Refuse crews abused for rejecting bins
Roads painted with 'thank you' to NHS staff
Major fast food chains reopen for deliveries
What's life like in lockdown with eight kids?
Updates on Thursday 16 April
Science and music festival Bluedot has postponed this year's event.
The festival, held at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, is set for 22-25 July 2021, with organisers saying all three 2020 headliners, Bjork, Groove Armada and Metronomy, have agreed to the change in dates.
Tickets are set to be refunded for those who cannot attend next year.
Birmingham Live
From Birmingham Live:
Allen Cook
BBC News
A man's hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the NHS this weekend by holding a virtual party streamed live into people's front rooms.
Image source, Stuart OjelayStuart Ojelay, from Wall Heath, near Dudley, runs a firm organising clubbing events across the UK, but the coronavirus outbreak has forced him, like the rest of the country, into lockdown.
But he's started to hold virtual parties on Facebook from his cellar, and his last one on Sunday got 50,000 views.
Mr Ojelay said his latest party this weekend would be in aid of NHS Charities Together, external and he wanted to raise £5,000.
Hosting the events from his cellar with just a camera, he said, was surreal, but "it keeps people indoors, having a good time and not spreading the virus".
A man who died in a crash in Nuneaton "had the ability to put smiles on faces".
Image source, Warwickshire PoliceThe parents of Luke Greenaway added , externalhe was a "kind, caring person" who loved to be outdoors.
Warwickshire Police said the 24-year-old was riding a motorbike when it crashed on Kingswood Road on Saturday and he died the day after.
The force said no other vehicles were involved., external
BBC Midlands Today
A school's painted a giant rainbow in its grounds to show support for NHS staff.
Head teacher Julie Willis
Upton-upon-Severn CofE Primary School got a local firm that paints its running track to create the image.
Head teacher Julie Willis said: "We just want to say thank you from the entire community, from our school, from Upton, from the whole of Worcestershire; thank you to everyone for what they're doing."
BBC Shropshire
A number of residents at a Shropshire care home have died after showing symptoms of coronavirus.
Image source, GoogleShropshire Council hasn't confirmed how many have died at Park House Care Home in Kinlet, Bridgnorth, and the home's owner has refused to comment on the deaths.
The site can accommodate up to 40 residents and describes itself as a home for people with advanced dementia.
The home has reopened to visitors after more than 14 days of residents displaying no symptoms.
From the Shropshire Star today:
Allen Cook
BBC News
Some bin crews have been subjected to "inexcusable" abuse over collections during lockdown - a period when employees are "working incredibly hard" amid "difficult conditions".
Cannock Chase District Council said staff had faced "aggression and intimidation" after tagging blue recycling bins. Tagging means receptacles contaminated with misplaced material go uncollected, and was a case of workers "just trying to do their jobs".
Image source, Cannock Chase District CouncilQuote MessageAll employees are working incredibly hard at the moment, under difficult conditions, and while we recognise this is also hard for residents, there is no excuse for this type of behaviour from any member of the public. The amount of support for our frontline employees has been overwhelming, it is a shame that it is tainted by a few individuals."
Council spokesperson
Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
An entire street has surprised a 98-year-old neighbour by singing her Happy Birthday from their front gardens during lockdown.
Image source, Chris CarrBarbara Bakewell has lived on the same close in Redditch for 68 years and neighbour Chris Carr organised the singing after realising she'd spent her birthday alone.
Just after 19:00 on Good Friday, residents on the street came out and sang to her while observing social distancing guidelines.
Chris told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "During these difficult times, it's nice to spread a little love and joy."
Barbara said: "For once, I'm lost for words."
You can watch a video of the moment on the BBC Midlands Facebook page., external
BBC Shropshire
Two urgent care centres in Shropshire are closing temporarily from today due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust says, external they've relocated the centres from the Princess Royal and Royal Shrewsbury hospitals to the Minor Injury Units in Whitchurch and Bridgnorth.
It says the move will let it free up capacity to treat patients with serious but not life-threatening illnesses.
Hospital officials add that people with major injuries and illnesses, such as head trauma and breathing difficulties, should still go to the A&E units in Telford and Shrewsbury.
Another 5G phone mast was ablaze overnight in a suspected arson attack, West Midlands Fire Service said.
A crew from Ladywood in Birmingham was called to the scene in the early hours.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceIt comes after West Midlands Police said yesterday it was investigating eight cases of phone masts being targeted in suspected arson attacks since the start of April.
Attacks on 5G masts pre-date the coronavirus pandemic. But there are concerns a surge in vandalism has been caused by conspiracy theories which falsely claim 5G networks have helped accelerate the spread of Covid-19.
Allen Cook
BBC News
Roads in and out of a hospital have been painted with a tribute to NHS staff.
Image source, Telford and Wrekin CouncilThe messages can be seen at The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, Shropshire.
Telford and Wrekin Council said, external one of its highways teams did the extra work last night.
These stories are being covered by the Express and Star today:
A landmark in Evesham is going to be bathed in blue light every Thursday during the pandemic.
Image source, Wychavon District CouncilThe town's bell tower is to be illuminated in support of NHS staff and other key workers at 20:00, according to Wychavon District Council, external.
The tower will also be turned red, white and blue to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May, the authority added.
Cath Mackie
BBC News
Finding ways to entertain children, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, can be difficult.
For one mum in the West Midlands it is proving a bit more challenging.
Care worker Caroline Wilkinson lives in Walsall with her partner Kevin Worton and eight children aged between eight months and 18.
Coronavirus: Walsall mum on life in lockdown with eight kids
BBC News Travel
Train passengers are facing disruption this morning to services between Tamworth and Nuneaton as the overhead electric wires have been damaged.
National Rail Enquiries said, external trains could be cancelled and it expected the disruption to last until at least 14:30.
BBC Business News
Major takeaway chains in the UK have announced limited reopening programmes after closing during the coronavirus lockdown.
Image source, Getty ImagesThey include Burger King and KFC - certain restaurants around the country will open for delivery only.
Burger King is to reopen four restaurants, including one in Coventry, with a pared-down menu.
KFC said it had reopened 11 UK restaurants in the past week for delivery only, with a limited menu, including ones in Birmingham and Tamworth.
Government guidelines state that while restaurants and pubs have to close, they can prepare food for collection or delivery.
Another fine, mostly sunny day today, after the cool start. It'll turn quite warm by this afternoon when it'll also start to turn a bit more cloudy. High: 20C (68F).
Image source, GadjetThen we're in for a fine evening followed by a dry night with mainly clear skies to begin with, although it could turn cloudy in the early hours with the chance of the odd shower. Low: 7C (45F).
You can get latest forecasts for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.
Labour says it will support an extension but calls for details on how and when the lockdown will end.
Read MoreA homelessness charity is calling on people to join a camp-out in their own homes to raise funds as part of an emergency appeal to keep it afloat.
The Birmingham-based Sifa Fireside is looking to raise £50,000 over the coming months in its #SIFASurvives appeal, prompted by a drop in income it said was due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Image source, Sifa FiresideSifa provides a number of services targeted at vulnerable and homeless adults.
Its Big Brummie Camp Out will take place on the Early May Bank Holiday on Friday 8 May.
The charity urged people to pitch a tent in the garden or just create a "cushion castle in the living room".
