BBC CWR

The coronavirus pandemic has caused the number of people waiting for routine treatments across Coventry and Warwickshire to shoot up from 72 to 3,714.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Groups said they was doing what they could to reduce the backlog and pointed out there were similar problems all over the country.

Image source, Google

Phil Johns, chief executive of the CCGs, told Coventry City Council's Health and Wellbeing board this week that those who required urgent treatment were being prioritised.

A shop worker talks about abuse by customers, as police say attacks have increased.

The Environment Agency says in the absence of the temporary defences, sand bags will have to be used.

Flood warnings have been issued for parts of the West Midlands after an "unhelpful" 15-20mm of rain fell overnight, the Environment Agency says.

It's caused "significant" flash flooding in Worcestershire in particular, according to the agency's Dave Throup.

The county was already dealing with major flooding that hit at the weekend.

These are the warnings issued by the Environment Agency so far:

• River Alne at Bird in Hand, external
• River Alne at Chapel Lane and Church Lane in Aston Cantlow and Great Alne, external
• River Avon at Strensham and Bredon, external
• River Avon at Wyre Piddle, external
• River Severn at Abbots Court, Deerhurst, external
• River Severn at Chaceley and Haw Bridge, external
• River Severn at Court Meadow, Kempsey and Callow End, external
• River Severn at Hanley Castle, Rectory Road in Upton upon Severn and Saxons Lode, external
• River Sow and River Penk, external
• River Sence from Temple Mill to Sheepy Magna, external
• River Stour at Mitford Bridge, Shipston on Stour and Tredington, external

Experts say the huge formal gardens rival similar ones at Hampton Court and Kenilworth Castle.

One woman was bed-bound with Covid-19 when flood water rushed into her home, campaigners say.

BBC Weather

Any early rain should clear to allow some brighter spells with highs of 9°C (54°F).

BBC News Travel

A stretch of the A449 southbound carriageway has been closed in Worcestershire due to flooding.

Drivers are being warned not to drive through the flood water from Droitwich Road to Claines Lane in Claines.

Image source, Worcestershire County Council

Other roads around Cropthorne, Fladbury and Eckington may also have to be closed, it said, due to rising levels on the River Avon.

Sir David Thompson, who leads the West Midlands force, says he has had a "mild dose" of the virus.

The six-month festival will see art commissioned celebrating Birmingham's diversity, organisers say.

Three men had to be rescued after getting into difficulty on their way to a sea fort off Kent.

The manner in which contracts were awarded by Cheshire East Council is criticised in a review.

Gurpreet Singh is told he will serve at least 19 years in prison for the murder in Wolverhampton.

Worcestershire appoint lifelong fan Cynthia Crawford - former PA to Margaret Thatcher - as the club's first female president.

A couple share their experience of grieving for their son after he died with Covid aged 32.

Four Bosley Mill employees were killed in an explosion at the factory in Cheshire in 2017.

A post-mortem examination found Artura Busma had suffered blunt force trauma to his head and body.

The digger manufacturer says after a "tumultuous year" demand is starting to pick up.

Warwickshire make a £281,000 profit for the financial year to September 2020 despite a season badly disrupted by Covid-19.

Jim Dale
BBC Shropshire

A sex worker has said she's had no choice but to carry on working during the coronavirus pandemic - putting her health and the health of others at risk.

The Shropshire woman, who doesn't want to be identified, said she looked for ways to diversify her business and go online, but she was worried it compromised her privacy.

She said running an erotic phone line didn't earn her enough money to live.

She said she'd been forced to move to a cheaper flat because of her loss of earnings and was having to meet clients at her home, because hotels were closed.

The support group The English Collective of Prostitutes has called for sex workers to be given financial support from government.