BBC News Education

Many families of children eligible for free school meals are having to wait up to a week for supermarket vouchers, despite an upgrade to the website responsible for delivering them.

Image source, Reuters

Under a government scheme, families in need in England should receive vouchers worth £15 a week per child.

The Edenred website that runs the scheme was rebuilt over the weekend, the Department for Education says.

But some schools say they are still struggling to log on.

We're still seeing plenty of people tweeting thank you messages they've been leaving for bin collectors, NHS staff and key workers during the lockdown.

Sandwell Council shared this one today, external, a picture left for one of their refuse teams:

Image source, Sandwell Council

A flamingo's been safely returned home to Dudley Zoo after reportedly being spotted walking down a street.

Image source, Dudley Zoo

Haleowen News said, external the flamingo was spotted by drivers on Tuesday afternoon "strolling down Castle Hill".

The zoo said today, external the bird decided to take her daily exercise there after "a gust of wind carried it".

Bosses said keepers were quickly on the scene and returned her home where she was self-isolating and "happily eating her breakfast".

A severe fire's being tackled by about 30 firefighters in Coventry this lunchtime.

West Midlands Fire Service tweeted, external just after midday that crews had been called to Fivefield Road, Keresley and the blaze was in the roof of a house.

It added everyone was out of the home.

The data released by the Office for National Statistics, external (ONS) gives us the best indication so far about how many lives are being lost to Covid-19 across England and Wales.

These are sobering statistics, setting new and unwanted records.

In the week ending 3 April, there were about 6,000 more deaths registered than in an average week and nearly 3,500 of them mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate.

The figures for the Midlands are the highest per week since records began, but they are only a little higher than the next highest week in January 2015.

That was at the height of the worst winter flu outbreak in recent years.

Express and Star

From today's Express and Star website:

• Inquests held into deaths of elderly people who had Covid-19, external
• Charities warn of 'looming crisis' in foster care due to coronavirus, external
• Up to 500 former post office staff could have been wrongly convicted, external

BBC News UK

All care home residents and staff with Covid-19 symptoms will be tested for coronavirus as laboratory capacity increases, the government has promised.

Image source, Reuters

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was "determined" to ensure everyone who needed a test had access to one.

Labour welcomed the pledge but said the social care sector needed more support.

Care providers have been calling for more testing for weeks, with charities saying the virus is "running wild" amid outbreaks at more than 2,000 homes.

At the moment only the first five residents who show symptoms in a care home are tested, to determine whether there is an outbreak of the virus.

Yesterday, the manager of Oak Springs care home in Wavertree, Liverpool revealed 15 residents had died of suspected coronavirus in the past two weeks as the NHS Confederation warned the spread in care homes had "largely gone under the radar".

Allen Cook
BBC News

We've had people dressing up in all kinds of ways during the coronavirus lockdown to entertain locals - but going shopping in costumes?

Image source, Rebecca Hedge-Middleton

That's what Rebecca Hedge-Middleton says her brother and his partner have been doing every week for the past three weeks in Heath Hayes, Cannock, Staffordshire.

Their efforts include Star Wars characters and an inflatable shark and dinosaur - all, Rebecca says, "to try and bring a smile to the staff and customers".

Image source, Rebecca Hedge-Middleton

Here's what they look like without the costumes:

Image source, Rebecca Hedge-Middleton

Fire crews have spent the night monitoring the site of a huge recycling blaze in Willenhall to make sure it's completely out.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

At its height yesterday, 60 firefighters were tackling the blaze involving about 1,000 tonnes of waste including cardboard and clothes.

West Midlands Fire Service said crews spent the night damping down hotspots, external at the site on Alvar Business Park, on Straight Road, Short Heath

Two new drive-through coronavirus testing centres are to be opened in the West Midlands.

Image source, Getty Images

Worcester Warriors said , externaltheir car park would be used as part of plans to increase testing for more NHS and other key workers.

The other facility is set to open at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick.

BBC Science and Environment

As the UK enters it fourth week of lockdown, conservationists say they have seen some hidden benefits of the restrictions in the natural world.

With fewer people in urban environments and much less traffic on the roads, scientists say there could be gains particularly for our native mammals.

The BBC's Victoria Gill explains.

Always on hand to brighten your day, BBC NWT's Owain Wyn Evans has turned his considerable talents away from the weather to the end credits, drumming up something of a storm in the process.

Riyah Collins
BBC News

Reports of eight phone masts being targeted in suspected arson attacks or vandalism since the start of April are being investigated by West Midlands Police.

One of the sites provides important mobile connectivity to a hospital in Birmingham.

Image source, Getty Images

The news comes as trade group Mobile UK said there had been 20 more cases of masts being targeted over the Easter weekend.

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

A decision to close a park due to people not following social distancing rules has been reversed after 48 hours.

Image source, Google

On Monday, Walsall Council tweeted , externalWalsall Arboretum was closed "with immediate effect" at the request of West Midlands Police.

But at 06:00 today, the local authority said, after more talks with police, it had decided to reopen the park today, external but reminded people to follow social distancing guidelines.

The news received hundreds of comments on the council's Facebook page with one user calling it "brilliant news, external" and another labelling it "a ridiculous idea, external".

Updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news from across the North West of England on Wednesday 15 April.

BBC News Travel

An exit slip road's been completely shut on the M5 near Worcester after a vehicle spilt its load.

Highways England's closed , externalthe exit southbound at J7.

Image source, Highways England

BBC Weather

After a chilly night with some frost we're in for a dry, sunny day with light winds. It should be warmer than the last couple of days. High: 17C/63F.

Image source, CountryMouse

The good weather will continue through this evening and tonight is set to stay dry with mainly clear spells, meaning it'll turn cool again. Low: 3C/37F.

Get a latest forecast at any other time from the BBC Weather website.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Worcester Foodbank has said it is "desperately short" of some items and less than a week away from running out of them.

Tinned potatoes, tinned meat, UHT milk, UHT juice, mashed potatoes, cereals, cream crackers, tinned spaghetti and small packets of washing powder are requested if possible.

People can donate at supermarket collection bins or deliver directly to the foodbank when it is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 1100 and 1400.

Follow the latest developments on the pandemic from across the region.

Firm offers tool that tracks how many people are walking, driving and using public transport.