friday which could affect travel and produce some minor damage.

A weather warning is in place from 06:00 tomorrow until 23:55.

All of Coventry and Warwickshire's MPs voted in favour of allowing the prime minister to begin the Brexit process.

Some took to Twitter to give their reaction.

Could diesel cars be taxed as levels of air pollution soar?

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

After a dull and showery start the to the day, this afternoon should be a little drier with highs of 12C (54F).

More than 60 firefighters will lobby councillors at Shire Hall in Warwick today over proposed cuts to the service.

Union FBU says the council is considering a £2.7m cut which could see a loss of up to 63 firefighter posts and is "hopeful" councillors will today vote for a reduction in the cuts.

County councillors meet at 10:00 to vote on next year's budget., external

Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live

Our main stories so far:

• Coventry City owners Sisu seek judicial review against council over Ricoh sale
• Fire crews protest against cuts
• Man arrested over 'repeated' ramming of police car

Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live

A man's been arrested in Warwickshire over the repeated ramming of a police car during a pursuit from Nuneaton to Tamworth.

We've asked the police for more information on this one.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Vanessa Pearce
BBC Local Live

I'm in the Coventry newsroom bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens. 

If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us, external or message via Facebook, external.

That's it for our live updates, join us again from 08:00 on Thursday for more news, sport, travel and weather updates.

Before then, keep an eye out here for more updates.

BBC Weather

A damp, drizzly and mild night with lows of 8C (46F). 

Toilet access for disabled rail passengers is being improved after a Paralympic athlete ended up wetting herself due to inadequate facilities on a train journey.

Team GB wheelchair racer Anne Wafula-Strike said she felt she had been robbed of her dignity during the three-hour journey from Nuneaton to Stansted. 

The disabled loo was out of order and by the time the train reached a station with the proper facilities it was too late.

The Department for Transport now says maintenance teams will ensure accessible toilets , externalare more reliable and fixed faster when problems arise

Image source, Getty Images

The Godiva Festival's long term future could be under threat unless more sponsorship is secured. 

Deputy council leader Abdul Khan says the council is ready to foot the bill for this year's free music event which gets under at the Memorial Park in Coventry on 7 July.

Eventually, the funding will have to come from elsewhere, he says.

And if sponsors or partners don't come forward then this year`s event, the 19th, could be the last.

Image source, bbc

The event usually attracts some big name line-ups with The Boomtown Rats and The Charlatans headlining last year.

West Midlands Police are looking for puppy walkers to look after their new litter of police dogs.

It would be for 10 months as part of their "socialisation training." 

If you're interested, you can email: breedscheme@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk 

Charity boxes have been stolen from a business in Rugby. 

 It happened last month at premises in Railway Terrace. 

 The thief is thought to have broken a glass door pane to gain access to the property in the evening.

Your headlines this evening:

- Sixty Warwickshire firefighters are planning to protest outside a county council budget meeting on Thursday morning

- A judge has adjourned sentence on a man convicted over a wrecking spree at a church in North Warwickshire

- Eighty-year-old woman has been hit by a car in Rugby town centre