BBC Weather

If you're feeling sneezy today it's no wonder - pollen levels are set to be very high in the Midlands.   

BBC Weather

Feeling sneezy? No wonder, because pollen levels are very high in the Midlands today. 

Achooo!

Latest weather for the West Midlands

The weather for the West Midlands.

A man from Shropshire is planning to swim the English Channel in honour of his childhood hero. Ian Preece, from Dawley, was a pupil at Captain Webb primary school, named after the town's famous son who was the first recorded person to swim the Channel in 1875.

A disgraced police officer who admitted failing to investigate complaints by members of the public, has been sentenced.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

This lunchtime, I'm continued my EU Referendum road trip. 

It comes on the day some of the country's biggest car producers, including Jaguar Land Rover in the West Midlands, have written to their staff advising them to back Britain's EU membership.

Image source, AP

Last week Lord Bamford, chairman of the Staffordshire-based digger maker JCB wrote to his 6,000 workers urging them to vote leave. 

From 13:30 on BBC One I'll have reaction to the news and more from my road-trip in Midlands Today.

A talented young golfer from Shropshire is heading to America to compete against many of the world's best junior players.

BBC News England

Would-be-homeowners in large parts of England are being priced out of a government scheme to help first-time buyers, a BBC investigation has found.

The Help to Buy Individual Savings Account was introduced last year to help people save for a home.

In many areas, the average price of a starter home exceeds the maximum purchase cap of £250,000, or £450,000 in London.

Image source, Getty Images

The government said the cap allowed them to focus on first-time buyers.

Use the search box to find out how your area's affected.

A talented young golfer from Shropshire is heading to America this summer to compete against many of the world's best junior players. Jack Dirkin, who turns seven next month, is the reigning UK under-six champion. The schoolboy plays at Church Stretton Golf Club - and members there are already wondering if he could one day emulate Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy.

Thousands of people attend one of the biggest air shows in the UK.

Latest weather for the West Midlands

Thousands attended one of the biggest air shows in the UK despite concerns the Shoreham air disaster would affect attendance figures.

A Flintshire town marks the 600th anniversary of Henry V's pilgrimage from Shrewsbury to its famous shrine.

Shrewsbury Town sign midfielder Jim O'Brien on a two-year contract following his departure from Coventry City.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

The hospital food at Oswestry's orthopaedic hospital has been rated the best in the country in a survey of patients by the Care Quality Commission.

It scored 7.9 out of 10, comfortably ahead of the 148 other hospitals in the survey - the Royal Marsden Hospital came second with a score of 7.5.

Image source, Thinkstock

The hospital says it has installed new ovens recently and aims to reduce salt in food and cook healthier meals for patients.

Campaigners fighting plans for a quarry on the outskirts of Newport are holding a drop-in session this afternoon to explain why they're opposed to the scheme.

A Cambridgshire firm wants to extract sand and gravel from a site off Pave Lane, but opponents claim it would lead to 20 years of disruption.

The campaigners will be at The Wheatsheaf until 19:00.

BBC Sport

Ellesmere's Steve Hollis is stepping down as chairman of Aston Villa.

Mr Hollis, who was born and raised in Shropshire, used to install milking machines for Fullwoods, and became Villa chairman in January.

Villa is now owned by a Chinese businessman, Tony Xia.

Image source, @AVFCOfficial

The weather for the West Midlands.

Stroke patients in Shropshire will no longer be able to get specialist treatment at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, the trust announces.