Cheshire East is also in the "high" alert category.

It means people living in Crewe and Nantwich, like much of the West Midlands conurbation, won't be able to mix indoors - whether it's in private homes, or pubs and restaurants.

Image source, Reuters

However, two households will be able to socialise outdoors, up to a maximum of six people.

While Manchester saw rates of new infections peak at 448.8 per 100,000 people in week up to 9 October, Cheshire East recorded a rate of 145.5 - a total of 559 new cases in the week.

Boris Johnson explains a three-tiered system of rules to fight the coronavirus pandemic in England.

The English council areas which border Liverpool City Region - Lancashire, Warrington, Greater Manchester and Cheshire West and Chester - have all been put under the second "high alert" tier of the government's new guidelines system.

That means alongside the current national measures, including the rule of six and the 22:00 curfew, measures in "high alert" areas are also subject to local restrictions, preventing mixing between different households indoors.

A motorcyclist is in a critical condition in hospital after a three-vehicle collision near Leek, Staffordshire, on Sunday.

Image source, Google

Emergency services were called to the A53 in Upper Hulme shortly before 15:00 after the crash, which police say involved a red Peugeot 206, a blue Lotus Elise and a yellow Aprilia motorcycle.

Staffordshire Police said a 35-year-old woman who was driving the Peugeot was also taken to hospital by ambulance, alongside a two-year-old child for treatment while the driver of the Lotus, a 33-year-old man, was also treated for minor injuries.

The force appealed for information, particularly dashcam footage, from witnesses.

"It was immediately clear" Mahad Aden was under the influence of drugs, Staffordshire Police says.

Express and Star

Here's a look at this morning's top stories in the Express and Star:

• HS2 'to create just 75 jobs in Staffordshire', external
• Far fewer patients begin cancer treatment than pre-pandemic at Midland hospitals, external
• Woman hurt in disorder at Wolverhampton bar, external

A second inquest begins today into the death of Jonnie Meek, a three-year-old boy who his parents believe died after an allergic reaction to hospital milk.

Image source, Family handout

A corononer originally ruled Jonnie, from Cannock, died from natural causes at Stafford Hospital in 2014, but this has always been disputed by his parents.

They maintain their son, who had a rare congenital disability, died from a severe allergic reaction to milk given to him at the hospital - three doctors also concluded an allergic reaction to the new feed was likely to have contributed to his death in an independent review.

The inquest, at Shrewsbury Coroner's Court, is expected to last five days.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

It's going to be a rather dull, grey and wet day, with some heavy outbreaks of rain later.

It'll take its time to move away through the evening, so don't forget an umbrella if you're heading out.

The latest news, sport, travel and weather across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Plymouth bounce back from their first League One defeat of the season at Hull last weekend to comfortably beat Burton.

Jon Mellish maintains his recent scoring form to fire Carlisle to victory at Port Vale.

Crewe Alexandra shrug off a Covid-19 outbreak among their squad and return to action with a thumping win over Wigan.

The bus driver's son, who also created Brookside and Hollyoaks, is knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Burton Albion agree a loan deal until January for Leicester City defender Sam Hughes.

League Two side Port Vale sign Leicester City defender Mitch Clark on loan until January.

The woman returned from Mykonos and made three visits to a gym when she should have been quarantining.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A shortage of lollipop ladies and men means there are more than 25 school crossing patrol vacancies across Staffordshire, with North Staffordshire being the most affected area.

Image source, Local Democracy Reporting Service

There are currently 29 empty posts out of 240, a vacancy rate of 12% and some of the vacancies are "long standing and hard to recruit to", a Staffordshire County Council report revealed.

BBC Weather

We're forecast more showers today, although it could be largely dry and cloudy in some parts of the West Midlands.

Temperatures will rise to around 11C (52F).

Tomorrow, the rain is expected to continue, but that should go by Sunday.

Image source, Len Ticular

The charges relate to offences allegedly committed in Redditch between 2011 and 2017.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are some of the headlines from Stoke-on-Trent Live:

• Lockdown warning as Newcastle sees spike in Covid cases, external
• Boy, 17, charged after man stabbed in leg in Stoke-on-Trent, external
• Workers at Staffordshire Argos warehouse test positive for coronavirus, external