Special oxygen masks for pets were used to save the cats who were pulled from a burning house in Runcorn.

Now last night's rain is out of the way, it will be dry initially with some breaks in the clouds and sunny spells.

However we've got another band of rain moving in later this afternoon, possibly with some thunder and lightning in some areas, and even more rain expected tomorrow.

Top temperatures today of around 12C.

Ikea closed its Coventry store last year creating "once in a lifetime opportunity" for city council.

Surviving sister Lilian Cox said her twin would "always be in my heart and in my mind".

A 32-year-old man is due to go on trial at Derby Crown Court later this year.

Port Vale appoint Darrell Clarke as their new manager after a compensation deal is agreed with fellow League Two club Walsall.

Home testing will launch in another area of Walsall, after the discovery of another case of the South African variant of coronavirus.

Enhanced testing had already started in the WS2 postcode two weeks ago after a case was discovered. Walsall Council said no further cases have been discovered.

But enhanced testing has started in the Pleck area, after someone tested positive for the variant there.

Image source, Getty Images

The council said people in Pleck will be contacted in order to be tested at home.

Councillor Stephen Craddock, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Walsall Council said: "We've got a website, so you put your postcode in there and it will tell you if you are in this surge testing area.

"But actually, if you don't do anything, someone will knock your door if we need to do the test."

The funeral has taken place of Doris Hobday, one half of the "Tipton Twins", who died aged 96.

Hopefully many of you received a little something special yesterday to mark Valentines Day, and staff at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust were also trying to spread some love.

Patients on Ward Two were visited by staff pushing a special trolley carrying some sweets and a glass of bubbly or shandy.

Image source, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

In a post shared on Facebook, external, ward Sister Katie said: "We may still be in difficult times but we wanted our patients to remember they are loved. And what better day to remember this than on Valentine's Day.

"It's fair to say our love trolley, as we called it, made everyone smile and that's the important thing."

Image source, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

West Midlands mayor Andy Street says he wants a new railway station for Tettenhall in Wolverhampton.

The move is part of a huge transport plan for the region., external

Mr Street says he is currently working with local MPs Stuart Anderson and Jane Stevenson to hopefully win government backing for a new station to serve Pendeford and Tettenhall.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Beauty spots around Solihull are set to benefit from £705,000 worth of grants.

The Love Your River Cole project, led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, is among the first schemes nationwide to secure a share of the government's £80million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

Other areas set to benefit are Chelmsley Wood’s Meriden Park and parkland near Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.

Image source, LDRS

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Solihull Council officer Liz Grove told a cabinet meeting the scheme would mean “investment and environmental improvements”.

While Ian Wykes, the wildlife trust’s programme manager, said: “The Covid crisis has demonstrated how valuable local green spaces are and this funding will go along away to improve these for people and wildlife.”

An investigation is ongoing but fire fighters say there are no suspicious circumstances.

The facility in Ellesmere Port aims to reduce the burden on landfills and reliance on fossil fuels.

Children in part of Coventry are being encouraged to use their half-term break to spread kindness across the city.

Coventry City of Culture Trust said it has launched the Passports of Kindness initiative to challenge youngsters between seven and 11 from schools in Foleshill to complete ten acts of kindness "to help bring happiness and joy to those around them".

They have been given a passport and sticker set to record their acts.

Image source, Coventry UK City of Culture 2021

“I hope it will inspire and bring joy to the children and their families during lockdown. I can’t wait to read their poems, see their drawings and all the creative ways they find to be kind," said the trust’s Collaborative City Producer, Navkiran Mann, who is behind the initiative.

Rachel's mother says 'justice has been done' after inquest finds neglect contributed to her death.

Diana Johnston told the BBC her daughter Rachel had been "a fighter all her life".

Thomas Rogers was found stabbed to death on Bristol Road in Birmingham in August.

Mark Elliott died with coronavirus at the Royal Stoke Hospital on Sunday.

Seamer Olly Hannon-Dalby signs an extended deal, which will keep him at Warwickshire until at least 2023.

An inquest opening heard she was attacked by a family dog in Kitts Green, earlier this month.