Plasma donated by people who have recovered from coronavirus has been delivered to hospitals in Birmingham and London in a trial for a possible treatment.

Some of the units have been supplied to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in the hope they can help people battling the illness.

Some patients have already been given the plasma, said NHS Blood and Transplant.

Image source, PA

Chest doctor Abhi Lal, who works at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said it was "fantastic" to be able to try to help others by donating his plasma at Birmingham Donor Centre.

The 43-year-old from Solihull said: "I had Covid-19 six weeks ago. I had body aches, fever and fatigue, and a positive test result.

"I wanted to do something to potentially help others and to help develop a treatment."

Riyah Collins
BBC News

Seven weeks into lockdown, streets across the UK remain quiet in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus - and some taxi drivers have said they are "desperate" without business.

Some have cut their working hours by more than half while others have had to give up work altogether.

Image source, Faisal Riaz

Faisal Riaz has given up driving his black cab in Coventry but told the BBC "savings can only stretch so far - I've got a mortgage, kids, bills still need paying".

Nahid Chowdry has been driving taxis in Solihull since moving to the UK in 2009 and is continuing to do so during lockdown.

But as "work is completely dead" he said he has had, for the first time, to apply for Universal Credit.

Read more on their stories here on the BBC website.

Express and Star

The Express and Star's headlines today include:

• Coronavirus death toll passes 2,000 in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire, external
• Boy in hospital after 'machete' attack in Smethwick, external
• Officials in pledge to limit impact of West Midlands Interchange, external

A post-mortem examination has so far proved inconclusive, following the death of Amarjit Arora in Birmingham.

A deal has been struck to transform parts of five former Debenhams stores, including one at the Birmingham Bullring, into beauty halls for fashion retailer Next.

Image source, Reuters

On Wednesday, it was announced five Debbenhams stores were to permanently close in the Bullring in Birmingham, The Oracle in Reading, Centrale in Croydon, Highcross in Leicester, and Silverburn in Glasgow.

Next said it had agreed a deal with retail landlord Hammerson for the new beauty hall sites and was also in discussions for a "small number" of further sites, as it continues to grow its beauty business.

Simon Wolfson, Next's chief executive, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to work with existing and new beauty brand partners to create a new force in beauty retailing - bringing our online business to life through premium store environments in some of the UK's most important retail locations."

A man is in a critical condition in hospital after a robbery in Redditch., external

Image source, Google

Armed police were sent to reports, external of the attack on Winslow Close yesterday evening, West Mercia Police said.

The victim suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Officers arrested three men from the town, aged 21-32, nearby on Other Road.

There's already queuing traffic on the approach to a household waste recycling site in Sutton Coldfield.

Four centres open today, Birmingham City Council has confirmed.

The waste centres, which have been closed since the beginning of lockdown, will open for limited hours and only one adult per vehicle will be allowed on site.

The centres on Lifford Lane in Kings Norton, Holford Drive in Perry Barr, Norris Way in Sutton Coldfield and James Road in Tyseley will be open Monday to Friday between 11:00 and 20:00 and between 08:00 and 14:30 at the weekend.

It also says all four sites are expected to be very busy so residents should only make the trip if it is "absolutely essential".

BBC News UK

Boris Johnson will review the coronavirus lockdown in England with his cabinet later, after suggesting some rules could be eased from Monday.

Image source, EPA

By law the government must review the restrictions every three weeks, and Thursday marks the latest deadline.

The prime minister will address the nation on Sunday to outline plans for the next stage of the lockdown.

The "stay at home" message is expected to be scrapped, with ministers keen to restart the economy.

Cath Mackie
BBC News

Joan Johnson and Don Butler have vivid memories of VE Day.

For Joan, who was a war-time nurse, it was the day she met her future husband.

Don, who was just a boy, enjoyed a street party.

But marking the day the war in Europe ended in 1945 is going to be a muted affair because of the coronavirus outbreak. Joan and Don, like many others, are in isolation at their sheltered housing complex in Redditch, Worcestershire.

So the party is coming to them thanks to the Boogaloo Vintage Harmony Group and the Pop Voices choir, based in Solihull and Warwickshire.

The music will be played throughout the gardens and all tenants will get song sheets.

BBC Weather

It'll start off dry with sunny spells this morning but there's a chance of the odd heavy shower this afternoon. High: 21C/70F.

Image source, Fraser

Any showers continuing into the evening should die away overnight leaving it mostly dry. There'll be a mix of clear spells with patches of mist and fog and a low of 11C/52F.

Keep up to date on the forecast where you are via the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A group of volunteers making scrubs and other personal protective equipment for health workers in Birmingham says it's got orders for almost 4,000 items.

Image source, Scrub Hub South Birmingham

More than 250 people are part of Scrub Hub South Birmingham with the vast majority sewing the dozens of medical uniforms.

Since the pandemic began, the group says volunteers have made more than 2,000 items and, with lockdown potentially easing, are looking to produce 4,000 face masks.

They've attracted the support of Birmingham comedian Joe Lycett , externalwho posted on Facebook, calling their efforts a "wonderful thing" and told medical professionals to contact the Scrub Hub.

Image source, Scrub Hub South Birmingham

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

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

You can get let us know about stories in your area via email,Twitter, external and Facebook., external

Joan and Don, both in isolation, share their VE Day memories as an online choir entertains them.

A union representing taxi drivers estimates 80,000 "are in danger of becoming destitute" in lockdown.

Albert Jarrett was among some 10,000 West Indians who crossed the Atlantic to join the war effort.

Austin Haynes told the driver he had Covid-19 during the assault on board a Birmingham bus.

The Godbarber in Wolverhampton was allowing customers to wait together on the premises for haircuts.

A Birmingham pub's licence could be suspended after police find people drinking inside, the city council hears.

Freya Lewis was badly injured in the Manchester Arena attack in which her best friend was killed.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow.