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  1. Footballer 'found dead in hotel room'

    Yeovil Town captain Lee Collins was found dead in his hotel room, an inquest has heard.

    Tributes

    The 32-year-old footballer, who was born in Telford and began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, did not turn up for training on 31 March prompting concerns for his welfare.

    He was found dead in the room he was staying in at Lanes Hotel, West Coker, Somerset that day, the inquest heard.

    Senior coroner for Somerset Tony Williams adjourned the hearing ahead of another that will take place in Taunton on or before 7 July.

    Mr Collins, who lived in Newport, also spent time at Port Vale and other clubs and joined Yeovil in 2019.

  2. Envelope update

    Severe disruption: A5 Staffordshire westbound

    BBC News Travel

    A5 Staffordshire westbound severe disruption, from Washbrook Lane to M6 Toll JT7 Churchbridge.

    A5 Staffordshire - A5 Watling Street in Cannock closed westbound from the Washbrook Lane junction to Churchbridge, because of emergency repairs. Traffic is coping well. Diversion in operation - via Washbrook Lane.

    To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

  3. Today's weather forecast

    Today will begin dry and bright but it will feel cold. The cloud will build through the afternoon and it will turn overcast, but should remain dry. Gentle winds. Highs of 4C to 7C (39F to 45F).

    This evening and tonight will be largely cloudy, but there should be a few clear spells. It will continue to stay dry. Winds will be lighter and it will not be as cold as the past couple of nights. Lows of 1C to 4C (34F to 39F).

  4. It’s Not Always Black and White podcast

    BBC Radio Stoke

    A new podcast of intimate and hilarious conversations about race, love and the grey spaces in between has launched on Tuesday on BBC Radio Stoke and BBC Sounds.

    Bongi Msimanga and Matt Hodson

    Each episode features married couple Matt Hodson, 39, born and bred in Solihull and a commercial manager for a railway company, and Bongi Msimanga, 34, born in southern Africa, now living in Shropshire and a journalist with the BBC for seven years.

    The questions are demanding, sometimes brutal, and the answers always raw and often comical.

    Like many interracial couples during the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement, they found themselves talking about race in a different way.

    They'd never really talked about racism as an institution or what it meant for their marriage. They'd fallen in love with each other's differences. But those differences were now creating fault lines through their relationship and between friends and family.

    New episodes of It's Not Always Black and White will be updated weekly on all podcast platforms.

  5. Envelope update

    Severe accident: M56 Cheshire eastbound

    BBC News Travel

    M56 Cheshire eastbound severe accident, from J15 for M53 J11 to J14 for A5117 Chester Services.

    M56 Cheshire - One lane closed on M56 eastbound from J15 M53 J11 to J14, A5117 (Chester Services), because of an accident. Traffic is coping well.

    To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

  6. Envelope update

    Severe disruption: M53 Cheshire southbound

    BBC News Travel

    M53 Cheshire southbound severe disruption, at J11 for M56 J15.

    M53 Cheshire - The road is temporarily closed and stationary on M53 southbound at J11 M56 J15, because of a car on fire.

    To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

  7. Envelope update

    Severe accident: M56 Cheshire westbound

    BBC News Travel

    M56 Cheshire westbound severe accident, from J15 for M53 J11 to A494.

    M56 Cheshire - M56 closed westbound from J15 M53 J11 to A494, because of an accident involving a vehicle that has left the carriageway. Traffic is coping well.

    To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

  8. Envelope update

    Severe disruption: A5006 Staffordshire both ways

    BBC News Travel

    A5006 Staffordshire both ways severe disruption, between B5045 Shelton New Road and College Road.

    A5006 Staffordshire - A5006 Snow Hill in Hanley closed and queues in both directions between the B5045 Shelton New Road junction and the College Road junction, because of a police investigation.

    To report traffic and travel incidents dial 0330 123 0184 at any time

  9. Covid vaccination rate hits 94% in over 50s

    About 94% of everyone aged 50 and over have received their first coronavirus vaccine dose in the Midlands, according to the latest official figures.

    The figures are based on estimated populations, so are open to a margin of error.

    Vaccine dose graph

    Data from the Office of National Statistics show that 59% of people aged between 16 and 80 have also received their first dose.

    The area with the highest rate of vaccinations in the West Midlands is the Malvern Hills and the lowest is Birmingham with 79%.

    The figures show the rates from 8 December 2020 to 28 March 2021.

  10. Cannabis factory discovered at property

    A cannabis factory with 81 plants has been shut down by police in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Staffordshire Police said officers raided a property on Hamilton Road in Normacot yesterday, after concerns were raised by people living nearby.

    Cannabis plants