Allen Cook
BBC News

A man's hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the NHS this weekend by holding a virtual party streamed live into people's front rooms.

Image source, Stuart Ojelay

Stuart Ojelay, from Wall Heath, near Dudley, runs a firm organising clubbing events across the UK, but the coronavirus outbreak has forced him, like the rest of the country, into lockdown.

But he's started to hold virtual parties on Facebook from his cellar, and his last one on Sunday got 50,000 views.

Mr Ojelay said his latest party this weekend would be in aid of NHS Charities Together, external and he wanted to raise £5,000.

Hosting the events from his cellar with just a camera, he said, was surreal, but "it keeps people indoors, having a good time and not spreading the virus".

A man who died in a crash in Nuneaton "had the ability to put smiles on faces".

Image source, Warwickshire Police

The parents of Luke Greenaway added , externalhe was a "kind, caring person" who loved to be outdoors.

Warwickshire Police said the 24-year-old was riding a motorbike when it crashed on Kingswood Road on Saturday and he died the day after.

The force said no other vehicles were involved., external

BBC Midlands Today

A school's painted a giant rainbow in its grounds to show support for NHS staff.

Upton-upon-Severn CofE Primary School got a local firm that paints its running track to create the image.

Head teacher Julie Willis said: "We just want to say thank you from the entire community, from our school, from Upton, from the whole of Worcestershire; thank you to everyone for what they're doing."

Walton Lea Crematorium in Warrington has temporarily closed to visitors, with only people attending funerals allowed to access the grounds, the town's council has said.

Warrington’s municipal cemeteries are not affected and remain open to visitors.

Image source, Google

It follows new legislation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which states where a crematorium is located within a cemetery, that cemetery must be closed to the public, the council said.

Anyone attending the facilities is expected to observe social distancing.

Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment and public protection, councillor Judith Guthrie, said: "It’s vital we do everything we can to keep people safe".

She continued:

BBC Shropshire

A number of residents at a Shropshire care home have died after showing symptoms of coronavirus.

Image source, Google

Shropshire Council hasn't confirmed how many have died at Park House Care Home in Kinlet, Bridgnorth, and the home's owner has refused to comment on the deaths.

The site can accommodate up to 40 residents and describes itself as a home for people with advanced dementia.

The home has reopened to visitors after more than 14 days of residents displaying no symptoms.

Shropshire Star

From the Shropshire Star today:

• 'We needed this three weeks ago': Shropshire care home bosses on coronavirus testing, external
• Shropshire urgent care centres moving while hospitals deal with coronavirus, external
• Shrewsbury Flower Show cancelled for first time since WW2, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

Some bin crews have been subjected to "inexcusable" abuse over collections during lockdown - a period when employees are "working incredibly hard" amid "difficult conditions".

Cannock Chase District Council said staff had faced "aggression and intimidation" after tagging blue recycling bins. Tagging means receptacles contaminated with misplaced material go uncollected, and was a case of workers "just trying to do their jobs".

Image source, Cannock Chase District Council

More than nine in 10 people dying with coronavirus have an underlying health condition, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.

Image source, Getty Images

The ONS looked at nearly 4,000 deaths during March in England and Wales where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.

In 91% of cases the individuals had other health problems.

The most common was heart disease, followed by dementia and respiratory illness.

The average number of conditions those who were dying had was 2.7.

Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

An entire street has surprised a 98-year-old neighbour by singing her Happy Birthday from their front gardens during lockdown.

Image source, Chris Carr

Barbara Bakewell has lived on the same close in Redditch for 68 years and neighbour Chris Carr organised the singing after realising she'd spent her birthday alone.

Just after 19:00 on Good Friday, residents on the street came out and sang to her while observing social distancing guidelines.

Chris told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "During these difficult times, it's nice to spread a little love and joy."

Barbara said: "For once, I'm lost for words."

You can watch a video of the moment on the BBC Midlands Facebook page., external

Councils in Merseyside and Cheshire have launched a new campaign called Be Kind to your Mind to support people isolating and key workers.

Image source, Knowledge Quarter

The campaign will be run through an online portal containing various resources to help boost mental well-being, including access to cognitive behaviour therapy courses.

A spokesman for Cheshire and Wirral NHS Trust said the scheme has been medically evaluated.

Councillor Sean Donnelly, Knowsley Council's cabinet member for health, said:

BBC Shropshire

Two urgent care centres in Shropshire are closing temporarily from today due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust says, external they've relocated the centres from the Princess Royal and Royal Shrewsbury hospitals to the Minor Injury Units in Whitchurch and Bridgnorth.

It says the move will let it free up capacity to treat patients with serious but not life-threatening illnesses.

Hospital officials add that people with major injuries and illnesses, such as head trauma and breathing difficulties, should still go to the A&E units in Telford and Shrewsbury.

Another 5G phone mast was ablaze overnight in a suspected arson attack, West Midlands Fire Service said.

A crew from Ladywood in Birmingham was called to the scene in the early hours.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

It comes after West Midlands Police said yesterday it was investigating eight cases of phone masts being targeted in suspected arson attacks since the start of April.

Attacks on 5G masts pre-date the coronavirus pandemic. But there are concerns a surge in vandalism has been caused by conspiracy theories which falsely claim 5G networks have helped accelerate the spread of Covid-19.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Roads in and out of a hospital have been painted with a tribute to NHS staff.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

The messages can be seen at The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, Shropshire.

Telford and Wrekin Council said, external one of its highways teams did the extra work last night.

Express and Star

These stories are being covered by the Express and Star today:

• Care home deaths 'under-reported due to lack of testing' in West Midlands, external
• Codsall man walking 100 miles in back garden to raise money for NHS, external
• Multi-storey car parks to be built at Sandwell and City hospitals, external

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A landmark in Evesham is going to be bathed in blue light every Thursday during the pandemic.

Image source, Wychavon District Council

The town's bell tower is to be illuminated in support of NHS staff and other key workers at 20:00, according to Wychavon District Council, external.

The tower will also be turned red, white and blue to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May, the authority added.

Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Thursday morning.

Image source, AFP

1. Ministers set to extend UK lockdown

Members of the cabinet and senior officials are to meet later. They are expected to later announcea three-week extensionto the coronavirus lockdown.

2. Leak tells of care home 'confusion'

A leaked letter seen by the BBC has described the widespread problems the care sector is having with the coronavirus pandemic.

3. Baby 'well' after pregnant nurse dies

The baby of a pregnant nurse, who died after contracting coronavirus, has been delivered successfully.

4. Medics trial 'glimmer of hope' treatment

Scientists at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff are set to trial a new treatment for Covid-19.

5. Captain Tom, 99, raises £12m

Tom Moore, who is walking 100 laps of his garden before he turns 100, to raise money for NHS charities has raised £12m.

BBC News Travel

Train passengers are facing disruption this morning to services between Tamworth and Nuneaton as the overhead electric wires have been damaged.

National Rail Enquiries said, external trains could be cancelled and it expected the disruption to last until at least 14:30.

BBC Business News

Major takeaway chains in the UK have announced limited reopening programmes after closing during the coronavirus lockdown.

Image source, Getty Images

They include Burger King and KFC - certain restaurants around the country will open for delivery only.

Burger King is to reopen four restaurants, including one in Coventry, with a pared-down menu.

KFC said it had reopened 11 UK restaurants in the past week for delivery only, with a limited menu, including ones in Birmingham and Tamworth.

Government guidelines state that while restaurants and pubs have to close, they can prepare food for collection or delivery.

BBC Weather

Another fine, mostly sunny day today, after the cool start. It'll turn quite warm by this afternoon when it'll also start to turn a bit more cloudy. High: 20C (68F).

Image source, Gadjet

Then we're in for a fine evening followed by a dry night with mainly clear skies to begin with, although it could turn cloudy in the early hours with the chance of the odd shower. Low: 7C (45F).

You can get latest forecasts for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.