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Allen Cook
BBC News
Crowds are gathering in parts of Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent as both cities wait to find out if they'll be crowned UK City of Culture 2021.
Image source, Coventry BIDCoventry
Image source, Keele UniversityStoke-on-Trent
BBC Entertainment and Arts
The birthplace of Philip Larkin (pictured) and the place where Josiah Wedgwood revolutionised pottery are going head-to-head this evening over the title of UK City of Culture.
While three other cities are on the shortlist, for us on the Midlands page the focus is on Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent.
Both have strong cultural links - as well as Mr Larkin, Coventry boasts electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire and is host to the UK's largest free family music event, the Coventry Godiva Festival.
While Stoke-on-Trent has famous sons in pop star Robbie Williams (pictured) and Lemmy from Motorhead It also has pottery and the Staffordshire Hoard at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.
Both they and Paisley, Sunderland and Swansea will find out who's won for 2021 on BBC One's The One Show from 19:00.
Allen Cook
BBC News
It's a nailbiting evening for people in both Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry as we wait to find out if either will be named UK City of Culture in 2021.
The winner will be announced from 19:00 on the One Show on BBC One and, ahead of that, we took a look at five notable things about Stoke-on-Trent:
UK City of Culture: Five things about Stoke-on-Trent
Allen Cook
BBC News
This evening marks the culmination of months of work by groups in Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry, bidding to become UK City of Culture 2021.
Both areas are on a shortlist of five for the title which will be revealed from 19:00 on the One Show on BBC One.
Image source, PAThe other three are Paisley, Sunderland and Swansea and all are hoping to emulate the success of Hull (pictured), which is UK City of Culture this year.
Research suggested nine out of 10 Hull residents experienced a City of Culture event in the first three months of the year, while being City of Culture has boosted the local economy by an estimated £60m.
Early in the bidding process, the BBC's Nick Higham took a look at both Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry to weigh up their winning credentials.
The MP for Rugby Mark Pawsey has described today's announcement of hundreds of job cuts at the town's General Electric site as being "of real concern".
He said he'd recently met with representatives from the company and local workforce, as well as government ministers.
He said he'd "impressed upon them the need to support the work that GE does within Rugby and how this work benefits many other local businesses in the supply chain.
"There will of course be a consultation period and I am confident that the workforce will make a strong and compelling case for Rugby. I will continue to do everything within my power to ensure that manufacturing jobs are retained locally.”
Claudia Berry
BBC News
The owners of a Worcestershire pub say the future of their business is in doubt after their application to expand was turned down by planners
Image source, GoogleMalvern Hills District Council rejected the proposals for guest accommodation and a deli shop at The Bear and Ragged Staff at Bransford., external
They turned it down because the owners also want to build three new houses to fund the development.
Quote MessageAs everybody knows, pubs are facing quite difficult times and challenges from various other supermarkets and offering dining for two deals, selling alcohol at very cheap rates etc so we need to find ways to diversify and also to find more business."
Lynda Williams, Pub landlady
Margot Martini's rare blood cancer prompted a worldwide appeal for stem cell donors.
Read MoreAllen Cook
BBC News
With Staffordshire braced for heavy snow from tonight and into the weekend, the county council says it's prepared with 20,000 tonnes of stockpiled salt.
Image source, Staffordshire County CouncilThe authority says it'll also get more salt from Cheshire as needed by its 40 gritters.
The council says it'll grit 43% of the 3,700 miles (6,000km) road network in "severe conditions" and has stocked community grit bins for use on other roads.
These are the main headlines on the Burton Mail today:
Questions over funding are continuing to delay plans for a big shake-up of hospital services in Shropshire.
The chief executive of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, Simon Wright, has said he is confident nearly £300m can be found to pay for the changes.
But NHS England says it can't allow the plans to go out to public consultation until it has firmer guarantees.
Concerns about the funding were raised back in July when an independent report into the so-called "Future Fit" proposals was published and this isn't the first time NHS England has asked for more detail.
The plans being put forward would involve emergency care being based in Shrewsbury, while Telford would become a base for planned care.
Health bosses in Shropshire had wanted to put the plans out to public consultation in October, but now say that won't happen before the new year.
We might be expecting ice and snow tomorrow in the West Midlands but some places today have seen some windy and blustery conditions.
Here are two photos from BBC Weather Watchers Ella Mentry in Eaton Bishop and Laura and Glenn in Delph.
Image source, Ella Mentry
Image source, Laura and GlennBirmingham and Solihull have been chosen by Sport England as pilot areas to promote active communities across England.
Image source, Sport EnglandAbout £100m of National Lottery funding will be invested into 12 projects across the country, as part of a bid to make it easier for people to access sport and physical activity.
The leader of both local councils have welcomed the initiative.
Worcester Warriors' head coach Carl Hogg says they plan to make changes to their squad for Saturday's European Challenge Cup match against Oyonnax at Sixways.
Image source, Getty ImagesWarriors' coaching staff felt part of the reason for the below-par showing against Sale Sharks on Friday was the result of a run of tough games.
Quote MessageOur sessions have been much more accurate, much more intense and physical and that's not just based on the group who start but based on those who don't start and that's a key thing."
Carl Hogg, Worcester Warriors' head coach
Allen Cook
BBC News
With heavy snow forecast to hit Stoke-on-Trent from tonight, people in the city are being urged to be careful how they park. , external
The city council's gritting team say they are "ready to roll" but say if people are double parked on roads that they grit, they need "a minimum of 3.5m (11 feet) width" to get through.
Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Genevieve Tudor
Journalist, BBC Shropshire
A reindeer is believed to have been stolen from a house at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire.
Her owner, Diana Vincent, said three-year-old Raziel was taken from a field outside her house between 05:00 and 06:00 today.
Image source, Severn Edge VetsThe police have been informed and Severn Edge Vets are helping with the search.
Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke City defender Kevin Wimmer says he's hopeful his knowledge of this weekend's opponents Tottenham will be helpful when the two teams meet at Wembley.
Image source, Getty ImagesWimmer joined Stoke from Spurs in the summer and is likely to start in the absence of the injured Bruno Martins Indi.
Quote MessageThey have so much quality, you can't give them a yard. If they get the chance to score, nine out of 10 they will score so we have to be on our game, we have to be focused."
Kevin Wimmer, Stoke City defender
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
Snow flurries will start moving in from the north with temperatures dropping to 0C (32F).
There's a yellow warning for snow and ice throughout the early hours of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Stoke's Jese Rodriguez is disciplined by the club after leaving the bench early during last weekend's win over Swansea.
Read MoreA dog whose jaw was ripped off after being used for badger baiting is set to have her first Christmas in a new home after being adopted by a veterinary nurse.
Image source, RSPCAThe Parson Russell terrier, named Elf, was found wandering in Walsall a year ago with horrific facial injuries, and with a transmitter collar associated with people who take their dogs badger baiting.
Elf was eventually adopted by a member of the RSPCA team from the Burton upon Trent branch, and will spend Christmas on her owner's Staffordshire small-holding.
Quote MessageShe might look a bit odd, but she is the sweetest little dog, and I’m so glad I rehomed her. It’s awful to think about her terrible past, but she is very much loved now.
Amber Rogers, Owner of Elf
National League side Chester sign Port Vale keeper Sam Hornby and Crewe striker Daniel Udoh on one-month loan deals.
Read More
