Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

Porters at a hospital have started a two-day strike over working conditions.

Image source, Google

The walkout is about the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust wanting to bring in a rotating shift pattern at Heartlands Hospital.

The trust said the change would bring their terms and conditions in line with those at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

The porters union, Unison, said the workforce were some of the lowest paid in the NHS and many couldn't afford to work flexibly.

Further talks to end the dispute are planned for Tuesday at the independent arbitration service Acas.

BBC Midlands Today

Discussions are taking place to agree a support package for the West Midlands if the region is moved into tier three, the West Midlands mayor says.

With the government confirming Dudley will move to tier two restrictions from Saturday, the whole region will be in the same high alert tier.

Mayor Andy Street says, external while no decisions has been made locally or nationally on moving to tier three, hospitals are coming under "intense pressure" from rising infection rates.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website has these stories:

• Coroner's warning after 'lovely couple' poisoned by carbon monoxide from living room fire, external
• Mum turns to foodbank for first time after coronavirus pandemic leaves family in hardship, external
• MP removed as trustee from child hunger charity after controversial free school meals vote, external

BBC Sport

A new code that requires football clubs to meet diversity targets in recruitment is "another step in the right direction", says Aston Villa and England defender Tyrone Mings.

The Football Leadership Diversity Code, which was devised by the Football Association, aims to tackle racial inequality in the English game.

It also hopes to increase the number of female coaches in women's football.

"It is another way that we can try and drive change," said Mings, 27.

Speaking to Football Focus, he added: "I was fortunate to be asked by the FA to be involved and I feel quite proud that I could lend my voice to the conversation, to try and give my input as a current player, as someone who may go into the boardroom in the future and try and develop those pathways now for what future generations will benefit from."

More than 40 clubs have signed up to the code, including sides from the EFL, Women's Super League and Women's Championship.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

A sculpture to reflect how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected people is being made.

Image source, David Griffiths

The Remember and Rebuild artwork will be 2.2m (7ft) tall and erected in the garden of the Saxon Hall community centre in Putson, near Hereford. , external

Organised by the Big Skill, a social enterprise scheme, residents have been offered the chance to make their own clay artwork which will be featured in a mosaic on the main sculpture.

Sculptor Rebecca Buck said they started work in February, then lockdown happened and the focus of the artwork turned to the impact of Covid-19.

"It has made us all have something in common and it has made us all really have to think very deeply about our communities," she said.

Image source, David Griffiths

BBC Weather

Cloudy and wet with outbreaks of rain. Feeling mild with brisk winds and a high of 16C/61F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher Dammo

More rain is forecast this evening and overnight and it could be heavy at times. The winds will turn stronger. Low: 12C/54F.

You can get a latest forecast for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to the start of our live service for Friday.

We'll be bringing you all the latest updates for the West Midlands.

You can let us know about stories in your area via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook., external

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings says the new Football Leadership Diversity Code is "another step in the right direction".

Hospitality venues adapt yet again to changes brought about by Covid-19 guidelines.

Families say a public inquiry would establish "truth, justice and accountability" for victims.

Pranvera Smith set up "Freedom to Stay" and exploited asylum seekers she claimed to help.

Tier two restrictions could be the "last straw" for bars and restaurants, say those in the industry.

Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton are in the "high category".

The number of new cases of coronavirus rose from 277 to 396 in a week, figures show.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Join us again tomorrow for the latest news, sport, travel and more for the West Midlands from 08:00.

If you want to let us know how the latest moves to tier two will affect you or have a question on what it means, you can get in touch with us on email.

BBC Midlands Today

Funding for more than 140 new long-term homes for rough sleepers across the West Midlands has been approved by the government., external

The accommodation will be available by the end of March paid for with £150m spread across the country.

In the West Midlands, the largest amount of £820,000 is being spent in Stoke-on-Trent with £782,855 in Coventry.

BBC Radio Shropshire

The man in charge of a music venue in Telford says it is facing a difficult future with the announcement of stricter Covid restrictions from Saturday.

Image source, PA Media

Telford and Wrekin is one of several areas in the country being moved from tier one to tier two by the government from Saturday.

Albert's Shed in the town had managed to get live music back on after the lockdown and had received a grant from the Cultural Recovery Fund.

But managing director David Gregg said if the new restrictions are likely to reduce the number of people coming to the venue, its finances "don't add up any more".

"As a live music venue but as part of the hospitality sector, it is intrinsic to what we do, bringing people together to socialise so these restrictions meaning only one household per table is going to cause some difficulties to say the at least."

A Leek pub assistant manager says he thinks new restrictions could have a "very big impact" ahead of Staffordshire moving into tier two – high alert from 00:01 on Saturday.

Image source, Google

Under tier two, households are no longer be able to mix indoors.

Assistant manager at The Fountain Inn Trevor Emery has said its chain would decide whether the pub stays open.

But he said revenue was probably about 75% of that before lockdown and the pub had done "well" under the circumstances.

"We would love to stay open, but we've got to make sure we're turning in a profit for the chain," he said.

"We have families coming in [not from the same household]. It'll probably be one or two to a table."

Image source, Google

Manager at The New Inn in Flash Diane Phillips said she did not think it would affect her much.

"[It's] a very small little pub in a village, so households don't meet up... It's not like a town pub," she said.

But the pub is in the highest village in England, 1518ft above sea level, and Ms Phillips said she didn't think anyone would be drinking out doors anytime soon.

Getting tier two Covid restrictions reduce back to tier one would be "the best Christmas present we can give each other", a council leader said.

Image source, Getty Images

Residents in Dudley, Staffordshire, Telford and the Wrekin will move into the high tier of restrictions from Saturday, the government has announced.

Under tier two, households are no longer be able to mix indoors in any setting - in homes or elsewhere.

The leader of Stafford Borough Council, Patrick Farrington, has written to all households , externalin his area to urge them to get cases down enough to be able to be moved down a tier.

"We are at a critical point in fighting this pandemic and I am confident with the support of the whole community we can get back to medium alert soon," he said.

The leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, Shaun Davies, echoed the drive to get infection rates down.

"If we can get our numbers down, hopefully we can make strong arguments to the government to reduce us into tier one again but if numbers continue to rise then tier three comes on board," he said.

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times has these stories today:

• Teaching assistant ‘lost control’ and kicked police officer in the face, external
• Paper plates protest at MP's office over school meals row, external
• Herefordshire village creates stunning Remembrance Day sculpture, external