Counties brace as warnings are issued across the region amid road closures and rescues from cars.

Dozens of flood warnings are in place in the West Midlands today, external with river levels still rising after this week's heavy rain.

Image source, Environment Agency

Fifteen are in Staffordshire, 10 in Herefordshire, eight in Shropshire and six in Worcestershire.

The Environment Agency says it expects river levels in most cases to peak later on Thursday.

BBC Weather

The effects of Storm Christoph are being felt in the West Midlands this morning, with flooding - and rescues - emerging overnight.

Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire are the affected counties.

We'll be bringing you the latest.

For now, here's today's forecast:

People in parts of Shropshire are being warned of icy conditions until at least 10:00. The Met Office has a yellow weather warning in place, external.

There are also flood warnings. We'll bring you news of those shortly.

Image source, Met Office

Overall, this morning should be mainly dry and cloudy before turning more cloudy this afternoon. Relatively mild with a high of 7C/45F.

Dry with clear skies tonight and it will be cold with a widespread frost. Low: 0C/32F.

You can stay up-to-date with the latest weather forecast for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.

Latest updates from North West England at Storm Christoph brings snow, rain, evacuations and disruption.

Ben Gulliver saw a chance to make money, selling items people struggled to get in the pandemic.

More than 2,000 properties in Manchester are affected as police warn some occupants will have Covid.

Roads and rail lines are affected and river levels are likely to remain high with rain forecast.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

Hundreds of children in Herefordshire are going to keep getting free school meals over the February half-term and in the Easter break.

Image source, Reuters

The county council has said it will continue to support a scheme , externalintroduced last year to support vulnerable families over Christmas.

Families will get meal provision up to the value of £15 for the week of half-term and £33 for Easter.

Katie Tong, of Shrewsbury, said goodbye to her father via video call days after her mother died.

A pathologist found Darren Constantine's account of events did not match Julie Webb's injuries.

Doris Hobday's family say they are "totally heartbroken" to lose her in this way.

A hospital apologises to Rachael Foley after she underwent a hysterectomy following the error.

BBC Weather

A yellow weather warning for rain remains in place across the West Midlands with the Met Office warning of possible flooding and disruption to transport., external

Along with the outbreaks of rain there will be brisk southwesterly winds and it will feel mild with a high of 11C/52F.

More heavy rain is forecast tonight, increasing the risk of flooding but it should clear in the early hours leaving most places dry with clear spells. Low: 4C/39F.

You can stay up-to-date on your local forecast with the BBC Weather website.

Delays to smear tests in lockdown prompt cervical cancer charities to call for home-testing kits.

The government demands Birmingham's Clean Air Zone launches in June, the council leader says.

Four hundred members of the armed forces will work alongside doctors in the Midlands and London.

Parents and teachers trying to save an outdoor residential centre have submitted a petition backed by almost 7,000 people to Warwickshire County Council.

The local authority is considering closing Marle Hall, a stately home near Snowdonia, Wales, it has owned since 1971.

Image source, Knightlow Primary School

Campaigners say thousands of children have explored the mountains and coast near the 35-acre site and it had provided "life-changing experiences".

They said supporters' comments included one saying the resource would be "even more vital" to children's health "after the stress and trauma of Covid".

The council said it had finished its consultation with staff and would make a decision on the centre after analysing their feedback.

It added "whatever is ultimately decided around Marle Hall", a residential break "remains a key component of any outdoor education strategy for Warwickshire’s schoolchildren”.

Gemma Clout is jailed after she struck father-of-five Patrick Moore during a trip to buy cigarettes.