Wolverhampton's Director of Public Health has said he's very worried the city is very close to having tighter coronavirus restrictions introduced there.

John Denley also said the evidence points to the virus being spread by get-togethers at homes, rather than in places like workplaces, schools or pubs.

Image source, Getty Images

Yesterday, the leader of the city council urged people there to voluntarily abide by the same rules introduced in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull, banning households mixing.

Leona Smart
Broadcast Journalist, BBC Radio WM

Another line of in our hunt for the source of the awful smell that has been reported across the West Midlands was about sewage or water works.

But Severn Trent water said there were no works happening that would cover that range of locations.

The temperature reached 26C in Birmingham yesterday, so a listener to BBC Radio WM suggested it might be something called "thermal inversion".

This happens in hot weather and means hot air gets trapped under a layer of cool air higher up in the atmosphere.

The Royal Meteorological Society explained to me that thermal inversion often traps bad smells, and this could be the answer.

But, and there is a big but, thermal inversions don’t really happen in the evening. And that is what has been reported so far.

The investigation continues…

BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

Shrewsbury Town have asked to be allowed up to 1,000 fans at Saturday's match at home to Northampton Town.

At 11:30 the Football League invited clubs to apply to be a pilot for the return of fans to football.

The club said this was "very limited notice", but that it is hopeful of being accepted, pointing out that with 24 acres of land around the stadium, it should have lots of room for social distancing.

And it is hoping for a quick decision.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Asylum seekers at an accommodation centre in Birmingham were not given face masks by staff running the site for several months, according to a voluntary group.

Kings Heath Action for Refugees said people at the Serco-run Selly Oak centre relied on them donating hundreds of masks from May so they could use public transport and get to appointments.

"A huge proportion of people there have underlying health conditions such as pregnant women, frail people. They are the most at risk group, they should be able to protect themselves and each other," a spokesperson said.

The Home Office said it had made masks available to groups running accommodation centres.

Serco said it had received them, handed them out to asylum seekers in mid-August and added "there are plenty of masks" at the centre this week.

Leona Smart
Broadcast Journalist, BBC WM

People living across the whole of the West Midlands have reported a really bad smell.

In fact the BBC Radio WM switchboard was full of people calling this morning to tell us about it.

It’s been described as "vile" and "like strong manure".

It was first smelt at about 17:00 on Tuesday, with people telling us it was gone by about 23:00.

No one knows where it came from.

The first suggestion was that it might have been caused by farmers spreading muck, which is common at this time of year.

I spoke to a farmer in Solihull who told me there is "no way" the smell caused by one farmer would spread as wide as this reported area.

It could be that several farmers were doing this yesterday at the same time, but that seems unlikely.

Around 1,000 people have been refused access to public transport in the West Midlands for not wearing a face covering, West Midlands Police has said.

The only exemption for wearing them on buses, trains and trams is a valid medical reason.

Image source, Getty Images

Laura Shoaf, the chief executive of Transport for West Midlands, said drivers have a supply of spare masks, so there should be no excuse.

A number of year groups have been forced to quarantine at the Haberdashers' Adams Grammar school in Newport - the school where Who Wants to be a Millionaire winner, Don Fear, teaches.

The school said it took the decision to ask years 10 and 11 to isolate, along with the sixth form, after one of its boarders tested positive.

Image source, Google

Whitecross High School in Hereford has also had a positive case of coronavirus confirmed, in a year seven pupil.

It has asked 24 pupils to isolate themselves as a result.

Hereford Times

Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Pub temporarily closed after customer tests positive, external
• Tribute to charity walker killed by tractor, external
• Vandals spotted on roof of swimming pool, external

BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

The New Saints of Oswestry travel to the Faroe Islands for a Europa League qualifier tonight.

They're going to play B36 Tórshavn, a side they beat in a Champions League qualifier five years ago.

Image source, Getty Images

Tórshavn have beaten teams from Estonia and Gibraltar to get to this stage and TNS manager Scott Ruscoe said they deserve to be treated with respect.

Police made seven arrests last night after reports of people fighting with weapons in Biddulph.

The police helicopter was used in the operation and the seven are all in custody suspected of of public order offences.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police said there was now a 48-hour dispersal order for the area.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

People caught taking laughing gas in north Worcestershire could be fined up to £2,500, as part of a police crackdown on the use of the drug.

West Mercia Police said it had become concerned about the number of canisters found littered across parks and play areas in the Bewdley and Kidderminster areas.

Image source, Getty Images

As a trial, the force will be issuing notices under a Community Protection order, which carry a potential fine or possibly six months in prison.

A discussion about the future of Shrewsbury's Clive of India statue is going to take place today.

More than 13,000 people have signed a petition calling for it to be removed, because of Robert Clive's involvement in Imperial rule in India and it's been suggested it should be moved to the town's museum instead.

Image source, Getty Images

A counter petition was also signed by more than 8,000 people, saying removing it would erase part of the town's history.

Shropshire Council's scrutiny committee will consider a report and then make a recommendation which will then be debated by the full council.

BBC Weather

We're forecast another sunny day, with temperatures up to 25C (77F).

Tomorrow should also be fine, but temperatures are expected to fall a little for the rest of the week.

Image source, HelenT

BBC Sport

It was a busy night of cup action in the West Midlands.

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish scored with a fine late volley as his side came from behind to reach round three of of the Carabao Cup by knocking out League One side Burton Albion.

Villa will face the winners of Bristol City v Northampton Town in the next round.

Fleetwood Town beat Port Vale 2-1 to make it into the third round of the cup for the first time in their history.

It was heartbreak for Coventry City who lost 5-4 on penalties after their match with Gillingham finished 1-1.

Tonight newly promoted West Brom host Harrogate in the first match of the evening. Kick-off is at 18:00.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you, so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook., external

Venue owners say people may choose to visit more if they cannot socialise at home.

The device clicks over patients' masks to increase medics' safety during certain procedures.

Central Group leaders Gloucestershire are the first side to reach the T20 Blast quarter-finals after beating Birmingham Bears, while Northants lose at home to Worcestershire.

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish and Keinan Davis hit late goals after record signing Ollie Watkins scores on his debut to help knock Burton Albion out of the Carabao Cup.

Coventry City are knocked out of the Carabao Cup 5-4 on penalties by Gillingham, who rescue the tie with a 94th-minute spot-kick equaliser.