West Mercia Police has warned there may be a delay in answering non-urgent 101 calls after a number of staff in its control room were forced to self-isolate due to coronavirus.

The force asked people reporting non-emergencies to do it online where possible, so that the remaining staff can concentrate on 999 calls.

West Mercia Police said it had "robust plans" to cope with part of the workforce becoming ill or being forced to isolate themselves.

And it said critical services would continue "no matter what".

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an attack in Burslem Park.

Staffordshire Police said officers were called at 00:20 on Sunday and found a 28-year-old man with serious head injuries near the bandstand.

He remains in hospital in a stable condition, the force said.

Image source, Stafforshire Police

The boy, from Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested this morning and remains in custody.

Staffordshire Police said another man, who is 31 and from Stoke-on-Trent was assaulted at 23:00 on Saturday, on Moorland Road in Burslem.

He received head injuries, a broken arm, elbow and nose and the force believes the two attacks may be linked.

Six hospital workers fell ill when they breached rules while sharing lifts, it is reported.

Dozens of firefighters have tackled a blaze in a building that was under construction.

Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

Five fire engines, a water bowser and turntable ladder were sent to Banbury Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, this morning, the fire service said., external

The building was well alight when they arrived and fire crews stopped it from spreading to nearby buildings.

The property was empty at the time.

Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

Image source, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

A pedestrian has suffered "potentially serious injuries" after being hit by a car in Walsall yesterday evening.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said he was injured on Wednesbury road just after 18:00 and he was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital for treatment.

BBC Radio Stoke

More than 580 staff at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford's County Hospital are off work as a result of coronavirus.

They haven't all got the virus, but some are away because of issues linked to it.

Image source, Google

The chief executive of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Tracy Bullock, said it could mean some planned surgery had to be put on pause.

As MPs prepare to vote later on lockdown 2.0 in England, Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid has been asking the government how it intends to help those children who missed out during the first lockdown.

Conservative Mr Javid told Prime Minister's Questions a report shows that the writing abilities of year 7 pupils were 22 months behind expectations.

Unlike the first lockdown, schools, colleges and universities are all expected to remain open as normal this time around. But earlier in the year, millions of children missed out on much of the school year.

Image source, UK Parliament

"It is the life chances of the most disadvantage that are hit hardest when schools close" Mr Javid says and asks the PM how he will help those children.

Boris Johnson says one on one tutoring is one "innovative idea" that has come out of the pandemic.

He says he wants to continue providing such support when the pandemic ends.

Coventry Live

Here are three stories from Coventry Live today:

• Ancient sites of Coventry at risk, external
• Warning after schoolgirl asked to get in to stranger's car, external
• House party revellers to be fined, external

A Walsall primary school wants pupils to be able to celebrate properly amid Covid-19 restrictions.

Two men have been arrested in connection with a series of attacks on businesses in Tamworth.

Staffordshire Police said officers were called to reports of armed men trying to break in to a pub in Lichfield Street shortly before 22:30 on Monday.

The force believes the attack could be connected to two others including an attack on a restaurant in Church Street - in both cases the businesses had their windows smashed.

A man, 52, from Tamworth and a 38-year-old from Birmingham are in police custody.

A butterfly farm in Stratford-upon-Avon is planning to use lockdown to carry out winter maintenance jobs.

It will close from 17:00 today and said it would share images of the butterflies and other creatures on social media to "lift spirits in these challenging times".

Image source, Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm

The tourist attraction said it would also be "working on the logistics of exporting pupae post Brexit".

A man in his 30s has died in a three-car crash on the A46 in Worcestershire last night.

West Mercia Police said it happened on a southbound stretch of the road between Bidford and Twyford at around 22:55.

The man's next-of-kin have been informed.

BBC Weather Watchers

One of our BBC Weather Watchers asked this morning if this was the first frost of the autumn, and for some it possibly was.

There was certainly a lot of it about, as you can see from these photos taken in Wednesbury, Rushbury and Ashow.

Image source, Sunrisefire

Image source, Peter Steggles

Image source, Ade the cool person

Free parking will be reintroduced at car parks in the Wychavon District Council area, during lockdown and in to the new year.

The local authority said it would start tomorrow and last until 3 January.

The council said on-street parking restrictions still applied and would be enforced.

Worcester News

Here are three stories from the Worcester News today:

• Businesses offering takeaway and delivery services, external
• Police struggle to cope with calls as staff self-isolate, external
• Pandemic centre planned for surgery car park, external

BBC Radio CWR

Coventry City midfielder Gustavo Hamer believes he needs to adapt his game quickly, if he's going to avoid picking up more red and yellow cards.

So far this season he's received three yellows and while he said he loves to "play physical", he accepted, "I have to be smart that I don't get a second card in the game."

Image source, Getty Images

After picking up his latest yellow in the game against Reading at the weekend, Hamer said: "I have to work on it, I have to learn from it and I have to do it quick."

December is being seen as a "critical" month for the Severn Valley Railway.

It's the month the railway usually generates most of its revenue, spokesperson Lesley Carr said.

Image source, John Bray

The railway launched a "fight back fund" earlier this year, to make up for the money it was losing during the first lockdown and raised £900,000.

"It may be that we won’t see a return to sustainable levels of passenger revenue until well into next year," Ms Carr said.

A man has been attacked in an attempted carjacking at the Warwick Services on the M40.

Warwickshire Police two men wearing masks approached a man in his Mercedes and tried to drag him from the car.

A 53-year-old from London has been arrested and the victim did not need hospital treatment

Image source, Google

The force said it wants to talk to a man and a woman who were parked behind the Mercedes yesterday afternoon and believe they may have mobile phone footage of the incident.

Hotel to open its doors to rough sleepers on Wednesday after housing homeless people previously.

BBC Weather

It's been a frosty start for some but we're forecast some sunny spells and a light breeze.

It will remain cool with temperatures reaching around 10C (50F).

Image source, Liam Ball