Birmingham

Police officers should be next in line for the coronavirus vaccine, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has said.

David Jamieson said he recognised health workers should be given first priority, but pointed out: "police officers have constant contact with the public" and also needed the jab.

BBCCopyright: BBC

"I think there is a risk to the effectiveness of the police if we don't get some of them vaccinated and we don't reduce the number of people who are ill and sick," he said.

Mr Jamieson said he had written to the vaccines minister and the policing minister, along with the West Midlands Chief Constable and the local chair of the police federation, to ask for police officers and staff to get priority.

Two rabbits were found in a cardboard box, near Birmingham's Bartley Reservoir, in freezing temperatures.

They were spotted by a local couple out on their daily walk, but if one of them hadn't found its way out of the box they might not have been noticed at all, the RSPCA said.

RSPCACopyright: RSPCA

The two male rabbits were microchipped, but the chips held no information and RSPCA inspector Nichola Geraghty said: "These rabbits are domesticated and would never have survived on their own.”

A flood warning remains in place for the River Blithe near Blithbury in Staffordshire.

But there are a number of flood alerts in place around Staffordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire.

This photo was taken in Penkridge earlier and the Environment Agency is warning there could be more flooding, with rain forecast for the weekend

HazlenutCopyright: Hazlenut

The health secretary has again been asked for details of who is getting vaccinated in Birmingham and which organisations are carrying them out.

The request comes in a letter to Matt Hancock signed by Ian Ward, the leader of the city council, as well as Labour's candidate for the West Midlands Mayor elections Liam Byrne, and Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell.

Ian WardCopyright: Ian Ward

The three complained last week the city was running low on vaccine stocks, and while supply was quickly replenished, they said it was "regrettable" other questions still haven't been answered.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has announced it's going to remain closed for the rest of the year, to allow "essential electrical work" to be carried out.

The whole of the Council House complex is being upgraded.

Birmingham Museum and Art GalleryCopyright: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

The museum and art gallery aims to reopen in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and said while the electrical work won't start until June, 2,150 items from the collection will have to be moved to safety first.

A further 33,000 items will be moved while the work is going on.

The city council, which owns the building, said the electrical work was "needed to future-proof the building making it safe for staff and visitors".

These are three of the stories featured on the Birmingham Live website today:

• Met Office warn of snow and ice
• Banker sacked after confronting a 'racist passenger'
• Police investigating McDonald's sex attack

A man has been arrested after three women were sexually assaulted outside a McDonald's restaurant in Birmingham.

A man was seen by someone at the Bordesley Green branch on 20 November approaching and grabbing the women, West Midlands Police said.

A fourth woman reported she was sexually assaulted on the same day outside nearby Dixy Chicken.

Google MapsCopyright: Google Maps

Detectives are now appealing for the three women to contact the force.

"We know that you might not be completely sure what happened or how to talk about it, but our trained officers and partner organisations are here to listen and work together to support you in any way we can," a spokesperson said.

The 39-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and has been released pending further investigation, the force added.

Eighteen people were fined for not wearing face masks at Birmingham indoor market.

Police received several complaints some traders and customers were not adhering to Covid-19 regulations.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Two people were told to leave the premises for not wearing masks, and another two were arrested for failing to appear at court after their details were taken for not wearing a face covering.

Today we're going to see more rain, some of it heavy, and maybe sleet too.

And it's going to be colder than yesterday, with temperatures only just above freezing.

JazzyDeeCopyright: JazzyDee