There was shock and sadness, but also words of thanks, from fans taking in news of the end of an era.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the system was helping it keep track of outbreaks and variants of concern.

Health chiefs have warned that the Indian variant of Covid is on the rise in the West Midlands – with more than 150 cases now confirmed.

An appeal to raise £10,000 to help a Shropshire toddler with a life-limiting disease find a bone marrow donor has smashed its target.

The country remains on the UK Government’s amber list.

A team of specially trained dogs are being used to detect Covid-19 cases by smelling people’s sweat.

The IOC’s John Coates said the Games would proceed even if local medical experts advised against it.

The Prime Minister drew comparisons between the plague in the Iliad and the coronavirus outbreak.

Only about 250 of the 589 venues which had previously hosted the weekly run have given permission for the event to return.

The facility will be based at Terminal 3 initially.

The NHS is urging everyone who is eligible to take up their jab at one of the 1,600 locations across the country.

A teenager has been given a 12-month referral order for terrorism offences.

A market stall holder is retiring with a lifetime of memories of meetings with stars of the 50s and 60s, including the Beatles – and is hoping someone will return his missing autograph album.

A major housebuilding drive is key to helping the West Midlands bounce back after the pandemic, a Minister has said.

Covid-19 is making it harder for people in the West Midlands to achieve better opportunities in life, including women and those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, according to new research.

The Covid-19 pandemic could lead to a surge of fitness enthusiasts in the West Midlands, according to a new British Heart Foundation survey.

More than 465,000 people in the Black Country and Staffordshire have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, figures reveal.

The weather is rotten – and don’t expect it to get much better any time soon.

A doctor from Wolverhampton who cared for patients during the height of the pandemic has taken to the skies to raise money for charity.

It's good to be back! It promises to be an emotional day tomorrow as after more than a year away Wolves supporters will return to Molineux.

A property developer from West Bromwich wants to buy up a shopping centre to bring new life to his home town.

A merger between two Black Country hospital trusts would be a “step in the wrong direction”, an MP has warned.

The billionaire businessman Lord Bamford has a keen interest in the state of Britain’s roads. The boss of JCB, who was born in Staffordshire, spends long hours travelling along the highways and byways of the UK.

Property developers’ plans to install gates at either end of a Lichfield city centre walkway have sparked opposition from members of the public and the city council.

A classic collection of comics from half a century are set to go under the hammer.

Cancer operations were scaled back by almost 50 per cent during the pandemic as Black Country hospital beds were freed up for coronavirus patients, the Express & Star can reveal.

One of the biggest moments in Eurovision history happened right here in the West Midlands.

Black Country businesses have been urged to sign up to the Government's Kickstart scheme as seven young adults were taken on by Walsall FC.

Sutton Coldfield Town boss Neil Tooth believes former Royals ace Jordan Tunnicliffe has the world at his feet.

The ONS said figures show a ‘mixed picture’ of infection levels across the UK this week but stressed rates remain low.

A tree crashed into the roof of a property in the Black Country causing disruption for residents.

A hospital broke its own record for A&E admissions twice in one week amid "unprecedented" demand for services.

Wolves have announced that Nuno Espirito Santo is to leave the club by mutual agreement following the conclusion of the season.

A main road near Bridgnorth was closed in both directions following a crash.

More than £10,000 has been raised in an appeal to help a poorly toddler get a vital stem cell donor before he turns two.

No new coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in hospitals in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham in the latest figures – for the second day in a row.

Worried parents staged a protest outside Dudley Town Hall over fears changes to education provision for disabled children could lead to a loss of services.

Tracksuit bottoms worn by Dalian Atkinson had areas of damage which may have been caused by a Taser probe, including one where fibres had been fused together by heat, a murder trial jury has heard.

A body believed to be that of missing Stourbridge man Jason Fowkes has been found in woodland.

Nuno Espirito Santo's pre-Manchester United press conference began at 12.30pm – almost as normal – and finished at roughly 1pm.

Former Benfica manager Bruno Lage is the bookies' early favourite to be named Wolves manager following the impending departure of Nuno Espirito Santo.

It’s the Marmite television night of the year.

The mother of murdered Karl Gallagher has condemned her son's "cruel" killer who smirked at her in court.

A baby boy who was found dead in a canal in the Black Country could have been in the water for up to four days, police have said.

A police investigation has been launched after the body of a baby boy was discovered in a canal at a nature reserve in Walsall.

Nicola Sturgeon said the city will remain in the higher tier for at least another week, but Moray can now move to Level 2.

Greg Fell, director of public health in Sheffield, said his team had been monitoring the new strain.

A young man has been jailed for 20 years over the murder of 31-year-old Karl Gallagher outside a Smethwick shopping centre.

Three talented rugby students from Wyre Forest are celebrating after being signed up to the Worcester Warriors Senior Academy.

Pubs and restaurants were finally able to open to indoor customers on Monday.

East Renfrewshire, outside Glasgow, now has a higher infection rate that the city itself – which is subject to tougher restrictions.

Cheers! Gavin Williamson has toasted the return of the indoor hospitality by pouring a pint at a pub in South Staffordshire.

Fire chiefs are reminding people of the dangers of open water – after a 16-year-old girl was rescued from the lake at Chasewater Country Park.

Wolverhampton's late-night Safe Haven scheme will return to the city centre this weekend – to help support the further reopening of the hospitality sector.

Lichfield residents have praised an initiative which will see water sprinklers retrospectively fitted in their flats.

A budding wild bird photographer from Wolverhampton has won a national amateur photography competition run by Wilko.

Waste giant Biffa has entered into an agreement to acquire the collections business and a number of recycling assets from Viridor Waste Management for £126 million.

There were 1,265 cases of cheque, plastic card and online bank account fraud in the West Midlands Police force area in the 12 months from April last year to the end of March.

Dudley Council has taken on devolved powers from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to address the issue of untaxed vehicles.

Redundancies are planned at bakery company Warburtons' Wednesbury site.

Residents in Sandwell are being urged to report an increase in off-road motorbike activities in the borough.

People in the Midlands who are eligbile for the Covid vaccination are being urged to book an appointment without delay.

The high street lender recorded a pre-tax profit of £823 million and said deposits by savers hit £10.6 billion in the past year – a near doubling.

Five people with a combined total of more than 100 years' service on Dudley Council are set to be honoured.

More than 75 people have objected to plans to build two bungalows on green space in a Stone neighbourhood.

The Belfry unveiled updates to its award-winning Brabazon course last week.

Curdworth Primary School pupils are benefitting from an innovative programme designed to support children’s mental health and wellbeing as they settle back into school following lockdown.

A Sutton Coldfield councillor is calling for action over speeding motorists on a stretch of road.

The leader of Dudley Council has unveiled his new-look cabinet team – as he outlined the authority's priorities including regeneration, supporting businesses and boosting tourism.

Calls have been made for the future Sutton Coldfield’s threatened Police Station to be reviewed as a matter of urgency.

The new Mayor of Dudley has praised the late Duke of Edinburgh for his 'inspirational' support for young people – while announcing a new community fund as part of her charity commitments for the year ahead.

The uptick was driven by continued optimism around future personal finances and the wider UK economy, GfK said.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says the jab could now be easier to store and more widely available.

The World Health Organisation is leading work to develop a worldwide network of surveillance hubs.

The ONS said sales rose 9.2% in April as non-essential retailers opened their doors again, with strong growth in clothes sales.

Public Health England urged people in affected areas to get their second dose of the vaccine.

An overhaul of ticketing on Britain's railways will help speed up the introduction of an 'Oyster card'-style system in the West Midlands, transport bosses have said.

A Tory MP has hit out at claims that the NHS needs rescuing, saying it had "stood the test of time" throughout the pandemic.

Extra police officers are being drafted in at night across the region as restrictions continue to ease under the Government's roadmap out of lockdown.

The number of people with dementia in the Black Country and Staffordshire is set to soar in the next 10 years, according to the Alzheimer's Society – which is demanding reform to social care to provide better support.

A grant scheme has enable thousands of workers across a city to access twice-weekly Covid-19 tests.

Good causes have received a cash boost following a charity walk which saw three friends trek from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, raising £10,000.

Birmingham Hippodrome has opened its doors to the public once again with support from Lloyds Bank.

Residents have spoken of their delight after work was completed on a £10,000 community project to revamp a war memorial.

A popular bingo hall has welcomed back customers after seven months of closure due to the pandemic.

A housing organisation in the Black Country has teamed up with an energy company to help save new tenants money on their bills.

Generous staff at an electrical retailer in the Black Country have raised thousands of pounds to help Smile for Joel – in a year which saw donations to the charity plunge.

A health chief has praised a school in the Black Country for its swift response after cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 were discovered.

Parts of Wolverhampton city centre were closed off today due to loose cladding on a building.

Former deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has joined five others on a six-week programme to get fit amid coronavirus.

More than £200,000 was allocated to community groups in Sutton Coldfield this year thanks to the Town Council’s Community Grant Scheme.

A new public sector body named Great British Railways will be created.

Labour said ministers ‘need to explain what’s gone wrong’.

Knowing when drugs are likely to stop working could give clinicians more time to prepare for the next step in a person’s treatment.

The number of West Midlands Police officers using Tasers has almost doubled in three years, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Weather warnings for wind are in place on Thursday and Friday across parts of England and Wales.

The figures for Monday May 17 follow the first day of opening for many venues in five months.

More civil service roles are set to move to the West Midlands as part of plans to shift government focus out of London.

A policeman accused of murdering Dalian Atkinson told investigators he was “absolutely terrified” and felt his brain had stopped working before he Tasered the ex-footballer to the ground, a court has heard.

A deal for an American private equity and investment firm to buy Birmingham-based regeneration and construction group St Modwen has been agreed.