THE heartbroken family of tragic Stourbridge teenager Alfie Rose say they are taking legal action after a coroner ruled his death could have been avoided if he'd received hospital treatment sooner.

Alfie, aged 17, died from complications of hydrocephalus – a build-up of fluid on the brain - at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 9 after an agonising few weeks for his family who tried desperately to raise their concerns over the teenager's health with medics.

To read the full story, visit the Stourbridge News website, here.

A RELIGIOUS leader in Cradley Heath, who fled Britain after being convicted of carrying out a repeated sex attacks on two young girls at a Dudley mosque has been jailed in his absence for eleven and a half years.

Hafiz Rahman, boarded a flight to Bangladesh after being allowed bail during the course of his trial and now "strenuous" efforts are being made to bring him back to the United Kingdom.

To read the full story, visit the Halesowen News website, here.

A MAN who led cops on a terrifying high-speed chase through Kidderminster streets with scant regard for the safety of others has been jailed for 15 months.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Mohammed Arif hit 109mph in his Vauxhall Corsa while speeding through Kidderminster to Stourbridge before driving around a children’s playground in Norton.

To read the full story, visit the Shuttle website, here.

A RUBERY man has been jailed and banned for life from keeping animals, after he failed to seek treatment for his emaciated dog, who had a huge tumour hanging from his jaw.

Victor Stokes, 54, of Devon Road, was convicted at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday, October 31 for causing unnecessary suffering to his English bull terrier Lenny.

To read the full story, visit the Bromsgrove Advertiser website, here.

BLACK Country comedy group The Fizzogs say their feet have only just touched the ground after singer Peter Andre invited them to perform with him.

The trio, comprising Sue Hawkins, Deb Nicholls and Jacky Fellows, were taking part in a flashmob at Birmingham's Grand Central Station on October 29 - wowing the crowds with their famous Dancing Grannies routine on the lower level of the station - when the Australian star, who was doing a promotion on the upper level, spotted them and Bhangra dance troupe Eclectic Dancers and invited them to join him.

To read the full story, visit the Dudley News website, here.

FIREFIGHTERS tackled a fire in Redditch on Saturday night, which had spread across 20 metres of conifer trees.

Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at 9.43pm on Saturday, November 5.

To read the full story, visit the Redditch Advertiser website, here.