Summary

  • Updates from Monday 24 February to Sunday 1 March

  1. Girl, 10, leaves parents behind for lockdownpublished at 22:20 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Sienna Jagpal has moved in with her grandmother, fearing the 65-year-old will be "lonely".

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  2. Why I'm leaving football to be a firefighterpublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Ex-Birmingham left-back Paige Williams explains why she is leaving top-level football for a new career as a firefighter.

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  3. Donated baby goods being sold on Facebookpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Charity staff say they are hurt by the actions of a few and will be tightening up procedures.

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  4. Care home's loneliness appeal 'inundated' with repliespublished at 18:58 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    BBC Shropshire

    A care home's been inundated with cards, letters, drawings and paintings after appealing for people to make contact with their residents.

    One of the cardsImage source, Doddington Lodge

    Back when lockdown was just starting, staff at the Doddington Lodge Care Home, between Clee Hill and Cleobury Mortimer, in Shropshire, wanted to stop people there getting lonely.

    However, manager Scott Stevens told BBC Shropshire staff only expected a few responses, but instead have had more and more each day.

    "We want it to really carry on because it is making the residents smile so much and lifting their moods," he added.

    Some more of the letters and cardsImage source, Doddington Lodge
  5. Police chase through pig sty and canal ends at wheelie binpublished at 18:42 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    A man tried to escape from police by running through a pig sty and swimming through a canal before he was finally found hiding in a wheelie bin.

    The police dog involvedImage source, Staffordshire Police

    Staffordshire Police , externalwas first called to reports of a suspicious vehicle yesterday morning at Muckley Corner service station on Walsall Road, Lichfield.

    When officers arrived, the vehicle drove off the wrong way around Muckley Corner roundabout and hit a road sign, leading to the man getting out.

    The chase through a sty and the canal ended when officers and police dog Kaylaigh found him in the bin about an hour later on Great Charles Street, Brownhills and made an arrest.

  6. Former BBC radio presenter dies with coronaviruspublished at 18:21 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Nonny James presented a number of shows on stations across the West Midlands.

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  7. Markets set to open at weekendpublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Saturday markets are set to reopen in Wolverhampton, with the waste and recycling centre to open in a "phased approach" over the next couple of weeks, said the city council.

    Both services will open "with restrictions and social distancing measures in place," it said, "following government advice".

    Markets at Bilston, Wednesfield and the city centre are expected to open for fresh food produce sales from this weekend.

    Wolverhampton marketImage source, Google
    Quote Message

    We have developed plans which put social distancing at the heart of our safety approach, ensuring we protect residents and employees. This will mean a very different experience for visitors. We ask the public to be patient and bear with us and to please observe social distancing rules to help us to keep you and others safe."

    Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council

  8. Weather: Cloudy and mainly drypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    BBC Weather

    After the sunny day, there'll be cloud around this evening and tonight but mostly it'll stay dry. Low: 5C (41F).

    Scene in Lapworth todayImage source, Elle Niño
    Image caption,

    Lapworth, Warwickshire today

    Then tomorrow, mainly cloudy and breezy with the odd patch of rain around before we get some sunny spells later in the day. High: 15C (59F).

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

  9. NHS to benefit from charity albumpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    BBC Shropshire

    A group of musicians have released an album to raise money for NHS charities during the pandemic.

    Man holding the albumImage source, Mark Fielden

    Organised by Mark Fielden, from Shrewsbury, most of the songwriters are from Shropshire.

    "Music means a lot to many, many people so it seemed the obvious route to go down and so the CD was born," he said.

    The group's decided to make the album, named Together, available to download, but also as a CD so people can have and, in the future, "remember what we did".

  10. Families 'selling donated baby items on Facebook'published at 17:26 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Stuart George
    Presenter, BBC Radio Stoke

    People who have been given nappies, baby food and equipment for their babies have been found selling the items online, a charity's said.

    Baby food donated to the projectImage source, The Nappy Project

    The Nappy Project, in Stoke-on-Trent, supplies nappies, wipes and baby food to families living in poverty.

    But founder Hayley Jones told BBC Radio Stoke their volunteers had found some people were then putting the items up for sale on Facebook.

    "It's not a nice feeling because not only are these items given to us by people but also volunteers deliver them out to these families," she added.

    The charity is now writing its name over every item it gives away, external including milk and nappies to try and stop the sales.

  11. Lockdown job fears as firms 'right up against it'published at 17:08 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    There are fears jobs could be lost and firms go out out of business in the West Midlands if the coronavirus lockdown isn't lifted soon, a manufacturing group has warned.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to reveal a "roadmap" out of lockdown on Sunday but has warned the UK must not lift restrictions too soon.

    Man at work manufacturingImage source, Manufacturing Assembly Network

    Adam Cunningham runs machining company Muller Holdings, which has bases in Kidderminster and Redditch, and he's also chairman of the Manufacturing Assembly Network, a group of 10 firms employing 1,300.

    He told BBC Hereford and Worcester it was become a battle to survive: "I'm sure there'll be a lot of businesses that will be right up against it.

    "There could be redundancies, loss of jobs which is absolutely tragic considering how well we were all doing."

    Mr Johnson said ending lockdown too soon risked "a second spike" in the pandemic, which "would really do economic damage".

  12. The BBC's 'lockdown orchestra' wants you to play alongpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    BBC Entertainment and Arts

    The BBC's orchestras and singers are asking the public to join them for a mass rendition of Candi Staton's gospel classic You Got The Love.

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    People across the UK are being invited to dust off their instruments and film themselves playing along to the track.

    Those without musical skills can submit paintings, videos and photos showing their creativity during the lockdown.

    The results will be edited into a "massive, awe-inspiring" performance, premiering on TV and radio on 14 May.

    "You don't have to be a virtuoso, just join in and have a go, and be part of something really special," said BBC Radio 3's Katie Derham.

    "I may dust off my violin... though maybe humming along would be kinder for everyone."

  13. Second look at potential Gypsy and traveller sitespublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Inspectors highlight a "serious failing" in the way a council identified potential sites.

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  14. What might social distancing look like after lockdown?published at 16:34 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

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  15. Homeless charity launches appeal amid fund shortagepublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    An emergency appeal has been launched by a Birmingham homeless charity as the coronavirus outbreak has badly affected its funds.

    Sifa Fireside, in Digbeth said it has a shortfall of nearly £250,000 because much of its funding has dried up during the pandemic.

    It's asking people to raise funds by building a den at home as part of the Big Brummie Camp Out on Friday.

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  16. Listed mansion gets lockdown restorationpublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    We told you last week about Highbury Hall in Moseley, Birmingham, being sealed off for essential repair work during the lockdown.

    Work insideImage source, Chamberlain Highbury Trust

    Well now the Chamberlain Highbury Trust, which manages the grounds, has emailed us this photo of the internal restorations.

    It said work on the Grade II listed building was focussing on the roof and teams were also carrying out repairs to water damage on the inside.

    The hall was built in 1878 for Birmingham politician and former mayor Joseph Chamberlain, who lived there until he died in 1914.

  17. Bristol coach Irish to join Worcesterpublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Mark Irish is to leave his role at Bristol Bears scrum coach to take a similar position at Worcester Warriors next season.

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  18. Make a Difference: Pupils to run 200 miles for NHS charitypublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    BBC CWR

    Pupils at Stockingford Academy in Nuneaton are aiming to collectively run 200 miles, raising money for NHS Charities Together.

    The umbrella organisation supports more than 140 member health service charities, which are typically linked to specific hospitals or NHS trusts.

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  19. Council designates tip visits as non-essential travelpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    Cheshire West and Chester council are keeping their tips closed as some other sites in the North West are reopening.

    A closed sign for a Recycling and Household Waste centreImage source, Getty Images

    Councillor Karen Shore, cabinet member for environmental services, said going to a tip is not classed as essential travel and it would not be safe to reopen their recycling centres.

    Ms Shore said that the government advice was putting councils in a difficult position, adding:

    Quote Message

    It is basically a contradiction in the advice that's coming right from the heart of government.

    Quote Message

    We'd really like the message from government to be quite clear, and then local authorities will be able to do the right thing at the right time.

    Neighbouring authority Warrington Council said they hope to reopen their waste and recycling centres in the coming weeks.

  20. New trainee offers have 'virtual' startpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 4 May 2020

    New student police officers have started their careers with the West Midlands force without leaving their homes.

    Chief Constable Dave ThompsonImage source, West Midlands Police

    The 24 were joined by the force's chief constable, Dave Thompson, as they undertook online training after joining the service on Thursday.

    The online training course is being delivered in partnership with Staffordshire University.

    Chief Constable Dave Thompson welcomed the students saying: “When you all thought about joining I’m sure you didn’t think your first day would be like this."

    “It is a really strange start for you all, because in policing teamwork and camaraderie are both very important.

    "So, I am sorry that you won’t have this in a traditional sense at the start of your careers, but this won’t be forever and you will get back to a more traditional policing experience before long."