A driver had to be cut free from a car that crashed with a van, closing a road in Wolverhampton.

The woman was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, said the ambulance service.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

The fire service says Bridgnorth Road in Shipley is closed for investigations.

Emergency services were called to the scene near Shipley Hall shortly after 09:20.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Councils in the Black Country are spending more to help people on benefits with their housing costs amid a "perfect storm" of needs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions have revealed that local authorities in the area handed out a combined £4.7m in discretionary housing payments in 2020/21.

The payments are top-ups given out by councils with the aim of preventing homelessness.

The amount awarded has increased from £4.4m in 2019/20, although most of the pot comes from central government.

Image source, Google

Every council is allocated an amount towards the payments, but in many cases, local authorities are required to swell the sum using their own funds.

Councils in the Black Country were allocated £4.5m between them, meaning they had to shell out a net total of more than £100k of their own money. Dudley, Sandwell, and Walsall councils all had to add to their government contribution, while Wolverhampton spent less than the allocated amount.

Thomas Cave, from anti-poverty charity Turn2us, said: “Too many people have to top up their rent after they have received the housing element of their benefits.

“Covid support schemes – including furlough, the Covid Local Grants Scheme, the £20 increase to Universal Credit and the eviction ban – have now ended.

"Paired with rising living costs and the energy crisis, this has created a perfect storm of financial crisis."

Tens of thousands of city dwellers are on waiting lists for a safe place to park their bikes, figures have revealed.

Campaigners are calling for more funding for councils to provide safe parking on residential streets to help boost the uptake of clean transport.

Figures obtained by the Press Association revealed that demand for on-street bike hangars far outstrips supply, with just 20,000 spaces and more than 51,000 people on waiting lists.

Image source, Getty Images

Among the cities which said they had no hangars were Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.

David Renard, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, says long-term funding is required to "better cater to cyclists".

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

This morning, any areas of mist will clear, but it will be quite cloudy.

Outbreaks of rain will arrive by the late morning for most, and the afternoon will see outbreaks of heavy rain, although temperatures will feel mild. Highs of 13C to 16C (55F to 61F).

Amid repairs in the wake of Grenfell, apartment block residents talk of life behind plastic sheets.

The latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Shrewsbury Cathedral will spend about £114,000 repairing the window which dates from 1856.

Wednesfield car parks will be named after community activist Steph Clarke and WW2 hero Harry Busby.

Thousands of people attend a food market in Tamworth and it is hoped more events will be held.

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West Mercia Police had asked for opinions about shutting some front desks on Sundays and Mondays.

Ruben Neves scores deep into stoppage time as Wolves come from 2-0 down to snatch an incredible win in an extraordinary West Midlands derby.

The young marine mammal, found "ravenous" at the roadside, is thought to be about three months old.

Jonny Hill scores the bonus point try as Exeter Chiefs are made to work hard for victory over Wasps.

Stan Horne joins former team-mates in receiving a medal for Manchester City's 1968 league title.

Coventry City fight back from two goals down to earn a point at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship.

The performance for Coventry City of Culture was designed to raise awareness of climate change.

The opportunity comes under a scheme aimed at helping key workers and others on to the property ladder.

Large plumes of black smoke can be seen rising from the site in Walsall, West Midlands.

The teenager is taken to hospital after the attack in Coventry city centre early on Saturday.