The mayor of the West Midland has welcomed an announcement of new government grants for businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure.

Image source, PA Media

But, he added: "It depends how long it lasts for.

"If we come out of the lockdown in mid-February," he said, "I suspect we won't get a similar grant to this extended.

"What is really important then is to help the businesses through the recovery period - just because you can open again does not mean you've suddenly got full tills again.

"So what I'll be looking for is for VAT rates to remain low for hospitality businesses, for business rates to remain probably exempt into the coming year and more time to repay loans."

The 65-year-old victim agrees to release images of some injuries, as police appeal for help.

Coronavirus rates in Birmingham rose by 50% in the week to 4 January, with rates in the Sandwell area increasing by 63% according to data shared by West Midlands mayor Andy Street.

Tweeting numbers for the region's council areas, rates were also shown to have risen in Walsall by 57% and in Dudley by 51%.

Mr Street said: "There is no escaping the fact that yesterday's decision [to put England back into lockdown] was necessary, however it doesn't make waking up to a lockdown any easier.

"Just like March, it is going to be incredibly tough but critically this time there is an end in sight with the vaccine."

The warning comes as police investigate reports a man filmed empty wards without wearing a mask.

Boris Johnson will make a televised address at 20:00 GMT as No 10 says further steps must now be taken to address a surge in coronavirus cases.

Image source, PA Media

In the seven days to 30 December the rate of infection in the West Midlands was 389.9 per 100,000 population, up from 278.3 the previous week.

Wolverhampton has the highest rate in the region at 626.1, followed by Sandwell - 557.8 and Walsall - 488.

These areas, along with most of the West Midlands, are under tier four restrictions under which non-essential shops are closed and people can only leave their homes for a certain number of reasons.

Worcestershire and Shropshire are currently in tier three - very high alert - although rates in these areas are now running level with those places in tier four.

Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward says the government needs to act amid soaring virus rates.

Chiltern Railways is running a reduced service from today, because of an increase in sickness and the number of staff having to isolate because of coronavirus.

The train company says there will be 42 fewer trains each weekday and is advising customers to check before travelling.

UGC Hub
BBC News

This morning, we're sharing views on the debate over whether primary schools should be shut under current Covid restrictions or continue teaching all pupils.

Some primary schools in the West Midlands have remained closed this morning after the Christmas break.

Single mother Shaz, who has MS, is among those to get in touch. She says she would prefer that her four-year-old son didn't go to school this week.

Image source, Getty Images

"I am currently on immunosuppressants which makes me clinically extremely vulnerable.

"I do not wish to send my child to school, as even though he's less likely to have serious infection, I am [more likely]."

"School closures should have been put in place a long time ago.

"Maybe we are seeing a surge in cases due to them being open, with parents still not following social distancing and also children unable to follow it too."

A Department for Education spokesman said: "Children's education has consistently been a national priority, which is why we want classrooms to reopen wherever possible in the new term.

"Schools will continue to implement appropriate safety measures to help mitigate the risk of transmission."

Are you a parent of schoolchildren? Or are you a teacher? How will the latest advice affect you? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external.

The leader of Birmingham City Council says another full lockdown is needed as the city's hospitals reach capacity due to coronavirus.

Speaking to BBC WM, Ian Ward said government action was needed now and not in several weeks.

Coronavirus rates are rising across the West Midlands and the NHS is under "intensive pressure", he said.

"We're not in a position here to wait until the overall case rate gets up into the thousands where it is in some London boroughs.

"We need decisive action now."

Some primary schools across the West Midlands have remained closed amid the continuing row over whether pupils should return under the current Covid restrictions.

In Wolverhampton and Birmingham, schools have been told local councils would support a decision to not reopen fully.

Parents of pupils at four Birmingham primary schools run by Create Partnership Trust were told on Sunday the sites would not open at all this week due to lack of staff.

Brookfields Primary, Greet Primary, Conway Primary and Hodge Hill Primary are those that are closed.

Elsewhere in Birmingham, Lakey Lane in Hall Green and James Watt in Handsworth have also closed. You can read letters from those schools here...

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It will be a chilly day with the chance of showers and highs of 5°C (41°F).

The latest news, sport, travel and weather across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Amid the 180,000 elderly women to be domestically abused in 2019-20, one tells her story.

Sarah Partridge is "absolutely gutted" Covid restrictions have forced her to find a third date.

BBC Midlands Today

Thousands of people are now living under the toughest coronavirus restrictions as the majority of the West Midlands has been moved into tier four.

Image source, PA Media

Birmingham and the Black Country, Coventry, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Warwickshire are now tier four zones.

This means people are urged to stay at home following a rapid increase in Covid-19 infections.

While accepting the need for tougher restrictions, Paul Faulkner from the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce said more support was needed from the government.

"It is really quite staggering that while the new tiers are introduced and businesses are forced to obey these restrictions there is no additional support for them to help them through this period."

BBC Weather

Another cold day, mainly dry but with some lingering patches of fog or freezing fog. Sunny where the fog clears with a high of 3C/37F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher Videoman

A largely clear night for most but some places will have some patchy cloud and more fog will develop. Frosty with a low of -1C/30F.

You can keep up-to-date on your local weather forecast via the BBC Weather website.

Phil Cross is honoured for his services to education and young people in Wolverhampton.

The reggae star is honoured for services to music and to young people.

The West Midlands Mayor has said that while people and businesses will be disappointed by the introduction of tier four restrictions, "I think the majority view will be it's understandable".

Mr Street also said rising Covid case number showed tier three restrictions hadn't worked and "frankly we want to act quickly to prevent the sort of numbers that we've seen in London".

Mr Street said "more money needs to be put in the table" to help businesses that are already struggling, but added: "This place has bounced back many times before and will do so again.

"The quicker we act, the quicker we can move out the other side."

The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said that primary schools will reopen as planned next month, except in the very worst areas of England.

Given infection rates in the West Midlands are being dwarfed by those in the south east of England, that seems unlikely to affect us.

And he said he was determined that: "Children will not have to pay the price of beating Covid."

Image source, UK Parliament TV

The list of areas affected by these closures will be published later on the government's website.

Mr Williamson said this was "not all tier four areas" adding that the areas would be reviewed regularly so schools could open to all pupils as early as possible.