HERE are the stories making headlines in our part of the world, North Worcestershire and the Black Country.

The Shuttle reports seven, eight-week-old Chihuahua puppies and their mother have been stolen.

Minx and her four male puppies, and three female, were taken from a house in Usmere Road, Kidderminster, a week ago and have not been seen since.

Police are investigating the theft.

The full story, including pictures of the puppies, is here.

The Bromsgrove Advertiser reports that Bromsgrove planners decision to reject a controversial application to build hundreds of homes in Whitford has been upheld by the planning inspector.

The application, from Catesby Estates Ltd and Miller Homes Ltd, was to build 490 homes on land off Whitford Road.

The full story is here.

Meanwhile the Dudley News features on its website a story on the completion of a multi-million pound project to create 314 new homes.

Bulldozers began to raze 270 homes in North Priory to the ground in 2009 as part of ambitious plans to create a new estate featuring a mix of apartments.

The final house was recently completed and finishing touches have been made to the new estate.

The story is available here.