Borough designated as flu hotspot

Health officials have designated Solihull as an "area of widespread community transmission" for swine flu.

The borough joins Birmingham, Coventry and Sandwell which already have the designation.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said laboratory tests will not now be used to diagnose cases and schools will only close in exceptional circumstances.

Dr Rashmi Shukla, regional director for public health West Midlands, said the latest designation was to be expected.