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Highways chiefs today said the closure of one of the busiest stretches of motorways in the country is vital for congestion-busting work.

A giant new conference room painted bright green and costing £800,000 has been completed at controversial Black Country arts centre The Public.

Thousands of tons of extra grit are being delivered to councils in the Black Country and Staffordshire, as preparations for winter get under way.

A £52,000 warning system is to be installed on a blackspot bridge in the Black Country after more than 20 lorries crashed into it in five years.

It is usually seen as the favourite tipple of pensioners in flat caps who sit in the corner of the pub, but traditional cask ale is undergoing a makeover.

They give a fascinating glimpse of Black Country working class life in the 1930s.

Couples can once again take to the floor for a popular Black Country ballroom dance that stopped when its venue of 70 years shut in the summer.

Stiliyan Petrov will remain Villa’s captain under Gerard Houllier – but the new manager is eager to see a line of leaders emerging from the dressing room.

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo insists he has no hard feelings towards Paul Robinson – after they settled any differences at the school gates.

Wolves chairman Steve Morgan has vowed the team will come good and tipped new-boy Stephen Hunt to prove a major hit.