Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall have seen sharp increases in people testing positive for coronavirus, latest figures show.

Image source, City of Wolverhampton Council

In Wolverhampton rates have jumped from 638.3 to 1,033.6 per 100,000 population, in the seven days to 6 January according to Public Health England figures.

In Sandwell, rates are up from 567.5 to 953.0, and in Walsall they have risen from 497.1 to 815.5.

A third rapid testing centre, external has opened in Wolverhampton with a-symptomatic workers being urged to get regular tests.

Two people have been issued with fixed-penalty fines after travelling from Coventry to the Dorset coast.

The visitors were stopped at Durdle Door during "proactive patrols" on Saturday morning.

The notices were issued for breaching Covid-19 regulations, Dorset police said.

"Travelling over 170 miles for exercise is completely unacceptable," the force added.

Coventry Live

These are some of the Coventry Live headlines today:

• Man dies in Coventry flat fire, external
• Coventry's Covid-19 rate quadruples in a month, external
• Coventry school to get a £6m revamp with plans including 'mini school' for Year 7s, external

Retired tool-maker Ken Hughes who said he "hadn't gone out for 14 weeks" has also received the coronavirus vaccine in Birmingham.

Image source, PA Media

Mr Hughes, 82, from Swindon near Dudley, said he had driven himself to the Millennium Point centre after receiving his appointment offer letter on Saturday.

"It's a relief," he said, after receiving the vaccine.

"I didn't go out at all for 14 weeks, now I will feel more comfortable when I do go out."

Millennium Centre is one of seven mass vaccination centres operating across England from today.

The warning from England's chief medical officer comes as seven mass vaccination centres open.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

Health workers have been among the first to receive a coronavirus vaccination at Birmingham's Millennium Point centre.

Olga Leach Walters, an endoscopy nurse from Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, was one of the first.

She said the vaccination was "especially important for the BAME community."

"I have lost so many family members," she added.

"I'm excited about the vaccine because it's going to change a lot and it's going to get [us] back to normal."

A number of people have fallen into the canal basin in Walsall's Gallery Square.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

About 600 people are expected to receive a Covid-19 vaccination at a centre in Birmingham today.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Eventually, the Millennium Point facility will be able to deal with about 2,600 patients a day.

Dr Peter Ingham, recently retired chairman of the Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group said today's appointments were for a mix of the over-80s and healthcare staff.

"Hopefully by next week it will be well over 2,500 people a day - but we want to increase that," he said.

Birmingham Live

Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today include:

• Millennium Point opens as vaccination centre, external
• Mum battling Covid in hospital pleads 'take this seriously' after two patients die, external
• How feral teen murdered OAP who let him stay at Kings Heath flat, external

Robert Morrison died six days after being robbed at his home by Ian Knowles and Ismaila Mohammed.

Ice could bring travel disruption to parts of Staffordshire later.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the area and said ice is expected to form overnight as rain and snow clears.

The yellow warning, which means their could be disruption to travel, is in place from Tuesday afternoon.

A man has died after a fire broke out at flat in Coventry.

West Midlands Fire Service say the man, in his 60s, was found dead after fire crews were called to the flat and an investigation into how the fire started has begun.

Foleshill firefighters were called to the property on Almond Tree Avenue on Sunday afternoon.

His death is not being treated as suspicious, said West Midlands Police.

Seven mass vaccination centres will open in England this morning, as part of the government's push to speed up its coronavirus vaccination programme.

Image source, Google

More than 600,000 people aged over 80 are being sent letters inviting them to book appointments at sites, which include Birmingham's Millennium Point.

NHS England said hundreds more GP-led and hospital services would also open later this week.

Another site at the Black Country Living Museum is also expected to open next week.

It will be a cloudy day with a few bright spells and highs of 8°C (46°F).

The latest news, sport, travel and weather across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Patients, many shielding, have been offered appointments miles away from their homes.

Mountain rescuers thanked police for stopping "accident waiting to happen" on the 918m peak.

Sarah Link lived in a caravan on her own drive so she could carry on working and protect her mother.

Children across the UK are raising awareness about the Indian farmers protests on social media.

The detective played by Luke Evans in ITV's The Pembrokeshire Murders on how the case became a drama.