Allen Cook
BBC News

People living nearby a huge fire in Willenhall are being told to keep their doors and windows shut as about 1,000 tonnes of waste are burning.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

West Midlands Fire Service said, external 60 firefighters were continuing to battle the blaze on Straight Road, Short Heath, having been called at about 12:30.

It said the fire involved mixed recycling materials including cardboard and clothes.

A seven-year-old boy's raised more than £4,000 for the NHS after completing a marathon in his garden.

Image source, Peter Wharton

Herbie Wharton ran and walked the 420 laps round his front and back garden in Wellesbourne, near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, on Sunday.

Herbie's dad Peter said he had aimed to raise £1,500 but the figure passed £4,000, with donations still coming in today.

Peter added he had "never been so proud".

Allen Cook
BBC News

Dozens of firefighters are tackling a huge rubbish fire in Willenhall this afternoon.

Image source, @thewulfran

West Midlands Fire Service was, external called just before 12:30 to Straight Road, Short Heath.

It said the blaze involved "palleted waste" about 70m by 15m in dimension, with 60 firefighters at the scene.

Several people have tweeted, external that they can see a huge plume of smoke from the fire.

Birmingham Live

From Birmingham Live:

• Number of coronavirus cases in Birmingham nears 2,000, external
• Mum's warning as Solihull boy fights cancerous brain tumour in coronavirus lockdown, external
• Family pay tribute to boy with 'heart of gold' after crash tragedy, external

People are again being urged not to light bonfires during lockdown after firefighters in Shropshire were called to more than a dozen during the Easter period.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

The county's fire service said residents should compost instead following 15 call-outs over the four days. , external

Fire crews in Wolverhampton , externalissued the same reminder, having extinguished an out-of-control garden blaze.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A 19-year-old woman is still in a critical condition in hospital two days after a crash in which a car hit a tree, police say.

West Mercia Police said, external the white BMW came off Hagley Wood Lane, Clent, near Halesowen, on Saturday.

The driver and all four passengers were hurt, with three being taken to hospital.

Officers said two had since been released but a 19-year-old woman continued to receive care.

BBC WM

A group of volunteers in Dudley has produced more than 500 drawstring bags for NHS workers to put their worn scrubs in.

Lisa Maidment set up the Facebook group "Dudley For The Love Of Scrubs" on Thursday, issuing a call to volunteers to help produce the items so staff exposed to coronavirus could take uniforms home to wash them safely.

Image source, Lisa Maidment

"I've got an army of machinists and helpers that I've put together," Ms Maidment said.

"People are raiding their lofts [for materials], getting old duvets, pillow cases; washing them to make sure they're nice and clean, and then just cutting them up and making these bags.

"We just want to be helping those angels that are helping us."

You can read about a similar initiative in Worcestershire here.

A man's died after his motorbike crashed in Nuneaton.

Warwickshire Police said, external he was on Kingswood Road on Saturday afternoon when it happened and no other vehicles were involved.

The man, in his mid-20s, was taken to hospital but died on Sunday.

Hundreds of people have joined libraries in Warwickshire to get hold of ebooks and audiobooks, managers say.

All libraries in the county were closed to visitors on 23 March. , external

But the council told BBC CWR that with people staying home, interest in books that were accessible online had increased.

The council's principal librarian, Stella Thebridge, said: "People can borrow ebooks and audiobooks from the comfort of their own home.

"We've bought a lot more books in and we've had yet another 500 people [join] in the last couple of weeks which is fantastic."

A woman pays tribute to NHS staff who were at her father's side towards the end of his life.

BBC Make A Difference

Bob Turner originally thought her husband's purchase of a 3D printer would not be useful, but she says she's been proved wrong after they used it to make protective visors for care homes and NHS staff.

"I saw a post about people needing the visors and managed to find a patent and said to my husband 'can you do that'?"

"He started printing them and we've been doing them for a few weeks now and they've been going out to care homes, doctors surgeries."

Speaking to BBC Radio Shropshire, she said between her and a friend who is also printing them, about 150 visors had been made.

Image source, PA Media

To keep up production, they need 250 micron binder covers, which are "see-through bits of plastic, but are nice and thick and clip round the front to make the shield".

Mrs Turner said the price of them had "shot through the roof".

She said: "We are hoping someone has some hidden away that they would kindly donate to the cause."

West Midlands mayor Andy Street says the region's services are "managing really well" amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Street was asked about the number of deaths locally - the highest outside London.

"The numbers don’t lie", Mr Street said. "We probably shouldn’t be surprised by that, it is the second biggest urban area and we knew we were quite early in the curve."

Mr Street added: "Our services are managing really well, particularly our hospitals. They have capacity, they prepared brilliantly, and they have the insurance of the Nightingale Hospital as well."

That provision at the NEC has been operational since Friday.

Dog walkers are being urged to dispose of their pet's poo properly after staff at Uttoxeter Racecourse filled 19 bin liners with the stuff.

Image source, Uttoxeter Racecourse

The site's not being used for horse racing during lockdown, although it's been made available for locals to walk dogs.

On Facebook, , externaldog owners were urged to act responsibly as the venue's bins weren't being emptied as usual.

Birgitta Zoutman takes pictures of people on their doorsteps during her daily exercise.

BBC WM

A park's been shut because visitors haven't been following social distancing restrictions, Walsall Council says., external

Image source, Google

Walsall Arboretum was closed yesterday following a request by West Midlands Police.

The council said the site would stay shut "for the foreseeable future".

Allen Cook
BBC News

A woman and her dog had to be rescued by firefighters after they said a cigarette started a fire in her home in Birmingham.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

West Midlands Fire Service said, external they were called yesterday evening to Court Lane, Erdington.

They said the woman and pet were led to safety but haven't revealed if they needed medical treatment.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Elsewhere overnight, five fire engines were called to Wombourne, Staffordshire, after three large vehicles were reported to be on fire.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said, external they stopped the blaze from spreading to a nearby building and the cause will be investigated this morning.

BBC WM

A driver from Birmingham has been fined for making a non-essential journey to the Welsh coast during the lockdown.

Image source, Dyfed-Powys Police

The motorist and a passenger were stopped in their car on Easter Monday by police in Pembrokeshire. , external

They told the officers they were going to collect a motorbike but were given fixed penalty notices and told to immediately return home.

Express and Star

These stories are from the Express and Star this morning:

• More coronavirus deaths confirmed in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire, external
• Elderly people in Sandwell at higher risk of catching coronavirus, external
• Amazon under fire over warehouses labelled 'breeding grounds for coronavirus', external

BBC Weather

After the chilly start, we're in for a dry day with mainly clear skies bringing plenty of sunshine. High: 13C/55F.

Image source, Les at Large

Then a fine evening turning into a dry night with mainly clear skies which will lead to it turning chilly again. Low: 2C/36F.

You can get a latest forecast at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.

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