Press Association

Mass vaccination centres could be set up at the Black Country Living Museum and Birmingham's Millennium Point, the Press Association is reporting.

Image source, Reuters

Both venues will become vaccine hubs, forming part of a network of 46 such centres in the coming weeks, it understands.

Parts of Malvern's Three Counties' Showground in Worcestershire and the Villa Park site, home of Aston Villa FC, are also being mooted as possible venues, according to local government sources.

NHS England is not confirming the locations of any mass vaccination sites, though PA has approached all the venues for comment.

Yesterday, the NHS confirmed at least six hospitals in the region would be used to store and administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which needs to be kept at -70C.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It's expected to be a cloudy and cold day with some rain that could turn into sleet later and highs of 5C (41F).

The rare first edition had been destined for a 50p box at a car boot sale in Blackpool.

The Environment Agency said it is treating reports of damage to the River Lugg in Herefordshire "very seriously".

It said it was investigating, along with Natural England and the Forestry Commission, and that immediate action had been taken to prevent any further work.

It also said the site is of environmental importance and is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Joseph Hopkins, 78, sexually assaulted a boy while working in the 1990s, police say.

Work to clear and straighten part of the River Lugg has been called a "crime against the environment" by the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.

It said a 1.5km (1 mile) stretch has been intentionally "bulldozed, straightened and reprofiled into a sterile canal, with all bankside and riverside habitats completely obliterated."

Image source, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust

Helen Stace, the CEO of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust said she wanted an immediate investigation and added the "assault on the river" would have "dire consequences for wildlife and water quality downstream".

West Mercia Police said it was working with the Environment Agency to look into what has happened.

A list of 53 vaccine hubs in England has been released by the NHS.

They will help coordinate the delivery of jabs in their areas, with vaccinations for the most vulnerable set to begin next week.

Image source, Reuters

A further list of sites which will store and administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during the first phase will be published later, it said.

Across the West Midlands they include:

• University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire
• Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust
• University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
• Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
• Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the first to be approved by the MHRA medicines regulator, needs to be stored at -70C and hospitals already have the facilities to ensure that.

A construction site is being prepared for a tunneling machine to dig under a Warwickshire wood as part of the HS2 high-speed rail project.

Image source, HS2 Ltd

Image source, HS2 Ltd

The machine will excavate a one-mile twin tunnel under Long Itchington wood before the route heads north and links to Birmingham's Curzon Street Station.

The 2,000-tonne tunnel boring machine is due for delivery on site in early 2021, with the tunnel set to be completed by mid 2022.

The tunnel will be around 9-10 metres in diameter, said HS2 Ltd.

The car was found partly submerged in the river by a member of the public.

The Worcestershire coroner recorded a verdict of suicide at an inquest into the death of Paul Dance.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• More than £185,000 spent on social distancing measures in towns, external
• Man pulled from car after crash, external
• UK braces for wintry December weather, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A three year ban on barbeques, fires and sky lanterns could be introduced on the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council wants to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order to enforce the ban and its cabinet agreed on Tuesday to consult on the idea.

Image source, Google

A report to Tuesday’s meeting said the majority of fires on the moorland were started by arson, discarded cigarettes, barbecues and campfires.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It looks set to be an unsettled day with showery outbreaks of rain for many areas and highs of 5°C 41°F).

The Walsall Junior Youth League decided not to resume games despite the end of lockdown.

Investigators found nearly 2,300 calls and messages that Kevin Hathaway exchanged with the woman.

Traders say they will only be able to sell products that are not readily available in shops.

A committee of councillors has recommended Stoke-on-Trent councillor Jackie Barnes be reprimanded

People wait outside Primark in Birmingham from 06:00 GMT as England's lockdown was lifted.

Stoke-on-Trent has the highest Covid-19 rate in the West Midlands.

Customs staff will be checking HGVs at Birmingham Airport to ease congestion at ports.