Conservatives dealt blow in Staffordshire as Labour make gains

Aidan Burley MP and his girlfriend, councillor Jody Jones, look glum at the end of the election count at Cannock Civic Centre

The Conservatives have suffered a blow in Staffordshire as Labour made gains in the county council elections.

Fire crews tackle huge Kingswinford barn blaze

Firefighters tackle the barn fire last night

A blaze ripped through tons of straw and destroyed a barn in the Black Country in a suspected arson attack.

Two hurt as cars collide in Wolverhampton

The scene of a crash on the A460 Cannock Road with the junction of Posser Street and Woden Road..

A crash involving three cars blocked a busy road through Wolverhampton causing delays for rush-hour drivers.

Cannock Hospital will not be forgotten, promise

Angry protesters get ready for the second meeting with the administrators of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, last night

Administrators of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust have pledged not to forget Cannock Hospital campaigners after announcing a public meeting for the town next week.

Six West Midlands extremists admit planning attack on EDL rally

Mohammed Saud, of Smethwick with a nail bomb and partially-assembled pipe bomb found in the car

Six Islamic extremists from Birmingham today admitted planning a bloody attack on a far-right rally in a plot that failed only by chance despite one of them being under surveillance.

Police officers reign in stray horses on Dudley street

Horses by the High St, Pensnett, between the junctions at the Plantation and Corbyns Hall Road

Three horses spotted roaming free on a busy road in Dudley today had to be rounded up by police.

Thousands take to Sandwell streets for vibrant Vaisakhi procession

Tens of thousands of people brought a blaze of colour and noise to the streets of Smethwick for the annual Vaisakhi celebrations.

Jez Moxey: We're sorry for Wolves 'disaster' season

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey this afternoon issued an apology to fans for their disastrous season – and said chairman Steve Morgan is still committed to the club.

Mallard design genius Sir Nigel Gresley is honoured

Tim Godfrey with the coveted Heritage Engineering Award presented to the Mallard on the anniversary of designer Sir Nigel Gresley’s death

Sir Nigel Gresley has gone down in railway history as the design genius behind a world-beating icon of British of speed – the sleek, beautiful, and blindingly fast Mallard locomotive.

Birmingham New Street station revamp is taking shape

Workmen putting the finishing touches to the revamped concourse at Birmingham’s New Street Station today, which opens on Sunday

Workmen are today pictured putting the final touches to the first stage of Birmingham New Street station’s new £600m concourse which opens to the public on Sunday.

Dudley dream-maker Steve grants 500th wish for youngsters

Emma Belfort with, left, Steve Ford and, right, Safe4Life’s Ian Haycock and Glenn McKenzie

From eating cream cakes on a speedboat to diving into a mountain of toilet rolls – no dream is too big for charity volunteer Steve Ford who has made hundreds of children’s wishes come true.