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BBC Midlands Today

Public transport bosses in Birmingham say it's too early to tell what impact the new clean air zone will have on passenger numbers.

The charge, which aims to reduce emission levels in the city, was introduced yesterday, although there will be a two-week grace period.

Fewer people are using trains at the moment following the pandemic, but it's hoped many will now be encouraged to return. It "is too early to say" if working routines have changed for the foreseeable future, said a spokesman for West Midlands Trains.

BBC Weather

We are forecast temperatures up to 25C (77F) today and clear blue skies.

But this evening some light showers are possible.

The rest of the week is expected to be dry and warm with some light cloud.

Good morning and welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

We'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates from across the West Midlands until 18:00.

If you want to get in touch, you can send us your news, views and photos via Facebook , externaland Twitter, external.

Emergency services were called to College Street, in Nuneaton, over concerns for a woman in her 80s.

Two teenagers aged 13 and 14 are among six held following the stabbing.

A trust says patients can expect some disruption but all services will "remain operational".

Midlands Connect says the plans would deliver faster rail services and reduce overcrowding.

That's all for now, but we'll have any breaking news here this evening and there will be latest updates on news, sport, weather and travel from 08:00 on Wednesday.

BBC Midlands Today

Image source, PA Media

There have been 126 cases of the Indian variant in Birmingham out of a total of 167 Covid-positive test results, latest figures show.

Data from the Wellcome Sanger Institute shows the city has 11 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days up to 22 May.

Birmingham has been put on a government "watchlist" as last week the the council’s Local Covid Outbreak Engagement Board were told there'd been a 45% spike in cases, driven by the variant.

Health bosses are warning that it is up to 1.6 times as transmissible as other strains.

Dr Justin Varney, the director of public health with Birmingham City Council, is urging to people to be sensible as restrictions ease and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Worcester News

Here's what's on the Worcester News website today:

• A mum of seven is edging ever closer to feeding the 5,000 after offering free meals through a Facebook page dedicated to reducing waste, external
• Worcester pubs and restaurants buck UK trends for Covid bounce back, external
• New plans submitted for major renovation of Chateau Impney site, external

Police are aware "emotions are high" after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Birmingham, but speculation the attack was racially motivated is not substantiated, they say.

Det Ch Insp Stu Mobberley described the stabbing as an "appalling" act of violence as officers continue to interview witnesses.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the force.

The rail line between Shrewsbury and Birmingham could be electrified as part of a bid to improve rail journeys across the West Midlands.

In a report by Midlands Connect, external, the transport body proposes introducing faster trains and running hourly services from Shrewsbury to London.

Image source, Google

The proposals could see journey times from Shrewsbury through the Black Country and onto Birmingham cut from 56 minutes to around 45.

Chairman Sir John Peace said the plans were "a critical first step" but there was "a long way to go" before the proposals are realised.

The plans have been welcomed by local authorities, including Telford and Wrekin Borough Council, which said it was "thrilled to see that we’ve reached this critical first milestone in the scheme’s development".

Bromsgrove-born Gymshark entrepeneur Ben Francis has been appointed the first patron of Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital Charity.

Image source, Gymshark

Mr Francis's gym-wear brand donated £180,000 to the charity during the pandemic and will now continue his charitable work, raising awareness and funds for the hospital.

"My Mum has worked as a nurse at the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham all of my life, so I know first-hand how unbelievably hardworking they are and the impact they have on so many people," the 29-year-old said.

"I look forward to working with them to continue to raise awareness and funds for this amazing charity."

BBC Radio Stoke

A birthing unit at Stafford's County Hospital may not re-open after the pandemic due to staffing issues, the trust says.

Tracy Bullock, chief executive of University Hospitals of North Midlands, says despite previous campaigns to attract more women to give birth at the hospital, numbers have not increased and staffing the unit has not been sustainable.

Image source, Getty Images

Fewer than 100 babies a year were being born there before the pandemic and the future of the unit is under review with a public consultation due to start next month.

The Ockenden Review is also having an impact on the future of the unit in terms of "better birthing staffing levels," Ms Bullock said.

The Ockenden Review looked at maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH) with resulting recommendations being implemented elsewhere.

Options being considered are do nothing and keep the unit closed, open it as it was pre-Covid or use "other models" in place at other hospitals.

One woman has spoken of her anxiety at possibly travelling to hospital in Stoke-on-Trent to give birth if the unit does not reopen.

BBC Sport

Coventry City Football Club has revealed it posted losses of almost £3.4m for the financial year which ended in May 2020.

It's in contrast to the £70,000 profit the Sky Blues recorded during the previous 12 months.

The club's management say the loss reflects the financial consequences of the pandemic and impact of the last season being played in closed stadiums.

The Championship club, who are returning to the Ricoh Arena next season, had been placed under a transfer embargo having not filed their accounts in February as per EFL rules.

The embargo was lifted on Thursday when the information was submitted.

Image source, Getty Images

A cyclist is in a serious condition following a crash with a car.

Image source, Google

Paramedics were sent to the scene at the junction of Campbell Road and the A5006 in Stoke-on-Trent shortly after 06:00 BST.

"When ambulance crews arrived at the scene they found a cyclist, a man, in a serious condition following a collision with a car," a West Midlands Ambulance spokesperson said.

"The man was given trauma care on scene to help stabilise his condition before he was taken on blue lights to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency care.”

BBC Radio Stoke

Image source, Getty Images

The number of people waiting more than 52 weeks for surgery at University Hospitals of North Midlands is currently about 7,000, the trust chief executive says.

Tracy Bullock says it's the highest she has ever seen in her 37-year career.

Pre-Covid there was no-one waiting that amount of time, but now it's growing every day, she says.

The trust has opened a new theatre and plans to open another in July as well as using the independent sector more.

In March, about five million patients across England were waiting for surgery - the highest number since modern records began.

Surgeons want specialist hubs in England to help tackle a "colossal backlog" of non-urgent operations because of the pandemic.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

Court action is being taken against travellers after they ignored a deadline to leave Stoke Heath Park in Coventry.

Image source, Ian Rogers

The unauthorised encampment arrived on the site on Valley Road, known as Morris Common, on 26 May.

Around 10 vehicles are believed to have gained access.

Coventry City Council served a notice to leave by Saturday, however the group have remained on site over the Bank Holiday weekend and failed to follow the order.

Action is now being taken through the High Court, the council said.

A council spokesman added : “Last Friday the council served a notice to the Travellers asking them to vacate the site by 11:00 BST on Saturday 29 May.

“This notice was not complied with and the council will now continue to court to begin formal eviction proceedings."

A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Five men and a boy stole cars and tried to steal a safe and tills in the raids across four counties.