A 19-year-old accused of killing a teenager in Smethwick has told jurors he was scared after being confronted by a group in a car.

A Stafford performance by the Russian State Opera has been cancelled following the invasion of Ukraine.

Teachers’ leaders say the former education secretary has been ‘rewarded for his failure’.

Gavin Williamson has described news of his impending knighthood as an "immense honour and privilege".

The funeral of long-standing Wolverhampton councillor Patricia Patten has been arranged.

A builder who hugely overcharged vulnerable and elderly women to pocket nearly £130,000 for work around their homes has been jailed for nearly five years.

People across the region are being encouraged to nominate inspirational friends and family to be Batonbearers.

The new NHS Gateway service could be rolled out across GP surgeries and NHS 111, with machine learning and artificial intelligence, a report says.

Labour’s vote share increased in the seat but almost three-quarters of voters stayed away from polling stations.

Green belt land in Dudley should be removed from a document setting out plans for thousands of homes across the region, scrutinising councillors have said.

Caring groups from across the region have gone the extra mile to help people in Ukraine, collecting donations and even travelling to deliver them personally.

More than 12,000 people across Staffordshire and the Black Country received financial support to self-isolate while coronavirus rules were in place, figures show.

The Disasters Emergency Committee has launched a fundraiser to help Ukrainians fleeing the country.

Pub group Marston’s has broken ground on its new headquarters in Wolverhampton.

A voluntary gardening group which looks after the historical grounds of a museum has issued a call for new members.

A memorial and a museum display to mark the Hamstead Colliery disaster are both in line for improvements.

A company specialising in workwear will continue with its sponsorship of the University of Wolverhampton’s Racing Team (UWR) through the 2022 season.

West Midlands Police say they are concerned for the welfare of a Birmingham man who went missing from home and has not returned since.

Downing Street announced that the Queen has approved the honour for the Tory MP.

No 10 said it would consider possible changes to speed up the process as ministers seek to pressure Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.

A shop worker who witnessed a teenager be stabbed to death has described the moment the alleged killer calmly walked away from the scene without saying anything.

A teenager has denied the murder of a 17-year-old who was fatally stabbed in Smethwick.

A teenager was chased in broad daylight by his attacker and stabbed multiple times inside the shop where he had taken refuge, a murder trial has heard.

The boss of Energy UK warned that the cap on bills could increase to £3,000 in October.

Athletes from those countries were originally told they could compete under a neutral flag, with criticism and the threat of a boycott following.

More than one million Ukrainians have fled since the invasion began a week ago – the swiftest exodus of refugees this century.

A 40-year-old man accused of shooting another man dead in Stourbridge has appeared before a judge.

A further four deaths from Covid-19 have been confirmed in the region’s hospitals, official NHS figures show.

Community groups and organisations across Stafford have the chance of getting funding as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a kitten with a puncture wound was "dumped out in the street like rubbish."

Kind-hearted Black Country residents have established drop-off points across the region in order for people to leave donations to help Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

Two drivers have died after a car was driven the wrong way down a dual carriageway.

Several temporary courts set up to cope with the backlog of court cases during the Covid-19 pandemic will stay open for another year.

People hoping to find work in the NHS are being urged to attend a live Facebook event being held as part of National Careers Week.

Four catalytic convertors with a value of £6,000 have been stolen from an industrial premises in Cannock.

A number of people fled from the scene of a crash which left a bus with major damage.

Family and friends gathered to remember a passionate community man as a bench was unveiled in his honour last week.

A campaign has been launched to have a pedestrian crossing installed on a busy through-road connecting two main routes into Wolverhampton city centre.

Children across the region are dressing up as their favourite characters for World Book Day.

Fatigue continues to be the most common symptom, followed by shortness of breath, loss of smell and then loss of taste and difficulty concentrating.

Around three-fifths of young teenagers in the West Midlands have received a first dose of their Covid-19 jab on average, official figures show.

Worried staff on a retail park fear they could be subjected to more abuse from irate motorists due to a bus lane causing congestion.

The average cost of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts was 152.20p on Wednesday as the cost of oil continues to rise due to the war in Ukraine.

The Disasters Emergency Committee has launched a fundraiser to help people in the country get aid.

About £25,000 could be spent on a by-election to elect the replacement for a disgraced former councillor – despite local elections being held just a few weeks later.

Plans have been submitted for the planned £24 million transport interchange in Dudley to link bus and future tram services in the town.

Work to create a new heritage centre in Stone is moving forward after councillors approved the building design and gave the go-ahead to appoint contractors.

A Staffordshire community group has caught 90 drivers speeding on busy town roads since the start of the year – including one motorist who was travelling at almost twice the 30mph limit.

Two people fled the scene after a car crashed into a tree and burst into flames in Walsall.

The broadcasting giant will ramp up spending on content and digital growth plans as it looks to launch new platform ITVX in the fourth quarter.

One of the longest council meetings in history has been held in Wolverhampton and did not finish until around 2.30am after councillors clashed on a string of issues.

The Tower Ballroom at Edgbaston Reservoir will be demolished after a bid to get the structure listed failed.

A 68-year-old woman alleged to have been murdered in Staffordshire died as a result of neck injuries, a post mortem has confirmed.

Wolves have revealed a profit of £18.4m million for their last financial year - with owner Fosun reaffirming their commitment to the club by effectively writing off £126m in loans.

Council tax will rise across Sandwell by almost five per cent next year in the biggest increase across the West Midlands.

Mobile phones and cash were stolen from a restaurant during a burglary in Cannock.

Pupils dressed the part to celebrate the official reopening of their library building following a refurbishment costing about £16,000.

Plans will soon be submitted to move some council staff in Wolverhampton ready for a new housing scheme at their current base.

YouTube is not just a young person's game – as 102-year-old Black Country broadcaster Eric Cull has proved.

A new Specsavers store has opened in Cannock.

Residents, councillors and volunteers have joined forces with a national conservation charity to help out during a series of community tree planting days.

Pest control and hygiene group Rentokil Initial has rebounded from the pandemic with an 17.9 per cent boost in operating profits, which have soared to £346.5 million for the full year.

People and business owners who've suffered flooding caused by the River Severn in Bewdley have been urged to claim a one-off payment of £250 or £1,000.

The polls in the seat held by Labour at the last general election open at 7am on Thursday.

The group also said it is ‘actively engaging’ with regulators and authorities over relevant sanctions.

There were smiles and tears as Lisa Potts was made Wolverhampton's first Freewoman in front of a standing ovation led by civic chiefs.

An event is being held to celebrate Brierley Hill and its heritage and culture in the town centre this weekend.

The number of Covid patients being cared for in hospitals across the Black Country and Staffordshire has almost halved in a month, new figures show.

House prices in streets bearing scandal-hit Prince Andrew's name have increased by more than 20 per cent compared to the previous year, according to experts.

A traditional baton relay representing the Queen has reached the halfway point of its journey around the Commonwealth.

A Shropshire charity for spiky hedgehogs has come up with a five-point plan to help our prickly garden friends this spring.

There may be a sense of hopelessness for many as they see Putin’s bombs rain down on innocent civilians in residential areas.

A former HS2 apprentice has explained why the apprenticeship pathway was the right career choice for her.

Mrs B has been helping hundreds of parents with home learning on her YouTube channel.

A masked burglar caused thousands of pounds damage and stole more than £300 in cash at a community centre struggling to recover from the effects of the coronavirus crisis.

A crash and subsequent fuel spill closed the M5 near Bromsgrove.

The Russian-Israeli billionaire has owned the Blues since 2003 and helped steer the Stamford Bridge club to 19 major trophies.

The online fashion giant said customers in Russia would no longer be able to order clothes from its website.

Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir said basic supplies like food and water were needed as well as more weapons.

Director-General told a press conference that oxygen supply levels were dangerously low due to the conflict.

Boris Johnson said: ‘Rarely has the contrast between right and wrong been so stark.’

The Government owns a £400 million stake in OneWeb, which is due to launch 36 satellites on Friday.

An Asda branch in Walsall has become the first in the West Midlands to offer delivery with Just Eat.

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has claimed he has been given the chance to buy the club.

Work has begun to convert a vacant city centre building into accommodation for vulnerable people and those with a history of rough sleeping.

Police are appealing for information concerning the whereabouts of a 21-year-old linked to a sexual offence.

The owner of Stafford's historic Sandonia Cinema has promised not to bulldoze it before getting planning permission.

Conservationists are worried an historic cinema will be bulldozed.

A UN resolution on plastic has been hailed as the most significant deal since the Paris climate accord.

Repairs to a major county road will continue during weekends for the next month

An ice rink in Staffordshire is set to close its doors at the end of the month in a move which has left skaters "devastated".

The Institute for Fiscal Studies pointed to a ‘crucial tweak’ in the policy’s supporting documents.

The broadcaster will also air a Ukrainian satire which stars and was produced by Mr Zelensky before his presidency.

Boris Johnson has pledged to publish a list of individuals deemed to be ‘associated’ with the Russian president.

Former postmasters whose lives were ‘ruined’ by the Horizon IT system scandal said bosses should be forced to apologise and pay back their bonuses.

It was not clear when new talks might take place — or what they would yield.

A computer-generated fly-through has given a glimpse into how the new tram network across the West Midlands will look.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete as neutrals and any medals will not be included on the Games table.

Lubov Chernukhin, whose husband was Russia’s deputy finance minister, donated £80,250 to the Conservatives at the end of 2021, new data shows.

A homeless man in Wolverhampton has been given a makeover by a hairdresser who wanted to give back to the community.