Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 23 March

  1. Making a difference: Bringing cheer with flowerspublished at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    A four-year-old girl has received notes of thanks after helping to hand out flowers around a Coventry neighbourhood.

    EllaImage source, Paula Merrett
    FlowersImage source, Paula Merrett

    Paula Merrett from All Seasons Floral Supplies said granddaughter Ella had helped drop the surplus stock, with a note, on doorsteps in the Allesley Park area.

    "She dropped the flowers and then stepped back before wishing them well," she said.

    "She's received some cards of thank you from people in the neighbourhood, she's feeling very proud of herself."

    EllaImage source, Paula Merrett

    She added despite having a lot of cancelled orders she's trying to keep the suppliers open for as long as possible.

  2. Pub donates leftover foodpublished at 10:11 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    A pub has been thanked for donating it's left over stock to Shrewsbury Food Hub.

    The hub is a charity which collects left over stock from supermarkets and distributes it to other charities in the area.

    It will be distributed to community groups including homeless charity Shrewsbury Ark.

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  3. Making a difference: Food handed out to NHS staffpublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    Food has been handed out to NHS staff working at University Hospital, in Coventry.

    Langar AidImage source, Langar Aid
    Langar AidImage source, Langar Aid

    The Langar Aid project, run by charity Khalsa Aid, said the food was donated by "a lovely family" in the city.

  4. Dudley Zoo closes to visitorspublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    Dudley Zoo has temporarily closed its gates to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

    The zoo said it didn't know how long the attraction would remain shut but staff would continue caring for the animals and post photos of them on their social media pages to “keep people smiling”.

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  5. Making a difference: Langar aid deliveredpublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    Volunteers for the Midland Langar Seva Society, external have been handing out food across the West Midlands.

    Langar AidImage source, Amanda Thurlow
    Langar AidImage source, Amanda Thurlow

    The charity said it had been dropping off food for NHS staff, people in self isolation and temporary accommodation, as well as for the regular homeless feed.

    In Coventry, food is available by the Lady Godiva clock every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evening from 18:30 GMT.

    PosterImage source, Midland Langar Seva Society
  6. Coronavirus: Two more patients diepublished at 08:04 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    A man who died at Warwick Hospital after testing positive for coronavirus was in his 80s and had underlying health conditions.

    The patient died on 21 March, said South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.

    A man has also died at Royal Stoke University Hospital, in Stoke-on-Trent.

  7. NHS staff unable to shop amid supermarket queuespublished at 07:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    Some NHS workers were unable to shop at supermarkets over the weekend amid chaotic scenes.

    Staff at Russells Hall Hospital, who'd been given early access to a Tesco store in Dudley, were unable to get in.

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    Tesco said it was looking at further measures to support social distancing inside and outside stores.

  8. Make a Difference: Restaurants offer free food to NHS staffpublished at 07:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    A chain of restaurants with three venues in the Midlands is offering free food to NHS staff from today.

    Serving hatch

    Oakman Inns says it will provide takeaway meals to health service staff to support hospitals in the region busy treating patients suffering from coronavirus.

    Peter Borg-Neal

    Chief executive Peter Borg-Neal said: "We want to support the government, support the NHS and just help the country get through this."

  9. Live updates for the West Midlandspublished at 07:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2020

    Vanessa Pearce
    BBC News

    Welcome to our live service for Monday

    We'll be bringing you all the latest on coronavirus across the West Midlands.

    We'll also be highlighting some of the amazing things people are doing to help each other in our communities as highlighted by BBC Local Radio's Make a Difference service.

    So I'll start by thanking neighbour Helen, who's been delivering sunflower seeds to brighten up our summer.

    Sunflower card

    Please get in touch with your stories via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external