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

Live Reporting

  1. Staffordshire Police calls for retired officers to return

    Retired Staffordshire Police officers are being asked to consider returning to the force during the coronavirus outbreak.

    Control room staffStaffordshire Police

    Former staff are being asked to complete a website form and say what specific skills they have.

    The force says that'll allow it to best match people to roles it needs to fill, such as support for control room staff and taking reports from the public.

    Members of the public are also being given the chance to register their interest in volunteering with the police.

    Ch Const Gareth Morgan said: "We know that demand on the force will grow in the coming weeks and we want to make sure that we are taking all necessary steps now."

  2. Thirty-five rough sleepers housed

    Birmingham City Council has been able to house 35 rough sleepers in a week after the government urged everyone to be found "a roof over their head".

    Cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods, Sharon Thompson, said a relaxation of regulations meant local authorities could "move quickly" to get people off the streets.

    Rough sleeper - genericGetty Images

    However, up to 10 "entrenched" rough sleepers have turned down rooms in the city because "they're not particularly ready to go back into accommodation".

    The latest official figures estimated there were 52 rough sleepers in Birmingham, however Cllr Thompson said this was a "snapshot" figure.

    In the future, it would be "irresponsible" not to review how changes in policy have made supporting vulnerable people easier, she said.

    "I think [coronavirus] is going to change mentalities and values," she said, adding: "It's been a wake up call - I think the government will look at things differently."

  3. Woman dies after being hit by car outside hospital

    A 50-year-old woman has died after being hit by a car outside Russells Hall Hospital in the early hours of the morning.

    West Midlands Police was called to the scene in Dudley at about 00:30.

    Russells Hall HospitalGoogle

  4. Make a difference: Ramblers suggest quiet walks

    If you fancy a walk, you're probably looking for quiet places to go, away from crowds.

    If you live in the Telford area, the Wellington Walkers are Welcome group is suggesting you take a look at its website, which has a number of walking routes to download.

    Ramblers sign

  5. Midwives use football stadium to support new mums

    Midwives in Burton-upon-Trent are offering care to expectant and new mums at the local football stadium during the pandemic.

    Midwives at the Pirelli suiteUniversity Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust

    Burton Albion has made a suite at its stadium available to the local NHS staff, according to a hospital trust.

    Community midwives have started clinics offering antenatal checks and post-natal support, which the trust says will bring care closer to homes.

  6. 'Police don't need more powers' chief constable says

    BBC WM

    A top police officer says his force doesn't need any more powers amid the lockdown brought by coronavirus.

    Police officersGetty Images

    Ch Const Dave Thompson of West Midlands Police told BBC WM that officers were "there to help nudge [the situation] along; we're not going to go crazy in terms of enforcement".

    Forces across the country have wide-ranging powers to help fight the pandemic by enforcing social distancing measures.

    However, there has been criticism that some forces have gone too far, including Derbyshire Police's tracking of Peak District walkers by drone.

    Mr Thompson added: "Nobody wants to see their loved ones catch this illness and the best way is to persuade people [to follow the rules]."

  7. Changes to rail timetables

    Changes are being made to West Midlands Railway services as the operator takes into account falling passenger numbers and the needs of staff in self-isolation.

    A new timetable showing a mix of cut and reduced services is being introduced on Friday and will be available on the company's website.

    West Midlands Train

    West Midlands Railway said it was working to reduce the length of journeys taken by individual trains.

    Some routes will no longer receive any West Midlands Railway trains, including the Worcester to Hereford service. And no West Midlands trains will call at Bearley and Claverdon in Warwickshire, although those stations are also served by Chiltern Railways.

    Frequency has been reduced on other routes, with all journeys between Birmingham New Street and London Euston now involving a change at Northampton.

  8. Boy's lockdown 'haircut disaster'

    A mother's hoping she won't have to cut her son's hair again during lockdown after admitting her efforts this week turned into a disaster.

    Damien's hair being cutSylwia Anna Juranek

    To make things worse, seven-year-old Damien's father is a professional barber, but he's having to self-isolate from the family following a kidney transplant in the last few years.

    That saw mum Sylwia Anna Juranek get out the scissors in Wednesbury to try for a design requested by her son.

    She told the BBC she'd expected things to go much easier.

    Damien after the cutSylwia Anna Juranek

    She added there was one upside, despite Damien feeling "ugly" at first.

    "He was actually quite happy with it because he didn't have to comb his hair anymore."

  10. Fresh deliveries boost city's food parcel efforts

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    More food parcels are going to be delivered to vulnerable residents in Wolverhampton today after the city council said it had three lorries full of goods arrive overnight.

    The distribution hubWolverhampton City Council

    Older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions were told by the government last month to stay indoors for their own welfare.

    In Wolverhampton, the city council said it had 35,000 people classed as vulnerable so converted Aldersley leisure centre into a food distribution hub.

    Free parcels contain essentials such as bread, pasta, cereal, tinned fruit, long-life milk and toilet roll.

  11. Bin advice as roads get quieter

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    David Irwin

    Solihull residents are being warned to put out their bins early as collections change due to the coronavirus outbreak.

    Bins in SolihullSolihull Borough Council

    Household waste and recycling rounds are continuing as scheduled but the council says timings may vary as the roads are much quieter.

    Residents are being asked to have their bins out by 07:00 on their designated day to avoid being caught out.

  12. Your photos: Clouds, gardens and lakes

    BBC Weather Watchers

    We've seen all sorts of photos from the BBC Weather Watchers this morning, as they get outdoors for their daily exercise.

    Here's a selection from Shropshire and Herefordshire.

    edgmondMonomark
    Stoke EdithSunshine Seeker
    Lydbury NorthKen M

  13. Face masks found spilling out of bin

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    People are being urged to properly dispose of hazardous waste after face masks were found spilling out of open bin bags in Birmingham.

    The council said crews refused to pick up the rubbish left in a storage area at a block of city centre flats.

    Face masks spilling out of bin bagBirmingham City Council

    The government has advised that any Covid-19 related waste should be double-bagged and securely fastened before being put out for collection.

    The council said it had asked the managers of the flats to make sure the issue was sorted before the next weekly pick-up.

  14. Hospice 'losing £100,000 a week'

    BBC Shropshire

    The Severn Hospice in Shropshire says it's losing more than £100,000 a week due to the coronavirus outbreak, because it's had to close shops and cancel fundraising events.

    It has been looking at ways of cutting costs and stretching resources so that essential services remain protected, but it says it won't be enough to make up for lost income.

    Severn HospiceGoogle

    The hospice, which has bases in Shrewsbury and Telford, has approached shop landlords to waive rent, and is looking for government support while diverting reserves.

  15. Football club's manager to phone isolated fans

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    If you're a football fan, have you ever wanted to get called at home by your team's manager or the star striker?

    Well, with us all being told to stay at home as much as possible, Crewe Alexandra says it's worried supporters may be among those feeling isolated.

    David ArtellGetty Images

    To try to tackle the issue, the club's offering fans the chance to have manager Dave Artell, several players or other senior figures give them a call.

    Crewe reckon they'll start hitting the phones on Friday afternoon and supporters just have to email if they feel they'd benefit while social distancing.

  16. Fire stations filled with rainbow pictures

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Fire stations in Warwickshire are putting up rainbow pictures sent in by local children.

    These are the doors at Alcester fire station which are looking terrific:

    Alcester Fire StationWarwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

    Pictures of rainbows first started springing up last month when schools were closed and pupils were encouraged to put up paintings to "spread hope".

    In Rugby, local fire crews said they'll have to get their ladders out soon to fill the upper windows:

    Rugby fire stationWarwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

  17. Polish restaurant making clothes for hospital staff

    A Polish restuarant in Burslem has turned its dining area into a sewing room and staff are now making protective clothes for local hospital workers.

    Through crowdfunding and money from their own pockets Agie and Katie's Restauant bought 220 metres of fabric to make gowns and other items of clothing.

    ClothingAgie and Katies restaurant
    SewingAgie and Katies restaurant

    They're also sending homemade cake to thank the NHS staff.

  18. Children celebrating birthdays on lockdown

    Daniel Wainwright
    BBC England Data Unit

    A mother filled her living room with balloons for her son's fourth birthday after their planned party had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.

    Theo with balloonsCharlotte Cook

    Charlotte Cook, from Castle Bromwich in Solihull, also baked Theo a birthday cake and he got involved in icing it.

    They also had video chats with relatives while Theo's grandparents, who live seven doors down, were able to sing him Happy Birthday from a safe distance when his mother took him out for a walk.

    Theo's among more than 320,000 children and teenagers born in England and Wales to have had a birthday under lockdown.

    Analysis of Google data shows there has been a rise in people searching for helium balloons and cakes online.

  20. Drive through assessment centre at football club

    A drive-through coronavirus assesment centre is being set up in the Shrewsbury Town FC car park.

    It will be for patients with symptoms who have been referred for a face-to-face conversation, but coronavirus tests will not take place there.

    Shrewsbury Town stadium

    It will operate Monday to Friday, between 08:00 and 19:00, excluding bank holidays and Telford will be the next town in the county to get one.

    Julian Povey, the chair of NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said they were to shield GP practices from people with the virus.