Pop-up coronavirus testing centres will be placed around Staffordshire, in a push to encourage people to get tested regularly.

Staffordshire County Council said, as restrictions continue to be relaxed, it is urging people to get tested twice a week, even if they don't have symptoms and is hosting outdoor pop-up testing sites, to help make it easier.

Image source, Getty Images

Chasewater Country Park, Cannock Chase Visitor Centre and a local car boot held pop-up testing over the weekend.

This week Tutbury Castle and various supermarkets a will see rapid testing available for the first time.

Director for health and care at the council, Dr Richard Harling, said: "The move to setting up outdoors where people already visit makes it even more convenient - people can get a supervised test whilst they are out doing their shopping or enjoying the fresh air and warmer weather."

The officer is dismissed for gross misconduct, after he "tried it on" with four abuse victims.

Worcester News

Here are some of the stories on the Worcester News website today:

• Worcester students university president: 'Students have behaved well throughout the pandemic', external
• Extinction Rebellion Worcestershire holds Climate Crime Scene protest, external
• Worcester man placed on sex offender's register, external

Benjamin Hunt restrained Christopher Walters after an attack on a car, police say.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Calls for a pedestrian crossing into Coventry's War Memorial Park are to be investigated by the council after a petition received over 400 signatures.

Residents are calling for a safe crossing on Leamington Road, opposite Humphrey Burtons Road, in Cheylesmore.

Dad-of-two Gurch Nat said he launched the petition at the end of last year after witnessing "several near misses" involving children.

Image source, Google

A spokesman from Coventry City Council said: "A count of traffic flow and the number of pedestrians crossing near the requested location will be undertaken during the summer school term to assess whether the location meets the criteria for a crossing facility."

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the headlines from the Shropshire Star website today:

• 'Huge step forward': Nine in 10 care home staff across Shropshire have had Covid jab, external
• Emergency services called after vehicle crashes into building in Telford, external
• Call for free Shropshire bus trial to aid recovery of town centres, external

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to after a 12-year-old was robbed on a bus in Birmingham.

Three people stole a mobile phone from the boy on the 97 bus, while it was on Victoria Street in Bordesley Green, just after 15:30 on 5 March.

Anyone with information is urged to speak to West Midlands Police.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Niagara Falls and Millennium Bridge were illuminated for Azaylia Cain, who has leukaemia.

The 83-year-old jumped from a window to escape the deliberate blaze at her home on Sunday.

Staffordshire Police said stalking offences in the county have more than doubled in a year, rising from 823 in 2019, compared to 2,088 in 2020.

The force puts this increase down to more people coming forward to report crimes, rather than an increase in offending.

"On the whole it means less stalking is going unreported and more victims are being protected," Det Insp Victoria Ison, from the force, said.

"A lot of work has been done to increase general understanding and awareness of this crime, so we believe more victims now recognise the behaviours and are reporting them to the police," she added.

A 64-year-old man died after being hit by a car in Birmingham on Sunday, police say.

A High Court judge has questioned if Herefordshire Council's children's services are fit for purpose.

Express and Star

Here are some of the top stories from the Express & Star today:

• 3,000 care home staff not vaccinated across Black Country and Staffordshire, external
• New homes lined up for old Walsall factory site, external
• Work set to begin on major new ambulance base in Black Country, external

BBC Weather

It is set to be a dry and bright day with plenty of sunshine and highs of 16C (61F).

This was the scene earlier in Shrewsbury in Shropshire as taken by BBC Weather Watcher JemmaMarianne.

Image source, JemmaMarianne

Worcestershire bat out a draw against Derbyshire thanks to Ben Cox's unbeaten 60 and Ed Barnard's 35.

Tim Bresnan's unbeaten 68 guides Warwickshire to a three-wicket win at Nottingham as they successfully chase a target of 333.

The 64-year-old man was struck by a white car in Stechford, Birmingham, on Sunday, police said.

The latest news and updates from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

Bob Allison had a stroke while abroad and his family set up a fundraising page to help get him home.

The rider was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near Market Drayton.