Friday evening news round up for the Black Country and North Worcestershire

Campaigners are celebrating what they believe is victory in their battle against plans to build a new convenience store on the car park of a popular Wollescote pub.

Dudley Council has approved an application by UKIP calling for the Hare & Hounds in Wynall Lane to be designated as an Asset of Community Value.

The application, submitted as part of the party's Save Our Pubs campaign, was made after owners NewRiver Retail confirmed plans were afoot to build a new Co-op store on the car park next to the pub.

To read the full story click here.

A brave Black Country mum whose bucket list wish to meet UB40's lead singer made headlines around the world has lost her battle with cancer.

Nicola Moore's story was seen by millions of people across the globe after Compton Hospice issued an appeal on social media for the 32-year-old terminally ill mum-of-two to meet her musical idol Ali Campbell.

Nicola was left feeling "alive again" after meeting Campbell and bandmate Astro in April but her family have confirmed on the hospice's Facebook page that their "beautiful daughter" has passed away.

To read more click here.

A Dudley school with an exclusion rate that is around ten times the national average has been put into special measures.

Physical attacks on pupils, "below average" attendance and "widespread underachievement" are just some of the reasons that led Ofsted inspectors to brand Woodside Community School 'inadequate'.

To read the full story click here.

A baby boom has led to a cuteness overload at Dudley Zoo.

The zoo has welcomed a pygmy marmoset into the world, just weeks after nine rare Humboldt penguin were born.

To read more about the new arrivals click here.

The Kidderminster Shuttle reports on a blind disabled amateur radio ham who harassed someone on the airwaves leaving them living in fear.

Nigel Hopkins almost had his license revoked and his radio equipment seized after repeatedly broadcasting hurtful things about a person The Shuttle has chosen not to name, while encouraging others to do the same.

To read the full court report click here.

The Redditch Advertiser reports on how a Redditch mum ditched the faddy diets to shed more than eight stone.

Dione Andrews, who has struggled with her weight since she was nine-years-old, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and could barely walk 100 metres without experiencing excruciating knee and back pain.

But she has turned her life around in just 16 months after signing up for a Slimming World class.

To read her story click here.

The Bromsgrove Advertiser reports on how residents are being given chance to have their say on the plans to redevelop the town's former fire station into retirement apartments.

McCarthy and Stone has shown an interest in the former station in Windsor Street, which became vacant after firefighters moved to their new premises - the combined police and fire station in School Drive in 2014.

To read more click here.