Live Reporting

  1. More flood alerts for the West Midlands

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    There are now 17 flood alerts across the West Midlands as melting snow along with recent rain's causing rivers and waterways to rise.

    River Severn near KempseyGoogle

    River Severn near Kempsey

    Among the latest ones from the Environment Agency are for the Kempsey Village area of Worcestershire and around the Rivers Churnet and Tean in Staffordshire.

    You can find a full list on their website and the agency says the alerts mean flooding is possible.

  2. Bin crews set for weekend tackling backlog

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Bin workers will be out over the weekend in Lichfield to try and clear the backlog of collections due to the wintry weather.

    The district council says its crews are already on the case today but will continue for the black and blue bins over the next two days.

    The authority says, if residents haven't had a collections so far this week, they should leave theirs out over the weekend.

  3. 'Big challenge' for Stoke City striker in World Cup

    BBC Sport

    Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf has admitted that the current Senegal squad will find it tough to match the achievements of the Teranga Lions at the 2002 World Cup.

    Mame Biram DioufGetty Images

    At their first World Cup in 2002 Senegal reached the quarter-finals.

    That Senegalese side featured the likes of El Hadji Diouf, Salif Diao and Habib Beye.

    They put the bar so high, so it's a tough challenge but we have to believe in ourselves. We are a young team. Everyone has ambitions to do something at the World Cup. We will go there and try to do our best to beat the challenge."

    Mame Biram Diouf, Stoke City striker

  4. Barker signs extended Burton contract

    Club captain Shaun Barker signs a contract extension to keep him at Burton Albion until the end of the season.

    Read More

  5. Manager 'will stick by' striker over first-team chances

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Charlie Kirk can still play a big part in Crewe Alexandra's season, according to his manager David Artell.

    Charlie KirkCrewe Alexandra

    Kirk has yet to start a league game this season but he's standing by to face Crawley tomorrow if Callum Ainley is ruled out with a face injury.

    He's a talented boy. He's had to work a long time for half a chance. Don't get me wrong, he played at Port Vale, let himself down a little bit but he's a good player and while he's trying to do the right things I'll stick by him."

    David Artell, Crewe Alexandra's manager

  6. Cheshire's police stations 'could move'

    Most small police stations in Cheshire could be moved to nearby public buildings, the county's police and crime commissioner has said.

    Cheshire Police

    Plans have already been revealed for the closure of two stations, with officers moving into nearby community buildings instead.

    David Keane has now said "most" other small stations could move.

    Mr Keane said the bases would also be regularly staffed by community support officers.

  7. Darts legend prepares for final farewell

    BBC Sport

    Stoke-on-Trent darts player Phil Taylor begins his final professional tournament tonight before he retires from the sport.

    The legendary 16-time world champion begins his latest World Championship challenge at London's Alexandra Palace against youngster Chris Dobey.

    Phil Taylor with trophyGetty Images

    The 57-year-old has dominated the sport since 1990 and changed darts forever in 1993.

    Taylor was in the group of 14 dissatisfied players who, in that year, broke away from the British Darts Organisation because of what they perceived to be a decline in the game.

    They helped to form their own governing body - what is now known as the PDC.

  9. Cheshire's police stations 'could move'

    The move has been mooted in new proposals from Cheshire's police and crime commissioner.

    Read More

  10. Weather: Cold with sunny spells

    BBC Weather

    Many parts of the region will see sunny periods this afternoon, with only isolated showers. Some of these will fall as snow on the hills.

    Highs of 5C.

    More from BBC Weather.

  11. Virgin Trains staff hold 24-hour strike

    The walkout by Virgin Trains West Coast workers is the first of a number of UK rail staff strikes.

    Read More

  12. Weather warning for ice extended

    The icy weather is set to continue to cause disruption until at least 11:00 on Saturday, the Met Office says.

    It's issued a further warning from 17:00 this evening.

    weather mapMet Office

    West Midlands Ambulance Service has tweeted advice to anyone walking on icy pavements:

    • Wear flat, sturdy shoes with good grip
    • Bend forward slightly, walk flat-footed with your centre of gravity directly over your feet
    • Walk on salted/gritted areas
    • Hold on to handrails, fences and walls

  13. Snorkelling benefits cheat must pay £82k

    Linda Hoey falsely claimed free toll road travel and more than £65,000 in disability benefits.

    Read More

  14. Perfumes stolen in Boots break-in

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    Perfumes have been stolen from a branch of Boots in Stoke-on-Trent after two people broke in this morning.

    Smashed doors at the Boots

    Staff called Staffordshire Police when they found a front door of the Hanley store had been smashed, although the force says it's not yet clear how many fragrances have been taken.

    Officers say they're checking through CCTV footage.

  15. Trains suspended after rail lines flooded

    BBC News Travel

    Trains between Crewe and Chester have been suspended this morning because of flooding on the line.

    Flooded rail lineNetwork Rail

    Virgin Trains and Arriva Trains Wales says their services are affected with replacement buses called into action.

    Network Rail says the flooding happened at Beeston near Chester and they're using pumps to remove the water.

    Train lines under waterNetwork Rail

  16. People urged not to call police about 'icy roads'

    Lee Thomas
    Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

    "Don't call us about icy roads" - that's the message Staffordshire Police is tweeting this morning.

    The force says it's getting a "high volume of calls" relating to ice-affected roads and says that's not its issue but local councils.

    Flash this morning in Staffordshire, covered in snowFlash Bar Stores

    This morning, there have been several crashes due to the weather including on the exit slip road of the M6 at junction 14 and on the A50 in Blythe Bridge and Checkley.

    The force also says a driver's in hospital after a car ended up on its roof on the A500 near Talke.

  17. Weather: Yellow Weather warning for ice

    A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for the North West by the Met Office.

    Yellow Weather warningMet Office

    The warning is in effect from 17:00 this afternoon until 11:00 on Saturday morning.

    Icy stretches are likely on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

  18. One of 'busiest nights ever' for ambulance service

    More than 4,300 calls were made to the ambulance service last night, making it one of the busiest in the trust's history, a spokesperson said.

    999 callsWest Midlands Ambulance Service

    West Midlands Ambulance Service said it dealt with over 3,000 incidents, and are expecting to have an "exceptionally" busy weekend, due to the weather, as well as office parties and pre-Christmas drinking.

    The service said it was "well prepared" as planning had been going on for a long time and would be "maximising" all staff.

    With temperatures expected to drop again overnight, drinkers are being reminded to stay together, and plan a route home, "it's not the weather to be falling asleep in the street", a spokesperson said.

  19. Your pictures: Ice, snow and rescued birds

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Our BBC Weather Watchers have been out capturing the latest snow and ice pictures across the West Midlands.

    This one taken in Totmonslow by Farmets Wife shows how much snow there is still around in Staffordshire.

    LeekFarmets Wife

    Valerie P said she'd just had to rescue a goldfinch stuck to the ice in her garden in Leek.

    GoldfinchValerie P

  20. Hundreds lose power as wintry weather hits again

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Hundreds of homes and firms are without power this morning in Staffordshire after icy weather swept the county again.

    BarlastonJon

    Western Power Distribution says there are 171 places affected in the Stoke-on-Trent area and 42 in Burntwood.

    The firm says it could take until 16:30 in some cases to get power back.