´óÏó´«Ã½

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith says Wales international defender James Chester is looking back to his best.

A group of men attacked another with what's believed to be a machete in Birmingham last night, police said.

Officers were called to reports of a violent assault in Balsall Heath, West Midlands Police

The scene was made safe for ambulance workers to attend, it said.

One man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Researchers in Coventry have been given a share of £50m to develop and use artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnosing cancer.

The government funds will allow University Hospital staff to digitise images taken during scans and biopsies as well as develop products that can help increase the rate of early diagnosis.

Investment from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is helping to fund the research programme at five centres across the UK.

Business secretary Greg Clark said: "AI has the potential to revolutionise healthcare and improve lives for the better.

A public meeting will take place later organised by campaigners fighting to save Brandon Stadium near Coventry as a motor sport venue.

Speedway or stock car racing hasn't taken place at the stadium since it closed in November 2016.

The new owners have applied to build more than 130 homes on the site.

The local MP and the leader of Rugby Borough Council will also attend tonight's meeting at the Brandon Hall Hotel.

Danny Shaw
´óÏó´«Ã½ Home Affairs Correspondent

After falling for several years, knife crime in England and Wales is rising again.

The West Midlands has the second highest rate of knife crime after London, with 65 knife offences per 100,000.

The explanations for rising knife crime have ranged from police budget cuts, to gang violence and disputes between drug dealers.

Some have also cited the steep decline in the use by police of stop and search.

´óÏó´«Ã½ News has been looking at some of the figures, using nine charts on the rise of knife crime in England and Wales.

Thousands of children are having their tonsils removed unnecessarily, costing the NHS millions of pounds each year, according to experts.

Image source, Getty Images

Researchers from the University of Birmingham found seven in every eight children given tonsillectomies were unlikely to benefit from the operation.

NHS England has already said it plans to cut back on this surgery, along with other "ineffective" treatments, where the harms outweigh any gains.

Children may be given a tonsillectomy after several bouts of bad sore throat.

Shots were fired at a Dudley house last night, damaging the property, police said.

No one was injured in the incident, said West Midlands Police, which happened at about 21:20 on Richmond Road.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

After a misty start for some it should be cloudy day with the chance of light showers and highs of 15C (59F).

Vanessa Pearce
´óÏó´«Ã½ News

Welcome to our live service for Tuesday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, and .

Seven in eight children's tonsillectomies are unnecessary, costing the NHS £36.9m a year, experts believe.

The Smethwick Engine began pumping water back up a series of canal locks in 1779.

Aston Villa return to winning ways as Jack Grealish and James Chester score the goals to beat Bolton 2-0.

Two men are taken to hospital with smoke inhalation following a fire in Stoke-on-Trent.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

Matt Lee
Reporter, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Stoke

The widow of a children's football coach who inspired teams worldwide wants his guide to keeping sport fun - dubbed Russ' Rules - to be his legacy.

Dad-of-two Russ Powell, 38, from Sandyford, Staffordshire, had terminal cancer and wanted to use his final months to promote enjoyment and fair play.

His list urged youngsters not to gloat after a win and to end each game with a handshake.

Mr Powell estimated his rules had been adopted by 2,000 clubs around the world before his death on Tuesday.

Police body camera footage is being analysed by the police watchdog as it investigates the shooting of a man by armed police in a street.

Image source, Google

West Mercia Police says the 53-year-old man was shot in Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, on Sunday morning.

The force had said the incident happened after a man was seen with a handgun in nearby School Lane.

This afternoon, the Independent Office of Police Conduct

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Stoke

A house fire in Stoke-on-Trent this evening's being treated as arson by the fire service.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

They say they had to rescue one person who was stuck in the kitchen of the home on Bradbury Close, Stoke-on-Trent, and a man was given oxygen.

Firefighters say it took them around an hour to get it under control,

It should be dry throughout the night, with some mist or fog in places and lows of 7C (45F).

A few of the stories appearing in the Crewe Chronicle this afternoon:

Two teenagers aged 14 and 15 were shot on their way to a family Halloween party in Birmingham.