Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

As well as more snow being forecast for the West Midlands today, local councils say the strong winds are causing the already fallen snow to blow into sizeable drifts.

In Worcestershire, the county council says some rural roads are being badly affected., external

Image source, Worcestershire County Council

There are still more than 200 homes and businesses without power in the West Midlands as the icy weather continues., external

There are now several power cuts in Staffordshire including 45 places without electricity near Loggerheads, 49 in Stafford and 40 in the Gnosall area.

Tim Page
News Editor, BBC Shropshire

All the services run by Tanat Valley Coaches in Oswestry and from mid-Wales into Shrewsbury are suspended at the moment.

The firm says they'll reassess the situation later today to see if they can get them running.

BBC Business News

National Grid's first "gas deficit warning" for eight years has been withdrawn.

The power operator issued the warning on Thursday, saying it might not have enough gas to meet demand due to the current cold snap gripping the UK.

Image source, PA

The warning was a call to the market to boost supplies.

National Grid said in an update, external: "With immediate effect the Gas Deficit warning issued for gas day 01/03/2018 has been withdrawn."

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

Conditions in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are bad, external this morning as Storm Emma sweeps across the UK.

The Met Office has an amber weather warning across both counties and I would say many of the roads are treacherous today.

Image source, Worcestershire County Council

Highways England and the emergency services are advising people to avoid driving unless they have to with the snow also being blown around and drifting.

Hundreds of schools are shut across both counties - we'll have more of a look at the school situation regionally shortly.

Well, with about three hours already of our live coverage of the impact of Storm Emma on the West Midlands, here's the story so far:

• The region's covered by a yellow weather warning for wind, ice and snow by the Met Office with an amber alert for some of the area for heavy snow
• About 1,500 schools are shut across the West Midlands
• Cars have been abandoned in parts of the Peak District as heavy snow's forced main routes to shut
• Arriva Trains Wales has suspended many of its services today
• Gritters are continuing to work across the region with councils saying people should stay indoors as "struggling vehicles" are delaying some gritting
• Snowdrifts of up to four feet (1.2m) have been recorded in parts of Staffordshire

Some rural roads in Warwickshire are "impassable" because of drifting snow today., external

The county council says vehicles have got stuck in the snow and they have been "battling conditions" through the night to get routes gritted.

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

Most bus travel in Herefordshire and Worcestershire has been abandoned today.

The icy, snowy conditions are making roads hazardous with First Worcestershire saying they are carrying, external out "road tests".

Image source, Herefordshire Council

While Herefordshire Council says all local bus services, external in the country are suspended this morning "until further notice".

Allen Cook
BBC News

Part of a house roof in Market Drayton had to be secured by the fire service last night as they said it was in danger of blowing away., external

Image source, Shropshire Fire Service

Shropshire Fire Service says their firefighters used saws to remove a large section of the roof at the home in Market Drayton.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

Just an update on the problems on the M6 and M40 this morning,.

Highways England says it has gritters and snow ploughs clearing the M40 between J13 and J12 after a lorry crashed into the central reservation - that section remains shut.

Image source, OFRS

While problems continue on the M6 southbound between junction 13 for Stafford and junction 12 for Telford. Several cars came off the motorway near Cannock earlier due to black ice.

We're hearing reports that snowdrifts are causing major problems particularly on smaller, rural roads.

In some cases, roads seem passable until a driver turn a corner and encounters a 4-5ft drift. What's worse, some cars are struggling to turn around without help.

This was the scene in Llanyblodwel in Shropshire this morning.

Image source, Jacylad

Allen Cook
BBC News

More support's being offered to homeless people in Birmingham this week, external as the icy conditions bite.

The city council says it has increased its provision for rough sleepers, adding that they have more than 60 warm spaces available every night from several homeless support groups.

BBC News Travel

Heavy snow between Hereford and Birmingham means all railway lines on that stretch are shut this morning., external

West Midlands Railway says it's causing problems with line side equipment and they are working to get some services running., external

Allen Cook
BBC News

The emergency services across the West Midlands say they are stretched to the limit by Storm Emma, as more heavy snow is adding to the already icy conditions.

West Midlands Ambulance Service says people should stay inside if at all possible., external

Overnight, West Midlands Police described, external the conditions as "horrific", saying roads were "dangerous" and all the emergency services were extremely busy.

Now we're hearing some really worrying news.

A beer lorry trying to deliver supplies into the village of Condover, in Shropshire, is struggling to get through.

All the council-run schools in Birmingham, external, Solihull, external and Sandwell, external are shut today because of the snow and ice from Storm Emma.

Image source, Laura and Glenn

Dudley Council says at least 64 schools, external in its area are closed while Wolverhampton lists 104, external.

Walsall Council says, external parents should contact their school directly to check if it is shut.

Phil Bowers
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

There are more than 325 schools closed in Stoke-on-Trent, external and Staffordshire today due to the icy weather and with more snow forecast.

Image source, Thornhill Watch

Staffordshire County Council lists 302 closures so far by 07:36 today., external

At least 260 schools are shut today in Warwickshire, external because of the weather conditions.

The county council's urging parents to check an automated twitter feed they run for updates., external

Image source, Littleacorns

While Coventry City Council says parents should listen to local media such as BBC Coventry and Warwickshire for updates on whether their school is closed., external

Virtually all schools, colleges and pre-schools in the Shropshire Council area are closed today

More than 100 primary schools and about 30 secondaries are closed.

Telford schools seem to be less affected by the weather, but more than 70 are still closed.

• Shropshire school closures, external
• Telford school closures, external

Image source, Peter Steggles

BBC News Travel

There are delays to Cross City services between Longbridge and Birmingham and Lichfield to Birmingham this morning., external

West Midlands Railways says it's because of problems with lineside equipment at the depot and at Longbridge.