Two men who attacked a litter officer after he challenged women for dropping cigarette butts have avoided prison.

A registered sex offender who sexually assaulted and robbed a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for more than 11 years.

At least 65 children have been admitted to hospital in England for urgent surgery in the last three years after swallowing magnets.

A review of what measures will be relaxed on June 21 has been delayed due to the Indian variant.

Health bosses are urging families to stay safe this half term and avoid a spike in Covid cases as the number of cases of Indian variant increases.

The man who signed Oasis paid a visit to the Black Country where he is determined to stage a music festival next year as the region looks to leave the Covid crisis behind.

Residents could find out soon whether plans to build on the Seven Cornfields will be given the go ahead, according to a campaigning councillor.

Camping weather is here at last – not that a few grey clouds will put off those looking to enjoy the great countryside in our region.

A father-of-two suffered "years of pain" following a series of botched operations at a Black Country hospital, prompting a review into treatment.

A festival organiser has said he is 'very confident' that events will go ahead this summer, despite fears of Covid cases rising.

Online banking and credit card fraudsters stole more than £10 million from people in the West Midlands, it has been revealed, with the region seeing the third highest level of bank account fraud in the UK.

Writing for the Express & Star, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick explains why opening a new Government department headquarters in Wolverhampton is an example of 'levelling up in action'.

The UK remains in a "good position" for Covid restrictions to end next month, a minister has said.

A new £5 million Screen School aimed at boosting skills in the digital arts and media industries is to be launched at the University of Wolverhampton.

A student mental health nurse is hoping to encourage local businesses to back her campaign to recognise people who do help other people in their local community.

It's a television scene that never fails to amuse: Del Boy and Rodney dressed as Batman and Robin respectively emerging from the fog in the comedy classic Only Fools and Horses.

Families are flocking back to the region's cinemas to enjoy a flick with their loved ones.

An interpretation board, containing the history of the Sensory Garden at Dartmouth Park as well as photographs and details of those who have helped raise funds and care for it, has officially been unveiled.

A building society is targetting young people in the wake of the pandemic to try to encourage them to get into the habit of saving.

Poundland is moving into the convenience store sector and has ambitions to open hundreds over the next three to five years creating new jobs.

A man who attempted to smuggle cocaine worth £420,000 into the UK has been jailed for nine years.

Results from Covid testing on bubbles in two school settings in the Lichfield district have all come back clear of the Covid-19 virus.

A police officer will make his first appearance in court next week after being charged with assaulting a man during an arrest.

A man who stabbed his brother to death after an argument has been convicted of manslaughter.

Logistics business Pallet-Track has opened a new hub to provide much-needed additional capacity, just yards away from the original Black Country facility it launched its fledgling business from 17 years ago.

A killer has been found guilty of manslaughter after a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death during a fight in a city centre hotel room.

The Government has ordered 20 million doses of the vaccine.

Wolverhampton's i9 building will be the home of a new government headquarters, ministers have today confirmed.

Chief executive of industry body UK Hospitality said it was ‘absolutely critical’ that the remainder of the hospitality sector is allowed to open.

Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were fatally stabbed by Usman Khan at an offender educational event in 2019.

A row has broken out between an MP and council leader over how a decision to create a controversial travellers site was reached.

Major toy retailer Toytown has opened its doors at Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

Dudley town centre's Very Light Rail (VLR) project has officially opened a test track facility for rail and infrastructure testing.

One new coronavirus death has been confirmed in the region, in the latest figures released by NHS England.

A mystery person in Staffordshire has become a millionaire after scooping £1,000,000 in a EuroMillions draw.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman was seriously injured in a stabbing in Wolverhampton.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said the Government was following advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team.

Two police officers are standing trial accused of an illegal attack on the former Premier League star.

The former prison inmate had long been of concern to authorities.

Steve Gallant, Darryn Frost and John Crilly used a narwhal tusk, a fire extinguisher and their bare hands to stop Stafford jihadi Usman Khan.

Former Wolves star Geoff Thomas's leukaemia fundraising cycle ride next month has been put in doubt after the French government imposed quarantine measures on arrivals from the UK.

People in Halesowen are being urged to get a Covid test – however mild their symptoms – after a rise in cases in the area.

Two men were stabbed and another shot in a daylight attack in Birmingham.

Renowned figures and respected members of the West Midlands business community have been announced as the first charity champions to join Acorns Children's Hospice.

The head of the UK’s largest charity care home provider said there are ‘huge concerns’ about the handling of the first wave of the pandemic.

A student from Walsall is studying computer science thanks to a bursary scheme with a digital giant.

Police are appealing for help from the public with finding a man wanted on suspicion of a serious assault in the Black Country.

A village's annual beer festival is set to return in the autumn after missing last year.

A former Parachute Regiment PT instructor who got drunk at last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup Festival has been jailed for launching a vicious unprovoked attack on a hospital worker who walked past him in the street.

Creative communications group DRPG received a Royal visit from The Earl of Wessex to find out how the business has coped with Covid-19 and continued its contribution towards sustainability.

The Government has planned to remove all limits on social contact from that date.

John Taylor Hospice has promised ‘a fabulous night out’ along with the chance to raise money for their fantastic cause.

A bone found in a landfill site in the Black Country is likely to be from an adult man, police have confirmed.

There are just over 50 days to go before the opening ceremony of the delayed summer games.

Referee Jack Taylor’s 1974 World Cup final stopwatch is set to cause a sensation at auction.

More than 10 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered in the Midlands – with the region leading the way with the largest number of people vaccinated in England.

Detectives have made a fresh appeal to find the mother of a newborn baby boy found dead in a Walsall canal last week.

Plans have been revealed for increased electric charge point provision in Sutton Coldfield town centre.

Nearly 20 arrests were made as part of a concerted effort in Staffordshire against County Lines activity.

A family have been inspired to support St Giles Hospice after losing a loved one.

“People have left the room, full of emotion, saying ‘thank you, I have got my life back’.”

The US president has ordered intelligence services to redouble their efforts to discover where the virus came from.

Researchers report that there were no cases of coronavirus after a randomised controlled trial at a live concert in Spain but called for more studies.

The sector says the lifting of all restrictions on June 21 is essential for pubs’ survival.

A driver who was caught hiding in a bin after ramming a police car with a stolen vehicle then running off has been jailed for eight months.

A rogue Black Country gardener who failed to complete work and left consumers out of pocket has been jailed.

Former chief adviser Dominic Cummings told MPs that Government claims about putting a shield round care homes were ‘complete nonsense’.

The front pages cover the nerves of the public as politicans respond to past and present pandemic problems.

The RCS has also called on the Government to commit to spending an extra £1 billion on surgery annually.

Matt Hancock told a Downing Street briefing on Thursday that the new figures showed the case for vaccination had never been stronger.

The Prime Minister said the country might have to wait for Covid measures to be eased.

The Government is calling on women in the Midlands to help influence a new health strategy. Writing for the Express & Star, Baroness Berridge, the Minister for Women, explains why it is vital that clear differences in health outcomes between men and ...

Only five per cent of reports of rape in the West Midlands since 2016 have resulted in a suspect ending up in court.

Tory MPs in the Black Country have hit out at Dominic Cummings, describing the Prime Minister's former advisor as a man with a vendetta who was "very much intent on revenge".

Birmingham’s new Lord Mayor, Councillor Muhammad Afzal, has taken up office after the mayor-making ceremony at the Council House.

Council chiefs are reminding people of the two different types of coronavirus testing currently available.

The Ladder for the Black Country is working closely with national social justice charity NACRO to provide young people with skills vital to their future.

An intrepid Dudley councillor is set to take a 15,000-ft leap of faith next month with a charity tandem skydive.

The big bank holiday getaway is expected to be supercharged this weekend with families desperate for a break after a year like no other preparing to head out onto the roads.

A police raid on a suspected cannabis farm turned up a much more unusual discovery than anticipated.

There have been 36,275 deaths involving Covid-19 in UK care homes since the pandemic began.

Around 14% of people aged 16 to 39 are also likely to have had both doses.

Figures show that coronavirus cases are rising in some parts of the country but hospital admissions remain low.

A forensic pathologist who reviewed the death of Dalian Atkinson has told a court the continued use of handcuffs in spite of unconsciousness probably contributed to the ex-Aston Villa star’s death.

A man has been charged with child abduction and assault after a boy was allegedly taken into a property in Birmingham.

Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were fatally stabbed by Usman Khan in 2019.

The figures reflect the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on applications and arrivals.

Tests peaked in March when secondary school students returned to school.

Over 232,000 Covid-19 vaccinations have now been given in Wolverhampton – with vaccine eligibility being extended to anyone aged 30 and over this week.

Flowers and tributes have been left outside a Walsall house where a man was found dead earlier this week.

West Midland Safari Park is highlighting the vital conservation efforts needed to protect rhinos during May half-term.

Hundreds of mini enthusiasts are expected to flock to Himley Hall – for a screening of the Italian Job for this summer's drive-in movie festival.

Health bosses say two Walsall GP surgeries which have been the subject of a raft of complaints over poor service have promised to improve.

Drayton Manor Park is getting ready for May half-term – with the anticipated return of the Fat Controller.

The company said group revenues jumped by 7.9% to a record £1.14 billion for the year to March 25.

Dozens of BT workers lined a street to pay their respects for the funeral of a Black Country colleague who died after being stabbed.

It was a mystery that had always plagued Steven Patrick ever since he was abandoned as a baby in Wolverhampton city centre.

Three in five pupils in England faced disruption to their learning when schools were open between September and December amid the pandemic.

The Office for National Statistics also found that the number of online job adverts has increased and diners took advantage of restaurants reopening.

Sunnier and drier conditions are set to remain moving into next week.