Allen Cook
BBC News

We will be back with the latest for the West Midlands from 08:00 on Tuesday.

Police are appealing for information after a teenager was robbed at knife point by a group of three men in Congleton on Saturday.

Image source, Google

The 16-year-old was made to hand over his wallet and coat when the group approached him from behind at about 17:20 on West Road.

Cheshire Constabulary says the three suspects were in their late teens and is appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

The force added it was a "terrifying ordeal" for the teenage victim.

A landlord likened Saturday night to an "invasion" with one person driving 200 miles to go to a pub.

Armed police have descended on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon after reports of a robbery at a jewellers.

Warwickshire Police said officers were called to reports of three men with weapons at the jewellers shop at about 15:35.

Police remain at the scene and are appealing for witnesses.

Shropshire Star

A few of the stories making the headlines in the Shropshire Star:

• Covid fines for Telford pub and industrial unit which allowed gathering of 50 people, external
• Police could check Salopians' Christmas Covid compliance, external
• Shropshire flood alerts: Partial closure at Shrewsbury's Frankwell car park, external

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been awarded a £51m grant to redevelop brownfield sites in the region.

Image source, West Midlands Combined Authority

The money will be used to build houses on former industrial sites, the WMCA said, including a development at the former MG Rover plant in Longbridge.

"The new year has the potential to be a very good one for our future housing plans," Metropolitan Mayor Andy Street said.

"We must keep up the momentum as housebuilding and brownfield land remediation will have a key part to play in our economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.”

Birmingham Live

The Birmingham Live website has these headlines today:

• Twisted serial killer fan jailed for life over Julia Rawson murder, external
• Chief Constable demands urgent review into 'criminal links to hostels goldmine', external
• Man arrested on suspicion of murder after body is discovered at Tyseley house, external

The man allegedly fled Belgium after hearing the migrants had died, and went to Germany then the UK.

A woman has been arrested after the death of a pedestrian in a crash.

The victim, an 83-year-old man, was outside St Paul's Church Hall on Church Lane, Cookhill, near Alcester, on Sunday evening when he was hit by a Nissan X-Trail.

West Mercia Police said , externalhe died at the scene.

A 52-year-old woman, from Worcester, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail.

Officers have called on anyone with information to get in touch.

The prime minister is currently giving his latest Covid-19 briefing, covering the latest on the new variant of the disease and how it's affecting Christmas plans

You can follow live updates here.

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A second rapid coronavirus testing centre has opened in Wolverhampton for people who do not have Covid-19 symptoms.

Image source, Wolverhampton City Council

Residents will be able to get a lateral flow test at the Jamia Masjid Bilal on Newhampton Road West every day between 10:00 and 18:30.

Results will be returned within an hour, and the city council hopes more testing will reduce the spread of Covid-19 from asymptomatic carriers who do not realise they are positive.

The local authority said thousands of people had already taken part in mass testing at the city's Civic Hall, which is also still operating.

A further three defendants were jailed for violent disorder over the death of Harvey Waterfield.

Abayomi Ajose was shot dead in a crowd of 400 people - but his murderer has still not been caught.

A former lorry driver says his colleagues who are stuck in long queues on the way to Dover are working in very stressful conditions.

Marcin Jankowiak, of DWP and Sons in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, said the firm was in "constant contact" with four drivers caught up in disruption after France temporarily closed its border with the UK.

Image source, EPA

Mr Jankowiak said: "They are not happy about the situation and they are having to cope with all the stress and having to work in that."

He said long-distance lorry drivers would also be worried about not getting home to their families for the festive season.

"It's bad for everyone and Christmas is a very special time for them," he said.

Anyone who has travelled to the West Midlands from tier four areas or Wales has been asked to self-isolate by public health officials.

Officials said it was "highly likely" the new varient of Covid-19 was already circulating and asked travellers to the area to "assume they have it".

People are being asked to isolate for 10 days, meaning they should not leave their homes or invite anyone over - even on Christmas Day.

The new variant of the virus was first recorded in September and is thought to be transmitting much faster than other strains.

Click here for everything you need to know.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of arson and using violence to get into a home after a house fire.

The emergency services were called to Sandon Road, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday night to reports of trouble at the house.

They found a fire and the residents outside with one woman needing treatment by paramedics., external

Staffordshire Police said, external a 39-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested nearby on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and use of violence to gain entry to a property.

Shortly afterwards, officers arrested a 34-year-old man, also from the city, on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, use of violence to secure entry to a property, theft from a dwelling and assault by beating.

Both remain in custody.

Post-mortem tests following Keith Rowlands's death have so far proved inconclusive, police say.

BBC Radio Shropshire

People in Shropshire are being urged not to call their GP surgery asking for a Covid jab.

Image source, PA Media

The vaccination programme is being rolled out in the county.

The Shrewsbury Primary Care Network has about 124,000 patients at 17 practices from Pontesbury to Shawbury and Knockin.

Clinical Director Charlotte Hart said staff would get to people when they could.

"In due course people will start to get a letter with a number on to call but until that starts happening please, please do not call your GP surgery saying 'can I book for my Covid vaccination?'."

Nathan Maynard-Ellis, 30 and his boyfriend David Leesley, 25, killed Ms Rawson and hid her body.