Jim Spencer has helped sell first editions of the debut book four times in December alone.

BBC Radio Stoke

A near 5% rise in council tax in Staffordshire is being defended by the county council.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has seen local authorities in England overspend on their budgets to support people affected by the virus coupled with a drop in income.

Staffordshire County Council said , externalit spent two-thirds of its budget, about £346m, on social services.

Its proposals would see a 4.99% increase and the authority's leader, Alan White, admitted it would not be easy for some residents to hear.

"Putting up council tax is always a difficult thing to do but what I do hope people recognise is we are a well run council," he said.

The investigation looked into the alleged manipulation of pollution data at Cheshire East Council.

Cheshire East Council says the Greater Manchester plans should be confined to pollution hotspots.

BBC Weather

It's cold today but mainly fine and dry with plenty of sunshine and some patches of cloud. High: 4C/39F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher NB Adagio

Temperatures will turn very cold tonight with mainly clear skies which will lead to a sharp, widespread frost. Low: -2C/28F.

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

This evening we still have four flood warnings for the River Severn in Worcestershire, with river levels mainly expected to peak tomorrow afternoon.

But in some areas, such as Upton-upon-Severn, the river will continue rising until Boxing Day.

The Environment Agency also has flood alerts for rivers across the West Midlands and it is warning that levels are likely to remain high, with more rain forecast.

Matt Hancock has just announced that because of rising case numbers, Herefordshire will have its restrictions raised to tier two and Cheshire to tier three.

Annelise Sanderson died at HMP Styal in Cheshire on Tuesday, the Ministry of Justice confirms.

Florence Seager, 11, raised £50,000 to travel to Turkey for her scoliosis operation.

Heavy rain and strong winds are set to hit parts of the West Midlands over the next few days.

Image source, Met Office

A yellow weather warning for heavy rain is already in place from the Met Office, external and covers parts of Birmingham and the Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

The alert says there is a small chance homes could flood along with travel disruption.

The Met Office is also warning of strong winds on Saturday with a yellow warning from 15:00 on Boxing Day until 12:00 on Sunday.

Image source, Met Office

BBC Weather

A dull start with outbreaks of rain which will become more widespread and heavy through the morning and into the afternoon. High: 8C/46F.

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher A Scottish Soldier

Turning more showery this evening before the rain clears away to the south leaving mainly clear skies which will make the temperature chillier. Low: 2C/36F.

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

Special messages have been written on baubles to remember a boy who died from an aggressive type of brain tumour.

Ben Parton, from Cannock in Staffordshire, died eight months after being diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, and weeks before his twin, Jack, was found to have leukaemia.

To mark the first year since Ben's death, friends and family have decorated ornaments for an outdoor tree of remembrance.

Image source, Julie Parton

Julie Parton, Ben's mother, said it had been an "emotional time".

Image source, Julie Parton

Jack has finished high-intensity chemotherapy treatment and is now cancer free and on a maintenance programme.

Mrs Parton said he is "going in the right direction".

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

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

Stephen Murphy brandished the bogus weapon before fleeing with a woman's handbag outside a shop.

Post-mortem tests following Keith Rowlands's death have so far proved inconclusive, police say.

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.

Matthew Mason admits beating 15-year-old Alex Rodda to death with a spanner but denies murder.

Chester Zoo sees 130,000 donors from 90 countries send funds to help deal with a "£5.5m scar".

Students taught near an oil refinery will be relocated after a report found they were at risk of death.