Updates from 21 December to 24 December
Christmas presents and cash have been stolen from an elderly woman's home in Stoke-on-Trent.
Two men broke into her house on Bowman Grove, Fegg Hayes, on Wednesday night, Staffordshire Police said. , external
They pushed her against a wall while they searched the place and left with wrapped presents and money.
The woman, in her 80s, was not hurt but left shaken.
Birmingham Live
The Birmingham Live website is covering these stories today:
Monsoon Venue Group, which catered for large Asian weddings in the West Midlands, has ceased trading.
Read MoreCheshire East Council says the Greater Manchester plans should be confined to pollution hotspots.
Read MoreA man in his 80s has been hurt when he was hit by a van in Shrewsbury.
The collision happened on Mount Pleasant Road on Wednesday evening at the junction with Ditherington Road, West Mercia Police said., external
The pedestrian was taken to hospital with a head injury.
A teenage girl has suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash.
The 17-year-old was a passenger in a black VW Golf when it was involved in a collision with a BMW on Thursday morning, West Midlands Police said., external
Image source, GoogleThe crash happened at the junction of Sandy Lane, Lower Street, Codsall Street and Lothians Road in Aldersley, Wolverhampton.
Two people in the BMW suffered minor injuries.
Officers arrested the 18-year-old driver of the Gollf on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and he is still in custody.
Drivers in Warwickshire are being warned of icy conditions tonight.
Image source, Met OfficeThe Met Office has a yellow weather warning, external from 23:00 until 06:00 on Christmas Day and said it could make driving conditions difficult.
There is also a yellow alert for strong winds from 15:00 on Saturday until 12:00 on Sunday which covers the whole of the West Midlands.
A "vast" cannabis factory with more than 2,000 plants has been discovered by police in an industrial unit.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceOfficers raided the site, external on Austin Way, Handsworth, Birmingham, on Tuesday.
The plants will be destroyed after being analysed.
Four men, aged 17 to 33, have been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and released under investigation.
BBC Radio Shropshire
More flooding is being forecast in Shropshire over the next few hours with river levels expected to stay high until at least this evening.
Image source, Environment AgencyThe Environment Agency has five flood warnings along the River Severn in the county , external and has installed temporary barriers in Shrewsbury and Ironbridge.
Nick Green, from the Environment Agency, said a spell of dry weather should bring the levels down but more rain is forecast.
"There is an awful amount of water trying to work its way down the system," he said.
"We are coping with the amount of water we have got but we have just got to keep a future look in terms of the next 48 hours after that, I think it is going to turn wet again."
BBC Radio CWR
The government's support for hospitality firms forced to close due to Covid restrictions is "not sufficient", the West Midlands mayor has said.
Image source, Getty ImagesMuch of the West Midlands is in tier three at the moment which means bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay closed, except for delivery and takeaway.
The government said it had extended the furlough wage support scheme until March and offered loans, grants and tax cuts to businesses.
But the region's mayor, Andy Street, said more was needed from ministers than £3,000 a month.
"The current support for hospitality and businesses in the events sector that just cannot open is not sufficient," he said.
BBC Radio Shropshire Sport
Shrewsbury Town have claimed 11 points out of a possible 15 since Steve Cotterill took charge, but he insists their current league position is "nothing to celebrate".
When he was appointed manager, the team were second bottom of League One and since then they have risen to 16th with 20 points.
Image source, Getty ImagesCotterill is looking to make further progress, starting when they travel to Wigan Athletic on Boxing day, but said: "We need another 30 before we can have a little look at where we're going to be this year."
A father-of-three who was given a 10% chance of surviving Covid-19 said being home with family had made Christmas "like being a kid again".
Leighton Webster spent 60 days in intensive care at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, six weeks of which was in a coma.
The supermarket worker was applauded by hospital staff as he left intensive care, returning home in July.
"If I look back, I just didn't think I would be here," the 42-year-old said.
Homes have been flooded in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and dozens of people rescued from vehicles stuck in flood waters.
Image source, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue ServiceThe counties' fire service said 44 people had needed their help from rising flood waters, external on Wednesday and they had helped people with flooded homes.
The Environment Agency has more than 20 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, across the West Midlands, mainly in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
Bus routes have been disrupted around Rugby, external while rail passengers have been warned by West Midlands Railway their services are not running between Hereford and Great Malvern this morning due to severe flooding., external
Image source, Worcester City Council
BBC Radio Stoke
Stoke-on-Trent might have avoided being moved to tier four, but the leader of the city council has warned it could come at any time and at short notice.
Abi Brown has warned that case numbers remain high and that people have to remain "extremely cautious over the coming days".
Ms Brown also said that while it was important to support the local economy, people should think carefully about the risk of going to the Boxing Day sales and ask themselves: "Is this the year to stay home instead?"
From the Express and Star today:
BBC Sport
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill said his side was too "timid" in the first half of the Carabao Cup quarter-final with Tottenham.
Image source, EPASpurs dominated the first 45 minutes with Gareth Bale putting them ahead and they should have scored more before half-time.
Stoke were much better after the interval and equalised with their first shot on target through Jordan Thompson before the visitors pulled away to win 3-1.
Quote MessageIn the first half we were placid and timid and didn't affect anything at all. Spurs showed their class and quality with their finishes."
Michael O'Neill, Stoke City manager
It's cold today but mainly fine and dry with plenty of sunshine and some patches of cloud. High: 4C/39F.
Image source, BBC Weather Watcher NB AdagioThis morning in Warwick
Temperatures will turn very cold tonight with mainly clear skies which will lead to a sharp, widespread frost. Low: -2C/28F.
You can stay up-to-date on the weather forecast for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
A pub in Shrewsbury has been given permission to expand, so it can set up a new flood-proof cellar.
The Salopian had to close in February, when the River Severn burst its banks and by taking over the former Lunts Pharmacy building next door, it can have a cellar above flood level, enabling it to stay open in future.
Image source, GoogleThe landlord, Ollie Parry, said the expansion was the only way to prevent the pub from closing for good and his application to Shropshire Council had the support of the local CAMRA branch and the Shrewsbury BID business group.
The plan will also involved the creation of a new drinking area, to enable the pub to have enough socially-distanced customers to remain viable.
Allen Cook
BBC News
Welcome to our live service for Christmas Eve.
We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.
We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email,Twitter , externaland Facebook., external
Leighton Webster, who was given a 10% chance of survival, feared he might not see his family.
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