HERE’S a round-up of the top news stories from across the Black Country and North Worcestershire.

THE family of a Kidderminster teenager who died one year ago today in a tragic accident have paid tribute to their “inspirational son”.

Josh Jones, 18, was working underneath a car in Kidderminster when the axle stand feet buckled and the vehicle fell on top of him.

He suffered life-threatening injuries and after seven days in intensive care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, lost his fight for survival on Wednesday, May 28, 2014.

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His parents, Stephanie and Rob Jones, have paid tribute to their son on the first anniversary of his death.

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to raise funds to help a brave Stourbridge mum who nearly drowned when she tried to rescue a young boy in heavy surf in north Devon.

Deb Drew had been bodyboarding at Woolacombe Beach while on holiday with her two sons last summer when she selflessly attempted to save a nine-year-old boy who had got into difficulties.

But the act of bravery left her fighting for life.

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But in a bid to help - big-hearted friends have rallied together to start a fund to try and meet the anticipated costs of 49-year-old Deb's future care.

THE recently opened Kinver Community Fire Station will be under threat of closure if Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Services’ New Delivery Model is carried through.

A consultation period on the new model – which proposes to reduce the number of fire stations across the county from 33 to 15 – closed last Friday (May 22).

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority are now in the process of analysing the results of the consultation which will be considered at a meeting on July 13 2015.

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Kinver’s new £1.9 million station – which only opened in February – is not one of the 15 stations selected and would therefore have its emergency response removed.

A REDDITCH hotel has been awarded a prestigious TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award.

Southcrest Manor Hotel has been recognised as a top performing hotel as reviewed by travellers on the site, which takes into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted over a 12-month period.

To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

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Chris Osborne, general manager at Southcrest Manor Hotel, said that winning the award was a source of pride for the entire team and thanked guests who took the time to complete a review on the site.