Updates from Monday 11 January to Sunday 17 January
A man tied to drag a woman into an alleyway in a "traumatic" attack in Telford earlier, police say.
The woman was walking from a cashpoint on Grange Avenue in Stirchley at about 06:45 when the attack happened.
Fortunately she was able to get away, said West Mercia Police.
The force is asking for any witnesses to come forward.
BBC News Travel
Four lorries and a car have been involved in a crash in Staffordshire.
A stretch of the A500 has been closed from the junction for the M6 and A34 Talke Road in Audley.
The crash is affecting traffic heading towards Stoke-on-Trent.
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Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall have seen sharp increases in people testing positive for coronavirus, latest figures show.
Image source, City of Wolverhampton CouncilIn 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.
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BBC Sport
Shrewsbury have been forced to call off Saturday's home game with League One leaders Lincoln City following two more positive Covid tests within the club.
It is a third successive postponement for Shrewsbury, who also had to call off their home game with Crewe and FA Cup third-round tie at Southampton.
Steve Cotterill's relegation battlers have not played now since 29 January.
Lincoln boss Michael Appleton has himself been isolating after testing positive over Christmas.
Shrewsbury said in a statement: "We are reluctantly unable to fulfil our League One fixture with Lincoln City this Saturday following medical advice given to the club.
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Coventry Live
These are some of the Coventry Live headlines today:
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 MediaMr 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.
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."
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A number of people have fallen into the canal basin in Walsall's Gallery Square.
Read MoreKathryn 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.
England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty has been answering questions from the public in a special joint programme between BBC Radio 5 Live and the News Channel.
Jason, a school teacher, asks if schools are safe.
The chief medical officer says the risk to children is low - but by mixing children together "they can bring households together", meaning a balance has to be struck.
But he also warns that not going to school is a very significant disadvantage for children.
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Birmingham Live
Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today include:
People waiting to receive the Covid-19 vaccine say they are confused by NHS letters inviting them to travel to centres miles away from their homes.
The first 130,000 letters have been sent to people aged 80 or older who live about 30 to 45 minutes' drive away from one of seven new regional centres.
People will not miss out on their vaccination if they do not use the letters to make an appointment at one of the centres, the NHS said.
You can read more on the story here.
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.
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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.
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Experiencing racism as a young footballer means West Midlands Police's new hate crime officer will be able to help and support others who face discrimination.
Image source, West Midlands PolicePC Stuart Ward will work to help "stamp out rising abuse against footballers and fans - which has become increasingly prevalent online," the force said.
His role, thought to be that of the first dedicated hate crime officer based in a football unit, will include investigating complaints of hate crime linked to football, monitoring online interactions and working with the region’s clubs.
He said receiving abuse himself from another player, and no-one doing anything about it, means he knows the impact it can have. Read more here:, external
The government is reviewing lockdown restrictions to ensure they are strict enough, minister Nadhim Zahawi has said.
Image source, PA MediaAsked if he was satisfied the current rules were enough to bring the virus under control, the Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We don’t want to introduce tougher measures. The lockdown is tough, schools are shut.
"But it is important to remember this virus loves social interactions."
Zahawi said he was worried about whether people were wearing masks and following social distancing at supermarkets, as well as pictures of social interactions in parks.
"We want to make sure that people actually stay at home," he added.
BBC Sport
Birmingham City were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup.
Blues are not in action again until Saturday when they travel to face Middlesbrough, their manager Aitor Karanka's former club.
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, GoogleMore 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).
