The organisers of Shrewsbury's Winter Festival have got more than 200 exhibitors appearing over Saturday and Sunday, but their decision to book a giant snow machine might be unnecessary.

The event in The Quarry, is being held inside heated marquees which are linked together by tunnels, so people don't need to go outside.

Beth Heath from Shropshire Festivals said organisers had learnt the lessons of previous years, when the park had become muddy for visitors and also said there would be a giant snow globe for people to take photos inside.

Rumeana Jahangir
Reporter, BBC News Online

The freezing weather overnight and today means all of our councils have had their hands full with gritting main routes with rock salt.

For many local authorities, that will have mean getting in thousands of tonnes of the stuff from the Winsford Mine in Cheshire.

Image source, Compass Minerals

Last year, the BBC took a look inside the place which is the UK's largest salt mine to find out how get the stuff out of the ground.

This piece included the history of the mine, how they keep councils supplied and how they also store organisations' records and archives.

Allen Cook
BBC News

It's been a day all about snow and, with more icy conditions forecast this evening and into the weekend, pretty much all our local councils say they'll be gritting again this evening.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

The Stoke City defender Bruno Martins Indi is unlikely to play for the Potters again this year.

Image source, Getty Images

At his press conference, manager Mark Hughes says he's suffering from a groin injury.

He also gave updates on other players ahead of Stoke's match at Tottenham.

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

A coroner says he'll appoint an independent paediatrician to look into the care given to a boy from Redditch who died at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, after paramedics were allegedly denied permission to take him to his local hospital.

Image source, Family photo

Callum Cartlidge, eight, suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in March but paramedics were allegedly told to take him 18 miles (29km) to Worcestershire Hospital and not nearby Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

At today's pre-inquest review, the coroner also announced the inquest in April will hear the instructions given to the paramedics.

As snow sweeps across parts of England here are some of scenes of the wintry weather.

Birmingham’s plan to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games have been backed by the city council with a promise of a bigger Alexander Stadium and thousands of new homes in Perry Barr.

At a special meeting today, it revealed the cost would be about £800m with three quarters of that money coming from the government.

A final decision on whether Birmingham will actually host the games isn't expected until next year.

Still long delays on several roads in Shropshire.

BBC News Travel

Traffic coming into Shrewsbury off the M54 is slow because one lane is blocked on the A5.

It's been caused by an accident between junction seven and the Preston Island.

BBC News Travel

There are still huge delays on the A49 near Shrewsbury this afternoon with Highways England saying numerous lorries have broken down.

Earlier, a whole section had to be shut after several vehicles crashed or skidded, external due to the snow.

Coventry Choreographer Louis Lewinson, who was part of the City of Culture bid team, said the win "means absolutely everything" to young people in the Coventry.

With an average age of 33, the city is seven years younger than the UK average.

"There is so much that Coventry has to offer", he said, "there is no fire in youth like there is in this city, I can assure you", he said.

In a struggle, Nabil Barbhuiya and a police officer fell down two flights of stairs.

Local businesses and arts organisations in Coventry hosted the City of Culture judge Phil Redmond at a party today.

Rob, the owner of Dashing Blades barber shop at FarGo Village said the decision was "going to change everything".

Alison Johnson is an artist who has owned a studio there said “I think this will bring a whole new dimension to Coventry.”

“I just don’t think that people have had the confidence for arts and culture and it’s just opening lots of avenues.”

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

From heavy snow in Shropshire this afternoon through to a sprinkling of snow and sunshine in Birmingham this afternoon - we've seen it all over the past few hours.

We love this pic taken in Kingswinford earlier by Joanna. Simply beautiful.

Image source, Joanne Noble

And this was taken in Hawkstone Park, Shropshire "pretty as a picture" and not a foot step in the snow to be seen.

Image source, @Hawkstone_Park

Amanda White, external took this photo while visiting Telford Steam Railway. The steam must go on, come rain or shine.

Image source, Amanda White

National League bottom club Solihull Moors agree an undisclosed-length short-term deal for left-back Jamie Reckord.

Hereford Times

These are among the main headlines on the Hereford Times website today:

• Snowy scenes in Herefordshire, external
• Man arrested following vigilante sting in Hereford is acquitted, external
• New emergency access route to River Wye in Hereford, external

A hospital is appealing for help from 4x4 drivers, to make sure its nurses can get into work this weekend.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt hospital at Gobowen in Shropshire says some of its staff live in rural areas and with more snow forecast, they might struggle to get in by themselves.

Image source, RJAH

Volunteers who can give up some of their time are being urged to call the hospital.

The note carrying a tiny picture of Jane Austen raises £6,000 at auction for Children in Need.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Two wards at the Royal Stoke University Hospital have been shut to new patients after an outbreak of norovirus.

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust says the two affected are in the older West Building and patients currently on them are still being treated.

The trust says visitors are being allowed but only if they follow stringent handwashing conditions.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

Norh Shropshire College decided to close its campuses in Oswestry and Walford this lunchtime, because of the snow, but shared this beautiful photo with us.

Image source, North Shropshire College

And Michele Burton sent us this photo of the snow covering the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall.

Image source, Michele Burton