Sophie Calvert
BBC Radio Stoke

The disco lights were on, the bikes were fired up and eight people took part in one of the first exercise classes in Stoke-on-Trent this morning.

Eight people were absolutely going for it in the spin class at the Wallace Sports Centre, Abbey Hulton.

Alison was one of them and said it was "brilliant" and she had "really missed it".

Also in the group was Jo who said all the bikes were 2m apart and everyone sprayed them down to comply with Covid rules.

She said she had missed the social interaction: "We were all social distanced and doing our own thing but you are still part of a team and the team kind of pushes you along. Loads better."

Richard Williams
BBC CWR

As well as flights leaving airports, coach holidays are back and one firm has nine leaving Coventry for other parts of the UK.

Colin Duncan, from Dunwood Travel, says the past three weeks have been their busiest for bookings in the past 25 years.

He is "excited and relieved" to have coaches departing, "ready to jump in the air".

Suitcases were on the pavement in Fairfax Street along with some very happy people, waiting to depart at about 09:30 BST.

Yarmouth-bound Sue said she was "nervous, but happy" while Jackie, off to Weymouth, couldn't wait to be walking along the sea front - "looking forward to it".

Ian, about to step on the coach to get to Weston-super-Mare, said he felt a bit emotional: "Been stuck in the house for so long and it is just nice to get away."

His first plan for when he arrives? "Have a pint."

David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

As ever with coronavirus, today is all about risk.

The government has decided that despite an incomplete vaccination campaign and the arrival and spread of the Indian variant (B.1.617.2) it is still opening things up today.

Image source, PA Media

There are scientists who are very worried the new variant could be much more infectious meaning there's a real chance we will see another peak in deaths as big as any that have gone before.

But the government has decided to go ahead with relaxing lockdown. That's a risk on their part.

And now each of us have to make a decision about what sort of personal risk we are prepared to take with our health and the health of those around us.

Asking people if they've been vaccinated before deciding whether or not to hug them? Sitting inside a badly ventilated pub where people are shouting and singing? It's all about risk.

Whatever any of us decide today, we'll be watching the numbers as all those little decisions we all take add up to the big picture the government has to deal with in a few weeks' time.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

The owner of the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford says he is "absolutely thrilled, over the moon and jumping up and down on the beds" to be reopening today.

Managing director Julian Vaughan said the last 18 months of the pandemic has cost them more than £1m in lost trade.

But with today's reopening, bookings are picking up.

"The weekends are very popular, we are seeing high occupancy there with leisure so city breaks, people coming to enjoy Herefordshire and the wider things to do in Herefordshire," he said.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
BBC Radio WM

Passengers leaving from Birmingham Airport to go on holiday "is a bit of a novelty, unfortunately", for the airport's chief executive Nick Barton.

The first flight to Portugal departed this morning with 118 passengers after they went through extra paperwork to check-in, including showing negative Covid test results.

With the ban on foreign holidays lifted, 12 countries are on the government's green list but the vast majority of tourist destinations remain on the amber and red lists.

Mr Barton says their only real destination to a green list country is Portugal but a few routes from the airport are being opened up to amber list countries.

"Greece is on there and some destinations in Spain, so we will see how those go, but of course there is a quarantine requirement on return from those destinations, but we will see what passengers think," he said.

Among the businesses reopening today are cinemas, with some limits on numbers.

The Regal Cinema in Evesham has had a revamp during lockdown, including a new bar, new toilets and a new roof.

Image source, Google

Eva Moeskops, from the cinema said: "175, 200 max we can get in at the moment, when we usually do have 280 people.

"Already Friday might is looking really busy, the first Monday is looking really busy so we're very, very excited about that."

BBC Radio Shropshire

Bev Ellis, from the New Raven Cafe, in Prees, Shropshire, says the phone has not stopped ringing with customers wanting to book tables.

“People have been turning up saying ‘Can we book? Can we come when it all starts? We really want to sit inside and enjoy the atmosphere with you’.

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing, it is all good news, it is all going in the right direction and we’re really pleased.”

Image source, Getty Images

Staff are also incredibly excited about the reopening, she said.

“We have been planning, we have been cleaning, we have got a whole sort of new range of staff that had come in, they are really, really good,” Ms Ellis added.

“We just cannot wait, we feel like life is beginning all over again."

BBC Radio Stoke

Cheshire-based Gandeys Circus has been working with the government on pilot schemes for the return of live events ahead of officially reopening.

The projects have taken place at holiday resorts and led to suggestions of new measures to help tackle the spread of Covid-19.

Image source, Getty Images

Binky Beaumont, from Gandeys, said it was great to get back to business.

“Everything is coming together,” he said.

“We have had artists flying in over the last two to three weeks who are in isolation, they have to have their Covid test, they have to be in isolation for 10 days, then they have to isolate and have daily test and temperature checks before they are allowed to start and join the rest of the cast for rehearsals, because it is such a big cast.”

BBC Midlands Today

As part of the lifting of restrictions, many tourist attractions will be able to welcome guests back - including Cadbury World.

The Bournville-based attraction will be introducing a new stage show and says it will be ensuring measures are in place to keep all visitors safe.

General manager Gerrard Baldwin said: "The pandemic was very challenging and clearly we had staff that were furloughed at the time, we stayed in touch with them.

“It is great this morning to open our doors to visitors and we are looking forward to welcoming them all back into the business to celebrate what Cadbury is about, which is fun and a brand that has a huge heritage.”

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
BBC Radio WM

Most people went through the check-in process quite smoothly this morning at Birmingham Airport, but there have been the odd hiccups.

Joanne and Graham Anderson, from Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, are heading to Portugal to celebrate Graham's 60th birthday.

But they almost did not go as they found in the queue they had not filled in the passenger locator form, to show where they would be in Portugal.

However, Graham said staff had been quick to help them sort it out: "They are ever so helpful here and helped us immensely so it has been great."

Overall, Joanne said they had had to take a lot of papers with them for the other checks "but it has got to be done" as they head off for some sunshine.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

The Dean of Worcester Cathedral says he cannot wait to reopen its doors.

The 800-year-old building will be open to general visitors.

Image source, Getty Images

Peter Atkinson said: “It is one more really important and exciting step along the way to reopening and reactivating the life of the cathedral.

“We have been open for prayer for many months, we have been open for public services to a limited extent but we have not been open for general visiting and that is what has become possible.”

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
BBC Radio WM

Osama and Diana Masfary said they "do feel very safe" with all the Covid checks at Birmingham Airport.

The couple, from Derby, and their one-year-old daughter Gabriella are among the 118 passengers on the first flight to Portugal as lockdown in England eases.

They booked last Sunday and then had to wait until the ban on foreign holidays was lifted.

Then it was "go, get your Covid test and we are here" and the pair said what they wanted from this trip was "sun, beach, sea water, a sun tan, everything."

Image source, Anna Kotova

The ban on foreign travel has ended in England, Scotland and Wales, and one of those making the most of the change is Dr Anna Kotova, criminology lecturer at Birmingham University.

Anna, 32, who is a Russian national but grew up in Cyprus, hasn’t seen her mum for four-and-a-half months and is flying out to Cyprus later.

Cyprus is on the UK’s amber list of countries which the government says people shouldn’t travel to - but it’s not illegal, and holidays and flights are available.

Anyone who returns from an amber destination must quarantine for 10 days as well as book and pay for Covid tests.

"It should be fun," she says. "I did travel in the summer when we were allowed to go so I’m fairly familiar with the testing processes."

"I’m spending around £400 on the Covid testing," she says.

Although she’s fully vaccinated, she says it’s "irritating" that she can’t get official proof of the vaccine by the time of her flight.

The government’s travel advice, external says until vaccine certificates begin, tests will still be needed – but the service to prove vaccine status via the NHS app is set to go live today, external.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

Lots of checks are going on at Birmingham Airport as people prepare to fly on holiday for the first time in months.

The first flight to Portugal leaves at 09:35 with 118 passengers expected to be on it.

There's a really excited vibe among holidaymakers and they've told me the pre-flight checks have been "really easy".

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

Mum and daughter Caroline and Emily Ingalls-Tomb are excited to be jetting off from Birmingham to Portugal.

The pair, from Warwick, said they had booked as soon as they had known which countries were on the green list.

Mum Caroline said her daughter had rung her with the idea and they "could not believe the availability, quite surprised".

Both were tested for Covid on Saturday, they will be tested again this week to come back on Friday and once more when they touch down in Birmingham.

Emily said: "I am more excited about going away and would rather do three tests in five days than stay in England."

As for the first thing they will do in Portugal? "Sunbathe - and a cocktail."

About 100 people gathered for a drink in the early hours at a pub in Coventry which opened its doors at midnight.

Image source, PA Media

Customers in England are able to get served indoors again as lockdown eases.

The owner of the Oak Inn, Darren Lee, said the pub was not "overly busy" but the early opening had been well received.

He said his locals were "really glad to be back inside - they're really up for it" and hoped larger numbers would build through the day.

Image source, PA Media

BBC Midlands Today

As lockdown restrictions ease, Coventry begins its first working week as the UK City of Culture with the opening of a number of arts venues across the city.

Following its official launch with a specially-commissioned film on Saturday night, external, it's hoped the year-long planned events will rejuvenate the city's venues and show the world what it has to offer.

Creative director Chenine Bhathena said: “We are starting to really see our cultural life restarting again and I just can’t wait to welcome audiences and the public back into the cultural venues and organisations across the city.”

Jane Stevenson, Conservative MP for Wolverhampton North East, said relaxing the rules was a step in the right decision

“I think if we are careful, and so many of us are vaccinated now, I’ve had my first jab, so we just have to go steadily," she said.

Image source, Parliament UK

“People still have to be careful but I visited a bowling alley in my constituency on Friday, they are enormously prepared to welcome people back," Ms Stevenson added.

“They have screens, sanitisers, so many protocols.”

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
BBC Radio WM

The sound of suitcases rolling across tarmac is all around us at Birmingham Airport.

There are big smiles, the atmosphere is really buzzing and people are getting directed to the check-in desk where there was quite a big queue forming already at 07:15 BST.

I have been here at the airport at times during the pandemic when it has been ghostly quiet, but today feels a lot more normal.

Portugal is on the green list of countries people can visit and there are lots and lots of people here at the airport heading out on this morning's first flight to Faro at 09:35.

The easing of restrictions means bars and restaurants can have customers sit inside, in groups of six or any size from only two households.

Jonathan Lea, from Loxley's Restaurant & Wine Bar, in Stratford-upon-Avon, has been busy getting ready.

Image source, Google

During the closure it introduced a new menu, till system, there has been cleaning and the building has been repainted.

"The challenge I have found has been being closed for so long," he said.

"We have been closed since November and we are used to interacting with so many people on a day-to-day basis and obviously not interacting with anyone has been quite difficult."