Evening news round-up for the Black Country and north Worcestershire

Shocking figures state nine inmates have committed suicide at HMP Hewell in the last the last four years – a number that is higher in only a handful of jails.

The Howard League for Penal Reform said it is aware of 102 suicides in jails in England and Wales this year, accounting for the highest since records began in 1978.

One suicide took place at Hewell, with a further three occurring in 2015, two in 2014 and three in 2013, putting the jail sixth for the number of inmate suicides since 2013.

To read more click here.

American burger giant Five Guys has opened a brand new restaurant at intu Merry Hill today (Monday).

The outlet is the first Five Guys branch to open in the Black Country and it has brought 35 jobs to the Brierley Hill shopping centre, including five managerial positions.

To read more click here.

Game-for-a-laugh staff at a Halesowen hair salon swapped short, back and sides for a wet, windswept break outside when they braved the elements overnight to raise money for Shelter.

The owner of Mia Sorella Hair Studio Katie Young convinced her staff Clare Harris and Nikki Jones-Hyde to camp out in front of the Witely Road salon from 7pm until 7am on Saturday night.

The three women soon realised how hard it is for homeless people on the streets in the winter as the wind and the rain lashed them.

To read more click here.

See who has been before the courts in Dudley. Click here for the latest court list.

A Stourport mother-of-five fears a cat poisoner is striking in the area after two of the family's moggies suffered "horrific" deaths, leaving her children heartbroken.

Carrie Newbery believes that Popcorn, a tortoiseshell, and three-year-old Ninja, a black tom, were deliberately fed antifreeze, although police say there is no proof of that.

Popcorn belonged to Miss Newbery's daughters Lillie, aged 11, and Ella, eight, and Ninja to Beth, 19 - all of whom were "devastated" at the loss of their well-loved pets.

To read the full story click here.

A Bromsgrove councillor has urged more women to get tested for breast cancer after beating it herself in a "lucky" escape.

Conservative Cllr June Griffiths, the former chair of Bromsgrove District Council and now councillor for Alvechurch South, decided to go for screening three years ago after seeing a random poster in a GP surgery.

The pensioner, who is over the age for routine testing, was diagnosed at a very early stage of breast cancer and had a mastectomy to remove it.

To read more click here.

With temperatures set to plummet, residents across the Dudley borough are urged to cautious when defrosting cars.

Dudley’s community safety partnership, safe & sound, is warning people not to leave keys in the ignition of unattended vehicles - even on their own driveways.

To read more click here.