Wolverhampton boosted their survival prospects with a resounding 38-7 home victory over rock bottom Newcastle (Staffs) II in the Counties One Midlands West (West).

Alfie Parkes scored two tries for Wolverhampton - while Max Woodward, Connor Fereday, James Duroe and Woody Turner also crossed the line.

That helped them climb two points of the relegation mire with two games in hand over each of the bottom-three.

In a weekend of limited fixtures, which included no action from the top two-tiers, Clee Hill missed the chance to extend their lead

Fourth-placed Warley were condemned to a convincing 68-7 home hammering at the hands of Counties Three Midlands West (South) leaders Woodrush.

Second from bottom Cannock were left nine points adrift of safety after they were consigned to a 64-19 drubbing by Stone in the Counties Three Midlands West (North).

Tries for Philip Watson, Liam Bayliss, Thomas Parker and Daryl Fox propelled Stone into a 26-14 lead at the interval.

Adam Greaves added to the scoring shortly after the restart and Bayliss dotted it down for his second of the afternoon to take the contest away from Cannock.

A brace from Cameron McKay either side of solitary tries for Lewis Kemp and Alex Evans completed the rout for Stone.

Elsewhere, third-placed Lichfield II maintained their seven-point buffer over Stone in fourth with a 43-25 triumph at midtable Oswestry.

Handsworth inflicted a 72-0 demolition on Pinley to move to within just three points of the league summit in the Counties Three Midlands West (East).

A pair of hat-tricks for Christopher Bell and Daniel Malkin followed by tries for Matthew Bright, Daniel Edwards, Gavin Taylor, Jonathan Macey, Harry Openshaw and Daniel Bishop helped Handsworth pile the pressure on league leaders Broadstreet II.

In the Counties Four Midlands West (North), Bloxwich moved just four points behind leaders Whitchurch II after they were awarded an away walkover at rock bottom Alridge.

Fourth-placed Burntwood II were also handed a home walkover against third from bottom Newcastle (Staffs) III.

Meanwhile, Wednesbury dropped nine points behind Bloxwich, but boast a game in hand, after their home fixture against Whitchurch II was postponed.

Operating out of a former KFC, the bar is located in a prime city centre location offering live music and alternative beer choices

It's not an easy feat setting up a new bar in a struggling hospitality sector nowadays, but one West Midlands establishment appears to be bucking the trend with customers flocking to enjoy its live music and unique selection of beverages.

‌

Perfect Ale, Cask & Keg, better known by its acronym PACK, is situated smack bang in the middle of Wolverhampton city centre, in an old KFC, near the Man On The Oss statue.

‌

Established in November last year, PACK - whose name is a nod to local football team Wolverhampton Wanderers - is geared towards the over-25 crowd.

‌

READ MORE:

Match days have proven particularly busy for the venue - but general manager Andy Evans, aged 51, stressed PACK is not a sports bar and instead is catered towards being a live music and entertainment venue.

‌

You'll find Steampunk props lining its yellow walls, while upstairs is a pool table, table football, slot machines, alongside quirky pub signs gathered from across the country.

"One of the biggest compliments we have had is that we've created a space for people over 40 to enjoy - which is mad," said Andy.

‌

"I always aimed it at the over 25s, 30s really, because most of the people who drink the real ale and craft beer are in that age bracket.

"We've got such a big cask choice as well, a lot of cask drinkers are normally older. I didn't get into it until I was like 35.

"We've got nothing that you'd see in a chain pub, we've got Hofmeister, we've got Rattler, we've got Bristol Beer Factory, we've got Attic, we've got Belgian beer La Trappe.

‌

"When people come in and say, 'Have you got Carling, Stella or Strongbow', it's like no we don't have any of that."

While enjoying a pint or two, customers can lap up performances from local bands who regularly perform on Fridays and Saturdays.

‌

PACK is a fitting place to be a small music venue, given the building was formerly the Mike Lloyd Music shop before becoming a KFC.

In a stroke of luck, Andy, who used to shop there, found an old Mike Lloyd Music poster in his attic which is now on display inside the bar.

Showing how music is a major focus there, Andy revealed the bar's biggest investment was the sound system which was installed by the same man who wired up The Robin venue in Bilston.

‌

"The sound system was the most expensive part of the fit out," said Andy who also runs Codsall Beer Festival in Staffordshire.

"We've got a stage box in the corner, so what artists do, they haven't got to bring any speakers, they just plug their mixer into the stage box and it goes through the whole pub, ground floor and first floor.

‌

"There's a similar pub in Birmingham, Katie O'Brien's, and they have a similar set up.

"I thought if we can make it as easy as possible for musicians to play here, more musicians will want to come."

And more investments are in the pipeline.

‌

Andy says there are plans to set up a dedicated games room in the basement where people can play Dungeons & Dragons alongside a separate room to host bands and live music.

The bar is a welcome addition to Wolverhampton city centre which has been struggling with trade in recent years.

‌

"The reception has been good," said Andy, who used to work at Tarmac for 30 years before being made redundant.

"When you open a new venue, people come to see it, so it is hard to judge what you're actual footfall is.

"Then we had Christmas, so again it is hard to judge your footfall.

‌

"Then you have got January and February, so to be honest, opening in November is probably the worst idea I have ever had.

"To be fair, it was never my intention to open in November.

"When we got the lease, I wanted to be open by May last year."

‌

Andy added: "It does get busy on matchdays.

"The Halls influences our footfall as well. If something is going on at The Halls, depending on what it is, and what day it is.

‌

"Robbie Williams was here a couple of weeks ago, that was a Monday night which was busier than normal.

"If you have got a gig on a Friday or Saturday, it definitely increases our footfall.

"Wolves matches are lifeline for a lot of pubs in the city, to be honest.

‌

"I think for a lot of towns and cities, the home football games bring a lot of people to the city.

"It helps us loads. I think without that, as a business, we'd struggle."

Andy runs the bar alongside co-owners Nicc Bennett and Simon Monk.

A new survey has found that West Midlands councils face a £1.94 billion backlog of repairs to fix potholes and cracked roads

Transport bosses have vowed to continue tackling the pothole plague in the wake of a report suggesting funding is inadeqaute to tackle the problem in the West Midlands.

The latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey has revealed councils in the region face a £1.94 billion backlog of carriageway repairs to fix potholes and cracked roads.

The survey, commissioned by the Asphalt Industry Alliance, also said only 46 per cent of the local road network is reported to be in good condition.

The Government allocated £7.3 billion for road maintenance between 2026/27 and 2029/30, including £1.6 billion for 2025/26 to fix potholes and resurface roads.

But the survey said, despite an increase in budgets, each council would have needed an extra £117 million last year to maintain their network to their own target conditions and prevent further decline.

During a visit to Birmingham, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “The Labour Government is doubling the amount of money available to councils to repair potholes and fix our broken roads.

“We gave an additional £500 million in this financial year taking the amount to £1.6 billion.

“There has been a decade of underinvestment under the previous Conservative Government and it is going to take time to fix.

“We’ve seen biblical levels of rain at the beginning of this year. That has had an impact on the quality of local road services.

“We’ve given that extra money and we’re also making sure councils spend that money wisely.

“Get it right first time, don’t have the contractors having to come back to it but also invest in sensible things like preventative road resurfacing which can offer better value for money in the long term.”

Last month, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker doubled funding to make £240 million available to Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton to cover highways maintenance for five years from April 2027.

He said: “We continue to invest in our transport network across this region, we’ve got additional funds – twice what we’ve had before – to address the regional problem of potholes that blight people’s journeys everyday.

“We are taking a very holistic approach to addressing our transport issues. We’re investing in our buses, our rail network and we’re investing in our Metro too.

“The Government have allocated £2.4 billion to address my strategic transporty priorities in the region – that’s a great settlement. It’s more than we’ve ever had before.

“I will continue to work with thew Government and our local council partners to make sure every part of our transport system works for the people who live there.

“We want the roads to be safe for people to travel on. We’ve allocated twice as much as we have had previously to address potholes.

“I’m now working on big strategic infrastructure developments to improve connectivity across the region.”

Birmingham City Council’s road repairs are funded through a separate private finance initiative process.

There is train disruption today (Monday 16 March) between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton due to damage to overhead electric wires.

A rescue train and a broken down service were both stuck between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton this morning due to damaged overheard wires, blocking the line and causing disruption to services.

Both trains have now moved and are no longer blocking the lines, however disruption has continued into the evening.

West Midlands Railway reported the issues at 4.48pm, saying that services are suspended between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton.

As of 7.33pm, the West Midlands Railway website reported that 'fewer' trains are now running on the line, with delays expected until the end of today.

A West Midlands Railway spokesperson said: "Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Birmingham New Street, fewer trains are able to run on the line towards Wolverhampton.

"Train services through this station may be subject to disruption on all routes.

"Disruption is expected until the end of today."

Lines to Coventry via Birmingham International, Cross City, Hereford via Worcester, Shrewsbury via Telford, and Walsall are also affected, with delays to travel being reported on all.

West Midlands Railway reported that ticket acceptance is in place for National Express West Midlands services.

Earlier today National Rail said: "Safety checks are being carried out to assess if there is damage to the overhead electric wires in the Birmingham area.

"Until these have been completed, trains running between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton may be delayed, cancelled or diverted via an alternative route.

"Disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day."

It is affecting multiple train operators, including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway.

National Rail advice for Avanti customers reads: "Trains may divert via an alternative route to continue their journey. Where this occurs, these services will not call at Birmingham New Street.

"If your train is cancelled, your ticket is valid on one of the two Avanti West Coast services immediately before your booked train, or one of the two immediately after."

For CrossCountry customers National Rail says: "Trains may divert via an alternative route to continue their journey. Where this occurs, these services will not call at Wolverhampton.

"If your CrossCountry train is cancelled, then you can use your ticket on the two CrossCountry services operating before and the two CrossCountry services after your cancelled service."

No West Midlands Railway services will run between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton via Sandwell & Dudley.

Some trains may be able to divert via an alternative route (via Bescot Stadium). This route takes about 10 to 15 minutes longer than normal.

Trains which are able to divert will not be able to call at Coseley, Tipton, Dudley Port, Sandwell & Dudley, Smethwick Galton Bridge or Smethwick Rolfe Street.

Major train disruption will hit Wolverhampton this weekend as services have been axed due to engineering work.

Engineering work is taking place between Birmingham New Street and Sandwell & Dudley on Saturday 14 March and Sunday 15 March, and it will close all lines.

No Avanti West Coast trains will call at Sandwell & Dudley, and no CrossCountry trains will call at Wolverhampton.

Affected Avanti West Coast customers will be able to use West Midlands Railway rail replacement buses between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton, calling at Sandwell & Dudley, at no extra cost.

Avanti services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street will run to an amended timetable, running two trains per hour.

And services between Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central and Edinburgh will be diverted between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton to run via Bescot Stadium and Aston. This will increase journey times.

Affected CrossCountry customers are advised to use alternative train services at no extra cost for travel to and from Wolverhampton.

London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway train services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street will also run at a reduced level of frequency and will not call at Smethwick Galton Bridge or Coseley.

Services between Walsall and Wolverhampton will run between Walsall and Birmingham New Street only.

Services between Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street and Rugeley Trent Valley will run to an amended timetable and will call additionally at some stations between Birmingham New Street and Walsall.

Services between Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury will run between Sandwell & Dudley and Shrewsbury only and will call additionally at Coseley and Tipton.

London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street will be slightly retimed between Northampton, Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street.

Rail replacement buses will operate between Birmingham New Street and Tipton, and Wolverhampton calling at all intermediate stations.

No Transport for Wales trains will run between Wolverhampton and Birmingham International.

Affected customers can use their ticket at no extra cost on other train operators and replacement bus services between Wolverhampton and Birmingham International.

National Rail said: "Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey."