Action across England to address NHS safety fears responds to a "disconnect between ward and board".

Joanne Gallacher
Political reporter, BBC Radio Shropshire

Schools in Shropshire have reported more than half of pupils are physically attending class during the lockdown, a union official has said.

Charles Thomas from the National Education Union said some schools are reporting nearly full classrooms.

Image source, Getty Images

More professions have been added to the key worker list and children classed as vulnerable now include those without broadband, no remote device and no quiet place to work.

Some heads have written to parents asking them to think about whether they need their children to attend.

Public health officials believe coronavirus cases are rising due to families mixing.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Birmingham's Floozie in the Jacuzzi could flow with water again in the summertime.

The water feature, proper title The River, was turned off in 2013 after running up big repair bills.

Since then, the Dhruva Mistry designed statue which sits in Victoria Square, has been filled in with plants.

Plans have been put forward to repair and reinstate the fountain as part of a £12.4m first phase of city centre improvement.

The work will be partly funded by the introduction of Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges for highly-polluting vehicles in the city centre.

Diana, the Princess of Wales, unveiled the sculpture in 1993, with repairs totalling £410,000 subsequently being needed in 2000, 2009 and 2012.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to introduce parking charges in a number of Warwickshire towns and villages have been put on hold because "this is not the right time".

Stratford district councillors were asked to consider bringing in charges for Alcester, Bidford, Southam and Studley, where parking has previously been free.

Councillor Ian Shenton, the council’s portfolio holder for operations, said: “It is clear that this is not the right time to consider this as the situation as regards to Covid-19."

But the council did agree to increase parking charges in Stratford-upon-Avon, a move which will bring in an extra £170,000.

Students at Coventry University and the University of Warwick are having their rent reduced after a national protest.

The students were unhappy about having to pay full price to live in accommodation they can't use until at least mid-February because of the lockdown.

Image source, Google

The University of Warwick University and Unite Students, which owns off-campus accommodation in Coventry, have agreed to waive or reduce rents until the middle of February.

Emerson Estridge preyed on crime victims and sent flirtatious texts and photos, his ex force says.

Penny the King Charles spaniel was all Alan Chamberlain had left after his wife died last year.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• Visitors flock to Shropshire beauty spots, external
• Hospital staff criticised after diabetic bled to death, external
• Body found in search for missing Telford woman, external

The minor injury units in Malvern, Evesham and Tenbury have been closed until the end of February as staff are redeployed to community hospitals.

The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, which runs the units, said the increased demand for healthcare workers was a "combination" of Covid-19 and other factors.

Image source, Google

The minor injury units in Kidderminster and Bromsgrove will remain open

BBC Weather

It's forecast to be overcast and cold again today, with temperatures not rising much higher than 5C (41F).

Tonight the temperatures could drop to freezing again.

Image source, Di

Inspectors say HMP Risley is well led but raise concerns about the time inmates are confined to cells.

Artist Mr Sce, dubbed the "Pershore Banksy" says more work will appear in the coming days.

Some staff based in Gobowen will be redeployed to Shrewsbury and Telford.

Minor injury units in Malvern, Evesham and Tenbury Wells are to close until the end of February.

West Midlands Police says its response was "proportionate" after fines were handed to seven people.

Minor Injury Units (MIUs) are to be temporarily closed from midnight in Malvern, Evesham and Tenbury.

Image source, Google

Staff will be redeployed to support community hospitals in the area which are experiencing higher than normal demands, said Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.

The MIUs at Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre and at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove are unaffected and will remain open as normal, it said.

The closures, until the end of February, will be regularly reviewed.

A reduced rail timetable is to be introduced from next week, said West Midlands Railway.

Image source, West Midlands Railway

The timetable, which comes into effect on Monday, 18 January, reflects the reduced number of passengers as well as the increased number of railway staff unable to work due to shielding or self-isolating, the company said.

About 2,500 vaccinations a day will be given when the Birmingham centre is fully operational.

Two house parties were among coronavirus restriction breaches reported to police over the weekend.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Warwickshire Police said , externalone party in Polesworth reportedly had up to 20 guests on Saturday night.

Other incidents reported included two people training at a gym in Nuneaton and regular visitors to a house in Rowington.

People must have a reasonable excuse for being away from their home, as set out by the government, the force added.

"If this is not the case, they will face a fine.”

The force said breaches can be reported to them using an online tool. , external