A spike of Covid-19 cases was linked to revellers crowding into the Crown and Anchor's garden.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Birmingham’s secondary schools had 32% of pupils absent on Thursday November 19, figures show.

Image source, PA Media

Government data published today reveals the percentage of pupils in every area of the country that were absent in each week from 2 November to 5 December.

It was decided from September that if one child or staff member showed symptoms of Covid-19, all staff and pupils in their class or year group “bubble” should self isolate.

Data on the precise number of children or staff who actually had the virus is not known. The news came as the Department for Education announced that “rapid” lateral-flow Covid tests would be made available in all schools from January.

A flood gate in Worcestershire is being closed this evening after a rise in the levels of the River Severn.

The measure at New Street in Upton upon Severn follows Sunday's rain, says the Environment Agency.

The group's Dave Throup said minor impacts were also possible on the rivers Wye and Teme.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

From Stoke-on-Trent Live today:

• M6 closed and 90-minute delays after four lorries involved in crash, external
• 'Stolen' car rammed police vehicle in chase through streets of Stoke-on-Trent, external
• Woman taken to hospital after being rescued from Stoke-on-Trent house fire, external

Two Stoke-on-Trent City Council members have been facing debts of more than £2,000 between them.

Shropshire Star

From today's Shropshire Star:

• Failure to listen to families 'key issue' in Shropshire baby deaths scandal, external
• GPs launch Covid vaccine clinics in Shropshire as part of biggest NHS immunisation programme, external
• New pools for Quarry and Sundorne confirmed as preferred option by council, external

Plans to downgrade HS2 "will short-change millions of people", transport lobby groups have said.

Image source, PA Media

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has suggested a series of options on the future of the high-speed line.

One option is a downgrading of the eastern side of Phase Two, linking Birmingham to Leeds, which could see it terminate at East Midlands Parkway station in Nottinghamshire.

Lobby group Midlands Connect said the plans were "concerning".

You can read more here.

Express and Star

Some of the Express and Star stories today include:

• First vaccines given in Wolverhampton as Staffordshire rollout plan revealed, external
• Man taken to hospital with 'potentially serious injuries' after being hit by car in Pensnett, external
• Children killed in Stafford house fire suffered months of neglect, report finds, external

BBC News Travel

A stretch of the M6 northbound in Staffordshire has been closed after a crash involving four lorries.

There are severe delays around the crash site between J14 and J15.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

Rapid community testing for coronavirus is to start in Coventry this week.

Image source, Google

From Wednesday, the walk-in centre will open in Coventry University’s Priory Building on Priory Street, close to Coventry Cathedral in the city centre.

The lateral flow tests can give results in less than one hour and will only be used on people who do not have Covid-19 symptoms.

The roll-out to the general public follows a pilot scheme among 450 council workers at the end of November, which could eventually lead to about 32,000 tests a week.

An emergency temporary court is being opened in a Birmingham theatre and library to help cope with a backlog of cases that has been worsening during the Covid pandemic.

Spaces in The Rep and the neighbouring Library of Birmingham will be taken over by the Ministry of Justice, it has been announced., external

Image source, The Rep

The so-called "Nightingale court" will be followed by similar openings in Hull, Staffordshire and Cirencester by the end of January.

The courts will hear civil, family and tribunal matters as well as non-custodial crime cases.

A man and a woman who died when a car hit a wall in Solihull on Sunday have been named by police.

Image source, Google

Meesha Afzal, 22, and Kyle Khan, 26, died at the scene of the crash on Warwick Road, near Gentleshaw Lane, at about 02:00.

Two other people in the car were seriously injured and remained in hospital, said West Midlands Police.

An investigation was continuing, the force added.

Coventry Live

Some of the Coventry Live headlines today include:

• Drive-thru restaurant earmarked for site near Ricoh Arena, external
• Teenager accused of murdering boyfriend told police: 'I didn't mean to stab him', external
• Coventry man caught with £48k hidden in his car, external

Staffordshire and the West Midlands conurbation are among places that have seen the largest decreases in cases of coronavirus, figures show.

However, it is uncertain whether falls in these areas will signal a relaxing of coronavirus restrictions before the Christmas period.

Officials are due to meet tomorrow to review areas' tiers status based on data from last week.

Staffordshire and the West Midlands are in tier three - the category with the stiffest restrictions.

Recently NHS Providers - which represents hospital trusts in England - warned that relaxing Covid rules now could trigger a third wave of the virus during the busiest time of year for hospitals.

You can read more on this story here.

Two police officers were assaulted by a man arrested on suspicion of drink driving in Stechford, Birmingham, said the West Midlands force.

He also "committed a public order offence at hospital, damaged a police vehicle and was in possession of cannabis," a tweet added.

Officers shared an image of this crashed car in connection with the incident...

Ben Hunte
LGBT Correspondent

A gay man who went through months of electric shock "therapy" in a university psychology department 50 years ago has demanded an apology.

Chris - not his real name - went to his GP for advice in the 1970s, when he became aware of his sexuality in his mid-20s.

The doctor said he knew someone who could "cure" him. He was referred to a clinical psychologist at the University of Birmingham.

Believing it would help, Chris underwent the painful and distressing sessions many times a week for several months.

This, he says, has led to more than 40 years of "extreme" post-traumatic stress disorder and poor mental health.

You can read more on the story here.

Birmingham Live

Some of the Birmingham Live headlines include:

• Birmingham announces mass rapid testing to raise hopes of 'safer' Christmas get-togethers, external
• Three cannabis farm homes destroyed across Birmingham after string of fires in 11 days, external
• Three children guilty over savage killing of Sutton Coldfield pupil after 'stray glance', external

Bones found on land in Solihull last month have been tested and found to be between 134 and 208 years old, and therefore not linked to any current investigation, police say.

The remains were found off Damson Parkway on 4 November.

There had been speculation that the bones may have been those of David Spencer and Patrick Warren who went missing on Boxing Day 1996, said West Midlands Police.

Nearby land was previously dug up in a search for the friends who became known as the "Milk Carton Kids".

The force said it had updated the boys’ families and the investigation into their disappearance remains open.

The bones will be "respectfully resettled," it said.

BBC News Travel

Rail lines are blocked between Nuneaton and Leamington Spa after a train derailed in Coventry.

Image source, West Midlands Railway

Rail replacement buses are running and tickets are being accepted on other services, said West Midlands Railway., external

The incident happened in the early hours, it added.

Disruption is expected until at least midday.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

Plenty of sunshine but there will be a few cloudy spells and the chance of the odd shower with highs of 10°C (50°F).