If you're just joining us, we've just heard from the police and fire service at a press conference in Solihull.

Here are the key details that we learned from Supt Richard Harris:

• West Midlands police are supporting the families of the four boys who fell into the icy lake on Sunday, three of whom have since died
• The fourth remains in critical condition in hospital

• There has been no contact from anybody to suggest anyone else is missing

• While there have been reports that more children were playing on the lake, no one else has been found so far
• But specialist crews with equipment will continue searching the water until emergency services are absolutely certain no one else is there
• Asked for more detail on the three boys who died, Supt Harris said that, on the request of their families, he could not provide any further details
• We also heard some more about the initial response last night, which saw police officers and firefighters enter the water in their normal uniforms in an effort to rescue the boys
• One officer, who attempted to punch through the ice to pull the children from the frozen lake, has been released from hospital after suffering symptoms of mild hypothermia
• The emergency services have appealed to people to avoid ice, warning parents and carers to remind children about the dangers of frozen bodies of water

Some more details on the initial reaction after the boys were reported to have fallen through the icy lake.

Supt Richard Harris says the first call came just after 14:30 GMT and officers arrived within minutes.

Richard Stanton, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Area Commander, says that the fire service also arrived quickly at the large lake, adding that it took some time to establish a point of entry.

Police officers went into the lake in normal clothes, as did the firefighters, followed later by others with protective clothing.

There are no injuries to firefighters, Stanton adds.

Supt Harris has called on members of the public to provide any information they have available.

He says that if anyone has any information on what happened on Sunday afternoon, or in the lead up to the events of the afternoon, they should get in touch with the West Midlands Police Force.

Richard Stanton, West Midlands Fire Service Commander, says the fire service did everything they could within the circumstances, but they are deeply disappointed by today's news and what happened to the children.

Richard Stanton, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Area Commander, tells reporters: "We are deeply saddened by the death of three boys who were rescued by our firefighters yesterday.

"The boys' deaths are a tragedy beyond words and the thoughts and heartfelt sympathies of everyone here at West Midlands Fire Service are with their families, friends, and the wider community."

He says the incident is a "stark reminder to us all" of the dangers of open water, particularly during the winter months.

"We would ask parents and carers to remind their children of the dangers of ice. Please help us to avoid this from happening again."

Supt Richard Harris says the families are "absolutely devastated" adding that "at this time of year in the run up to Christmas it adds to the tragedy".

"We are doing our very best to support the families," he says, adding that police are abiding by families' requests over how much information they want to be made public.

Supt Harris says officers went waist deep into the water, and one tried to punch through the ice. That officer was taken to hospital with mild hypothermia but has since been discharged.

Supt Richard Harris is asked by reporters at the scene about the ongoing work at the lake.

He says there were a number of different reports about the number of children who may have been on the lake.

He says there has been no contact from anybody to suggest there is anyone missing.

Harris says they'll stay there for as long as it takes to ensure they are "absolutely certain" that there is no one left.

Solihull Superintendent Richard Harris says police are supporting families, with specialist officers and colleagues linked to local schools, which are offering support.

He says his officers were quick to respond and worked closely with other services.

He says it is a joint effort and it is "incredibly sad" that he does not have better news to pass on this afternoon.

The news conference has now started. We're hearing from Solihull Superintendent Richard Harris from the Police Force.

He says he would like to express his deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones who have lost someone following this incident.

We're expecting a news briefing from West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Police to begin shortly, after three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 died after falling into an icy lake near Solihull on Sunday.

A fourth boy, aged six, remains in a critical condition in hospital.

You can watch the press conference on the BBC News Channel by clicking the play button at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

A website that lists public warm banks across the UK has been set up by a Norwich-based IT developer to help people find free warm spaces to offset the rising cost of energy bills.

Jason Baldry, 35, head of creative and IT for St Thomas’ Church, created WarmSpaces.org, external, where anyone running a warm bank across the UK can register and have their facility added to a map.

Baldry set up the website in his spare time in the summer over growing concern that people wouldn't know where to turn for heating help during winter.

“There were these headlines coming out about the cost-of-living crisis and energy prices. We could see that something was on the horizon,” he told PA news agency.

He said traffic to the website spiked as soon as the temperatures dropped.

“[People] are genuinely just crying out for help saying, ‘I’m on benefits. I can’t afford to heat my house. What do I do?' It’s a desperate time at the moment.”

An increasing number of warm banks have been opening up across the UK as the cost of living rises and freezing temperatures set in.

A warm bank (or space) is a public venue such as a library or church anyone can visit for free if they are struggling to heat their home.

Hundreds of schools have shut or have been forced to open late due to bad weather conditions today across the UK.

In England, a number of schools in council areas including Cornwall, external, Devon, external, Gloucestershire, external, Kent, external, Essex, external, Cambridgeshire, external and East Riding of Yorkshire, external are closed.

Further north, 15 are completely shut across the Scottish Highlands, external, as well as one in Aberdeenshire, external.

In Wales, some schools in Pembrokeshire, external and Caerphilly, external are also closed due to hazardous and icy conditions.

No schools in Northern Ireland, external have so far been listed as closed.

You can check which schools are closed here, external.

Image source, PA Media

As we've been reporting, three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 have died after falling into an icy lake near Birmingham yesterday. And a fourth boy, aged six, remains in hospital in a critical condition.

The local community has been responding to the tragedy by laying flowers near the scene.

On Sunday, emergency services were first called to Babbs Mill Park shortly after 14:30 GMT.

Members of the public and police officers initially went into the chilly waters to try to get the children out, before specialist firefighters reached them.

Image source, PA Media

It's nearly lunchtime and if you're just joining us, or in need of a catch-up, here are the latest headlines on the impact of the snowy and icy weather across the UK:

• Three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 have died after falling into an icy lake near Birmingham yesterday. A fourth boy, aged six, remains in a critical condition
• Local authorities are warning people to stay away from open water after the incident
• The Met Office issued warnings of ice, fog and snow as temperatures reached below freezing overnight for many parts of the UK

• Flights have now resumed at Gatwick and Stansted airport, which closed their runways on Sunday evening because of snowfall, though some flights have been cancelled and delayed
• There are disruptions across the country's railway lines, with delays and cancellations experienced throughout the morning - ahead of further disruption to due to strike action later this week
• For those driving, the AA says the snowy conditions have created a nightmare scenario for travellers, rather than "a winter wonderland"
• The National Grid has ordered two coal plants to begin warming up in case electricity supplies to the UK are disrupted because of the cold weather

We're now hearing that the police and fire service news conference from Kingshurst has been postponed to 12:30 GMT at the earliest.

We'll bring you the latest as soon as we get it.

We are expecting West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Police to hold a joint press conference at about 11:30 GMT.

It will be at the site of the Babbs Mill Park lake in Kingshurst, Solihull, where three boys are now known to have died after falling into the water.

You can watch BBC News Channel coverage by clicking the play button at the top of the page. Stay with us as we bring you what the emergency services have to say.

In a statement, West Midlands Police say that after being taken to hospital the three boys sadly could not be revived.

Here is the statement in full:

"Three boys have tragically died after falling into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull yesterday afternoon (11 December).

"The boys, aged 11, 10 and eight were rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water.

"Sadly, they could not be revived and our thoughts are with their family and friends at this deeply devastating time. We’ll have specialist officers offering them as much support as we can.

"A fourth boy, aged six, remains in a critical condition in hospital. We've been working alongside colleagues from the fire and ambulance services as we do all we can to support those involved.

"Searches of the lake are continuing as we seek to establish exactly what happened and if anyone else fell into the water.

"We understand how distressing this is for the families and the wider community. We would ask people to not speculate or share any video footage at this stage."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said his thoughts are with the families of the three boys confirmed to have died after falling into an icy lake in Solihull.

Speaking to Saqib Bhatti, MP for the local Meriden constituency, Sunak said it was particularly hard thinking about the case as a father of two young daughters.

The fourth boy, aged six, remains in hospital in a critical condition, West Midlands Police say.

Three boys have tragically died after falling into the lake at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull on Sunday afternoon, West Midlands Police have announced.

The boys were aged 11, 10 and eight years old and they were rushed to hospital on Sunday after being pulled from the water.

It is thought they had been playing on the icy lake.

You can read our developing story here.

Image source, Maryport Rescue

Local authorities across the UK are continuing to warn people to stay off frozen waters.

In Cumbria rescuers were called to a pond after reports of boys falling through ice.

Emergency services, as well as volunteers from Maryport Rescue, were called out to the Siddick Ponds area of Workington at 15:45 GMT on Sunday.

Rescuers spoke to a group of boys, one of whose legs had broken through the ice but he did not fall in.

Rick Ogden, assistant chief officer for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said that while frozen lakes and ponds may look solid from the surface, they can be "extremely dangerous and very unlikely to hold your weight".

Ogden urged parents to "please speak to your children to warn them of the potential consequences if someone goes through into the frozen water".

You can read the full story here.