BBC News Stoke & Staffordshire

More than two million doses of coronavirus vaccine have now been administered in the Midlands area.

Figures covering the period between 8 December and 7 February show that included 2,036,609 first doses and 70,639 second doses.

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The majority of the vaccinations given out in the Midlands so far have gone to people over the age of 70, but 731,353 people under the age of 70 have had their first jab now.

A total of 10,992,933 doses of one of the vaccines were given out across England in that period.

Staffordshire County Council has approved a council tax increase of 4.99%.

The local authority said it meant people who live in Band D properties will see a rise of £1.24 a week in the coming financial year.

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Conservative leader Councillor Alan White says the increase is needed to pay for the growing cost of social care.

He said: “We need central Government to take the lead in finding sustainable long-term solutions.”

Councillor Charlotte Atkins, Labour group leader described the rise as "shameful".

In setting the budget for 2021-22 Staffordshire County Council says it has a shortfall of £33m.

The next phase of the HS2 high-speed rail line through Staffordshire and Cheshire has been given approval by MPs this lunchtime.

Known as Phase 2a, the 30-mile stretch will take the line from the West Midlands to Crewe and should be complete some time between 2035 and 2040.

Work on the first phase, between London and Birmingham, is already under way and should be complete between 2028 and 2031.

Siemens/PACopyright: Siemens/PA

The government has promised to plant 78 hectares of woodland as part of this next phase as part of efforts to compensate for the 9.8 hectares of ancient woodland that will be lost.

Dr Kieran Mullan, MP for Crewe & Nantwich said: “It is crucial to bringing new jobs and opportunities to our town and for creating better local rail connections as we free up the currently overly congested line West Coast Main Line."

More cold weather is forecast today, with easterly winds, and it should be dry and sunny. High: 1C (34F).

BBC Weather Watcher Di's walkCopyright: BBC Weather Watcher Di's walk

It should stay cold into tonight with a risk of frost and ice. Dry with a low of -3C (27F).

You can stay up-to-date with the weather for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.

Tests show bones found at a pub in Stafford were not human, police say.

Checks were carried out following the discovery at the Picture House on Bridge Street earlier this month.

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The pub had been undergoing repairs after the recent flooding.

Last year £700,000 was spent on refurbishing it, before it was forced to close again in December.

Air quality monitoring equipment will be installed at a landfill site in Newcastle-under-Lyme by the end of February.

The Environment Agency said it was in response to concerns about smells raised by people living near Walley's Quarry in Silverdale.

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The mobile monitoring equipment will remain in place for at least three months and the findings will be published in a report.

A 37-year-old man has been arrested after a fire at a Salvation Army building in Stoke-on-Trent .

Firefighters were called to Vale Street at 01:20 and put out a fire in a single room.

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Staffordshire Police said the man is from the local area and was arrested on suspicion of arson shortly afterwards.

He remains in police custody.

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

• Tributes to 'inspirational' man who brought the Potters 'Arf to Stoke-on-Trent
• Teen 'rugby tackled' knifeman who tried to get back inside pub in terrifying rampage
• 'Failure of care' at Royal Stoke as gran died from sepsis after being given wrong antibiotics

With the freezing conditions continuing, our BBC Weather Watchers have been sending in photos of icicles, snowy scenes and frozen waterways.

Here are three from users Lilith in Rednal, Birmingham, Videoman in Leek, Staffordshire and NeverEnoughCruising in Napton on the Hill, Warwickshire.

LilithCopyright: Lilith

VideomanCopyright: Videoman

NeverEnoughCruisingCopyright: NeverEnoughCruising

You can send in your photos to us by becoming a BBC Weather Watcher here.

Temperatures won't rise much above above freezing today and there could be a bit more snow.

And it's forecast to remain the same until the weekend.

LiesaCopyright: Liesa

The Weather Watchers have been out capturing some stunning images as snow flurries continue.

Sutton Walker captured this snowflake in Sutton Coldfield.

Sutton WalkerCopyright: Sutton Walker

Greg Butler took this icy scene earlier in Stoke-on-Trent.

Greg ButlerCopyright: Greg Butler

Treetop took this image in King's Heath, Birmingham.

TreetopCopyright: Treetop

And Jack took this chilly scene in Nuneaton.

JackCopyright: Jack

An accident is causing long delays on the M6.

The delays of about 90 minutes are on both carriageways around junctions 13 and 14 near Stafford.

The motorway was closed for a time but has now reopened.

Some areas could continue to see disruption due to snow and ice, the Met Office is warning.

Met OfficeCopyright: Met Office

Parts of Staffordshire and Warwickshire are covered by a yellow warning for ice and snow until the end of Wednesday.

Yellow warnings signify there could be travel disruption and a slight chance of power cuts or communities being cut off.

Some bus routes are being affected across Birmingham, Coventry and Rugby.

It will be another cold day with scattered snow flurries but also sunny spells at times with highs of 1°C (34°F).

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