Summary

  • Updates from Monday 24 February to Sunday 1 March

  1. Your photos: Sheep and dinosaurs in the sunpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The BBC Weather Watchers are sharing photos taken while out on their daily exercise.

    And the weather has been perfect for them.

    Clee Hill sheepImage source, Shropshire Lad
    MathonImage source, Richardthelodge
    EndonImage source, Logit09
  2. Police officer's tears over nurses' Covid-19 carepublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Ch Supt Phil Dolby has been applauded by medical staff as he leaves hospital with the all-clear.

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  3. Tiny fraction of 'at risk' children attending schoolspublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    BBC News Education

    Only a tiny fraction of vulnerable children in England are taking up the emergency school places kept open for them, official figures show.

    Children at school

    This has prompted concerns "at risk" children are facing increased danger in the lockdown, while schools and teachers struggle to get hold of them.

    New data shows only a maximum of 5% of the most needy children have been at school during the Coronavirus crisis.

    The Children's Commissioner says social workers should be "knocking on doors".

    The Department for Education data shows just 29,000 so-called vulnerable children attended school in the week before the Easter holidays.

    This compares to the more than 723,000 children who were known to children's social care services in 2019.

  4. Girl stabbed in the legpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    A 15-year-old girl has been stabbed in Nuneaton.

    Warwickshire Police said it happened at about 22:30 yesterday on Tile Lane and she was being treated in hospital for a stab wound to the leg and a cut to her head.

    Her injuries aren't thought to be life threatening.

    A 17-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and remains in police custody.

  5. Thousands of dissolvable laundry bags given to NHSpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    The bags dissolve on a 60C wash, says manufacturer Aquapak which has donated 46,000 so far.

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  6. Funds raised for health workers' hand creampublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Rob England
    BBC News

    A hospital worker has taken to social media to raise money and buy hand cream for front-line NHS staff with "sore hands" due to increased washing in the coronavirus pandemic.

    Rachel Anslow, who works at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, Shropshire, raised £150 to purchase more than 50 tubes of moisturising cream for fellow staff.

    Rachel AnslowImage source, The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation

    “We’re all being told to wash our hands much more than usual, and as you can imagine it is even more the case for those working in front line roles in hospital," Ms Anslow, who works in administration at the hospital, said.

    “It’s making hands so sore, and I thought the least we could do was to help look after their hands while they look after our lives.

    “I’m so grateful to all my friends and family who donated – and I know this will help some of our fantastic staff who are working so hard.”

  7. How to combat back pain while working from homepublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    BBC World News

    As millions of people are told to work from home and adjust to doing their jobs remotely, there are likely to be inconsistent desk set-ups where injuries are more likely.

    Alishah Merchant, a physiotherapist at Rebalance Sports Medicine, gives some tips on how to optimise your home workstation.

  8. Virtual St George's Day events to slay lockdown dragonpublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    A timetable of crafts, games and activities, external has been put together to help people in Tamworth celebrate St George's Day on Thursday in their own homes.

    The town hosts an annual event based around the castle, but has had to cancel it this year amid lockdown.

    St George's Day eventImage source, Tamworth Arts and Events

    Instead, the organisers will be sharing a gallery of photos from previous St George’s Day events and video messages from "special guests" on Saturday.

    They are also asking people to dress up and fly flags and then send in their photos.

  9. Michelin factory to resume work next weekpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    The Michelin factory in Stoke-on-Trent is looking to restart production from Monday.

    It had paused tyre production in late March and put its staff on furlough.

    Michelin factoryImage source, Google

    Michelin says it's making sure manufacturing staff will be safer than ever when they go back to work next week.

    It has also donated 1,500 face masks to local care workers, and is looking into making masks.

  10. Watch: Government funding available for 'endangered' zoospublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Amy Woodfield
    BBC News

    Dominic Raab has announced funding will be made available to help zoos forced to close during the coronavirus outbreak.

    The foreign secretary was responding to concerns raised about Twycross Zoo by the Conservative MP for Hinckley and Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans.

    On Monday the Leicestershire zoo warned it was facing a financial crisis as a result of being forced to shut.

    Sharon Redrobe, the zoo's CEO, said they would run out of cash by June.

    Giraffe and keeper at Twycross ZooImage source, Twycross Zoo

    Dr Evans's question was praised by Leicester's former MEP and deputy city mayor, Labour politician Rory Palmer, who said support for zoos was "crucial".

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  11. Locked-down public show the way to Amarillopublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Tomorrow night, as part of the BBC's Big Night In, Bolton comic Peter Kay will be recreating his much-loved video for the song (Is This The Way To) Amarillo using footage shot by the public.

    He asked people to film themselves joining in and the response has been huge. Here's just some of the videos shared so far:

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  12. Protective gear donated by Chinese citypublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A Chinese city with cultural links to Stratford-upon-Avon has donated 25,000 masks and 200 disposable protective suits to Warwick Hospital.

    They arrived from Meishan and the chairman of Stratford District Council, Chris Kettle, said the items passed "the necessary requirements and regulations" for UK use.

    Warwick HospitalImage source, Google

    Glen Burley, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, thanked Meishan and said: "With their support we are able to continue providing essential care to our patients in hospital and in the community."

  13. Murder inquiry after body found in flatpublished at 13:16 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    A man was arrested when he reported to police a death at the flat in Wolverhampton.

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  14. Four arrested over chicken shop shootingpublished at 13:08 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Shots were fired after three people chased a group into DFC Chicken in Handsworth, police say.

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  15. 'I felt like I'd got my wife back'published at 12:44 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Ken Benbow, 94, says the special cushion from his carer Kia has brought him closer to his "darling wife".

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  16. Prime Minister's Questions returns in first day of 'virtual' Parliamentpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    BBC Politics

    Prime Minister's Questions has returned as the Commons carries out its first day as a virtual Parliament.

    Dominic Raab and Sir Keir Starmer

    Boris Johnson is still recovering from coronavirus, but Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, acting as the PM's deputy, has taken his place.

    He will face Sir Keir Starmer in his first PMQs as the new Labour leader - and his first appearance in the Commons since becoming leader of the party.

    The first question was asked over video link by Tory MP Alex Stafford.

    It comes after MPs approved a motion on Tuesday to allow for a new "hybrid" Parliament amid the coronavirus outbreak.

    As a result, the number of MPs in the chamber has been limited to 50 - sitting apart from each other in line with social distancing guidelines.

    Screens have been installed in the chamber which will allow up to 120 MPs to take part in debates via the Zoom video-conferencing tool.

  17. Police officers to make birthday visits to childrenpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Police in Congleton, Cheshire, are offering to cheer up children by paying them a birthday visit.

    They're calling it Operation Birthday and are asking families to send in nominations if their child has a birthday next week.

    Birthday cakeImage source, Getty Images

    Each day, officers will randomly pick two children's names from a bag and visit their home while keeping a safe distance.

  18. Spending lockdown fixing a holepublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Both Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Councils have been taking advantage of the reduction in traffic during lockdown to mend potholes.

    The Telford and Wrekin authority said it managed to fix more than 3,500 holes since the beginning of the year, which was a lot more than normal.

    Pot holeImage source, Getty Images

    Shropshire Council has repaired more than 2,000 since the end of March, nearly halving the number needing repair.

  19. Students 'should be able to retake the year'published at 11:19 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    BBC News Education

    Students should be given the option to retake or be reimbursed for this academic year, says the National Union of Students.

    Student in library

    The NUS is also calling for a student hardship fund to help those struggling.

    The union says a survey of nearly 10,000 student union members shows 81% are worried about their future job prospects and 95% are concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on the economy.

    The NUS says it fears students are being forgotten during the pandemic.

    The survey was completed by 9,872 students across the UK, from all age ranges and learning experiences and reveals:

    • 33% are at critical risk of being unable to access their education
    • 74% are worried about the risk to their final qualifications
    • 95% expressed fears about the impact of the virus on the wider economy
    • 81% said they were concerned about their job prospects
    • 71% worry about the impact the pandemic will have on their employability
    • and up to 85% of working students may need additional financial support as incomes drop.