Pub, bar, cafe and restaurant operators in Cheshire believe up to 40% of their establishments will be unable to open without government assistance after the lockdown.

A survey, from industry body Taste Cheshire, asked 100 food and drink businesses about how the lockdown was likely to affect them.

The body's chief executive Stephen Wundke said:

The survey also found that 64.5% of those surveyed had under half of their normal stock remaining and 82.5% of businesses have had no income since 20 March.

The body wants to see businesses offered a restocking and restaffing grant by the government, based on turnover that would see a typical business that turns over £400,000 a year getting about £12,000.

The government has introduced a number of measures to support businesses, including a furlough payment scheme and a £1.25bn package to support start-ups.

West Bromwich Albion will provide free space in suites for antenatal and postnatal care.

A Birmingham mosque has set up a temporary mortuary in its car park amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Small Heath said the facility, with space to store up to 150 bodies, would help provide dignity for people.

Image source, Getty Images

Members of the community are being buried with a shroud, thanks to trained volunteers with PPE, the mosque said.

But it does not allow families themselves to shroud the bodies and do a full body wash, for safety reasons.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The facility at the mosque on Golden Hillock Road involves five refrigerated units.

"Anybody can use it, NHS, Christians, if needed… It’s about humanity," trustee Mohammed Zahid said.

BBC Shropshire

Every day, local radio stations across the BBC are telling you about ways people are Making a Difference in their communities.

In Shropshire, Sanjit Kang who owns the Shifnal Fryer fish and chip shop said staff had been cooking for local NHS workers, despite being closed.

Image source, Getty Images

The takeaway closed over three weeks ago, but decided to keep providing food for front-line workers, along with staff from the Pondicherry Indian restaurant in Ironbridge.

"It has been quite hard, financially, it is a big thing for everyone," she said.

"We just decided to put something back into the community."

It is also planning to reopen for customers, while following social distancing guidelines and allowing only two customers in the shop at a time.

Patrick McManus's "big, Irish personality will be sorely missed", a hospital trust says.

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Twycross Zoo has warned it faces a financial crisis as a result of being forced to shut to the public due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The zoo, in Leicestershire, is popular across the region and can normally expect about 10,000 visitors a week.

Some of its staff have been "furloughed", with only key keepers, vets and a small maintenance crew working.

Essential staff have even moved to live on the site during the lockdown.

Image source, Twycross Zoo

Sharon Redrobe, the zoo's CEO, said the normally busy park is like a "ghost town".

As it stands, she said Twycross will run out of cash by June.

"It's quite serious," she said.

"We're petitioning the government for support and the banks are offering loans, but we'll be in debt for years. It's a tricky time."

Image source, Twycross Zoo

She added that the animals are also becoming confused.

"They're used to people, they watch people as much as we watch them," she said.

"Especially for the chimps and gorillas. They're going 'where has everyone gone?'

"Whenever [zoo staff] walk past they're quite attentive. It's weird for everybody."

BBC CWR

Drinks company Britvic has made a donation to the food bank in Rugby.

The firm has been thanked by the town council, which also said more donations were needed for residents in financial difficulty.

Image source, Rugby Town Council

These are some of the stories making the headlines on news sites across the West Midlands:

• Birmingham Live is reporting: Beauty Queen 'gets threats' after huge turnout to performance during Clap for Carers, external
• The Express and Star has: Sandwell nurse on the mend after catching coronavirus, external
• Coventry Live has: Girl raises cash to shop for elderly neighbours during lockdown, external

BBC News Health

People with hay fever should not confuse their reaction to pollen with the symptoms of coronavirus, GPs say.

While many symptoms - such as a runny nose - are different, hay fever can also prompt a cough that can alarm both sufferers and those around them.

That has prompted many of those suffering with the allergy to contact family doctors for advice.

The Royal College of GPs said sufferers should consider whether their symptoms are the same as in previous years.

But it has also expressed concern that people may leave the house thinking they have just got the seasonal illness when they have actually contracted the deadly virus.

JLS have announced a free performance for the "health heroes" of the NHS as part of their comeback tour.

The boy band will host a matinee concert on 28 November at the Birmingham Resorts World Arena.

Oritse Williams from the band said: "I am so incredibly proud that my JLS brothers and I are able to come together, to put on a special show for all of the NHS superheros on the frontline.

"With multiple close friends who are doctors in the NHS and my mum who has worked as part of the NHS for over 25 years, it's incredibly important for us to give back to our health heroes."

BBC Business News

The government has announced a £1.25bn package to support innovative new companies that are not eligible for existing coronavirus rescue schemes.

Image source, Getty Images

It will match up to £250m of private investment and add £550m to an existing loan and grant scheme for smaller firms that focus on research and development.

Adding it up, that totals £800m of new money to support fledgling firms.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said start-ups would help power the UK's growth after the coronavirus crisis.

An NHS worker at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham says staff there have access to enough supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The government says it's working "around the clock" to provide protective equipment, but there have been concerns that supplies of items like gowns are not reaching staff.

Image source, Getty Images

Will, who works as an emergency nurse at the QE Hospital told BBC Radio 5 Live "there are issues across the country" but staff at the hospital have "everything we need".

"We've got no fears at the moment that we're going to run out of things, we've got the gowns we've got the visors, we've got the masks," he said.

"I am choosing to go on to the Covid ward," he added, "so if I felt I hadn't got what I needed to do that, I wouldn't be doing it."

"But it sounds like that isn't happening everywhere."

If you're a key worker we'd love to know your experience of using PPE.

BBC Business News

A government pay scheme to keep staff on the payroll despite not working due to coronavirus has gone live.

Image source, Getty Images

Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the government will cover 80% of workers' wages, up to £2,500 a month, if they are put on leave.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "We promised support would be available by the end of April - today, we deliver our promise."

Millions of workers are expected to be "furloughed" because of the lockdown.

The Treasury says the system can process up to 450,000 applications an hour.

Employers should receive the money within six working days of making an application, it says.

BBC News Education

Schools across the UK would normally be opening for the summer term about now.

However, they remain closed to all but a few pupils and there is no current reopening timetable. Most parents are now responsible for their children's education. For many, working from home and supporting their children's school work is not easy.

BBC Bitesize has launched a big push to help children - and parents - with home-learning, but what's realistic, and where can parents find support?

Ben Milne has been looking at pressures, pitfalls and pinch points of home-schooling as the BBC Bitesize daily lessons begin.

BBC News Education

The education secretary has said he cannot give a date for when English schools will reopen, four weeks after they were shut to curb the spread of coronavirus.

At the government's daily briefing, Gavin Williamson said there were "no plans" to open schools over summer.

He said five "tests" must be met before schools could reopen, including a fall in infections and the daily death rate.

It follows a Sunday Times report, external that said schools could reopen on 11 May.

An image showing cars at a Staffordshire park has been shared by police, external, sparking a debate about current social distancing guidance.

Image source, South Staffordshire Police

South Staffordshire Police said officers had spent time "educating those turning up to enjoy the sunny weather" at Highgate Common near Wombourne, over the weekend.

One Facebook user posted on the force's page: "There is mixed messages from the government as I’m sure I heard you can drive somewhere to take your daily exercise as long as you practice the distancing guidelines."

Others posted they should all have been arrested.

Some forces have been criticised for going too far when trying to ensure people follow the rules.

Updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news from across the North West of England on Monday 20 April.

Nine phone masts have now been attacked across the West Midlands, a police chief said.

Image source, Getty Images

Attacks have occurred across the UK after claims were made about the technology.

Speaking at a West Midlands Combined Authority meeting David Jamieson called on the public to report any suspicious behaviour around the masts.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has said there is no credible evidence that 5G is linked to coronavirus.

BBC Weather

It will be a fine and dry day today with generous amounts of sunshine and highs of 17C (63°F).

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Nick