Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Andy Giddings
BBC News
We'll be back with more news from the West Midlands from 08:00 tomorrow.
Summary
The dissolvable laundry bags given to NHS
Chinese city donates protective gear
Michelin factory to resume work
Senior police officer recovers from coronavirus
Children to get birthday visit from police
Updates from Wednesday 22 April
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Cider-maker sees surging online demandpublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Westons Cider near Ledbury in Herefordshire says its online sales have shot up to Christmas levels since pubs were forced to close, with sales to supermarkets up by 25%.
The company adds that online sales in the first two weeks of April were greater than the whole of 2019 and while it has furloughed some staff, the remainder are having to work flat out.
The head of business development at Westons Cider, Darryl Hinksman, said demand shot up as soon as the government announced pub closures.
Image source, Getty ImagesParents' struggle to feed children during lockdownpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Some families say they are finding it hard to put food on the table due to delays in getting free school meal vouchers during lockdown.
Media caption, Coronavirus: Walsall parents' struggle to feed children
One parent from Walsall said that with her children away from the classroom full time, they had gone from having one meal at home a day to three.
But she says the new normal costs money she can't afford, with another parent adding the situation makes her feel she's "failing" her young family.
Extra cash has been promised by government ministers.
Your photos: Sheep and dinosaurs in the sunpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
The BBC Weather Watchers are sharing photos taken while out on their daily exercise.
And the weather has been perfect for them.
Image source, Shropshire Lad
Image source, Richardthelodge
Image source, Logit09More than £100,000 raised by hospital appealpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
More than £100,000 has been raised for staff and patients at Worcestershire hospitals in the last four weeks.
The Covid-19 appeal was set up by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity and some of the money will pay for tablet computers to provide "virtual visiting" for the relatives of patients.
Image source, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS TrustA spokesperson said: “The impact of donations allows us to fund those simple things that are making a huge difference to staff morale and wellbeing."
Police officer's tears over nurses' Covid-19 carepublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Ch Supt Phil Dolby has been applauded by medical staff as he leaves hospital with the all-clear.
Read MoreThousands of dissolvable laundry bags given to NHSpublished at 16:53 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
The bags dissolve on a 60C wash, says manufacturer Aquapak which has donated 46,000 so far.
Read MoreAround the web: Four care home residents diepublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Stoke-on-Trent LiveFrom the Stoke Sentinel:
- Four care home residents die after coronavirus outbreak, external
- Stoke boss steps down from Northern Ireland role, external
- Thief smashes way into tropical fish shop, external
Photos of Cannock Chase firepublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Photos show the scale of fire damage on Cannock Chase following Tuesday's blaze.
Firefighters were still there this morning to make sure it didn't reignite.
Image source, Staffordshire Police
Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceFootball: Stoke City manager leaves Northern Ireland rolepublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
BBC Radio Stoke SportMichael O’Neill has left his role as Northern Ireland manager earlier than planned because of coronavirus.
He was due to take charge of the national side in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final away to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that is now expected to be rearranged for later this year and he has decided not to wait.
Image source, Getty ImagesIn a statement the Stoke City manager said he felt it was only fair that he step aside.
Girl stabbed in the legpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
A 15-year-old girl has been stabbed in Nuneaton.
Warwickshire Police said it happened at about 22:30 yesterday on Tile Lane and she was being treated in hospital for a stab wound to the leg and a cut to her head.
Her injuries aren't thought to be life threatening.
A 17-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and remains in police custody.
Virtual St George's Day events to slay lockdown dragonpublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
A timetable of crafts, games and activities, external has been put together to help people in Tamworth celebrate St George's Day on Thursday in their own homes.
The town hosts an annual event based around the castle, but has had to cancel it this year amid lockdown.
Image source, Tamworth Arts and EventsInstead, the organisers will be sharing a gallery of photos from previous St George’s Day events and video messages from "special guests" on Saturday.
They are also asking people to dress up and fly flags and then send in their photos.
Michelin factory to resume work next weekpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
The Michelin factory in Stoke-on-Trent is looking to restart production from Monday.
It had paused tyre production in late March and put its staff on furlough.
Image source, GoogleMichelin says it's making sure manufacturing staff will be safer than ever when they go back to work next week.
It has also donated 1,500 face masks to local care workers, and is looking into making masks.
Four arrested over chicken shop shootingpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Shots were fired after three people chased a group into DFC Chicken in Handsworth, police say.
Read MoreProtective gear donated by Chinese citypublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Local Democracy Reporting ServiceA Chinese city with cultural links to Stratford-upon-Avon has donated 25,000 masks and 200 disposable protective suits to Warwick Hospital.
They arrived from Meishan and the chairman of Stratford District Council, Chris Kettle, said the items passed "the necessary requirements and regulations" for UK use.
Image source, GoogleGlen Burley, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, thanked Meishan and said: "With their support we are able to continue providing essential care to our patients in hospital and in the community."
Murder inquiry after body found in flatpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
A man was arrested when he reported to police a death at the flat in Wolverhampton.
Read More'I felt like I'd got my wife back'published at 13:12 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Ken Benbow, 94, says the special cushion from his carer Kia has brought him closer to his "darling wife".
Read MoreFour arrested over shots fired in fried chicken shoppublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Four teenagers have been arrested after gunshots were fired in a fried chicken takeaway in Handsworth, Birmingham, on Monday.
West Midlands Police said officers were called at about 18:00 to reports of three people chasing another group into DFC Chicken on Rookery Road.
Image source, GoogleThe trio fled after the shots were fired. Nobody was reported hurt.
The four suspects are aged between 15 and 20 and were arrested in the Lozells area of Birmingham on Tuesday.
Arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, they remain in police custody.
The NHS staff living away from their familiespublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
In order to protect loved ones, some NHS staff are living away from home while they care for patients.
Read MorePolice officers to make birthday visits to childrenpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Police in Congleton, Cheshire, are offering to cheer up children by paying them a birthday visit.
They're calling it Operation Birthday and are asking families to send in nominations if their child has a birthday next week.
Image source, Getty ImagesEach day, officers will randomly pick two children's names from a bag and visit their home while keeping a safe distance.
