BBC Radio Stoke

The number of patients being treated for Covid-19 at two hospitals in Staffordshire is currently higher than the previous peak in the spring, a health boss said.

University Hospitals North Midlands runs two hospitals, the Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, in Stafford.

Image source, PA Media

Chief Executive Tracey Bullock said the hospitals had 186 patients on Wednesday compared with a peak of 161 in April.

However, she said fewer people currently needed critical care, 17 compared with about 22 in April, due to being better prepared and having improved treatments.

"The more patients we have with coronavirus in hospital, the more difficult that will make it for us to continue with routine and planned procedures," she added.

BBC News England

Thousands of used pumpkins are expected to be taken to food waste plants after Halloween as more people have their spooky celebrations at home.

Image source, Severn Trent

Severn Trent Green Power said it was expecting 50,000 unwanted Jack O'Lanterns at its plants this year to convert into green energy.

It said it expected a 30% increase in pumpkin power this year, creating 22 megawatts of renewable energy.

In turn this will power almost 2,000 homes per day.

The firm has eight plants, including in Birmingham.

BBC Midlands Today

Stoke-on-Trent is fast heading towards tier three Covid restrictions, health bosses in the city have warned.

Image source, Reuters

The latest figures show infection rates at 294.5 per 100,000 for the week up to 24 October compared with 186.4 the week before.

The city was moved into the tier two category at the weekend which means households can no longer mix indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

Tier three would see no household mixing inside or outside, while pubs and bars not serving meals would close.

The director of health in Stoke-on-Trent, Paul Edmondson-Jones, said the next few days would be "absolutely pivotal".

"We'll start to see the results of what has happened over half-term week and what we are looking for is for people to have had less household mixing, to be outside a little bit more in their household groups and hopefully we'll see some stabilisation of that rate."

BBC News England

More than 500 Scout groups could close while others face a "bleak" future with coronavirus hampering fundraising, the Scout Association has said.

Image source, PA Media

Groups in some of the poorest areas of England were hit when social distancing ended jumble sales, quizzes and car washes, the organisation said.

It warned groups in places including Wolverhampton and Shropshire were at risk of closure.

But a new fundraising campaign aims to try to save those affected, with a virtual race around the world.

BBC Sport

Birmingham City's players "have shown real character" in ending a six-game winless run, according to their head coach.

The Blues looked to be heading towards a draw against Huddersfield Town after Isaac Mbenza equalised for the visitors following Gary Gardner's opener.

But Lukas Jutkiewicz scored in the 90th minute, the first time City had scored twice in a game all season.

Head coach Aitor Karanka told BBC WM: "We have 11 fighters on the pitch and you know the three substitutions are going to be another three fighters.

"We have changed the shape in the last three or four games I don't know how many times, without time to work on the training ground, but with this character we are going to win a lot of games."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Here are three of the stories covered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service in Staffordshire today:

• A south Staffordshire timber company is looking to create 50 new jobs with plans for a bigger factory. Prime Oak makes structures such as conservatories and orangeries.
• Residents fear plans to close a number of car parking areas on Cannock Chase and introduce charges in others will be rushed through ahead of the Commonwealth Games. It's going to host mountain biking events in 2022.
• The owners have of a Grade II listed home near Milwich have been refused retrospective permission for alterations made 30 years ago, by a previous owner.

Express and Star

The Express and Star's headlines today include:

• Tougher West Midlands lockdown restrictions to last into New Year, MPs warn, external
• Protests planned outside MPs' offices over free school meals row, external
• Memorial garden opens in memory of Black Country local hero, external

BBC Weather

It will turn more cloudy today with outbreaks of rain expected this morning before getting lighter and patchier this afternoon. Brisk winds and a high of 14C/57F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher StorytellerK

A few spots of rain will be around this evening too before things turn drier in the first half of the night followed by patchy rain later on. Low: 13C/55F.

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

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

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.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow.

Dudley News

Here's a look at what the Dudley News has been reporting on today:

• Dudley set for Tier 2 Covid-19 restrictions, external
• Brewery temporarily closes two pubs, external
• Hundreds of half-term food deliveries for local children, external

Staffordshire's director of health has said the rising coronavirus numbers in the south of the county have been "distorted by a couple of big outbreaks in two of the prisons".

Dr Richard Harling said between them, they account for up to a third of the cases there.

Nevertheless, case numbers excluding the prisons are rising too, and Dr Harling said he hoped a move to tier two restrictions soon would "dampen that down".

He is expecting to hear tomorrow whether the county will have stricter controls imposed by the government and is expecting the answer to be "yes".

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust has said "some procedures and non in-patient activity will have to be postponed" because of the growing pressures of coronavirus.

But it said patients with "urgent clinical needs and cancer" were getting priority.

Image source, Getty Images

There are currently 294 patients with Covid-19, including 34 in intensive care, across its three main hospitals.

Staffordshire's director of health, Dr Richard Harling, said operations were also having to be postponed there.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

A new coronavirus testing centre is now open at the Larruperz Centre in Ross-on-Wye, following an increase in cases locally.

More testing sites are due to be opened in Herefordshire's other market towns in the next few weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

Increased costs and a loss of income have created an £11.7m budget gap for Telford and Wrekin Council.

The local authority said the £15.2m it had received from the government had not plugged the cost of coronavirus, which stands at almost £27m.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

The council said it had had "significantly reduced income for a number of services", including its leisure centres and theatre".

It is waiting to hear if it will be placed under tier two restrictions, which may come with additional government funding.

BBC Weather

We've had some sunshine today, in between the showers, but more rain is forecast tomorrow - some of it heavy.

Temperatures could reach 14C (57F) and again we'll have light winds.

And we're expecting more rain at the weekend.

Image source, Snapshot Emma

Hereford Times

Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Council warning of stricter coronavirus rules, external
• Main road closed due to oil spillage, external
• New super GP surgery to open its doors, external

Elizabeth Glinka
BBC Politics Midlands

We're hearing that Telford has been recommended for tier two coronavirus restrictions, alongside Staffordshire and Dudley.

It would mean no mixing households indoors.

An official announcement is expected tomorrow.

Tier two restrictions for Staffordshire are most likely to be introduced "early on Saturday morning", Staffordshire's director of health and care has said.

Dr Richard Harling said he believed the government was making a decision today and it would mean households won't be able to mix indoors.

Image source, Staffordshire County Council

Dr Harling also said the local authority had been expecting this move for weeks, because of the accelerating number of coronavirus cases.

BBC Radio Stoke

Plans to rebuild a retirement home in Crewe that was destroyed by a fire last year have been approved by councillors.

Beechmere burnt down last August, and concerns were raised about its timber construction and the lack of sprinklers.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

The replacement, which will be on the same site on Rolls Avenue, will have a sprinkler system and more robust masonry construction for better fire protection.