Automatic payments taken out of people’s benefits should be halted as claimants battle soaring costs, the Work and Pensions Committee said.

Pubs and restaurants group Marston’s has seen food sales weaken in the last four weeks due to the recent spell of hot weather.

MPs have accused the Department of Health and Social Care of failing in its duties to be “transparent” about meetings its ministers had with Randox.

A hospice charity shop has mistakenly sold a unique painting of local celebrity Jasper Carrott - made with his own sweat, hair, blood, and spit - for just £20.

Brick group Ibstock, which has sites in Cannock and Aldridge, saw pre-tax profits grow by 32 per cent in the first half of 2022.

Police are appealing for help to find a 14-year-old boy missing from Walsall.

The cheapest petrol station in Wolverhampton has slashed its prices again as the cost of fuel continues to drop.

A bhangra star who recovered from a coma has died days after leaving hospital.

Latest official police records have shown that vehicle theft has increased by a third in the last year, as West Midlands Police has urged people to support their Car Crime Campaign.

An actress from the Black Country has been cast in new children’s television programme Phoenix Rise.

A charity caring for a French Bulldog who was used as a 'breeding machine' before being rescued is looking to find her forever home.

It was the straw which broke the camel's back.

A trainee firefighter with West Midlands Fire Service is set to swap her fire helmet for an American Football one, as she prepares to represent Great Britain in the IFAF Women's World Championships.

People are hanging up their tool belts after months of home improvements during the pandemic, according to retailer Wickes.

A man allegedly attacked a conductor and several passengers while on board a tram in West Bromwich on Tuesday afternoon (July 26).

A traumatised holidaymaker to Walsall has vowed never to return after falling into the town centre canal basin.

Midlands Air Ambulance bosses are anticipating a rise in demand with more than one million people expected to descend on the region for a summer of sport.

The Foreign Secretary looked visibly worried and could be heard saying ‘oh my god’, as she walked off the stage.

Sandwell Council will give "a lot of support" to a plan to list The Hawthorns as an asset of community value to prevent a quick sale.

Tamworth Castle Grounds will be the venue for a special event to mark the start of the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

A man is set to appear in court charged with causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving in Bridgnorth.

Two men have appeared in court charged in connection with a street that left three men seriously injured in Wolverhampton.

The cast of iconic TV series Fame are set to reunite for three special charity concerts in Birmingham.

Automotive metal components group Gestamp saw sales increase by 19.5 per cent in the first half of its financial year to £4.09 billion.

A much-loved teacher has called it a day after teaching at the same school for more than 40 years.

Taxi drivers are threatening to blockade the Aquatics Centre during the Commonwealth Games as part of their year-long dispute with Sandwell Council.

Train strikes could cause chaos for the Commonwealth Games this weekend as West Midlands Railway has announced that no services will run on Saturday.

After being made redundant from a Black Country steelworks, Bill Wood decided to try his luck abroad, working in the oil-rich state of Saudi Arabia.

Hundreds of members of the GMB union could go on strike at Walsall Housing Group after members overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action in their campaign over pay.

Black Country Metro passengers can finally travel back in time after a delayed art exhibit on local trams has gone live.

Police are investigating after a man allegedly posed as an Amazon delivery driver to break into a home in Walsall.

A bhangra star who recovered from a coma has died days after leaving hospital.

Commercial property group Bond Wolfe’s first in-room auction in two-and-a half years raised more than £26 million in sales.

Planning permission has been granted to develop an enterprise hub in a historic Tamworth building.

Concerned mums and residents have taken to Facebook to express their “horror” at exposed bones and skulls left in a public right of way by badgers.

Dudley Zoo has welcomed a second baby orangutan within just four weeks – another glimmer of hope for the critically endangered species.

An access solutions manufacturer is recruiting more than 40 employees as part of the opening of its new UK headquarters on the i54 Business Park in Wolverhampton.

A student police officer who allegedly sent "abhorrent" sexual messages to female colleagues and is accused of following a fellow student home would have been dismissed if he had not resigned, a misconduct hearing found today.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a mass brawl in Wolverhampton.

An improvement plan is under way for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services in Wolverhampton which were heavily criticised by watchdogs.

A councillor will ask chiefs whether they would be open to fans pursuing a move to list The Hawthorns as a community asset of value to prevent a quick sale.

Two more banks in the Black Country will close by the end of the year as the exodus from the high street continue in the region.

West Mercia Police has been awarded an additional £3.76 million to tackle neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls across the area.

The outgoing Chief Constable of West Midlands Police has blamed youth violence in the region on deprivation, gangs and drugs.

The next Chief Constable of West Midlands Police has been named after a rigorous selection process.

Petrol prices at a Black Country filling station have been slashed by 16p per litre as the cost of fuel continues to go down.

Youngsters from a city athletics club are preparing to play an active part in the Commonwealth Games.

A pensioner's disability-adapted car has been petrol bombed in Walsall.

The Commonwealth Games are set to bring the eyes of the world to the region when they start tomorrow.

Detailed work is underway to give the West Midlands more powers and money from central government.

More chaotic scenes descended upon West Midlands football after trouble broke out at an under 18s match.

Another rail strike is taking place tomorrow, causing disruption for passengers across the West Midlands.

Get all the latest travel information for the Black Country and Staffordshire.

Stunned Queen fans watched on in disbelief on Saturday when a fight broke out between two audience members at a performance of We Will Rock You.

Way above Cradley a once-in-a-lifetime event happened as a golden weathercock was installed on the top of St Peter's Church.

A long-term international research project studied the effect of taking resistant starch, which is also found in oats, cereal, beans and cold pasta.

Fastenings group Trifast enjoyed growth in both sales and profits for the year to the end of March.

A Netherton couple have been busy maintaining their stunning "award-winning garden" despite no longer having a competition to enter.

Pleas have been made for a stronger police presence in a Wolverhampton estate following a 50-person brawl.

Rail strikes are set to cripple the region's train services again this week, as the bitter dispute between rail unions and train companies remain unresolved.

Hygiene ratings have been released for food businesses across the Black Country and Staffordshire, with one cafe receiving a rating of zero out of five, the worst possible score.

Leading property developer and investor Barberry Industrial is closing in on completion of its £35 million speculative development of three market leading mid-box manufacturing/logistics units at a prime west midlands business park.

A manufacturer that produces a range of car parts has invested in new equipment as it looks to boost its outputs, after securing a significant new contract.

A man suffered serious leg injuries when he was repeatedly stabbed during an incident at a Cannock nature reserve.

Amazon is to hike the price of its Prime delivery and streaming service due to "increased inflation and operating costs".

A recently opened Staffordshire pub has won a national award for its design.

Well kept beautiful parks across the West Midlands and Staffordshire are among a record number to retain prestigious Green Flag status for high standards.

The Conservative Party must get a new leader in place in a dignified manner.

Lidl has signalled its intent to build a new superstore in place of a Walsall hotel and bar by kicking off the planning process.

Two children have been interviewed by police after a hedge blaze near a pensioner's home.

A scrutiny panel is set to decide whether to back the West Midlands police and crime commissioner's preferred choice for the role of chief constable.

A borough came together to celebrate a day of hosting the Queen’s Baton Relay.

Black Country Living Museum has started its programme for the summer holidays with family friendly hours.

It was a day of landmark celebrations for South Staffordshire, as hundreds of people united to mark a total of four events.

A Black Country war hero who saved thousands of Jews from Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War has been honoured with a blue plaque.

The money will be paid in two stages – the first in October and the second next February.

Wolverhampton's Cabinet Member for Adult Services went "back to the floor" to find out how social workers are coping with the workload.

Drought could see restrictions such as hosepipe bans brought in.

Resorts World Arena in Birmingham is expected to be among the front-runners to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.

A woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after she fell from a bridge on the M42 motorway near Junction 5.

The Queen's Baton Relay continues its tour of the Black Country today when it visits towns in Sandwell.

A "disrespectful" Skegness artisan cheese-maker has caused consternation by "reinventing" the Black Country's own delicacy – the pork scratching.

The fish are facing a range of threats, including climate change, pollution, and weirs and dams that stop them travelling upstream to breed.

An injured driver was taken to hospital after being found in a ditch near a suspected stolen car that had crashed into a fence.

Birmingham Airport is forecasting a bumper couple of months as the school holidays commence.

Black Country comedy legend Sir Lenny Henry will carry the Queen's Baton through Birmingham ahead of the Commonwealth Games kicking off.

In 1949, Stan Cullis made history as the youngest manager to win the FA Cup, in a pulsating 3-1 victory over Leicester City.

Developer St Modwen plans to deliver up to 350 new all-electric homes on the historic MG Rover site that was once home to the Mini in Birmingham.

The Commonwealth Games is becoming one of the hottest tickets in town, with many events beginning to sell out.

More than 500 young people took part in The Admaston Juniors Summer Football Tournament, organised to celebrate the Telford club's 50-year anniversary.

A party of eight who had been drinking on a Welsh mountain sparked a five-hour rescue operation.

The region's combined authority would be forced to pay back a grant of more than £200million if the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro line is not built in full.

Lenny Henry has a starring role in a new Lord of the Rings spin-off.

Aldi said store assistants will see with the minimum pay increase to £10.50 an hour, and £11.95 for those in Greater London.

Walsall Council has moved to quash speculation that baby graves have been vandalised at a cemetery after old CCTV footage appeared on social media.

A team of knitters and crocheters in Sutton Coldfield have wowed residents with a brilliant post box creation to celebrate the Commonwealth Games.

There was a warm feeling of pride in the air as hundreds of people came out to see the Queen’s Baton Relay in Wolverhampton.

It was Dudley's time to shine this afternoon as the town and wider borough hosted the Queen's Baton Relay ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Organisers of efforts to make refugees feel welcome have attracted a £4,000 Rotary Club grant to purchase much need equipment and cover the cost of essential goods.

It's no wonder 15-year-old singer/song writer Belle Kumble-Rose writes music with a message of strength through adversity.