Passengers have been given advance notice of a major programme of improvements on the West Coast Main Line.

An historic public house in Birmingham, designed by renowned architects and built before the advent of electricity, has reopened to the public following a £100,000 restoration.

The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum present ‘Paula Rego: Visions of English Literature’, an exhibition showcasing the internationally renowned Portuguese-British artist Paula Rego’s remarkable printmaking practice, taking a deep look into the literary influences that have inspired the artist's works.

The Tell and Share Project, which aims to equip children with important public speaking skills, is currently running every Saturday at Ladywood Leisure Centre, in Birmingham.

Fear of public speaking, and the anxiety that comes with standing in front of an audience to give a speech, affects up to 75% of the population. Against that backdrop, Samuel Jonathan, founder of the Royal Centre for Public Speaking, set up The Tell and Share Project, which offers public speaking training for all ages.

The project’s designated course for youngsters is called “Public Speaking for Children”. It features a hands-on coaching course intended to build children's confidence and equip them with communication and presentation skills.

Natalie Pyatt from the Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, which operates the centre, said: “We’re proud to support such a worthwhile project.

“Having the confidence to step up and speak with confidence is going to be such a help to these children, not just during their education but later in life, when they enter the world of work.” Samuel Jonathan added: “I always say to people, that you cannot change how you were born but can change how you perform!

“With the right coaching, such as offered by the Tell and Share Project, children can overcome shyness and lack of confidence. And the transformational results of this public speaking course are amazing!

“I would encourage all local parents to consider signing their children up for our public speaking course at Ladywood Leisure Centre. This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss, and you’ll be supporting your child to succeed!”

Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, in partnership with Serco Leisure, operates 10 facilities across the city, on behalf of Birmingham City Council.

Highway improvement works are set to begin at Burnt Tree Junction in Dudley, in the West Midlands, on Monday 10 November 2025 until summer 2026.

Construction has reached a key stage at Twycross Zoo as the building frame of its £25million Global Conservation Centre is now complete, marking a major milestone in the creation of this pioneering centre.