A father convicted of a double murder pleaded with a judge to spare his "perfect" co-defendant son a heavy jail term - as they were handed life sentences for two crossbow killings.

A father, his son and their family friend have been given life sentences for killing two men - including a relative - with a crossbow as a cannabis farm got burgled.

It was a chance encounter that led to the brutal death of a 31-year-old father who had gone out to buy pizza with friends.

A woman who was told she could die if she became pregnant due to cystic fibrosis has become a mother for the first time – after one of her closest friends acted as a surrogate.

This Mother’s Day will be a very special one for a family, who will be celebrating following their only child’s cancer recovery.

Are you team Meghan? Or team BP? You might even be team PM. That’s Piers Morgan, by the way.

St John Ambulance is looking for some additional volunteers to join its team as part of the charity’s efforts in support of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

A range of projects to make town cleaner, greener and safer are nearing completion.

Chocoholics can get their hands on a metre high Easter egg which is being raffled off to support one of the region’s oldest charities.

Plans have been lodged to build a 20m-tall 5G mast close to homes in a Black Country town.

A council has cut down small trees and shrubs around a pool - attracting criticism from a conservation group.

More than a third of care home staff in parts of the region have not yet had the Covid jab, according to new figures.

Council bosses in the Black Country have forecasted multi-million-pound deficits in their upcoming budgets due to the Covid pandemic.

Three men have been jailed for a motorcycle robbery which resulted in the death of their friend.

See the latest figures for coronavirus cases and deaths in your area.

A mother has described her family's heartbreak after their beloved dog was stolen from their home.

A public appeal has been launched to help locate a Dudley man who has gone missing.

A Birmingham man has been jailed after he pleaded guilty to communicating false information about a hoax bomb threat.

A man has been found guilty of the murder of 31-year-old Karl Gallagher outside a Smethwick shopping centre.

A worker at a Wolverhampton care home was told to stay at work after testing positive for Covid-19, health inspectors found during a recent visit.

Guinea pigs and rabbits have become an unexpected casualty of Covid – as unwanted pets are being left at a Walsall animal sanctuary.

Calls to urgently reconsider free car parking in Rugeley have been turned down – despite community leaders saying action is needed now to help the town’s businesses on their road to recovery.

A beer garden which pub owners say is needed to save their business after the Covid pandemic will have to be closed off.

The return of all children to Walsall schools this week has been hailed as a success with teachers and pupils delighted to be back.

Fines and reprimands have been given to participants of a poker party in a pub and a birthday bash in an empty shop.

Like many other businesses, Walsall micro brewery AJ Ales feared the worst when coronavirus struck last year.

A further 13 coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in hospitals in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.

Police are appealing for witnesses after two teenagers were robbed in Kidderminster.

A first-time mother has held her baby for the first time after battling coronavirus while she was pregnant.

Aerial photographs have shown work is continuing on a new £13.5 million care home which will support almost 90 residents in Staffordshire.

Schools in Staffordshire are set to benefit from £18 million of funding to refurbish classrooms.

A cannabis factory worth an estimated £2 million has been raided by police at a Sandwell industrial unit.

A Smethwick man accused of murdering his wife after a relationship breakdown “lied” to her about having blood cancer in an attempt to win her back a court has heard.

More than 100 packs of counterfeit cigarettes have been seized from supermarkets in Kidderminster.

Shopping centre operator Hammerson saw losses more than double in 2020 after it was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

A family-run farm has been celebrating the skilled work of its butchers.

The Voice winner Blessing Annatoria, has announced the release of her debut album – just five months after winning the hit show.

A Labour government would aim to create new jobs for young people in a bid to tackle soaring rates of unemployment in the West Midlands, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

Since he was elected Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer has been keen to stress that his party cannot get into power by relying on the failings of the opposition.

Weston Park, the landmark stately home on the Shropshire/ Staffordshire border, will be welcoming visitors to the estate this Easter.

A former Second World War underground military complex will be converted into a bonded warehouse and wine store.

Up to 50 jobs are available at a new 66-bed care home ahead of its grand opening next month.

Residents are being reminded they must seek approval before carrying out any work involving streams, brooks and culverts on their land.

A creative pensioner has penned a catchy tune to help lift the spirits during the pandemic.

An auction celebrating the 25th anniversary of Pokémon has broken the £100,000 mark.

Up to a quarter of the region's urban areas could be covered by trees under plans unveiled by a mayoral candidate.

A councillor has welcomed proposals that will criminalize illegal encampments on land.

Here's one for the bucket list...

A 23-year-old man from the Black Country was arrested for a number of offences in a Staffordshire town.

Counterfeit tobacco and a weapon were seized following a series of raids on several shops.

More than 500 cannabis plants were seized during an early morning raid at a house in the Black Country.

Travel was disrupted, homes were damaged and trees uprooted after heavy winds and rain hit the region.

West Midlands Police has been accused of a systematic failure to deal with an attack on two Bangladeshi brothers in Walsall.

Teenager was arrested at his home last June.

A further 14 coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in hospitals in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.

The owners of a Dudley pub have been ordered to pay more than £10,000 – after environmental health officers found evidence of mice at the premises.

Housing bosses in Wolverhampton are taking steps to cut the cost of providing temporary accommodation for homeless families – after spending more than £1.7 million on B&Bs and hotels over the last 12 months.

Education bosses in Wolverhampton are battling to help under-qualified people improve their chances of getting work – after latest figures revealed the city had the seventh highest rate of adult unemployment in the country.

"Help save the Rose, you know it makes sense" - that's the message from actor John Challis, patron of the popular theatre in Kidderminster.

Staffordshire Police's Chief Constable Gareth Morgan has announced he will be retiring later this year – after 33 years in policing.

Two men will be sentenced next month after admitting dangerous driving offences – following a crash which saw a car smash into a Staffordshire store.

Stopping young people falling into the clutches of gangs as the region emerges from lockdown will be top priority for police, says Sir David Thompson.

Road improvement projects totalling £69 million are being lined up to improve life for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians across Staffordshire.

Bosses running hospitals in Staffordshire have revealed that while a programme to vaccinate staff against Covid is “running extremely well” they do not know precisely how many workers have received the jab.

Campaigners fighting to protect Shropshire's green belt from large-scale housing development have hit out at two Black Country councils pushing for thousands of homes to be built there.

Trees are to be planted across the Black Country thanks to a £183,000 cash boost from the Woodland Trust.

A star chef competition to help students stay creative and expand their skills has been launched.

The Prime Minister has given his backing to a new network set up to support people with mental health issues.

A violent woman has been jailed for biting a police officer – after initially trying to avoid arrest by hiding her true identity.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has made an impassioned plea to fans to get their Covid-19 jab as soon as they’re invited to have it.

A wanted man is making his way back to prison after police found him hiding at an address in the Black Country.