Three hundred violent football thugs from Staffordshire and the West Midlands will have their passports seized to prevent them from travelling to next month’s European Championships, it emerged today.

Olympics fever was officially ignited in the UK today when the iconic flame started its 70-day nationwide tour.

The son of a former councillor and his ex-business partner have been ordered to pay back a total of £234,000 for their part in a drugs production empire.

Fewer patients are having to wait more than 18 weeks to start hospital treatment compared with two years ago, according to figures out today.

A derelict factory in Willenhall that was targeted by arsonists and used as a cannabis factory has now been given a new lease of life after more than £40,000 was spent to convert it into a church.

Nearly 3,000 jobs are to be axed after the administrators of Clinton Cards announced plans to close 350 stores in the coming days.

A landlord and two members of staff were held captive as armed raiders stormed a Walsall pub in broad daylight.

Thousands of rush-hour drivers were held up today following a crash between a lorry and car on the M6.

Talks are being held to find out if a bus service running through Walsall, linking Cannock and Birmingham, can be saved after it initially faced the axe next month.

Vomiting bug norovirus is back at Walsall Manor Hospital and has closed two wards – the fourth time the virus has broken out at the site.