Eddie Bisknell
Local Democracy Reporter

Nearly 3,000 people face waiting a year for NHS hospital treatment or operations in Chesterfield, Burton and Derby.

The huge increase - from 45 in March - has been caused by operations being cancelled in lockdown, Derby City Council was told at a meeting.

Image source, Getty Images

Zara Jones, planning lead for Joined-Up Care Derbyshire, which oversees all NHS services in the county and city, said such waits were rare before the pandemic.

She said the main area affected was elective surgeries in orthopaedics - including hip and knee operations - but cancer treatments continue to be prioritised.

Figures show 2,509 people waiting 52 weeks for treatment at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust as of the week ending 2 October.

At the Chesterfield Royal Hospital the figure was 298 patients.

Ms Jones also highlighted an "unidentified need" of people believed "not to have presented for health care" - avoiding NHS services due to Covid-19 concerns.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three stories from Stoke-on-Trent Live today:

• Massive 13-storey block of flats set to be built, external
• Prisoner dies after being found unconscious, external
• Huge change to be announced for intu Potteries shopping centre, external

There's going to be more testing of students at Keele University, as part of steps to tackle an outbreak linked to 75 positive coronavirus cases.

Staffordshire County Council said about 400 students on and off campus have already been asked to take tests.

Image source, Google

A further 80 students without symptoms from two accommodation blocks will be encouraged to book a test.

More than 300 students have now been asked to self-isolate because they have tested positive or been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

BBC Weather Watchers

The BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing photos of last night's crescent moon, like this one, taken in Penkridge overnight.

Image source, Hazlenut

And they've also shared photos of the mist that was around this morning, including this one taken at Wolston in Warwickshire.

Image source, Emma Gillett

Clubs in the North West Counties League will consider suspending their season until the end of October.

The government's new three-tier system of coronavirus "alert levels" comes into effect today.

It means different areas of the country will have different restrictions.

Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall and East Cheshire are all in the middle tier.

Image source, Getty Images

They're described as being "high risk" areas.

You are not allowed to meet people from other households indoors and a maximum of six people can meet outdoors.

The other parts of the West Midlands are tier one, or "medium risk"

BBC Weather

The showers should disappear and we're forecast some dry and cloudy weather, with maybe some sunshine.

Temperatures will be up to around 13C (55F).

And the rest of the week looks pretty much the same.

Image source, Shamrock_Sean

High Street in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, has been badly affected by flooding.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

From the Stoke Sentinel's website today:

• Tough new rules might be coming, external
• Selfish customer blocks drive-thru for 45 minutes, external
• Multi-million pound plans unveiled for tram network, external

BBC Weather

We could have some sunshine, light cloud, and temperatures up to 13C (55F) tomorrow.

And the rest of the week is forecast to be dry and cloudy.

Image source, Stormchaser Al

Failings in the initial investigation of Kevin Nunes' murder mean a suspect cannot be prosecuted.

BBC Radio Stoke

Archaeologists think they've uncovered the remains of 19th Century pottery kilns at a car park in the Fenton area of Stoke-on-Trent.

The site is being redeveloped as part of an £18.5m housing investment in the town and 42 apartments are due to be built there.

The dig is ongoing and the archaeologists are hoping it could reveal even more.

Oxford United against Crewe Alexandra in League One is postponed for a second time with the visitors unable to fulfil the fixture.

Can grandparents look after children? Can I meet friends in a beer garden? And other questions.

Authorities in Cheshire asked the government for tighter restrictions two weeks ago.

The rare first edition hardback copy of the novel had been valued at half the amount.

A new walk-through testing centre has opened at Fenton Manor Sports Complex car park in Stoke-on-Trent.

Testing will be available for people with coronavirus symptoms, including a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste.

Image source, ge

People with symptoms are being asked to book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus, external or by calling 119.

A pilot test centre was set up there last month and there were complaints about the speed with which the slots filled up, and later about people not turning up for their appointments.

BBC Sport meets volunteers who trained themselves during lockdown to maintain grass pitches for their communities.

BBC Weather

We're likely to see some more showers today and temperatures reaching 11C (52F).

The rest of the week is forecast to be dry and cloudy.

Image source, Sutton Walker

Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton are in the "high category".