Coronavirus infections fell by almost a third in England during the second national lockdown, research suggests.

The latest weekly figures from Public Health England show all 30 local authority areas in the West Midlands again recorded a fall in new cases.

The biggest week-on-week drop was in Lichfield, where the rate fell from 370.4 to 194.7 per 100,000 people for the week up to 25 November.

Stoke-on-Trent and Dudley remain the highest in the region, and among the highest in England, although Dudley saw its rate fall from 506.5 to 338.9.

Both areas are set to enter tier three when lockdown ends on 2 December.

BBC Radio Stoke

Two people have been arrested after armed police were sent to a caravan park in Stoke-on-Trent.

Officers were responding to reports of disorder at Boathorse Lane in Goldenhill on Saturday night.

A man and woman from the city have since been released on bail, said Staffordshire Police.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

The mass Covid testing of students, so they can go home safely for the Christmas break, is starting at many universities.

At the University of Wolverhampton, a spokeswoman said about 10% of its 23,000 students would be included in plans for the testing and travel window, although it is unclear how many will take up the offer.

Home test kits are also available for collection at its Wolverhampton, Walsall and Telford campuses.

Image source, Getty Images

From 27 November to 4 December, students with no symptomscan also books tests, external.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Layer said many of its students live in the West Midlands region and are classed as "commuter students".

Students are being asked to remain at the university until they receive their test results.

The trust that runs Royal Stoke University Hospital says it is seeing "significant pressure" in its critical care department.

Last week, the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust moved its internal incident level to level 4 for Critical Care - the highest available.

Image source, Google

It said it has been receiving support from neighbouring trusts with additional critical care capacity and it was seeing a steady fall in the number of patients requiring a critical care bed.

Chief Executive Tracy Bullock said the trust had taken action as part of its surge plans "to prioritise urgent and emergency care and ensure our sickest patients receive timely treatment".

Stoke-on-Trent remains has the highest rate of new Covid-19 cases in the West Midlands, and one of the highest in England.

However, the rate of infections in the city have fallen for at least two consecutive weeks and it said that was having a positive impact on reducing the number of people in hospital.

Express and Star

Some of the Express and Star headlines today include:

• Tory Black Country MPs back tough tier action to suppress coronavirus, external
• Wolves striker Raul Jimenez comfortable after operation on fractured skull, external
• Pensioner accused of killing wife at Stourbridge home 'unfit' to stand trial, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

A new woodland walk and cycle path along a former freight railway loop line in Coventry has been given the go-ahead by council planners.

The £700,000 scheme from Historic Coventry Trust will see a new leisure route from Gosford Green towards the Sherbourne viaduct, before looping back along the River Sherbourne, past the Charterhouse, and ending at Far Gosford Street.

Image source, Historic Coventry Trust

Part of the trust’s wider plans to redevelop the Heritage Park, the plans are designed to breathe new life into a site which has been out of use since the 1960s.

It is hoped it will be ready for the start of City of Culture celebrations in May 2021.

Super League side Warrington Wolves cancel the contract of former Wigan centre Anthony Gelling by mutual consent.

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has surgery on a fractured skull suffered in a clash of heads during his side's Premier League win at Arsenal.

Shots were fired at a property in Coventry overnight, police say.

Officers were called to reports of gun shots on Tile Hill lane shortly before midnight, said West Midlands Police.

No one was injured but there was damage to the window.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed someone running from the house, who may have been picked up by a dark coloured vehicle.

Benjamin Wilkinson caused Steven Carey "catastrophic injuries" in a street fight over a debt, police say.

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It will be an overcast day with some patchy rain or drizzle and highs of 10°C (50°F).

The latest news, sport, travel and weather across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he is not worried about his position despite a 2-1 defeat by Wolves condemning his side to their worst start to a season since 1981.

Daniel Udoh scores an extra-time winner to send Shrewsbury into the FA Cup third round and end Oxford City's entertaining run.

Students have lost hundreds of days of education to Covid and self-isolation. How are they coping?

Officers issue more than 100 fines for lockdown breaches after they find 150 ravers at a warehouse.

The project run by a waste and recycling firm hopes to receive and donate 600 revamped bikes.

Maxime Biamou hits a last-minute equaliser as Coventry come away from injury-ravaged Championship leaders Norwich City with a valuable point.

Florentine Chinanga-Chou, 19, was hit by a car suspected of being used in a burglary five miles away.

Millwall secure a fifth successive draw as Gary Rowett's return to Birmingham ends in a dull goalless stalemate at St Andrew's.