A commemoration is due to take place at the National Memorial Arboretum to remember all National Service veterans.

It will be held to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of National Service, which began in 1947 after World War Two and ended in 1963. During that time, more than two million men aged 17 to 21 were conscripted.

A bold masterplan to transform Birmingham into a greener city of more jobs, better transport options and higher quality, energy efficient new homes, is set to be unveiled at a conference next week.

The draft Our Future City: Central Birmingham Framework 2040 has been hailed as the most important strategy written for the city this century ahead of its launch by the council at UKREiiF 2023. Shaping the next 20 years of development this is a plan that will deliver unprecedented levels of new jobs, homes and green space.

Analysis from West Midlands law firm Shakespeare Martineau has revealed that 4 out of the 5 largest price comparison websites reference a common law spouse – perpetuating the myth that such a relationship status exists and putting people at huge financial risk.

MoneySuperMarket, Go.Compare, Compare the Market and Quote Zone – which have a combined estimated 22 million visits each month – allow users to select that they are in a “common law” relationship, despite the concept having no legal recognition or protection. Expert family solicitor Kit O Brien has warned that the incorrect language used on price comparison websites adds to the potential pain and heartbreak someone could suffer through believing they were protected by a “mythical relationship status”.

Hundreds of hardy competitors battled their way across a muddy riverbed to raise money for charity.

The Maldon Mud Race sees participants run, leap and crawl across a 400m (1,312ft) stretch of the River Blackwater in Essex at low tide as they look to be crowned the winner.

The launch of the RHS Show season across the UK was marked with the much-anticipated start of RHS Malvern Spring Festival at Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire.

Boasting five newly-created show gardens, alongside three feature gardens, this year’s festival had the theme of ‘Gardening For Everyone’ and offered something for the emerging green fingers right through to plant aficionados. Top of the award-winning designers for 2023 was Jamie Langland from Oxford Garden Company, who scooped not only a Gold Award, a Best Construction and the top accolade of Best Show Garden for The Wildlife Trusts: Wilder Spaces.

Rugby League legend Kevin Sinfield OBE stopped short of the finish at the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon to carry his friend over the line.

The event named after former Leeds Rhinos star Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019, saw more than 12,000 people take part. It was inspired by Sinfield, who pushed his former team-mate around the course in a specially-adapted wheelchair.