Guitarists donned their best band t-shirt, grabbed a spare plectrum and headed for Birmingham in their droves for a day spent trying out dream axes, amps, effects pedals and more.

Drivers using the M6 are being warned of delays this weekend as the latest stage of roadworks at Junction 10 takes place.

Neighbours say through the night motorway works are dazzling them with bright lights but admit it is necessary to tackle congestion.

A huge cannabis grow of 1,000 plants has been uncovered in Wolverhampton city centre - just a few hundred metres from a police station.

Dudley Zoo celebrated its 85th birthday this weekend with the animals getting in on the party, receiving presents to open.

The Queen’s Speech on Tuesday will set out Boris Johnson’s plans as he seeks to refocus his administration.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK would help Ukraine ‘continue to push back the Russian invasion and survive as a free and democratic country’.

A village turned out in force to salute its links with the RAF in a parade.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi insisted the Prime Minister remained an electoral asset despite the loss of almost 400 councillors.

Traffic is building up around Junction 10 of the M6 which is closed all weekend.

The RSPCA has issued a warning after an angry badger has been spotted harassing passersby at a beauty spot in Staffordshire.

Chainsaw sculptor Robot Cossey has been busy working on a number of creations in Walsall to be enjoyed by children and residents.

Thieves stole a firefighter's van from his drive in Walsall and used his own uniform to strip it for parts, before dumping the empty van in Wolverhampton.

A derelict community centre which once hosted family celebrations has been demolished after becoming a target for vandals and arsonists.

A Staffordshire school praised as ‘excellent’ in all aspects by inspectors is bidding farewell to its young headteacher after three years of outstanding results.

Two football teams are hoping to net £500 for a cancer charity in a friendly clash this weekend.

Female police officers, staff and volunteers have been honoured for their 'valuable contribution' in keeping Staffordshire safe.

Toby Neal casts his eye on the world of politics.

Dignitaries and veterans will attend a ceremony to commemorate VE Day on Monday.

The family of a diving legend have been awarded with a posthumous plaque in a world first.

The town had never seen anything like it. The queues snaked around the streets as thousands upon thousands of excited youngsters – and a fair few excited adults – queued to see the Black Country's newest tourist attraction.

Organisers of a village May Day fair are on the lookout for volunteers to relaunch the event after some committee members retired during Covid-19.

A schoolboy from Wolverhampton who has helped to raise more than £40,000 for 18 different charities has been nominated for a West Midlands Police Diamond Award.

Wolverhampton solicitor John Lishman, who has died aged 94, was propelled into the national spotlight by one of the most sensational cases of the 1970s.

The Conservatives lost seats in all parts of Britain while Labour and the Lib Dems both made significant gains.

A new Aldi store in Walsall opened its doors to customers with Paralympic GB judo hero Chris Skelley cutting the red ribbon alongside pupils from Croft Academy.

People in the West Midlands and Staffordshire are being urged to sign up to Walk for Parkinson’s in Sutton Park.

Tory MPs have welcomed a police decision to re-investigate Sir Keir Starmer over his lockdown beer and curry.

This was meant to be a set of elections where voters sent out a dire warning to Boris Johnson over his many perceived failings.

A blaze which saw plumes of smoke billow over Tipton is suspected to have been caused deliberately.

Boxer, Goliath and Tommy Boy are names that hark back to the days when an historic haulage firm ran its business on four legs.

Durham Constabulary said the year-old allegations will be looked at again after previously saying no offence had been established.

The Stourbridge Shuttle is out of service again - due to ongoing track repairs and potential vehicle defects.

A man has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder after a woman was stabbed outside an infant school in Walsall.

Results from the local elections in the Black Country are in.

The Conservatives remain firmly in control of Cannock Chase Council after the local elections – winning the seat long held by former Labour leader George Adamson.

Conservatives in Cannock Chase strengthened their grip on the council, having taken overall control for the first time ever last year.

Local Conservatives blame voter anger over lockdown parties in No 10 for a string of losses to the opposition parties.

The Conservative administration strengthened its control of Walsall Council after gaining a seat at this year’s local elections.

Plumes of smoke spotted in Tipton this afternoon were caused by a disused caravan and scaffolding board which had caught on fire.

Junction 10 of the M6 will close at 8pm tonight to enable the demolition of a 150-year-old bridge.

The Labour leader has been under pressure since footage emerged of him drinking with colleagues in 2021.

Some 2,000 Ukrainian fighters, by Russia’s most recent estimate, are holed up in a vast maze of tunnels and bunkers beneath the Azovstal steelworks.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, was ordered to serve half of his sentence in custody.

Walsall Council's elections saw the Conservative administration maintain control and reinforce it by taking one seat from the Labour Party.

Keir Starmer hails a ‘turning point’ for Labour as the party takes key London authorities from the Conservatives.

Police are hunting for a hit-and-run driver who left a man critically injured in a Walsall street.

Firefighters were called to a lane this morning after a van burst into flames.

The number of people who have received visas and are reaching the UK is growing, but the majority have not yet arrived.

An American official said Ukraine alone decided to target and sink the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet using its own anti-ship missiles.

Convenience chain McColl's has confirmed it will collapse into administration, putting 1,100 shop and 16,000 workers at risk.

Warnings have been issued to shopkeepers and business owners in Staffordshire following a spike in robberies and burglaries across the county.

New development funds for the television production sector have been set up for the West Midlands.

A “unique” takeaway cocktail bar has been granted a licence to open near West Bromwich.

Labour maintained its strong grip in Sandwell after winning almost all of the seats up for grabs as a red tidal wave swept across the borough once again.

Two arrests are believed to have been made after violence broke out in Lye with reports weapons were also involved in the incident.

A man originally from Stourport has been jailed for 21 years for the historical rape and abuse of children.

Eight charities and community groups have received a major boost thanks to grant support from the Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust.

Stefania is the most-watched song on YouTube among the 35 national entries that will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest next week in Italy.

Agatha Christie's play is making a come-back but members of the Nonentities cast at the Rose Theatre in Kidderminster are wondering whether there will be "no-shows" among the audience.

A school crossing patrol with 45 years of service was one of several council employees and volunteers recognised at an awards ceremony.

Labour chiefs declared things were "back on track" in Sandwell despite a growing Conservative opposition.

A new four-floor Sports Direct store is opening in Birmingham city centre this week.

A net-zero development in the West Midlands has been shortlisted for an award due to its sustainability credentials.

A new bakery and restaurant is set to be opened inside Wolverhampton’s historic Chubb Buildings.

A councillor who admitted an assault by beating charge in court earlier this year has praised democracy after being re-elected to Sandwell Council.

People have been urged to get out their sunscreen after the country enjoyed the hottest day of the year.

A disused second-hand car lot near Walsall town centre is set to be transformed into a new housing development.

Fresh plans have come forward to create flats on the site of Stafford’s former M&S store.

A Victorian former factory building in the heart of Wolverhampton is set to be converted into 48 new apartments under revised plans approved by council bosses this week.

Sofiia Klimina is staying with a couple in Camberley, Surrey, after fleeing the Kyiv suburb of Irpin.

Dudley Council remains in Conservative hands but Labour laid down a marker for the next two years by gaining three seats.

The order remained the same as both of the leading parties lost and won a seat at the Wolverhampton Council elections.