BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The constant need to revise their stadium plans has caused the Port Vale owner Carol Shanahan to say "we're planned out."

But she's also promised to "just keep on going" and said their planning committee was drawing up plans for the return of fans next month.

Image source, Getty Images

At the moment it's unclear which tier Stoke-on-Trent will be placed in when the current lockdown ends so the club won't know how many fans it will be allowed.

Mrs Shanahan said as a result they were having to draw up plans for all three tiers - anywhere between 4,000 and zero fans.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WM

It's 'too close to call' whether the area will be put in tier two or three when the current coronavirus lockdown ends next week.

Dr Justin Varney, Birmingham City Council's director of public health, told BBC WM the next 48 hours could make a difference as a final decision has not yet been made.

The number of infections in the city has been falling but Dr Varney said the numbers haven't come down as fast as he would have liked.

"If we're going to save lives...we may have to remain under very tight restrictions", he said.

Much of the West Midlands was under tier two restrictions going into the lockdown including Birmingham, Dudley, Staffordshire and Coventry.

Dudley still has one of the highest rates of infection in England.

Coventry Live

These are some of the Coventry Live headlines:

• What tier is Coventry likely to be in after lockdown ends?, external
• More visitors stung with fines by parking system at UHCW, external
• 'Gentle giant' council worker dies after losing brave Covid-19 battle, external

A van plunged off an elevated roundabout in West Bromwich in July, landing by a subway.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gurdip Thandi

A major plan to transform the rubbish tip in Darlaston into a sprawling development has moved a step closer.

Image source, BHP Design

Outline planning permission for the proposal by Parkhill Estates to convert the former tip on Moxley Road into industrial units, has been granted.

Iron Park will see 45,360 square metres of total floor space that will include buildings for general industrial, storage and distribution, offices, car parking and other facilities.

When the plans were discussed at a planning committee last year, Parkhill said the development would provide a significant boost to the economy, creating up to 900 new jobs with an initial 250 jobs being provided during the construction phase.

BBC Midlands Today

Pupils at a primary school in Worcestershire are being joined by two new classmates.

A pair of curious robins have made the most of open windows at Astley Primary School, near Stourport, and regularly drop in on lessons.

Image source, Astley C.E. Primary School

Headteacher Alison Reakes-Williams said they fly in when the children are out playing and first made an appearance in September.

The birds have been gradually getting braver and now appear to know their way around all the classrooms. They have been so friendly one allowed itself to be picked up.

She is planning to introduce some robin-themed crafts for Christmas and said the children "were really surprised at first, but they've really appreciated seeing these beautiful little birds up close."

Image source, Astley C.E. Primary School

Have you been visited by curious birds during lockdown? Post your pictures on Twitter , externalor email:newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

A search is underway at an address in Handsworth following the 38-year-old's arrest.

Two men have been arrested in connection with a stabbing in Cannock.

Police were called out at 23:30 to reports a man had been stabbed in the head and the hand on Sycamore Green.

The victim was taken to hospital and his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

A 27-year-old and a 34-year-old, both from Cannock, remain in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A cricket club has been told it can't enlarge its pitch, because it would encroach on to "an important green space."

Eccleshall Cricket Club had wanted to expand on to the neighbouring Town Meadow, which has historically been a field for livestock and is still grazed by cattle.

But Stafford Borough Council's planning committee turned the plans down.

Image source, Getty Images

The cricket club had said it would allow two mature two trees to remain and replace its concrete fence posts with wooden ones, in an attempt to blend in.

But the council said the proposal was an "unjustified encroachment".

And it added: "The boundary of the cricket pitch has been long established, prior to the cricket club’s construction, since the late 19th century according to historic maps; the Town Meadow has always remained open to pasture."

BBC Weather Watchers

Some stunning images of sunrise were captured by the BBC Weather Watchers.

These were takan by Paulus in Knowle; Shrewsbury in Shropshire by JemmaMarianne and Wolverhampton by Les at Large.

Image source, Paulus

Image source, JemmaMarianne

Image source, Les at Large

England and Aston Villa player Jack Grealish admitted to two incidents this year.

Shropshire Star

Headlines from the Shropshire Star:

• Predatory paedophile, 80, locked up for 14 years, external
• Police car crashes while responding to emergency, external
• Social distancing measures to be reinstated after lockdown, external

The attacker and the victim both made their orders before leaving the scene.

BBC News Travel

Rail lines between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes are blocked, disrupting services between Birmingham and London.

Tickets are being accepted on other services.

The teenage boy died at the scene of the crash in Knowle, near Solihull, on Monday night.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill believes getting football fans back into the ground will lead to a quicker return to normal.

Under the prime minister's post-lockdown proposals a maximum of 4,000 supporters will be allowed in tier one areas They'll be up to 2,000 people in tier two places, but none in tier three.

Image source, Getty Images

O'Neill said he accepted fans in Stoke-on-Trent might have to wait, depending on what tier it's in after 2 December, but added: "The sooner we get supporters back in the grounds and we prove that it's safe, then you hope that will lead to a quicker return to normal."

The shop's owners say their business is essential as it sells icing and edible decorations.

The first sections of railway line have been laid in a disused tunnel in Dudley as part of the development of a test track for Very Light Rail (VLR) vehicles.

Image source, Dudley Borough Council

Image source, Dudley Borough Council

The test track is part of the construction of the VLR National Innovation Centre on the site of the former Dudley railway station.

The line runs between Castle Gate and Cinder Bank where a test passenger platform will be constructed.

The track is expected to come into use early next year to test Coventry's VLR shuttle vehicle. , external

BBC Sport

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo says he is "very proud" of the way his team reacted to going behind to Southampton in their 1-1 draw at Molineux last night.

"It was a good game. Both teams played with high tempo," he said.

"They have very good players and a very good manager. We matched them. We finished the game on the front foot. I'm very proud of the reaction to the goal."

Express and Star

Headlines from the Express & Star:

• Two men stabbed at Black Country train station, external
• Health leaders bracing themselves for ‘long hard winter’, external
• Can you help solve the puzzle of the mystery Wolverhampton wedding couple?, external