Matt Hancock calls on the Environment Agency to "urgently" resolve problems at Walleys Quarry.
Matt Hancock calls on the Environment Agency to "urgently" resolve problems at Walleys Quarry.
It is election day for council seats, police and crime commissioners and the West Midlands mayor.
A Stoke-on-Trent beauty salon says its customers were made to feel uncomfortable by drinkers.
Lichfield's store will shut on 12 May and Hanley's three days later.
The event will include a broadcast of the opening of the British Normandy Memorial in France.
Matt Hancock calls on the Environment Agency to "urgently" resolve problems at Walleys Quarry.
It is election day for council seats, police and crime commissioners and the West Midlands mayor.
A Stoke-on-Trent beauty salon says its customers were made to feel uncomfortable by drinkers.
Lichfield's store will shut on 12 May and Hanley's three days later.
The event will include a broadcast of the opening of the British Normandy Memorial in France.
It is election day for council seats, police and crime commissioners and the West Midlands mayor.
A Stoke-on-Trent beauty salon says its customers were made to feel uncomfortable by drinkers.
BBC Weather
Things are looking a lot drier today than they have done so far this week.
We will have some showers today, mainly towards the east of our region, but it will be mainly dry with some sunshine.
Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 12C, so still a bit cold for this time of year.
It's election day across England, Wales and Scotland and voters are heading to the polls with thousands of council seats in England up for grabs. Elections are also taking place for mayors, including in the West Midlands, and police and crime commissioners.
Polling stations will be open from 07:00 - 22:00 BST and voters are being asked to take their own pencils as a Covid safety measure.
So, where are votes being cast?
Councils
County councils:
Metropolitan councils:
District councils:
All the seats in Shropshire Council, a unitary authority, are also up for election.
Police and crime commissioners
Read more about the candidates by tapping the links.
West Midlands Mayor
The combined authority mayor, covering the seven metropolitan boroughs, is responsible for planning and strategy for regional transport, skills training and local economic development. Click here to see the candidates.
For a reminder of all the candidates standing in your area and information about what they will do, use our handy look-up tool.
Elizabeth Glinka
Political Editor, BBC Midlands
The prime minister has been campaigning in the West Midlands this morning.
Here in the region, it feels like elections arrive like buses; you wait for one and then 25 come along at once.
Tomorrow's vote brings a combination of those postponed last year due to the coronavirus outbreak, and those due this year.
All county council seats are up for grabs in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
All are Conservative controlled, and are unlikely to deliver any surprises. Likewise Unitary Shropshire.
Warwickshire has traditionally been most likely to swing, but with the Conservatives holding more than double the seats of Labour and the Lib Dems combined, recent revelations about the prime minister would have to have some serious cut through for either party to make inroads.
Normally, the big Metropolitan Boroughs that elect by thirds are less likely to have a change of control.
This time Solihull, Coventry, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell all have elections, but there are definitely some ones to watch, not least because of the changing voting behaviour, which saw Labour’s ‘red wall’ collapse across the Black Country at the last general election.
Conservative-run Walsall and, to an even greater extent, Dudley, are finely balanced between blue and red.
Solihull, too, is currently Conservative-led, but the loss of just one seat, would mean losing control.
The Greens who are the main opposition party, have been building their base here for the last decade.In our smaller district councils - Nuneaton and Bedworth, Cannock Chase and Worcester are all on a knife edge.
A man has been stabbed in the back in an underpass near a supermarket in Staffordshire.
Police said the man reported he was attacked by a stranger close to Sainsbury's store on Enderley Street, in Newcastle-under-Lyme at about 19:50 on Monday.
He suffered a one-inch (2.5cm) wound to his back.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Staffordshire Police.
It's a nippy start to Wednesday following a cold night. Today we'll see highs of around 12C but it will feel a little bit warmer than yesterday as the winds drop.
There will be some heavy, sharp showers developing throughout the day and possibly even thunder in some areas.
By this evening those showers should stop and clear skies could leave some frost overnight but scope for lots of sunshine on Thursday.
By Victoria Derbyshire
The Jeremy Vine Show
M53 Cheshire northbound severe disruption, at J11 for M56 J15.
M53 Cheshire - Road closed and queues on M53 northbound at J11 M56 J15, because of a lorry that's broken down.
To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time
A fallen tree is blocking a road in Staffordshire.
Drivers are advised not to use Sugar Loaf Lane in Iverley while removal work is carried out.
BBC Weather Watchers
It felt more like the 'Wet Midlands' this weekend, but here's a bonus for those grey skies - lots of our Weather Watchers captured stunning rainbows across the region.
Thanks to our Weather Watchers for their stunning photos.
If you want to see more or get involved yourself, visit our website.
The bulk of the weekend rain has passed but this morning we can expect a bit of a battering from the wind instead.
There's a yellow weather warning in place for strong winds, mainly affecting Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
That should calm down a bit later, however it will breezy enough for it to still feel quite cold and we haven't seen the last of that rain yet so expect showers.
Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories
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