Police say 18 fines have been issued at Walsall Wood FC during lockdown.

A man has been conned out of thousands of pounds by people posing as police officers, Staffordshire Police has warned.

The 38-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent received a call at 10:00 on Tuesday, during which a man posing as working in the police pensions department informed him that his account had been involved in fraud.

He was told another officer would call back to arrange the transfer of money to a "police account for safekeeping".

He received a further call from a woman claiming to be a PC Michelle Green, using a "spoofed" phone number, asking him to transfer the money.

They told him he could collect a cheque for the amount by attending a police station the next day.

Det Insp Steve Ward, from the force, said: “Neither police nor bank officials will ever ask you to transfer or withdraw money from your account, purchase anything or hand over your personal details or passwords."

BBC Sport

Hollie Doyle has continued her record-breaking year, by becoming the first woman to ride a winner at the International Jockeys' Championship in Hong Kong.

The 24-year-old from Herefordshire, who is also in the running for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, won in the final race of the competition aboard Harmony N Blessed.

Image source, Getty Images

She was joint third overall in the event, which was won by Australia's Zac Purton.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The first person to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Staffordshire was 81-year-old Alan Stevenson from Blythe Bridhe and there was a round of applause when that first needle went in.

Chief Nurse Michelle Rhodes was emotional and teary and said she felt overwhelmed at the importance of this huge step, after all the staff have been through.

Mr Stevenson said he couldn't wait to get back to normal life and seeing his family properly.

Nurses spoke about how the vaccine came with an instruction book, because the staff have to be very careful how they handle the jabs, which are fragile.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Thousands of families in Solihull entitled to free school meals will receive food vouchers to use over the Christmas holidays.

Solihull Council is getting £565,838 from the government's Covid Winter Grant Scheme and £252,000 of that will pay for supermarket vouchers for up to 8,400 pupils.

The council will also extend its current discretionary crisis scheme to help “anyone else struggling this winter” with the likes of food and fuel bills.

Coventry Live

Here are three of the stories on Coventry Live today:

• Covid-19 rates creep up again in parts of Warwickshire, external
• Extra spaces at Coventry Cathedral Ice Rink, external
• World-first Pfizer Covid vaccine in Coventry gives us a "sign of hope", external

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of the theft of dogs and animal cruelty offences after 44 dogs were recovered from a house in Redditch.

West Mercia Police said officers were called to reports of suspicious activity on Bordesley Lane.

On arrival, officers discovered a vehicle containing dogs and puppies as well as a large amount of cash. More dogs and puppies were later found in a second vehicle

The dogs are being assessed by rescue centres, vet surgeries and the RSPCA while investigations continue.

Det Ch Insp Joanne Wood said officers would contact owners if any of the dogs were identified as stolen.

The men remain in custody in Redditch.

The number of deaths at a Worcester care home has now reached five, following an outbreak of coronavirus.

Last month, 33 residents and 18 members of staff at St Stephen's Care Home on Droitwich Road tested positive for Covid-19.

Worcestershire's Director of Public Health Dr Kathryn Cobain said since the start of the outbreak earlier this year, 36 residents and 28 staff had tested positive.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Shrewsbury's rebuilt leisure centre will be more than just a swimming pool, Shropshire Council has promised.

The Quarry swimming and fitness centre is due to be knocked down and replaced with a new building, and the authority said it would include a spa, indoor play area and gym.

Lezley Picton, the councillor responsible for leisure, said: “The new facility needs to play a greater role in the leisure and events scene.”

But the council said it wouldn’t just be for competitions and "would be for the whole range of swimming activities”.

Shropshire Council's cabinet meets on Monday to discuss progress on the plans.

BBC Radio WM

About 3,000 people took part in a Covid-19 testing pilot in Wolverhampton, the city council has said.

Roughly 5% of those tested at the gurdwara on Sedgley Street were positive.

Image source, Getty Images

The two-and-a-half week trial involved testing people without symptoms and helped prepare for the roll-out of mass testing in Wolverhampton, which is now under way at the Civic Centre.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's leader hopes the area will be moved when tiers are reviewed.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's been a cold and grey winter's day and the BBC Weather Watchers have shared lots of photos of overcast skies this morning.

These photos were taken at Worcester and Warwick.

Image source, Mikesnapper

Image source, Elle Nino

Worcester News

Here are three stories from the Worcester News today:

• Dealer who kicked female cop faces being deported, external
• 5th resident dies after Covid outbreak at care home, external
• Design agency Conteur takes home prestigious film award, external

Stratford-upon-Avon District Council has said it's satisified the government has listen to its concerns, after it threatened legal action over tier three coronavirus restrictions.

It said it wouldn't be taking any further legal action against the decision to include the town in the same measures as the rest of Warwickshire, despite a relatively low rate of Covid-19 cases.

Image source, Google

The local authority took the decision after the government agreed to consider splitting the Coventry,Warwickshire and Solihull region when it reviews the tiers next week.

A cannabis factory has been uncovered as firefighters dealt with a blaze at a flat in Selly Oak in the early hours of the morning.

Investigations are now being carried out to find out what caused the fire, above a cafe on Bristol Road and West Midlands Police said it is trying to find out who was growing the drugs.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

At its height, about 40 firefighters tackled the fire in the roof of a mid-terraced, three-storey building.

It was brought under control by 05:46, although the road remained closed for some time.

Gary Fordham blacked out at the wheel while driving home after visiting family for Christmas.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Coventry's lord mayor has described the delivery of the first coronavirus vaccine in the city as as an “amazing breakthrough” and a “pick-me-up in these difficult times”.

Margaret Keenan was the first to be given the Pfizer/Biontech jab at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire yesterday.

Mayor Ann Lucas said: "I was so proud to see our marvellous University Hospital was the first in the UK and we believe the world to deliver the first Covid-19 vaccination."

Image source, Coventry City Council

Coventry’s director of public health, Liz Gaulton, said: “The deployment of this vaccine represents a key moment in our ongoing efforts to fight coronavirus in the city."

But she warned: “It will take time to roll out the vaccine across the city and it’s important that everyone understands this."

A virtual Christmas light switch-on, external in Stone has been viewed more than 18,000 times.

The usual town centre celebrations were called off due to coronavirus and the online version featured families, schools and community groups.

Image source, Stone Town Council

The town council said the Christmas lights switch-on was "a major event for the town" and that it did not want to "pass by without celebration".

BBC Radio Stoke

Kidsgrove's MP is looking for money to pay for free wi-fi around the town and has turned to the town council for backing.

Jonathan Gullis said it would cost £25,000 to set up, and about £2,500 a year to run.

Image source, UK Parliament

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• Politicians to press for tier 1 across Shropshire if cases continue to fall, external
• Shifnal transport scheme gets green light, external
• Frustration over Shrewsbury potholes appeal, external