That's all for our live coverage on Wednesday.

We'll be back with more news, sport, travel and weather updates from 08:00 on Thursday.

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.

The Health Secretary Secretary says the UK is facing a "critical time" in its ongoing fight against Covid-19 as the country sees almost 45,000 cases reported each day.

In a live address, Sajd Javid said the UK could hit 100,000 cases a day this winter, with the NHS also expecting a surge in seasonal viruses, including flu and norovirus.

Mr Javid said there were currently about 1,000 hospitalisations a day.

The pandemic was very much "not over", he said, although the number of deaths remain low, despite a 16% rise in daily cases.

Follow live updates.

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."

Motorists are being warned of delays of 40 minutes on the M5 due to a broken-down lorry.

Currently one lane is closed northbound between junction one at West Bromwich and the M6.

National Highways said recovery vehicles were en route and traffic officers were in attendance, but there was approximately five and a half miles of congestion leading to the scene.

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.

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.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
BBC Radio WM

We've been telling you how stars have gathered in Birmingham for the world premiere of a new musical inspired by Sir Tom Jones.

As well as Bryan Cranston, the show's choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips was there to see her work in action.

She said: "It's a real audience pleaser, the show, and I always think that when you do a show and the audience kind of love it, it gives them something to go out and talk about.

"When a creative team work together and bond together you hope that this is the best way to put on a musical.

"It's so bonkers, you know, you take Henry Fielding's original history of Tom Jones. You set it in the 60s. You use all the biggest Tom Jones hits, I mean, how crazy."

Baroness Floella Benjamin also attended the star-studded event. She has a show coming to The Rep next year, and told me: "I'm 72 so I lived through the 60s and I love Tom Jones and I'm looking forward to hearing all his songs and all his music just makes you want to get up and dance.

"I'm very much excited about being here. My show coming to England will be here next year and I just wanted to get a feel of Birmingham and a feel of the place."

BBC Radio Shropshire

A health minister has promised to look in to the closure of Bishop's Castle Community Hospital, after the matter was raised by the MP for Ludlow.

The NHS took the decision to temporarily shut the 16-bed facility because of a shortage of staff and there have been no new admissions since Sunday.

Mr Dunne, himself a former health minister, told the House of Commons that shutting the site, even temporarily, would not help the backlog in operations.

Health minister Edward Argar said: "It's important that alongside providing a service, there is a safe service but I'm happy to work with him [Mr Dunne] to see what can be done."

A man in his 60s was found dead after police were called to an address in Redditch.

BBC Radio WM

A West Midlands GP has said there is not enough staff available to give the Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr Sukhdev Singh runs vaccination clinics across Birmingham and Sandwell, and said demand for Covid boosters hads rocketed over the past few weeks.

In September, the government's scientific advisers recommended that everyone over 50 should be offered a third dose of a Covid vaccine, along with front-line medical staff and younger adults with some underlying health conditions.

Image source, Getty Images

Dr Singh said teams were struggling to keep up.