Cannock Chase Forest rocked as people came to enjoy live music at a series of concerts judged a success by organisers.

A man who raped a woman and blackmailed her over naked photos has been locked up for 12 years.

Unemployment fell again in the West Midlands in the three months to April.

Information is being sought from the public to help trace a man responsible for an armed robbery in a shop.

The TSSA has served notice to ballot more than 6,000 workers at Network Rail in a dispute over pay, conditions and job security.

The Foreign Secretary defended the widely-criticised policy as ‘value for money’.

A large-scale cannabis farm inside an unused school in Walsall has been uncovered by police.

The Met Office has warned of an "unusually" hot heatwave heading for the UK this week.

Molineux could become the "Wembley of the West Midlands" and help boost Wolverhampton with more "fantastic" opportunities like hosting England fixtures, a senior city councillor has said.

Police officers could move into Wolverhampton Civic Centre when the city's main police station closes for refurbishment, it can be revealed.

An MP has called on the Government to show its commitment to protecting green belt land amid concerns over a proposed battery facility in the Black Country.

Residents in the West Midlands had their 999 calls answered in an average of just three seconds in April – quicker than any other region in the country, new figures show.

A former Express & Star journalist who overcame serious illnesses to take gold at the European Transplant Games has died aged 50.

The West Midlands was second only behind London for foreign direct investment in financial services last year.

Central England Co-op is looking for up to 20 new staff for a community food store that is to open at Wolverhampton Railway Station.

Creative specialists at a Shropshire consultancy are celebrating after scooping a coveted national award in their milestone anniversary year.

The cost of living is hitting people in the pocket.

The Government's National Food Strategy has been met with mixed reaction, with some farmers warning "the devil is in the detail".

Campaigners against plans to tear down Dudley Hippodrome have launched a survey in a bid to gauge public support for keeping and refurbishing the venue.

Nine students from a Wolverhampton academy have brought their ten-week Junior Chef Academy course to a close with celebrations and Michelin-star worthy food.

A section of the Midlands Metro is set to be closed to allow for overhead lines work.

An art exhibition aims to explore the many uses and stories about bamboo.

Three senior judges dismissed the appeal, saying there was no error in the earlier decision of Mr Justice Swift.

Starters orders at Penkridge Fun Run will be given by Britain's Got Talent star Eva Abley.

A man stole a purse from the home of an elderly couple in Lichfield after claiming to be a former neighbour and befriending them.

An open air service to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands conflict is being held in Stafford this weekend.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Thursday.

Reporters on Monday saw a mass grave just behind a trench dug out for a military vehicle.

A piece of grass from Liam Gallagher’s Knebworth concert has been listed as sold on eBay for £65,900.

Very high UV levels are expected across parts of the South East between Wednesday and Saturday.

An appeal for information has been launched after a woman was allegedly assaulted by youths on a Staffordshire street.

A teenager has been left with serious injuries after being hit by a motorbike in Birmingham.

A woman has been left with potentially serious injuries after being hit by a car on a Black Country street.

An investigation is under way as firefighters continue to deal with a huge fire that broke out at a recycling plant in Birmingham.

The Severn Valley Railway has received an award for its ‘resilience and innovation’ - beating off competition from visitor attractions across the UK.

A Telford business owner is planning to bring the M54 carriageway at Shifnal Services to a stand-still next month as part of a nationwide protest at soaring fuel prices.

Police are searching for a man and a woman after a pensioner was conned out of thousands of pounds in a lottery scam.

A workshop about researching Worcestershire people from the past is being held by Worcestershire Archives and Archaeology service.

A lorry driver accused of causing the death of a Black Country nurse in a crash on the M6 will stand trial in November.

Time away has proved time well spent after a determined dietitian retraced her steps – and discovered her passion.

Charles Blackmore, who is the CEO of Audere International, said he and his friend received an ‘incredible reception’.

Figures from data firm Experian show the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts climbed to a record 185.0p on Sunday.

Figures from data firm Experian show the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a new high of 185.0p on Sunday.

A new music themed cafe is opening at The Symphony Hall, Birmingham, in Birmingham.

Fire crews were scrambled to Claverley to find a digger on fire.

A new translation service is being offered to women using maternity services at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital.

The site of a former social services centre will be transformed into a plot of affordable homes under new plans.

If you wanna dance with somebody, The Bodyguard is returning to Wolverhampton Grand next year for One Moment In Time.

A planning manager is attempting to break the official Guinness World Record for the fastest land crossing of Iceland.

Fuel exports to Europe also rose during the month, according to official data.

The Labour leader is facing an investigation by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone.

A Russian failure in the eastern region could lay the grounds for a Ukrainian counter-offensive – as well as political upheaval in the Kremlin.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said that all nine nuclear-armed countries are increasing or upgrading their arsenals.

A prominent member of Wolverhampton's famous Mander family has died in a care home in France, aged 98.

It was January 19, 1991, I was nine-years-old and watching ITV’s chart show.

A new report has urged council chiefs not to "destroy" precious green belt sites around one of the Black Country's most iconic parks.

An MP has accused council chiefs of having the "wrong priorities" over a temporary transit site where costs are expected to increase by almost 250 per cent.

A woman who offers music and dance workshops to champion mental health across Wolverhampton and the Black Country has been awarded an MBE.

A rare 1950s electric bread cart has been restored by a museum and will be on show at an event later this week.

The biggest reggae festival in the West Midlands has announced it is no longer free.

A driver fled the scene of an accident on crutches to avoid emergency services after ploughing into a shop in Great Barr.

Almost 500 student paramedics are being recruited to West Midlands Ambulance Service as part of an "ambitious" campaign amid major services pressures.

A competitor in the Ironman endurance race held in Staffordshire this weekend died after requiring emergency medical attention during the swimming portion, organisers confirmed.

With the shackles of Covid removed, it is an exciting time for shopping centre manager David Jackson.

Andy Street has called for a key study into brownfield land to be published "as soon as possible" after it was held up due to red tape.

An internship in memory of a talented Dudley photographer is urging up-and-coming photographers from the region to apply.

An historic church congregation on a mission to improve lives is holding a fundraising fair in aid of its £150,000 roof repair project.

Aldridge Running Festival returned after three years and was hailed a massive success.

The Ironman endurance race was back in full effect in Stafford as tens of thousands of people turned out to watch athletes complete the challenge.

A woman is in hospital after falling from a bridge above the A38 in Staffordshire and then hit by a HGV lorry.

Irresponsible fire starters have been warned they could cause serious damage at the Lickey Hills.

Firefighters had to carefully smash a car window to save a toddler who was locked in a car in Kidderminster.

Generous Wednesbury residents raised £740 at a fun day to fund a new gym in The Gambia.

Keane's long-anticipated sold-out gig deferred due to the pandemic finally took place on Saturday in the intimate forest setting of Cannock Chase as part of the Forest England Forest Live music series.

Brit-award winner Rag’n’Bone Man was finally able to grace an open air stage in Staffordshire.

A traumatised horse trapped in a van had to be sedated and then released by fire fighters delicately using a saw.

A driver who tried to outrun police was eventually enlightened by officers after they removed his car's illegal tinted windows.

A vehicle fire on the M6 has resulted in long residual delays between Wolverhampton and Walsall.

If the prediction is accurate, Britain will be hotter than Portugal, Jamaica, Costa Rica, the Canary Islands and Cyprus.

Dudley Police has arrested two men as part of a clampdown on domestic violence.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has written to the Competition and Markets Authority on the issue.

A charity is encouraging people to raise funds by hosting a tea party on the 74th birthday of the NHS.

Generations of children will be able to reflect on the life of former pupil who died protecting elephants after a memorial bench was unveiled at his old school.

Sports minister Nigel Huddleston MP has given a Wolverhampton Sikh temple's plans for a new kabaddi training centre his seal of approval.