Summary

  • Updates from Monday 2 March to Sunday 8 March

  1. 'Game-changing' trial of concussion testpublished at 08:03 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2021

    Using pitchside saliva tests to diagnose concussion is a step closer after a "game-changing" trial in rugby union.

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  2. Drunk PC who attacked woman resigns from forcepublished at 21:12 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Oliver Banfield's curfew sentence for assaulting Emma Homer sparked criticism he was not jailed.

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  3. Deaths from Covid three times higher in deprived areaspublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    David Gregory-Kumar
    Science correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

    You are three times more likely to die of Covid-19 in the West Midlands if you live in a poor area, data from Public Health England shows., external

    BirminghamImage source, PA Media

    During the past year there have been 14,623 deaths in the region which is a rate of 246 deaths per 100,000 people.

    Birmingham had the highest number of people with coronavirus on the death certificate with 2,873, followed by Sandwell and then Walsall.

    Malvern Hills had the lowest death rate with 141, followed by North Warwickshire and Rugby.

    The number of excess deaths in the West Midlands can also be divided up into how deprived an area is.

    The most deprived areas saw 4,641 excess deaths - with the least deprived 1,569.

  4. Boy jailed over rival gang member's sword deathpublished at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    The judge says the defendant used "grossly disproportionate violence" in the Leamington Spa attack.

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  5. Fraudsters 'scammed me out of every penny I had'published at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Thousands of people have retweeted Emmeline Hartley's story after she shared it to warn others.

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  6. Alleged killer 'fled to Malta for 16 years'published at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Christopher Guest More Jr denies murdering Brian Waters, 44, over a £20,000 drugs debt in 2003.

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  7. Birmingham GPs told to postpone jabs for under-50spublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Some people in their 40s got texts saying appointments were cancelled due to a "national shortfall".

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  8. 'I'm going to follow in my sister's footsteps'published at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Kazeema Afzal's sister was among the NHS workers who died with Covid at the start of the pandemic.

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  9. 'We grew food while isolating in our van'published at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Chris and Marianne Fisher were on a round-the-world trip when the pandemic changed their plans.

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  10. Crash victim had gone home for Mother's Day visitpublished at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Harvey Blount died on the M42 motorway as he travelled back to an RAF base after seeing his family.

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  11. Minute's silence held for coronavirus remembrancepublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    A minute's silence has been observed across the West Midlands in remembrance of those in the country who died as a result of coronavirus.

    A day of reflection is being held as the UK marks the anniversary of the first lockdown.

    Minute's silence

    This was the scene at the West Midlands Ambulance Service academy in Brierley Hill.

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    Across the region there has been 14,623 deaths with 419,635 people testing positive for Covid-19.

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  12. Shrewsbury 24 win court battle to clear namespublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    The 14 men, including actor Ricky Tomlinson, were among 24 charged following pickets in Shrewsbury.

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  13. Share your 'last normal' photos with uspublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Vanessa Pearce
    BBC News

    Dozens of you have been sharing photographs showing your last 'normal' event before a national lockdown was announced 12 months ago.

    StereophonicsImage source, Kerry Morgon-Shaw

    On the BBC Midlands Facebook page, Kerry Morgon-Shaw shared her memory of going to see Stereophonics in Birmingham on 29 February.

    "Awesome gig, miss live music," she said.

    Louise Rotheram and partnerImage source, Louise Rotheram

    Louise Rotheram posts: "Myself & my partner went to our local church to hear our Banns read.

    "A few days after this photo was taken, we ended up postponing our wedding. We’ve now postponed it twice and still not yet married."

    Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-TrentImage source, Tina Mendolia

    Tina Mendolia writes of a trip to a Stoke-on-Trent attraction: "On 23rd March we knew lockdown was going to be announced that evening so we took one last look at Trentham Gardens that afternoon as we guessed it could be weeks before we could go again.

    "Little did we know that these would be the last spring photos."

    Janice Andrews and Handsworth Wood U3A.Image source, Janice Andrews

    And Janice Andrews shared this picture of herself and colleagues from Handsworth Wood U3A on their trip to the Mailbox in Birmingham on 14 March 2020.

    Keep sharing the photographs via email, Twitter, external and Facebook , externaland we'll highlight as many as we can.

  14. AJ Pritchard girlfriend hurt copying YouTube stuntpublished at 10:29 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Pro dancer Abbie Quinnen had seven weeks of "continuous hospital treatment" after copying a video.

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  15. BBC Local Radio marks Make a Difference anniversarypublished at 09:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    BBC local radio

    BBC local radio stations across the West Midlands will today mark the anniversary of the Make a Difference campaign.

    Make a difference

    The scheme was launched to offer help and support to listeners during the coronavirus lockdown.

    In the past 12 months more than four million people have either called or messaged their local BBC radio station.

    Quote Message

    The impact of Covid-19 has been reflected by Make a Difference across all our local stations and has highlighted acts of kindness and enabled us to share some amazing stories. We want people to tell us who they want to say a special thank you to, because whilst this has been an incredibly difficult time, we should never forget the acts of kindness and generosity from friends, neighbours and strangers that we have seen over the last twelve months."

    Chris Burns, Head of Audio and Digital for BBC England

  16. Common cold 'can boot Covid out of cells'published at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    It looks like the viruses that cause colds wins in the battle to infect our cells.

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  17. Flower show cancelled for second year runningpublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    The organising committee says because of the size of the event, a decision could not be delayed.

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  18. The North West’s last photos before lockdownpublished at 07:31 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    People share photos of life before lockdown to mark one year since restrictions were imposed.

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  19. Sisters' 'incredible bond' after lockdown yearpublished at 06:51 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2021

    Jessica has been able to watch her younger sister Sophie's milestones during the pandemic.

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