Allen Cook
BBC News

It appears to be a "tale of two counties" in Shropshire today with some areas bearing the brunt of the snowy weather more than others.

For instance, West Mercia Police has urged drivers to avoid the A49 Shrewsbury to Ludlow road:, external

Image source, West Mercia Police

Whereas in Telford, the local council says there are clear conditions on many routes in the town:, external

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

Southampton FC say club staff are keeping an eye on weather conditions and are liaising with emergency services and the city council before making a decision on tomorrow's match against Stoke City.

A statement on the club website says they will issue an update at 17:00 GMT on Friday.

The match is due to kick-off at 15:00 on Saturday.

David Clarke, who took hostages during a four-hour armed siege at a bowling alley in Nuneaton, has been jailed at Warwick Crown Court for 12 years.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Clarke, 53, of Ryde Avenue in Nuneaton, went to the MFA Bowl in October armed with knives, a samurai sword, and a sawn-off shotgun demanding to see his ex-girlfriend.

He pleaded guilty in January to seven charges over the stand-off.

Judge Andrew Lockhart, sentencing, said Clarke "brought terror to the MFA Bowl".

BBC WM

The Saddlers shopping centre has made Walsall Council more than £500,000 in profit.

The council controversially bought it last summer for more than £13m and says the profits to date are the equivalent of either 20 street cleaners, filling 10,000 potholes or picking up 15,000 bins.

Sean Coughlan, the council's Labour leader, said although the purchase was controversial, the profits are proof the council made the right decision.

Image source, Google

Hundreds of homes and businesses across the West Midlands are without power this afternoon as Storm Emma continues to cause disruption., external

Some of the worst affected areas are in Birmingham and the Black Country, Western Power Distribution says, where almost 600 places have lost electricity.

There are also 54 in Leamington, 126 in Rugeley, Staffordshire and 119 around Hinstock, Shropshire.

Many homes have already been reconnected, with the number without electricity topping 2,000 earlier.

Western Power Distribution says it could take until late afternoon to restore all the power.

This Brazilian tapir at Dudley Zoo is probably used to warmer climates, but doesn't seem to be too upset by the snow.

Image source, Dudley Zoo

Staff at the zoo are moving most of their animals indoors and giving them extra bedding to combat the cold.

Some lucky chimps and orangutans are even being given warm drinks.

Leamington Observer

Here's some of the stories the Leamington Observer are looking at:

• Warwick market cancelled due to dangerous weather, external
• Leamington residents not alone in concerns about student housing, external
• Dementia drop-in event to help sort financial and legal affairs, external

BBC Weather Watchers

Thick snow is carpeting many parts of the West Midlands today as our BBC Weather Watchers have recorded in their photos.

These three are from users Nythbran in Mainstone, Shropshire; Monomark in Edgmond, Shropshire and Ledbury Lass in Ledbury.

Image source, Nythbran

Image source, Monomark

Image source, Ledbury Lass

Jaskaran Kang was found fatally stabbed at a property in Dudley.

For the first time in its six-year history, Birmingham's weekly street food event has been cancelled.

Digbeth Dining Club has said that it's never previously had to cancel an event in Digbeth, but "extreme weather" conditions have left organisers with no choice.

It hopes improved weather tomorrow means Saturday's event can still go ahead.

Image source, @DigbethDiner

Terry Goodwin
BBC News

Sunday's half-marathon and fun run in Warwick have been cancelled due to the snow.

The British Heart Foundation said it had "a duty of care to all the runners, volunteers and staff taking part in the Warwick Half Marathon and Fun Run to ensure it is delivered safely," and concerns about ice and snow meant it had to make "the difficult decision to postpone".

A new date will be set next week, and participants will receive an email with all the details.

Image source, Facebook

Birmingham Airport has cancelled 34 flights so far today due to the weather.

The airport remains open and operational, however the airport advises that all passengers check with their airline for flight updates.

A businessman has paid for 12 beds in Birmingham for homeless people facing freezing temperatures.

Richard Patterson, from Lichfield, said no-one could be expected to stay out in the 'awful' conditions. He booked eight beds at Birmingham Central Backpackers for Thursday night and four for Friday.

Manager Paul Lambert's "zero tolerance, no-nonsense" approach is revitalising relegation-threatened Stoke, says goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Some smaller routes in Shropshire have also faced towering snowdrifts, caused as much by strong wids as the volume of snow.

Local farmers have been working hard to force a route through, including in Longnor (pictured below).

Terry Goodwin
BBC News

We've been told by James Thomas on Twitter that the snowdrifts in parts of Herefordshire are now shoulder-high., external

He took this video in Bromyard:

There won't be a match at Crewe Alexandra's stadium tomorrow, the weather has won:

Council's chief inspector of weights and measures did not have the legally required qualifications.

Terry Goodwin
BBC News

The number of schools which closed in the West Midlands today has now passed 2,100.

Image source, safc giz

In Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell, the councils there decided early on today to close all of their schools. , external

Elsewhere, Staffordshire has the most closed schools with 314, , externalfollowed by 259 in Warwickshire , externaland 188 in Worcestershire., external

Wolverhampton University has said all of its campuses are open today.

There may be some disruption and buses on the campus are not in operation.