Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
Andy Giddings
BBC News
We'll be back with more news from around the West Midlands from 08:00 tomorrow.
Summary
Face masks found spilling out of bin
Boy's lockdown 'haircut disaster'
Midwives use football stadium to support new mums
School pays tribute to ex pupil who died of coronavirus
Call for drones to be used to disinfect public spaces
Car park charges suspended to help key staff
Updates on Thursday 2 April
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
Warriors ask for government cash to pay staffpublished at 18:58 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
Worcester Warriors has asked for money from the government to cover 80% of their staff's wages.
If the rugby club gets the grant from the coronavirus job retention scheme, it will ask the majority of their employees to take unpaid leave while in receipt of the government cash.
Image source, Getty ImagesUnder the scheme, they won't be asked to work while at home, although it won't prevent the players from training.
A number of staff have been identified as essential workers and they will continue to work from home.
Supermarket 'queue jumper' arrested after staff cars scratchedpublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
A man is suspected of deliberately scratching cars owned by staff at a supermarket where he allegedly barged his way to the front of checkout queues and demanded to be served first.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceAs other shoppers observed social distancing and went patiently about their business on Tuesday, West Midlands Police said, external he was ejected from Sainsbury's in Bentley Bridge, Wolverhampton.
The next day, five staff found their vehicles on the car park had been scratched.
A 34-year-old man was arrested this morning in Wednesfield on suspicion of five counts of causing criminal damage and is still in custody.
Young ice hockey players show off skills during lockdownpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
You've possibly seen the footballers taking on the "toilet roll challenge".
They've shared videos of themselves doing clever keepy-ups as a way of staying active during lockdown.
Well the Telford Tigers under-15 ice hockey team felt they could do one better, and 14-year-old Kieran Wellings produced this video to show off their skills with the stick.
Media caption, Telford Tigers under-15s take on pass-it-on challenge
Man charged with making menacing coronavirus callpublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
A man has been accused of making a menacing phone call to a hospital which allegedly included the phrase: "I hope the staff die of coronavirus".
West Midlands Police said, external the 31-year-old was detained in Perry Barr, Birmingham, yesterday morning, in connection with a YouTube video in which a man recorded himself phoning City Hospital.
The suspect has been charged with sending menacing or offensive communications and is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court later this month.
People to put hands together for second show of supportpublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
People across the UK are being encouraged to head to their doorstep, window or balcony for the second time to show their support for key workers by way of a round of applause.
It's set for 20:00 this evening, one week after clapping rang out in streets up and down the country.
The campaign's already getting backing in the West Midlands today:
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End of twitter postPolice tape used to seal off play areapublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
Police tape normally seen at crime scenes has been put up around a playground in Newport, Shropshire, to stop children gathering there.
West Mercia Police said it had to ask them to leave Norbroom Park again this afternoon and wanted to make it clear the area was out-of-bounds.
Image source, West Mercia Police
Image source, West Mercia PoliceLockdown: Police vigilance over child groomingpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsWest Midlands Police will have a "renewed focus" on tackling online child grooming during the coronavirus lockdown, the local police and crime commissioner (PCC) says.
David Jamieson laid out an emergency update to his plan , externalfor the force until May 2021, saying more children were expected to use the internet during the pandemic.
Image source, Getty ImagesMr Jamieson said: "I expect the force to work with national agencies to tackle this threat."
He also wants a pro-active approach to tackling domestic abuse, with cases expected to rise as people stay at home.
'NHS All Stars' jerseys raise more than £2,000 for charitypublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
A Birmingham sportswear-maker has raised more than £2,000 for an NHS charity with limited-edition "NHS All Stars" jerseys.
FiveOn3 is going to make two different designs once it's allowed to start manufacturing again, and has taken orders for more than 100 already.
Image source, FiveOn3The company has promised that £20 per ice hockey-style jersey will be going to NHS Charities Together.
Easter eggs given to children of abuse survivorspublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
Police are handing out Easter eggs to the children of domestic abuse survivors in part of Staffordshire.
Officers in Newcastle-under-Lyme said , externalthe chocolate was donated by WH Smith as its shops were closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceThe eggs are also being given to vulnerable residents and people displaced from their homes.
Flowers given to hospital staffpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
More than 1,500 flowers have been given as a thank you to staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham this afternoon.
Brett Fitzpatrick, who owns a stall in Leamington Spa and a flower company in Birmingham, is following the lead of his uncle, Mark, who donated more than 3,000 flowers to hospital staff in Southampton.
The company said it wanted to "put smiles on the faces of our heroes on the frontline of the coronavirus", and judging by these photos at the QE, they succeeded...
Image source, SeventyOne Media
Image source, SeventyOne MediaWarning over Walsall prayer gatheringspublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
BBC WMMore advice is being sent out in Walsall amid concerns that some Muslims are gathering in groups to pray.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Deserted Walsall town centre this week
Mosques have shut in the area but there have been reports of people meeting at local shops instead.
Mohammed Arif, the interim president of the Union of Muslim Organisations, said safety messages had to be listened to.
"We're trying to get a message through to the community to take this seriously. We're saying to the community 'this is a killer virus'."
RAF base considered for temporary mortuarypublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
BBC ShropshireRAF Cosford is being considered as a site for a temporary mortuary to support bereavement services.
One of the hangars could be used if services become overwhelmed.
Image source, GooglePandemic forces shake-up of hospital servicespublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
Urgent changes are being made to services for cancer patients in Birmingham due to coronavirus placing "unprecedented demand on the NHS".
Image source, GoogleBosses say people having chemotherapy and supportive treatment at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield will now have to go to Solihull.
Elsewhere, Heartlands Hospital's Gynaecology Assessment Unit is being temporarily relocated to Good Hope from Thursday.
The Home Birth Service in the north and east of Birmingham is being suspended.
Pandemic cash 'already spent twice over' in Birminghampublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
The leader of Birmingham City Council says money to help during the coronavirus pandemic has already been spent twice over.
Image source, PA MediaThe local authority had been allocated £38.7m to deal with the increasing pressures from the outbreak.
Ian Ward says he wants more funding from the government as "we have not yet reached the peak" of the virus's effects.
Mr Ward is also asking the government for urgent clarity around food deliveries for the most vulnerable, saying a shortfall in information compromises the authority's ability to plan the distribution.
In a letter to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, , externalMr Ward outlines what he sees as efficiencies in the process that he hopes the government will let the council pursue.
Coach services cancelled by National Expresspublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
BBC Midlands TodayBirmingham-based National Express has announced its cancelling all of its coach services from Monday.
The firm says, external anyone who has tickets booked until the end of May will be offered a refund.
Image source, National ExpressWeather: Cloudy tonight, sunnier tomorrowpublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
Tonight's set to stay mainly cloudy with a chance of showers mixed with clear spells. Low: 3C/37F.
Image source, Springer SpanielMore clouds are expected tomorrow with the odd shower, but there should be some sunny spells as the day goes on. High: 10C/50F.
Keep up-to-date with the latest forecast for your area via the BBC Weather website.
West Midlands death toll rises to 391published at 15:46 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
A further 81 people have died from coronavirus in the West Midlands, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health and Social Care.
As of 17:00 on Wednesday, the overall number of deaths in the region was 391.
Across the UK, there's been a further 569 deaths, bringing the overall figure to 2,921.
Make a Difference: Takeaway restaurant offers free foodpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
BBC CWRA Coventry takeaway restaurant is offering to deliver food to those in need during the lockdown.
The Bombay Palace restaurant in the Earlsdon area of the city encouraged those in need to not "go to sleep with an empty stomach".
A statement on Facebook said: "I was taught growing up that where one person eats; two can eat too."
Image source, Bombay PalaceAround the web: Council in 'desperate' plea for protective equipmentpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 2 April 2020
From the Shropshire Star:
- Council in 'desperate' plea for PPE, external
- Severn Hospice appeals for support, external
- Plans for four-acre solar park, external
