Around one in 55 people in England are estimated to have had Covid in the week ending 16 October, according to the Office for National Statistics, external, but figures for the West Midlands show a levelling off.

Image source, Getty Images

That's an increase on the week before, when the figure was one in 60.

The percentage of people testing positive is estimated to have increased in all regions except the West Midlands and the South East.

The percentage of people testing positive for Covid increased in all age groups except those aged 25 to 34.

Brenda Morris's hearse is flanked by stormtroopers in accordance with her wishes.

Two sites in Herefordshire have already begun the holiday to beat Covid transmissions.

One of Steven Bowkett's victims says she felt "paranoid and anxious" after receiving the messages.

The errors at a private coronavirus testing lab in Wolverhampton began six days earlier than previously stated, the UK Health Security Agency has said.

Image source, PA Media

It said everyone affected had been contacted individually.

Launching an investigation last week, head of NHS Test and Trace Dr Jenny Harries said it was "not clear yet" what had gone wrong at the lab run by Immensa Health Clinic.

The error may have meant that thousands of people were wrongly told to stop isolating and may have infected others.

It took more than a month to identify the failings that led to an estimated 43,000 people being given the wrong results from PCR tests.

Disruption is expected in Birmingham on Sunday while the Five Ways roundabout is closed for works on the Midland Metro.

Five Ways roundabout will be closed all day from Ladywood Middleway to Calthorpe Road to allow for the installtion of an electricity substation as part of the West Midlands Metro extension to Edgbaston.

Buses will be diverted, and more information can be found on the National Express West Midlands webpage, external.

Carren Monga is named as the second murderer of Abdul Wahid Xasan as a judge lifts restrictions.

Work will begin on a new cycle route in Coventry after receiving funding worth £8.6m.

Image source, Transport for West Midlands

The Binley Cycleway will run for 6km between the city centre and University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire via the Binley Business Park on Harry Weston Road.

It's part of a wider scheme that will see a link-up with the Coundon Cycleway, which is currently under construction.

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

After children's services in Herefordshire were told it was not fit for purpose, the man charged with its improvement says he'll be listening closely to both children and members of staff.

A High Court judgement in May said Herefordshire Council's children's services department had "utterly failed" to support the public.

Image source, Google

Interim Director of Children and Families, Darryl Freeman, said the focus of the department needs to change.

He said: "I feel privileged to be in the role that I'm in and I've had some very full and frank conversations with our workforce.

"I welcome the feedback we get both from our own workforce, but also from the wider workforce, and indeed from families."

BBC Weather Watchers

Some parts of the West Midlands have been blessed with a gorgeous sunrise.

Raj's Range arguably had the best of the bunch with this view in Telford.

Image source, Raj's Range

Les at Large had a similarly lovely view in Wolverhampton.

Image source, Les at Large

And Dammo shared this snap in Knowle.

You can share your weather pictures here.

Image source, Dammo

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

Two Herefordshire schools have closed early for half term because of the rising number of coronavirus cases.

Lady Hawkins High School in Kington and Eardisley Primary School both broke up yesterday to allow for a 10-day "firebreak".

Image source, Google

Both schools are due to re-open on 1 November.

Leon Bailey is one of the most exciting young talents playing in Europe but his path from Jamaica to the Premier League was far from straightforward.

The 29-year-old suspect is arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,

The record-breaking Olympian gives the lowdown on a new kind of daily training.

Refugees shared their experiences with schoolchildren, who welcomed them to Birmingham.

Jasbir Singh Hayer was in hospital with the virus before dying on Tuesday, his family confirms.

Birmingham is spending £1.2m on free meals next week to help low-income families.

The arrangements are made after Ann Ruddock is given a week to live.

Coventry City striker Matt Godden signs a new deal with the Championship side until the summer of 2024.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Health bosses have warned the amount of unvaccinated school children and young people in Walsall could be causing a spread of Covid-19 across the borough.

Members of Walsall’s Health and Wellbeing Board were told take up rates of the vaccine amongst 12-16-year-olds was “slow” with some schools reporting only one in three taking their jabs.

One of the issues cited is parents’ reluctance to let their children be vaccinated and even threatening to pull them out of school.

Latest figures show that, in the seven day period up to October 15, Walsall recorded overall rates of 408.1 cases per 100,000 population.

But statistics show the 10-14 year-old age group is the most affected in Walsall with rates reaching 1,625 per 100,000 during this month.

Image source, Getty Images

West Midlands Police Ch Supt Phil Dolby told Tuesday’s meeting he had met with head teachers from schools and said in one case, only 500 pupils out of 1,500 eligible were going to take their jabs while other schools had similar numbers.

Mr Dolby said: “I do think it’s a real health issue for young people.

"It is appropriate for us to consider what kind of surveillance we might have around the reasons for that and what we might be able to do to address it.

Stephen Gunther, Walsall’s director of public health said: “It is really important to say vaccinations are our best and safest approach to reduce the virus and its spread but, more importantly, it’s impact."