More than 2,500 Shropshire residents have incorrectly received a threatening letter from bailiffs working on behalf of the council.

Image source, Google

The company, Bristow and Sutor, has apologised after telling 2,622 residents they would be attending their homes to remove goods within seven days in payment for unpaid council tax.

The letters should have informed residents that the council had obtained a liability order to collect outstanding council tax - the first stage in the reclaim process, with bailiffs only the very last resort.

Calling it a "serious oversight", the leader of Shropshire Council, Peter Nutting, said the authority had asked the company to suspend activities while an investigation was carried out.

“This kind of mistake is unacceptable at any time, but during a pandemic and at Christmas, when families have been hit hard in so many ways, it is beyond belief," Mr Nutting said.

Further flood defences are being deployed across parts of the West Midlands as a yellow warning for rain, external is extended.

Image source, Environment Agency

Barriers are being erected at Beales Corner and Severnside South in Bewdley, Worcestershire, says the Enivonment Agency.

Temporary defences will be put up in Ironbridge, Shropshire, from tomorrow.

The Met Office warning for rain is in place from 06:00 Wednesday until 06:00 Thursday (Christmas Eve) and is set to affect parts of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

A crash has closed a road in the Shropshire town of Whitchurch.

Sedgeford is likely to remain closed throughout the morning, the fire service says.

Tracy Felstead is among Post Office workers fighting convictions linked to a faulty computer system.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It will be a cloudy day with patchy rain and highs of 9°C (48°F).

There is currently no concern for the flooding of properties across Shropshire, the Environment Agency says.

Heavy rainfall in the last few days has meant flood alerts are in place for the rivers Severn and Teme and flood barriers are up in Frankwell.

However there is no cause for concern in Ironbridge, which was badly hit during Storm Dennis earlier this year, and flood barriers remain down.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Get ready for some wet and blustery conditions across the region this morning.

It’s going to feel quite mild for this time of year and expect some showers across the day.

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

The Environment Agency is prepared for more flooding with heavy rain forecast over the coming days.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

After a dry start for some it will be a mainly wet day with some heavy rain and highs of 13C (55F).

Restrictions ease in Herefordshire, but stay the same everywhere else in the West Midlands.

Other than Covic-19 restrictions relaxing in Herefordshire, there have been no further changes to tier restrictions across the West Midlands.

Image source, PA Media

It had been hoped some areas would move from tier three to tier two - but rates have been creeping up across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Solihull.

Politicians in Stratford-upon-Avon had threatened legal action after being put into the most stringent tier three measures but withdrew their action, saying at the time they were satisfied the government had listened to their concerns.

Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall and Warwickshire remain in tier three.

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire remain in tier two.

History teacher Don Fear leaves the post and says he is starting a "whole new life".

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will announce the outcome of his review of the tier system later today.

Image source, Getty Images

Most of the West Midlands has been in tier three, the toughest restrictions, since lockdown ended on 2 December.

At that time, with infection rates falling, there were hopes from many local politicians of moving to a lower tier before Christmas.

However, places including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Solihull have seen their rates creeping up again.

Stoke-on-Trent's infection rate has fallen, but city council leader Abi Brown said she wasn't confident of a move to tier two as other factors were being considered, including pressure on the NHS.

The leader of Warwick District Council Andrew Day said with low rates in part of the county there was a chance its tier three measures could be eased.

But MP for Warwick and Leamington, Matt Western, said for his area the "numbers don't look so good".

Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin have until now been in tier two where restrictions are slightly more relaxed.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

After a sunny morning it will be a cloudy day with the odd shower and highs of 10°C (50°F).

Violent outbursts, verbal attacks and even sexual abuse have been reported by families.

Two secondary school pupils were filmed attacking another boy in November.

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.

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.

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