While there will be a lot of things you can't do under tier four restrictions, some things will still be allowed:

• Meeting one other person from another household in an open public space, if you are both alone
• Shopping for essentials such as food and medicine
• Outdoor pools, playgrounds, sports courts, golf courses and horse riding centres can open
• You can leave home for work, education, training, childcare and for medical appointments and emergencies
• Communal religious worship
• Support bubbles are still allowed and children can move between separated parents

Here's a reminder of what tier four restrictions means.

They are similar to the restrictions during the last national lockdown , externaland include:

• Residents should stay at home, unless they have a "reasonable excuse" such as work or education
• All non-essential shops must close
• Hairdressers and nail bars must close
• Indoor entertainment venues must close
• Gyms and indoor swimming pools, indoor sports courts and dance studios must close
• You cannot meet other people indoors, unless you live with them or they are part of your support bubble
• People should not leave tier four areas or travel abroad, except for limited reasons (including work and education)
• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are only allowed in exceptional circumstances

"Clinically extremely vulnerable" people in tier four areas , externalare advised to stay at home "as much as possible". The government says if they can't work from home, they shouldn't go to work.

With infection rates continuing to rise, a number of West Midlands authority areas have moved into tier four restrictions.

They are:

• Dudley
• Birmingham
• Sandwell
• Walsall
• Wolverhampton
• Coventry
• Solihull
• Rugby
• Nuneaton and Bedworth
• Warwick
• North Warwickshire
• Stratford-upon-Avon
• East Staffordshire
• Stafford
• South Staffordshire
• Cannock Chase
• Lichfield
• Staffordshire Moorlands
• Newcastle-under-Lyme
• Tamworth
• Stoke-on-Trent

Image source, Parliament Live TV

West Midlands Fire Service believe the fire was started accidentally.

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

Snow and ice is expected to cause further travel disruption this week, with fresh weather warnings issued for the West Midlands.

Image source, West Mercia Police

A Met Office yellow warning of ice, external for much of the West Midlands remains in place until 10:00 on Wednesday.

A yellow warning for snow across the whole region has been issued from 18:00 on Wednesday until 14:00 on Thursday.

Roads around Staffordshire and Shropshire have been affected.

Image source, Reuters

Snow caused some supermarket delivery orders to be cancelled, with Tesco saying it was unable to reach some customers in Stoke-on-Trent and the West Midlands.

West Mercia Police said officers in Telford had attended multiple crashes due to the snow and warned drivers to only travel if necessary.

A man is charged with murdering Shkelzen Taka, 28, who died after being hit by a car, police say.

A Met Office weather warning of snow and ice is issued for much of England and Wales.

An 18-year-old was arrested and released as investigations continue into the crash in Wolverhampton.

PCSO Andy Pope says his talent for remembering faces is "impossible to explain".

A murder inquiry begins after the man suffered fatal head injuries in Erdington, Birmingham.

This year, takeaway meals will be offered to hundreds of homeless people at the Birmingham station.

Monsoon Venue Group, which catered for large Asian weddings in the West Midlands, has ceased trading.

BBC Radio CWR

The government's support for hospitality firms forced to close due to Covid restrictions is "not sufficient", the West Midlands mayor has said.

Image source, Getty Images

Much of the West Midlands is in tier three at the moment which means bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay closed, except for delivery and takeaway.

The government said it had extended the furlough wage support scheme until March and offered loans, grants and tax cuts to businesses.

But the region's mayor, Andy Street, said more was needed from ministers than £3,000 a month.

"The current support for hospitality and businesses in the events sector that just cannot open is not sufficient," he said.

BBC Weather

It's cold today but mainly fine and dry with plenty of sunshine and some patches of cloud. High: 4C/39F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher NB Adagio

Temperatures will turn very cold tonight with mainly clear skies which will lead to a sharp, widespread frost. Low: -2C/28F.

You can stay up-to-date on the weather forecast for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.

At one West Midlands hospital, one crew had to wait seven hours to hand over a patient.

Political leader Rulda Singh was fatally shot in Patiala, Punjab, in 2009.

Heavy rain and strong winds are set to hit parts of the West Midlands over the next few days.

Image source, Met Office

A yellow weather warning for heavy rain is already in place from the Met Office, external and covers parts of Birmingham and the Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

The alert says there is a small chance homes could flood along with travel disruption.

The Met Office is also warning of strong winds on Saturday with a yellow warning from 15:00 on Boxing Day until 12:00 on Sunday.

Image source, Met Office

BBC Weather

A dull start with outbreaks of rain which will become more widespread and heavy through the morning and into the afternoon. High: 8C/46F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher A Scottish Soldier

Turning more showery this evening before the rain clears away to the south leaving mainly clear skies which will make the temperature chillier. Low: 2C/36F.

You can stay up-to-date on your local forecast by going to the BBC Weather website.

They have met up amid the Covid-19 pandemic in a special pod that allows them to interact safely.