Plans for dealing with another big winter flood are being "constantly reviewed" by the Environment Agency, because of the impact of coronavirus.

It said it had had to make contingency plans, to make sure there were enough people to cope in the event of sickness and the need to self isolate.

And it has had to make sure enough people are trained to step into key roles like flood risk analysis, if the regular staff are unavailable.

The Environment Agency will also look to give more notice of likely flooding, because response times are likely to be slower with the need for social distancing.

At the moment there are no plans to give staff priority access to the coronavirus vaccine, but it can call on other government departments, including the Department of Health for extra support.

One-day specialist Ed Pollock signs a new one-year contract with Warwickshire across all forms of the game.

BBC Weather

Mild and windy today with rain forecast.. High: 9C/48F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher Dammo

The rain will clear to the east later to be followed by clear spells overnight. Feeling mild for the time of year with a low of 4C/39F.

You can keep up-to-date by going to the BBC Weather website.

The England and Aston Villa player has also been hit with an £80,000 fine.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

Plenty of sunshine but there will be a few cloudy spells and the chance of the odd shower with highs of 10°C (50°F).

PC Neil Ward repeatedly made unwanted comments to female staff, Warwickshire Police says.

Areas in tier three in the West Midlands are among the first to start community coronavirus testing programmes, according to the Department of Health., external

More than 1.6 million of the rapid lateral flow tests will be delivered for community testing this month, the government said.

It is hoped, along with existing measures, it could help lead to an easing of restrictions in tier three areas.

The community testing is in addition to schemes run by local directors of public health. They have been able to request a set number of lateral flow tests to be used in their area, regardless of tier, since early November.

These are the areas in the West Midlands the tests will be introduced:

Birmingham; Dudley; Sandwell; Cannock Chase; East Staffordshire; Lichfield; Newcastle-under-Lyme; South Staffordshire; Stafford; Staffordshire Moorlands; Tamworth; Stoke-on-Trent; North Warwickshire; Nuneaton and Bedworth; Rugby; Stratford-on-Avon; Warwick; Wolverhampton and Solihull.

The stately home on the edge of Snowdonia has been owned by Warwickshire County Council since 1971.

The rain may have fallen and the numerous costume changes by Cinderella's step sisters must have been chilly, but the show has gone on for one Warwickshire theatre group.

Tread the Boards began a mini tour , externalof its outdoor pantomime at the weekend, playing to a small socially distanced crowd at Wethele Manor in Leamington Spa.

The company, which is normally resident at The Attic Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, is among those pulling the stops out to keep pantomime alive this year.

And the grateful audience in Leamington enjoyed the gags and sang along with the cast.

Games giant Electronic Arts is set to acquire the British game-maker, beating an earlier rival offer.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

It will be a sunny day with a few cloudy spells and the chance of one or two showers. Highs of 11°C (52°F).

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

Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull are "pointing in the right direction" to be downgraded to tier two of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has said.

The government is due to make a decision next week regarding any changes to the current tier system and Mr Street said at a regional briefing he "hopes the case can be made to move to tier two".

Image source, Getty Images

In Birmingham and the Black Country it was "more difficult to judge," he said, and Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward added that he expected the city would remain in tier three.

"I don't think it helps anyone to yo-yo between tier two and tier three," he said.

"In January, if we've driven the numbers down enough, I'd feel confident we could move to tier two and stay there until the spring."

BBC Weather

Cloudy with one or two showers around mixed with the odd bright or sunny spell. Feeling quite mild with a high of 10C/50F.

Staying mainly cloudy tonight with a few more showers before turning misty in places with some patches of hill fog around. Low: 6C/43F.

You can stay up-to-date on the latest forecast for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.

BBC Weather

It's cloudy, dry and dull today with just the chance of a few showers around. High: 7C/45F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher Banjo Calling

Things will remain cloudy tonight with a band of rain moving in from the west which could be heavy in places before turning patchy and easing by dawn. Low: 6C/43F.

You can stay up-to-date on your local weather forecast by going to the BBC Weather website.

A swan rescue centre shuts after two swans it treated passed the virus on to others.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's leader hopes the area will be moved when tiers are reviewed.

BBC Weather

It's going to be another chilly day, with temperatures rising to not much higher than 5C (41F).

This afternoon we could see some thick cloud and possibly some light rain.

Image source, Lisa Lacking

A fall in rates of coronavirus has been recorded across the West Midlands apart from in Staffordshire Moorlands.

In the seven days to 3 December Public Health England figures show the rate there has crept up slightly from 198 per 100,000 population to 202.

Image source, PA Media

The biggest week-on-week drop is in North Warwickshire, down from 251 to 118.

Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire are currently in tier two with the rest of the West Midlands in tier three.

The highest rate in the region is for Stoke-on-Trent at 348 and the lowest is for Stratford-on-Avon - 47 per 100,000 people.

BBC Weather

Mist and fog will linger through the morning and it will feel chilly. Some crisp sunshine is expected this afternoon when the mist and fog clears. High: 3C/37F.

Keep up-to-date with the latest forecast for your area via the BBC Weather website.