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Herefordshire is in fact just one of two areas being downgraded from Saturday.

Bristol and North Somerset is moving down from tier three to tier two.

Every other part of England will remain in their current tier until the new year, apart from eight areas, which will move up to tier three.

They are mainly in the south of England and the West Midlands is not affected.

Other than Covic-19 restrictions relaxing in Herefordshire, there have been no further changes to tier restrictions across the West Midlands.

Image source, PA Media

It had been hoped some areas would move from tier three to tier two - but rates have been creeping up across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Solihull.

Politicians in Stratford-upon-Avon had threatened legal action after being put into the most stringent tier three measures but withdrew their action, saying at the time they were satisfied the government had listened to their concerns.

Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall and Warwickshire remain in tier three.

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire remain in tier two.

Herefordshire will be placed in tier one restrictions - down from tier two previously.

The move was announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the House of Commons.

Rates in the county had come down to 45 per 100,000 population, he said.

The change is due to be introduced on 19 December.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport

Coventry City captain Liam Kelly is facing up to three months out of action with a groin injury.

Image source, PA Media

The midfielder, 30, missed the goalless draw against Huddersfield on Wednesday after picking up the injury in a win at Wycombe on Saturday.

"It's not good," Sky Blues manager Mark Robins told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ CWR after the draw against Huddersfield.

"It's a blow and one we can't really afford with losing him. He's been terrific for us so far this season."

Robins confirmed Kelly is expected to be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks after "popping his groin".

A road in Worcester will be closed for a time later for the installation of flood pumps.

Hylton Road will close from 18:30 said the city council.

for the River Severn in the area with flood water likely to affect low lying land & roads next to the river through the county.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News Travel

There's slow traffic on the M5 northbound in Worcestershire after emergency repairs had to be carried out earlier.

Traffic was held briefly after J4 but all lanes have just reopened.

A changing block at Drayton Manor was damaged in the large fire on Tuesday night.

Birmingham Live

Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today include:

• Birmingham Rep critics
• Birmingham
• Inside Alexander Stadium as

History teacher Don Fear leaves the post and says he is starting a "whole new life".

A man is set to appear in court charged with murder after a man was found in a burning car in the Malvern Hills.

Emergency services were called to the blaze in a lay-by on Ankerdine Road in Cotheridge, Worcestershire, on Saturday.

Mark Chilman, 51 from Pencombe, Bromyard, is set to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court.

A 27-year-old man also arrested in connection with the man's death is being held in custody, said West Mercia Police.

Coventry City will be without captain Liam Kelly for up to 12 weeks with a groin injury.

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, will announce the outcome of his review of the tier system later today.

Image source, Getty Images

Most of the West Midlands has been in tier three, the toughest restrictions, since lockdown ended on 2 December.

At that time, with infection rates falling, there were hopes from many local politicians of moving to a lower tier before Christmas.

However, places including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Solihull have seen their rates creeping up again.

Stoke-on-Trent's infection rate has fallen, but city council leader Abi Brown said she wasn't confident of a move to tier two as other factors were being considered, including pressure on the NHS.

The leader of Warwick District Council Andrew Day said with low rates in part of the county there was a chance its tier three measures could be eased.

But MP for Warwick and Leamington, Matt Western, said for his area the "numbers don't look so good".

Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin have until now been in tier two where restrictions are slightly more relaxed.

With infections rising and worries about the festive period growing, some families have decided Christmas isn't worth the risk and are either cancelling their plans or making last-minute changes.

Image source, Diva Fanning

Diva Fanning, 71, a retired midwife in Herefordshire, always looks forward to spending time over Christmas with her daughters, no matter how grown up they are.

She had been planning to host her daughters and their families on Boxing Day. But after a friend told her that a man in her local village had died from coronavirus following a get-together, she decided to change course.

"I didn't want to say 'I'm not doing [Christmas]' because I didn't want to sound like a killjoy, so I just said 'perhaps it's best'," she says.

You can read more here.

Shefali Oza
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Midlands Today

After a sunny morning it will be a cloudy day with the odd shower and highs of 10°C (50°F).

Vanessa Pearce
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday. We’ll be bringing you the latest updates for the West Midlands.

You can let us know about stories in your area via email, and

Violent outbursts, verbal attacks and even sexual abuse have been reported by families.

Coventry City extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to eight games with a goalless draw at home to Huddersfield Town.

Sean Morrison's towering last minute header completed Cardiff City's 3-2 comeback victory against Birmingham.

There could be a "terrible price to pay" for Christmas celebrations, West Midlands council leaders say.

Allen Cook
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News

We'll be back with the latest for the West Midlands from 08:00 on Thursday.