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

BELL End is under the threat of a name change as campaigners launch a petition to stop the road from being a “laughing stock”.

But the infamous Rowley Regis street has received thousands of people come out in support of seeing the historic road keep its name.

An anonymous campaigner has started an online petition urging Sandwell Councilto change the name from Bell End to Bells Road.

A message posted on the ‘Bell End Road Name Change’ petition said the name of the road – voted one of rudest street names in the country in 2015 – can lead to children being bullied at school.

For the full story, click here.

PLANS for Dudley's multi-million pound innovation hub, which will lead the worldwide development of very light rail technology, have been submitted.

Dudley Council, in partnership with Warwick Manufacturing Group, has put forward a planning application for the new centre, which includes a pedestrian foot bridge to link the building to Tipton Road, the future Metro line and car parking.

If given the green light, council bosses say the innovation centre will be at the heart of revolutionising very light rail technology and will see Dudley leading the way globally.

When completed, the new building will include meeting rooms, laboratories, teaching facilities, exhibition and conference space, a large engineering workshop and 2km twin test tracks which will include test platforms.

Read more here.

ARMED police were spotted at a property in Rubery last night.

Officers were seen at an address in Kendal Rise Road at around 8.30pm on December 2.

Police said the incident was a ‘domestic disturbance’ and that a man was later arrested.

A spokesman said added: “Police were called to a domestic disturbance at an address in Kendal Rise Road, Rubery, at around 8.30pm last night (2 January).

Read more here.

A REDDITCH school has been chosen to lead a campaign empowering women.

Trinity High School has been selected to be the lead School to host Worcs Girls Can 2018, a celebration of active women who are doing their thing no matter how well they do it, how they look or even how red their face gets.

Funded by The National Lottery and developed by Sport England, the aim is to help women overcome the fear of judgement that is stopping too many women and girls from joining in.

In March Trinity will host a number of schools across Redditch, with the aim of encouraging more girls to take part in sport and activities.

Click here for more.

A YOUNG actor from Oldswinford has spent the last few months playing Tiny Tim in Scrooge the Musical.

Jode Hughes, aged nine, has been treading the boards at The Curve Theatre in Leicester alongside critically-acclaimed actor Jasper Britten and EastEnders star Danny Boy Hatchard.

The Oldswinford C of E Primary School pupil, who also attends The Theatre Workshop in Birmingham, auditioned for the part in August last year.

For the full story, click here.

A KIDDERMINSTER foster carer has spoken of the value of giving secure homes to children as council bosses look for more people to join the service.

More than 330 children and young people from across the county spent Christmas and the New Year in Worcestershire County Council fostering households.

The authority is now encouraging anyone interested in becoming a foster carer to get in touch with them.

For more on this story, click here.