Places around Staffordshire and Cheshire are reflecting on yesterday's terror attack in London.

In Crewe, a minute's silence will be held at 09:33 while the flag on Stafford Borough Council's Civic Centre's flying at half-mast. , external

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Staffordshire and Cheshire MPs are returning to work in London, following yesterday's terrorist attack at the Palace of Westminster.

Four people died and 40 were injured by what police think was a lone attacker yesterday afternoon.

MPs including Stoke North's Ruth Smeeth, Lichfield's Michael Fabricant, Crewe and Nantwich's Edward Timpson and Newcastle-under-Lyme's Paul Farrelly were inside while Parliament entered a state of lockdown.

This morning Mr Timpson tweeted that there would be a minute's silence this morning:

While the Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy posted his thanks to PC Keith Palmer, who died in the attack:

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The chief constable of Cheshire says the force is looking at what they need to do, following the Westminster attack, to keep , external communities in the county safe.

Four people died and 40 people were injured in the terror attack near the Houses of Parliament.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

After a damp and cloudy start, any showers should clear with bright and sunny spells developing this afternoon and highs of 12C (54F).

You can find a detailed forecast for your area here .

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Hi everyone, it's a drier start to the day compared to yesterday and some bright spots among the clouds over Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

A full weather forecast for today will be winging it's way along shortly and we'll have the day's news, sport, travel and other updates too.

You can also be a part of this by sending in your pictures of Staffordshire and Cheshire on email or Instagram, external (adding the tag #bbcstoke to show you agree to share them).

Social care pressures blamed for delays in releasing people from hospital.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

You can follow the latest developments on the events in London and the Westminster attack here on the BBC website.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The Burton MP says there was "stunned silence" in the House of Commons when they were told of this afternoon's events at the Houses of Parliament. 

Image source, EPA

At least one woman has died and there are "a number of other casualties  after a car hit people on Westminster Bridge. 

The alleged assailant was shot by armed police after stabbing an officer outside the Houses of Parliament.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Seven more men have been charged with violent disorder after a brawl last summer, external inside a pub after a Stoke City friendly at Burton Albion. 

Staffordshire Police say they were called to The Locomotive pub on Station Street, Burton on 16 July to reports of a "large-scale disturbance".

Image source, Google

They say they found a group of men fighting and the fixtures and fittings inside were damaged. 

Five men have already been charged with violent disorder and now officers say they've charged seven more with the same offence, who are from Stoke-on-Trent and Stone.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

People living in Leek are calling on health bosses to secure the future of the town's hospital. 

A petition has been started, signed by 35,000, amid concerns it could close ., external

Image source, Google

Earlier this month, health bosses denied reports, external it was set to close in September. 

Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups say no final decision had yet been made on its future, but a consultation is due to take place in May.

Burton Mail

People heading to the A&E department at Burton's Queen's Hospital due to psychiatric conditions has doubled in six years, external , figures have revealed.

Image source, Burton Mail

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The MP for Stafford says he welcomes assurances he's had about the future of Stafford's A&E unit at the County Hospital. 

In December, local health and care providers in Staffordshire revealed plans to save £542m, which included potentially downgrading one of the county's three A&E units.

Image source, Getty Images

Jeremy Lefroy says he's had assurances from the chief executive of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) that they have no plans to close the County Hospital's A&E. , external

Mr Lefroy says he's also been told UHNM has invested in a revamp of the unit in this financial year, calling it "excellent news".

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

The Conservative MP for Lichfield, Michael Fabricant, says he understands the Prime Minister was in the Houses of Parliament at the time of what police are treating as a terrorist incident. 

Police said there were "a number of casualties... including police officers" and a "full counter-terrorism inquiry" was under way. 

Prime Minister Theresa May is to chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee later.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

The rain and showers will ease overnight to leave most places dry. It will be a chilly night with patchy frost and fog possible. 

Further rain will be arriving from the east during the early hours of the morning - lows of -1C (30F).

Tomorrow, any wind and rain will die out through the afternoon, becoming brighter and drier.

BBC Radio Derby

Over 60 and thinking about ice skating? It's never too late.

The Ice Rinklies ice skating group has been launched for people aged over 60.

They hope to encourage more elderly people to take up the sport.

Lynn Emmett a member of the Ice Rinklies meets twice a week in Uttoxeter to practice and learn new skills.

She returned to the ice after retirement and hopes to still be skating at the age of 90.

BBC Weather Watchers

Our BBC Weather Watchers have been busy uploading more pictures of how the local area's been looking today.

These two have come from users CRG in Alsager, Cheshire and Thornhill Watch in Hednesford.

Image source, Thornhill Watch

Image source, CRG

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A young Burton boxer has told of his shock after witnessing the attack outside the Palace of Westminster this afternoon. 

Image source, PA

Frazer Clarke was part of a group from Great British Boxers who were leaving a press conference ahead of a World Series Boxing event against Italy on Thursday.  

The 25-year-old told the Press Association he was walking to the coach with his teammates when he witnessed what happened.

Stuart George
Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

The Newcastle-under-Lyme MP, Paul Farelly, says he's being kept with other MPs in the House of Commons chamber during what police are treating as a terrorist incident. 

Image source, AP

A woman has died on Westminster Bridge in central London and a police officer was also stabbed in the nearby Houses of Parliament by an attacker, who was shot by police. 

MPs said they had heard three or four gunshots and staff inside Parliament were told to stay inside their offices.

West Midlands MPs are continuing to tweet about the incident near parliament , in which at least one person has been killed, with several others reportedly hit by a vehicle on Westminster bridge.

Lichfield Mercury

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has told the Mercury of shock following the terrorist attack on the Palace of Westminster in London this afternoon which saw a policeman , external “stabbed" and his assailant shot.

Image source, Lichfield Mercury