The Peninsula Hotels is expanding its family programme this summer with the announcement of an exclusive partnership with the premium Norwegian baby brand, Stokke, providing a range of furniture and baby gear for families staying in suites at its 10 hotels worldwide. Additionally, enhanced Peninsula Academy programmes for families offer unique ways to explore each destination and keep the whole family engaged on holiday.

Requests for help to deal with rats have significantly fallen since the introduction of wheelie bins in Birmingham, according to new figures published today. Comparing city council data for the year immediately before and after the roll-out of bins, the figures for the city (based on the areas served by the council’s four refuse collection depots) show these have fallen between 20 and 30 per cent.

People in the West Bromwich area are to be given the chance to pass on ideas for improvements to their housing areas in a new ‘suggestion box’ scheme launched by the council. Special suggestion boxes are going into into local libraries and community centres to encourage people to pass on ideas to their local councillors. Councillor Steve Melia, town lead member for West Bromwich, said: "The suggestion box scheme is another way that people can tell us their ideas about what improvements and amenities they would like to see on their estates.

Stoke-on-Trent is set to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Potteries author Arnold Bennett in 2017. Bennett's literary legacy is vast.  He was a writer of books, novels, plays and philosophical musings.  He was a journalist, a travel writer, a raconteur and wit.  He was a resident of the Savoy Hotel, in London.  He gave his name to an Omelette (still cooked and served by many of the leading chefs and top restaurants in Britain today).  He lived in France.  And Stoke-on-Trent.  And London.  And he was mourned nation-wide when he died.

Two dedicated volunteers are in line for a top regional award after curating their first exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Julia Foster and Dr Andrew Yarnold are part of the gallery’s Educating Team volunteers who are in line for a West Midlands Musuems Development award. Both volunteers have been nominated for the Project Award for their work on The Drawing Year currently on show in until September 25. 

Midlands businesses are being asked to ‘step out’ in support of a local charity next month and raise awareness of domestic abuse. The Haven Wolverhampton wants firms to collectively take one million steps during October to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Any activity is welcomed, so long as the steps are counted and added to the charity’s overall tally.  There is also a 6,000 step community walk in aid of The Haven on Saturday, 8 October, which starts and finishes at the Molineux Stadium, for those who prefer to join in with an organised event.