Patrick Bauer and Emil Riis are on target as Preston come from a goal down to beat Coventry at Deepdale.

Birmingham City end their run of three successive defeats with a hard-earned point at in-form Huddersfield.

Crewe MP Dr Kieran Mullan writes to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urging him to select the town.

Danny O'Ryan has had a lifelong dream of playing the famous Wurlitzer organ at Blackpool Tower.

The group of friends say they have raised £40,000 over the past 18 years.

Four people suffer minor injuries in the crash in Dudley, the ambulance service says.

Head teacher Emily Proffitt says the cost of supply cover may run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Like the rest of the UK, the West Midlands has seen a rise in Covid-19 rates in almost every local authority area.

The Staffordshire Moorlands remains among England's hotspots, recording a 27% increase in the seven days up to and including 16 October, with 749 new infections per 100,000 people, up from 588.

Image source, Getty

Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Wyre Forest, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Bromsgrove, Warwick, Redditch and Newcastle-under-Lyme all saw rates in excess of 600 new cases per 100,000 people.

However, Nuneaton and Bedworth, which has been among the worst-affected parts of England in recent weeks, saw a 13% fall in its rate - one of only six local authorities in the West Midlands to record a drop week-on-week.

Despite recording 3,321 new cases in the week up to 16 October, Birmingham, the largest local authority in England, continues to have one of the lowest rates in the country.

Lloyds Banking Group is to close a further 48 branches, blaming declining visits by customers.

Two sites in Birmingham are among those to close.

Its Cotteridge branch will close in March next year, while the Birmingham Springfield branch will close mid-February next year.

Image source, PA Media

Vim Maru, retail director for Lloyds Banking Group, said: "Like many other businesses, we've seen people using our branches less frequently in recent years, and this decline is continuing.

"Our branches remain a fundamental part of how we serve our customers but we need to ensure the size of our branch network reflects the number of customers wanting to use them."

The Unite union said the closure of 41 Lloyds Bank and seven Halifax branches will deny thousands of customers access to vital services and cash, and could lead to 178 job losses.

Freak winds smash car windows, bring walls down and damage houses in Widnes.

BBC Radio Stoke

People over the age of 70 in Staffordshire are being urged to get their Covid booster jabs.

There's been a slow uptake so far from people in that age group.

Dr Paddy Hannigan, who is in charge of the vaccine rollout, fears complacency may have crept in but said there's plenty of availability.

Image source, PA Media

Facebook

Hundreds of people in Coventry have applied to take part in a scheme which promises them mobility vouchers if they give up their cars.

But it seems a lot of people reading the BBC Midlands Facebook page, external aren't ready to take to public transport yet.

Gaynor Drinkwater wrote: "Public transport, that's a joke. Not on time, overcrowded at peak times and wouldn't trust cleanliness. I have to use it."

And John Tidmarsh added: "All of these assumptions stem from London where they have an extensive underground transport system, the rest of the country are pretty much car reliant."

Image source, Getty Images

Cath Wells did at least believe it's possible and wrote: "I've never owned a car. I walk, use buses, lifts from friends, trains and taxis. I have a job and a child."

But she added: "The public transport provision though, here in Newcastle and Stoke-on-Trent, leaves a great deal to be desired.

"I'm hoping that it improves sufficiently in future for other folks not to need a car."

There are "fundamental weaknesses in the system", Birmingham City Council said.

BBC CWR

A report has been published into how Coventry's year as City of Culture is reaching people.

It's found more than two thirds of those going to events are from Coventry postcodes, while 18% were from Warwickshire.

However the figures don't look at how many of those going are the same people attending multiple events and how many are unique visits.

Image source, PA Media

A junior doctor working in an accident and emergency unit said some restrictions may reluctantly need to be reintroduced to protect people in the face of rising infection rates.

Health leaders have warned England may need to introduce a back-up strategy immediately if the country is to avoid "stumbling into a winter crisis".

West Midlands Doctor Kishan Bodalia was asked by BBC News if he would like to see more restrictions come in.

"I would not like to see restrictions," he replied.

"But in this situation of a pandemic with Covid where people's lives are being lost, then my role as a doctor is incredibly important to promote health.

"And if this requires us to take on extra precautions, such as pushing the use of face coverings or encouraging people to work from home or vaccine passports, for example, then we must do so to protect the population, but also to protect the NHS from such pressures."

Footage has emerged of the moment a mini tornado hit Widnes with strong winds damaging houses.

A former leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council who was being investigated over an alleged criminal offence, will face no further action, Staffordshire Police has said.

Mohammed Pervez stood down as the leader of the Labour group on the council in May 2020 after 14 years.

Police said following the conclusion of an investigation, a file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service and he will not face charges.

Wendy McFadden had organised the celebration for her parents, but her own health deteriorated.

A road in Worcester has been closed due to an oil spillage.

Drivers are being warned of delays on the A4440 between the Whittington island and Swineherds Way.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The Women's Super League is packed full of young talent and Aston Villa's Olivia McLoughlin is one of those highlighted as a rising star.

Aston Villa boast an impressive roster of academy graduates, and McLoughlin is the latest to come through the ranks and slot into the first team.

The 17-year-old is a "natural central midfielder", said manager Carla Ward - but her versatility has already proved an asset this season, having started against Arsenal at right-back in the absence of key player Sarah Mayling.

McLoughlin has missed just one game for Villa this season. "She's a pleasure to work with because she wants to learn, she's hungry and she uses the experienced players around her," added Ward.

"For her build at 17, she is so strong on the ball. I think she'll go so far in the game."

Read more about the budding women athletes here.