The week's news - in pictures

A 49-year-old police officer was critically injured on Tuesday when a white van struck him at around 3:40am. The driver was pulled over by the victim in Sneyd Lane, Bloxwich as part of a routine search. When the constable stepped out of his squad car, the white van reversed into the car and then drove off. nextpage

Experts were baffled late Monday afternoon when the River Sow in Stafford turned bright green on St Patrick's Day. "It may be due to a natural fluctuation due to algae or something similar, or it could be a prank," an Environment Agency spokesman said. "But there are no dead fish and the ducks seem happy so we're satisfied there's been no environmental damage done."nextpage

Clouds of smoke blanketed one of Staffordshire's busiest roads on Wednesday after a car blaze. The car was completely burned out and the flames spread to the front of a terraced house in Watling Street. "It was accidentally started," Heather Garner, a spokesperson for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said. "The owner said that he has been having problems with the car and that it was probably some kind of electrical fault with it."nextpage

Landlady Tina Yeomans was delighted when the smart new sign above the pub she had just taken over was lifted into place. Until, that is, she realised it was spelt wrongly. Now the name of the Alexandra in Chapel Ash reads "Alexandria" following the gaffe by bungling signwriters.nextpage

Firefighters battled the 'highest' fire in some time on Sunday after being called out to tackle a house blaze in Low Hill, Wolverhampton. Stunned firefighters discovered that the fire had been caused by dodgy electrics rigged up to cultivate hundreds of cannabis plants. Police are now investigating the matter.nextpage

Engineer Phillip Tibbetts is flying the flag for the Black Country - by creating a standard he hopes will put the region on the official map. His standard, along with a coat of arms and tartan-style plaid pattern which he has also designed, will add weight to the campaign launched by Lynda Waltho calling for the Black Country to finally be recognised by the Ordinance Survey.