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).

The latest Covid-19 figures are out from Public Health England and they show a rise in cases in almost every local authority in the West Midlands.

Wychavon in Worcestershire saw its rate of new infections more than double in the seven days up to 13 December - up from 59.5 per 100,000 people to 136.8.

Stratford-upon-Avon's rate almost doubled - up from 56.1 to 109.9.

There was also a big rise in the rate in East Staffordshire - from 223.8 to 316.5, making it the worst-affected part of the region, per capita.

Only Stoke-on-Trent, Dudley, Tamworth and Worcester saw the number of cases fall - in some cases by a very small amount.

Funding to allow community testing to continue in parts of Staffordshire is going to be looked at, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has promised.

Image source, Parliament.TV

The MP for Burton and Uttoxeter Kate Griffiths asked the health secretary to look at the situation after large scale testing was rolled out in her constituency.

She said the local director of health had raised a number of concerns with the Department of Health about the "lack of clarity over funding" for the lateral flow tests.

"Will my right honourable friend review the three letters that have been sent to his department on this issue in order to provide clarity which is urgently needed to allow this testing to continue," she asked.

"Yes I'll get on to it right away," the health secretary responded.

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

Matthew Mason, 19, admits beating 15-year-old Alex Rodda to death with a wrench but denies murder.

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.

A changing block at Drayton Manor was damaged in the large fire on Tuesday night.

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).

Jamie Rothwell is arrested in the Netherlands on suspicion of firearms and drugs offences.

A hearing for a man accused of killing a pensioner whose body was found at a beauty spot has been adjourned.

The body of 70-year-old Richard Hall from Staffordshire was found on August 14 near the summit of Brown Clee Hill in Shropshire.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Moses Christensen, 22, from Oldswinford in Stourbridge, who is charged with murdering Mr Hall, was remanded in custody at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday, when his case was put back until 8 January.

The court heard he was currently remanded to a secure psychiatric hospital on Merseyside.

Mr Christensen, of Corser Street, also faces a charge of possessing a combat-style knife in a public place on 13 August.

A provisional date for his trial has been set as 23 February.

The theatre says the show will go online if Staffordshire remains in tier three after Wednesday.

The blaze happened in a changing block in the Thomas Land area of the theme park.

The victim, a 26-year-old man, suffered head injuries and died later in hospital.

BBC Radio WM

Fire crews faced "difficult conditions" battling a blaze at Drayton Manor theme park overnight.

Incident commander Stuart Ruckledge said the fire was in a changing block in the Thomas Land area.

"The whole building was involved but crews were able to stop the fire spreading to other areas of the park.

Image source, Tech-Mark

"The changing room block was 100% involved in the fire, that part of it has been [destroyed]," he told BBC Radio WM.

"There were difficult conditions because of flying embers and a lot of timber buildings around it."

He said a fire investigator was going out to meet with staff later.

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.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

A "large fire" broke out overnight at Drayton Manor theme park.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue said at 23:00 GMT on Tuesday it was tackling the blaze within the grounds of the Tamworth attraction.

The park later said the fire was under control but the damage was not yet known.

They added on Twitter that no one was injured and all of the animals at the park are safe.

Fire crews told nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed.

A spike of Covid-19 cases was linked to revellers crowding into the Crown and Anchor's garden.

Two Stoke-on-Trent City Council members have been facing debts of more than £2,000 between them.

BBC News Travel

A stretch of the M6 northbound in Staffordshire has been closed after a crash involving four lorries.

There are severe delays around the crash site between J14 and J15.