HERE'S your evening news round-up for the Black Country and North Worcestershire.

A dedicated Dudley midwife has scooped a top regional award for helping an expectant mum through both heartache and joy during pregnancy.

Claire South has been named the Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2016 for the Midlands and East region - after being nominated by grateful Lucy Goodway from Halesowen.

The doting mum wanted to thank caring Dudley Group community midwife Claire for being her "guardian angel" on two occasions.

To read more click here.

big-hearted members of the public have rallied to help after arsonists targeted a much-loved woodcraft folk group, burning the club hut to the ground.

The High Acres Woodcraft Folk group has operated out of its Kinver-based hut for more than 48 years but after the vandals struck in December members were left with nothing more than dust and rubble.

Bob Sandall and his family, who poured thousands of pounds of their own money into the camp’s upkeep, were left heart-broken by the attack - but as soon as word spread about the blaze an online fundraising page was set up to fund the building of a new hut and more than £11,000 has been raised to date.

To read the full story click here.

Police have released a statement after further bomb threats were made to schools in Halesowen and Oldbury following a spate of similar incidents in the area in recent weeks.

Threats were made to Leasowes Academy, Perryfields High and Oldbury Academy this morning (Monday) but West Midlands Police confirmed the alerts were hoaxes.

It is the fourth week of threats made to schools across the Black Country and Birmingham areas and the matter has been referred to the South West Counter Terrorism Unit.

To read the full police statement regarding the drama click here.

Redditch councillors unanimously turned down a recommended expenses boost – opting to keep their current budget.

An independent remuneration panel recommended councillors increase their allowances by £56,500 to £194,500- about a 30 per cent rise.

But Redditch Borough Council's executive committee rejected the idea.

To read more click here.

A tattoo artist denied being responsible for starting the fire that killed his girlfriend in the flat they shared in Kidderminster in a bid to get re-housed.

The evidence was heard at Worcester Crown Court on the third day of the trial of 43-year-old Mark Moat, who has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of 22-year-old Sandra Nowocinska.

To read more on this ongoing court story click here.

Bromsgrove District Council is offering support to residents who want to clean-up their area for the Queen’s 90th birthday as part of the national Clean for the Queen campaign.

The district council will be loaning out litter pickers, providing special Clean for the Queen refuse sacks, collecting litter and offering advice to residents planning community litter picks.

To read more click here.