The tropical zone has been restored after a blaze caused by an electrical fault in 2018.

Households in the two cities can no longer mix indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

Hundreds of runners across the UK will take part in the 5k charity challenge in memory of Moira Jones.

A man has been arrested after a planned illegal rave this weekend, Staffordshire Police said.

The 21-year-old, from Stafford, was held on suspicion of conspiring to cause a public nuisance, and remains in custody.

Image source, Getty Images

Supt Carl Ratcliffe said officers were cracking down on illegal events.

"We will intervene in incidents and seek to prosecute anyone who has organised or is taking part in any illegal raves in order to keep individuals and the wider community as safe as possible," he said.

Movie-goers cannot cross the Welsh border to use toilet facilities at the drive-in cinema.

Stoke's decision to ask for tier two restrictions was not a "unilateral decision" by the city council, the West Midlands Mayor has said.

Andy Street said it was "much more complicated than that" and added "I am absolutely certain there was a dialogue on this" in the week leading up to the announcement.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke-on-Trent City Council announced yesterday that it had gone to the government and asked to be upgraded to a "high" risk area, to slow the accelerating rate of infection.

But Department of Health regional convenor Clive Wright said: "We had been working with that local authority for about a week before."

He said the council had "expressed an interest" in the status change and the Department of Health was "able to help them accelerate that process".

Mr Wright said also said: "Some councils may want to go early as a preventative measure. Others have very good reasons to protect their local economies."

Back-rower Ellis Robson signs a new two-year deal at Warrington, after Ottawa Aces agree to waive his 2021 contract.

The Cheshire borough with "stubbornly high" infection rates agrees to enter the very high category.

Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

A man who is trialling a Covid-19 vaccine says he saw it as an "opportunity to swipe back" at the virus after the toll it's taken on his business, as well as "something to mark the occasion" for his approaching 60th birthday.

Ian Bradford is the owner of Lymestone Brewery in Stone and said his business had been hit hard by the pandemic.

He signed up to trial a vaccine, but does not know if he was given that or a placebo on Sunday.

"I suppose there's a bit of a risk," he said.

"I'm assured there has been no long-term issues with other people who have taken part in the trial but I suppose it has to be stressed we are rushing through this medical research but I'm comfortable with the risk."

He will continue to see medical experts for the trial over the next 13 months.

Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry will be moving up to tier two, or "high alert", from midnight tonight as coronavirus cases increase in the areas.

The move bans all social mixing between households indoors - be that in homes, pubs or restaurants.

There are exemptions for things like childcare and you're also still allowed to meet up with people in your support bubble.

Mixing outdoors is still allowed, but this will be limited to groups of no more than six people.

To find out the rules where you live, use our postcode look-up tool.

The tests are expected to produce results within 20 minutes and help identify "silent spreaders".

A woman who did not self-isolate for 14 days after returning from a trip to Turkey has been fined £1,000, police said.

Officers from Staffordshire Police attended her home in Werrington, near Stoke-on-Trent, to carry out checks and found she wasn't home, the force said, adding it was believed she had gone to work.

Police said the check-up was carried out as part of regular observation on those self-isolating across Staffordshire, following correspondence with Border Force officials.

“We will continue with our approach to engage, explain and encourage but enforcement action will be taken where people are knowingly breaching the regulations," Ch Insp Mark Thorley said.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It's fairly clear this morning but with cloud in places across our region.

That'll thicken later on, bringing rain, although you'll likely see some sunny spells breaking through later this afternoon.

Stoke City defender Nathan Collins has the red card he was given in the 2-2 draw with Barnsley rescinded.

The former Bishop of Chester sexually abused at least 18 victims over 15 years, a review finds.

There are "continued and stubbornly high levels" of coronavirus in the town, the council says.

Ex-Premier League player Paul Williams says he found it difficult to challenge racism he experienced during a 16-year career.

BBC Radio Shropshire

More positive cases of Covid-19 are expected at a university in Shropshire after they shot up in the past few days, according to its vice-chancellor.

Image source, Google

Sixty-six students have tested positive since Saturday at Harper Adams University, near Newport, along with three members of staff.

The figures, from the university, , externalshow 19 cases among students the week before and none a fortnight ago.

Vice-chancellor David Llewellyn said cases had been increasing across Telford and Wrekin.

"The last thing we want to do is for anybody in the local community to feel as though students are the only cause of this issue of Covid because clearly they are not. There is a community-wide issue going on here."

The infection rate for the wider Telford and Wrekin area has increased from 79.0 per 100,000 in the seven days to 10 October to 142.9 a week later.

BBC Midlands Today

Thousands of lower-income families in Staffordshire are being offered financial support during half-term.

The county council said, external it would give a £15 voucher to the families of 18,000 children to spend in supermarkets on food or essential supplies.

The scheme will be available to those who are entitled to free school meals during term time.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said coronavirus "cases are doubling around every fortnight".