David Cameron now seems to have turned his get-up-close approach to animal – or at least bird – welfare, writes John Hipwood.

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings expects his budget to be slashed as the Saddlers boss prepares for cash talks with chairman Jeff Bonser.

Banks’s chief executive today launched a scathing attack on the Government for soaring beer duty rates, accusing ministers of “jeopardising” any chance of pubs recovering from the recession.

Birmingham City continue the quest to move the Premier League’s success story onwards and upwards cautioned by the plight of football’s crisis clubs.

The rate that pubs are closing has slowed down but last orders were called at more than 2,000 locals last year, with the loss of 24,000 jobs nationwide.

Beer sales are showing signs of recovery as the industry starts to claw its way out of the downturn, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.

Midland hospitals are suffering from a drop in donations – with income plunging by up to £588,000 in a year.

More than half the workforce at a West Midlands car hire and repair company has been axed after the firm went into administration, it was revealed today.

Whitbread is back in talks over bringing a 120-bed hotel and restaurant to Walsall’s Waterfront after pulling out of the scheme in the summer.

Fuel prices have soared to their highest levels of the year – with drivers forking out up to 109.9p a litre at pumps in Stafford.