Sunak unveils guaranteed loans for small firmspublished at 22:09 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the loans up to £50,000 should unblock a backlog of applications.
Read MoreSummary
Tributes to 'loved' nurse who died of coronavirus
Man killed at shopping centre
Police pup tribute for Captain Tom
Self-employed missing out on financial aid
Villa cooking hot meals for the vulnerable
Radcliffe support for Covid-19 marathon runner
Updates from Monday 27 April
Sunak unveils guaranteed loans for small firmspublished at 22:09 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
This is the moment of maximum risk, Johnson sayspublished at 21:12 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
The PM returns as ministers pledge £60,000 for the families of NHS and care staff who die with Covid-19.
Read MoreEnd of live updates for Mondaypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
We'll be back with the latest for the West Midlands from 08:00 on Tuesday.
Rainbow sign for takeaway covered in racist graffitipublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
Local Democracy Reporting Service
George MakinA rainbow painting with a message of love has been displayed on the front of a takeaway which had had racist graffiti sprayed across it.
Image source, Quarry Bank Primary SchoolThe comments were painted on the front of the Tin Sing restaurant on High Street, Quarry Bank, Dudley, earlier this month.
They were removed by Dudley Council and staff and pupils at nearby Quarry Bank Primary School created a rainbow sign with the message that love is stronger than hate.
Image source, Quarry Bank Primary SchoolThe painting's displayed on the takeaway's front and head teacher Alex Rawlings said "we wanted to spread a different message".
A spokesperson for Tin Sing said they were "very touched" by the kindness of the children.
Firm making visors for other countriespublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
The boss of a company making personal protective equipment in Coventry says he feels the government's been "a bit slow" to take up offers of making personal protective equipment (PPE).
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, NHS staff wearing visors
Ian Jamie runs Staeger Clear Packaging in Holbrooks but instead of making visors for the NHS he told BBC CWR they're now making them for the Belgian and Irish governments.
"So we've got some quite big, potential orders on the go from other governments rather than ours," he added.
A spokesman for Downing Street said they were "working as hard as we can" to get hold of PPE and said safety and quality standards have to be met.
Flower donation aims to brighten up hospitalpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsThousands of plants are going to be donated to a hospital to brighten up its grounds, external for staff and patients.
Image source, Halesowen In BloomImage caption, Flowers from last year's display in Halesowen
Halesowen in Bloom had ordered 2,000 plants for the town's floral displays but the pandemic's forced many of their volunteers into self-isolation.
With the plants already in greenhouses, the group said they decided to donated them to Russells Hall Hospital and they'll be delivered in the first week of June.
Weather: Getting wetterpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
There's wet weather on the way over the next 24 hours, starting with tonight when heavier, showery rain will push in from the south. Low: 7C/45F.
Image source, Elle NiñoThen tomorrow will be much colder than of late with spells of rain which could be heavy at times before easing later. High: 9C/48F.
Keep up-to-date with the BBC Weather website.
Fancy dress runners raising thousands for NHSpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
Two men are aiming to finish running 100 miles around the streets of Wolverhampton this week in aid of the NHS while dressed as Peppa Pig and the Pink Panther.
Image source, Stuart BaileyStuart Bailey and Earl Edwards started their effort three weeks ago , externaland have been running every Monday and Thursday.
Stuart told the BBC, with days until the end of the month, they have 22 miles to go and have passed their original target of £200 with their fundraising nearing £5,000.
He added they had been given permission to "trot the remaining miles on Thursday at New Cross and finish in time to applaud the NHS staff at 20:00".
Your photos: Some sunshine todaypublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
Despite the dull overall forecast our BBC Weather Watchers have been seeing some rays of sunshine around.
Here are a couple of photos capturing some sun, from users Littleacorns in Harbury, Warwickshire and Mrs Baggins in Bromyard, Herefordshire:
Image source, Littleacorns
Image source, Mrs BagginsMake A Difference: Keep calm and create buntingpublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
BBC ShropshirePeople in Shropshire are being encouraged to make their own bunting to commemorate the 75th Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
The celebrations will take place from 8 to 10 May and everyone is being asked to create bunting be it out of cloth, paper or anything you can lay your hands on.
Craft writer Mary Jo Baxter said: “We’re commemorating 75 years since the end of war in Europe…it’s very poignant at the moment, we’re currently celebrating and thinking of the NHS workers making sacrifices on our behalf.
“Bunting goes back to the peace parties after the First World War – originally it was lots of flags and essentially people began joining them together to make bunting.”
To find out more and for tips on how to make your own bunting, visit the BBC Make A Difference page here.
Around the web: Two arrests after stabbingpublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
Coventry LiveThe Coventry Live website's covering these stories today:
Minute's silence for key workers who lost livespublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
The UK is expected to fall silent at 11am on Tuesday after Boris Johnson backs nurses' campaign.
Read MoreFactories urged to join family's PPE missionpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
A family-run clothing factory that diversified to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) wants other businesses to do the same.
Image source, Kiran DharniKiranjit Dharni's family have factories in Birmingham, Leicester and Bedford which are being used to create scrubs and gowns for NHS staff.
They have recruited about 800 volunteer sewers from across different communities and processed about 8,000 items.
Ms Dharni said she has had requests from all over the country and needs other factories to support the effort.
Image source, Kiran DharniThe family is not making any money from producing PPE, she said, in fact the business has "taken a hit".
They've designed an approved PPE garment pack which details measurements, patterns and health and safety guidelines which they want to share with other clothing factories.
Make A Difference: 'Staff rock' bags delivered to key workerspublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
BBC WMSchools across the West Midlands are mostly closed at the moment, but many of them are using their spare time to make a difference in their areas.
Image source, GoogleSolihull School has been making use of new found time to deliver goody bags to NHS staff and health workers.
Sixty of the "NHS Staff Rock" bags were taken to the paediatric intensive care unit at Solihull Hospital while another 70 were taken for workers at Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Make A Difference: Virtual garden open daypublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
BBC ShropshireA virtual garden open day is taking place in Shropshire.
Ruthall Manor near Bridgnorth was due to take part in the National Garden Open Day event at the weekend, but the lockdown has meant organisers having to think outside the plant pot.
People can now visit virtually, with a video of the gardens posted on the National Open Garden scheme website here, external.
Image source, National Open Garden Day'Pressure growing' to reopen council tipspublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
BBC ShropshirePressure's growing for recycling centres to be reopened to the public, a council has said.
Image source, Telford and Wrekin CouncilTelford and Wrekin's tips have been been closed for nearly five weeks due to the pandemic.
But it's said residents are struggling with storing up waste they would normally take to the two authority-run centres.
Council leader Shaun Davies said , externalhe was seeking "urgent clarification" from the government on the tips staying shut.
The latest guidance from ministers said “where possible key [waste] sites should be maintained” by councils, as long as social distancing rules can be followed., external
Superheroes and unicorns on child-friendly visorspublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsSuperheroes and unicorns are adorning visors worn by nurses in Walsall so they can look less intimidating to children.
Image source, Walsall Healthcare NHS TrustAssistant play specialist Jo Plank customised the visors which need to be worn in clincal spaces, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust said., external
They added the child-friendly visors have been a hit with children now making "requests for a particular super hero and we try and oblige".
Image source, Walsall Healthcare NHS TrustNew bike for NHS worker who found hers missing at end of 12-hour shiftpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
BBC WMAn NHS staff member had her bike stolen from outside the hospital where she was working.
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End of twitter postPhillippa Hentsch left her bicycle chained up by the main entrance of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham but came back at the end of a 12-hour shift to find it had gone.
She took to social media to express her frustration and told BBC WM within hours she was being offered bikes from up and down the country and the "community spirit rallying around me was absolutely incredible".
Bike firm Halfords then contacted her to offer her a new bike which is due to be delivered today.
Make A Difference: Support for those with rare conditionpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
BBC WMVolunteers to help support people with balance and movement issues are being sought.
The PSP Association supports people living with progressive supranuclear palsy - a rare progressive condition that can also cause problems with vision, speech and swallowing.
Image source, Getty ImagesVolunteers are needed to help collect prescriptions, shopping or just to offer companionship.
Anyone interested in helping should email volunteering@pspassociation.org.uk.
'Frightened' doctor thanks colleagues for carepublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 27 April 2020
Dr Hamza Ansari was cared for by colleagues after contracting Covid-19 with his family trapped abroad.
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