The Leader of Sandwell Council has offered his condolences to the families of victims of the terrorist attacks that took place across Paris on Friday night. Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Barbara Price, will be writing a letter of support to the Mayor of Le Blanc-Mesnil - a town in the north eastern suburbs of Paris - which is twinned with Sandwell.

World Heritage Site and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace will once again play host to the UK's premier picnic concert series as the Battle Proms returns to Woodstock on Saturday 16 July 2016.

Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to the men and women of the Armed Forces, past, present and future, at Wolverhampton's Observance of Remembrance. The annual ceremony began with a parade led by the Band of the West Midlands Fire Service through the city centre featuring detachments from ex-Service, Regular, Reserve, Cadet Units and representatives of other local uniformed organisations, before dignitaries gathered at the Cenotaph in St Peter's Square for the traditional Drumhead service.

Households are being warned not to give their home’s water pipes the cold shoulder this winter and wrap them up warm before temperatures plummet. The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) has joined the Met Office and WaterSafe in urging consumers to take action now to protect their pipes from freezing and bursting in the icy grip of winter.

West Midlands Police's plans for policing have been described as "outstanding" by the national police watchdog. The latest report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for England and Wales (HMIC) also highlights the tougher cuts being faced by West Midlands Police, compared to the rest of England and Wales.