The owner of Cadbury is using some of its equipment to produce medical visors for NHS staff.

The 3D printers are normally used to make chocolate sculptures at Bournville in Birmingham.

Image source, Melendez International

Mendelez International said it had teamed up with Warwick-based company 3P with the aim of making up to 10,000 PPE visors a week.

The first of them have been delivered to an NHS clinic in Warwickshire.

A team of NHS workers, private contractors and British Army troops are working together to build bed spaces and intensive care facilities within the new Nightingale hospital at the NEC near Birmingham.

Image source, PA

The temporary hospital, which opens on Friday with a 500-bed capacity, will have the ability to scale up to 4,000 beds if required.

Soldiers from the Queens Royal Ghurkas, 22 Signal Regiment are among those helping to construct it in a bid to ease pressure on other hospitals across the West Midlands during the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA Media

Personnel from 502 Specialist Team Royal Engineers are assisting the planning and design of the hospital, said the Ministry of Defence.

Image source, PA

The reduction in flights is "a real challenge" for companies, Aerospace Wales says.

This is how the coronavirus pandemic is being reported on news sites across the West Midlands:

• Stoke-on-Trent Live has: Lockdown enforcers swoop on tattoo studio, external
• The Shropshire Star is reporting: Passing motorist urged to contact police after teenager's jaw broken in attack, external
• The Hereford Times has: Evicted coronavirus doctor told to 'buy a tent', external

Local Democracy Reporting Service
George Makin

Refuse collectors in Sandwell have thanked residents who have shown their gratitude by putting up colourful messages of support.

Image source, Sandwell Council

One notice written by a mother on behalf of her son, said: "Thank you keeping going during these difficult times. You’re super stars and Josh’s biggest heroes."

Image source, Sadwell Council

A senior West Midlands Police officer, on a ventilator with Covid-19 symptoms, has started breathing by himself, the force says.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Ch Supt Phil Dolby is being treated in an intensive care unit after becoming unwell about two weeks ago.

Mr Dolby, who is in charge of the force's criminal justice services, has been on a ventilator for 11 days.

The force's Firearms Operations Unit tweeted , externalan update on his condition saying the "amazing staff @NHSuk may look to extubate later and reduce sedation.

"Still moving in the right direction."

The government is set to borrow billions of pounds from its emergency Bank of England overdraft.

Work has restarted on the Midlands Metro tram extension in Birmingham after talks to ensure it could be done safely amid the current lockdown.

The works, linking Centenary Square with Hagley Road, had been suspended for two weeks when government measures were introduced last month.

Image source, Westside BID

The Midland Metro Alliance said further talks had taken place involving Westside Business Improvement District and Birmingham City Council, as well as guidance from government

It said a major reduction in traffic and pedestrian footfall now meant work could safely restart, although measures would be introduced to ensure workers could keep their distance from each other.

Thousands of Easter eggs have been donated to NHS workers around the West Midlands.

About 5,000 eggs, enough for every member of staff at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, have been donated by Wilko.

Image source, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust

Image source, Severn Trent

Image source, Severn Trent

Water company Severn Trent has donated about 2,000 eggs.

The treats are going to staff at Royal Stoke University Hospital and University Hospital North Midlands, and Ashgate Hospice, as well as to food banks in Leek and Rugby.

Image source, Birmingham BID

Debenhams and Selfridges in Birmingham have donated 1,500 eggs to NHS workers.

Louise McCathie, Director of Fundraising at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals Charity, said: "What a fantastic surprise for our wonderful colleagues.

"I am in absolute awe of our amazing staff members, who are currently going beyond the call of duty to care for and protect some of the most vulnerable members of society."

The cruise line industry faces a long journey back from the coronavirus pandemic.

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, has welcomed a decision by Premier League footballers to launch a scheme to help the NHS through the crisis.

Image source, Getty Images

The initiative - named #PlayersTogether - is a "collective initiative" set up to "help those fighting for us on the NHS frontline" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Hancock had called on top-flight players to do their bit and take a wage cut.

The former Stoke City striker, Jon Walters, said he was pleased everyone had decided to work together.

Craig Lewis
BBC News

An impressionist says he has received messages of thanks from around the world after posting parodies of Peaky Blinders scenes urging people to stay at home during the coronavirus lockdown.

Zac Clayton's videos have been viewed more than 3.6 million times on Facebook and YouTube.

The 30-year-old, who is from Macclesfield, but lives in Slovakia, said the reaction had been “really nice”.

He says he has got more parodies in the pipeline to "put a smile on people's faces".

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Money has been raised by a social media group to repair the car of a nurse, targeted by thieves outside hospital.

Sibymol Antony, who's a nurse at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, said she discovered the catalytic converter had been stolen after finishing a 12-hour shift.

Image source, Sibymol Antony

Toby Stringer who runs a local community Facebook page , externalsaid he was "disgusted" to hear of the theft.

"I couldn't believe someone would do that while nurses were at work saving lives, it's the lowest of the low really."

Enough money has now been raised to help Ms Antony as well as two other nurses affected after "donations just flew in," he said.

The nurse said she was "amazed," at the gesture.

"I don't think I have the words to express my gratitude," she added.

Some dairy farmers are having to throw away thousands of litres of fresh milk due to disruption to the supply chain caused by coronavirus.

There is concern that some dairy farms may go out of a business, which could result in a milk shortage when demand returns after the pandemic.

The BBC spoke to one farmer based in the West Midlands.

BBC News

British consumers say they are struggling to get refunds on cancelled holidays due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, David and Natalie Rogers

Newlyweds David and Natalie Rogers, from Dudley, saved for two years for their dream honeymoon safari trip in Kenya.

Their flight was on 15 March and although Kenya's prime minister announced quarantine measures and suspension of travel into the country on that day, neither the FCO nor Kenyan Airlines issued any advice.

The couple did make it to Kenya, but after only a few hours their flights were changed and they flew back to the UK the next morning.

You can read more on this story here.

A West Midlands hospital trust has become the first in England to have recorded more than 300 deaths of patients with Covid-19.

University Hospitals Birmingham - which incorporates the QE, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals - is the biggest trust in England, and has reported 306 deaths since the outbreak began.

The Royal Wolverhampton Trust has recorded 120, there have been 111 at Sandwell and West Birmingham and 106 at Dudley.

A Nightingale Hospital will be opened on Friday at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

We'll be bringing you all the news for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external