Birmingham families have raised £9,562 by camping out in their own gardens.

The Big Brummie Camp Out was held over the Bank Holiday and was collecting money for SIFA Fireside, which supports vulnerable adults in the city.

Image source, Big Brummie Camp Out

Campers were asked to donate at least £5 and 519 groups signed up to take part.

SIFA Fireside also received donations from a range of local groups and companies.

Licence holders are permitted to control badger numbers within designated areas.

Shropshire Council has defended the progress it has made on its climate change strategy after criticism from the campaign group Extinction Rebellion this morning.

In a statement it said: "It takes time to make sure the rights things are done that will have the optimal and most sustainable impact."

And it said it was confident it would achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

The council said it was investing in renewable energy, installing energy-efficient street lights and looking to plant more trees.

It said it was also looking to learn lessons from the current situation and help more people work from home.

Hereford Times

Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Two arrested after human remains found in suitcases, external
• Lifesaving machines donated to hospital, external
• Missing Hereford woman found, external

The remains of a woman were found in two suitcases in the Forest of Dean on Tuesday.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The West Midlands mayor has said headteachers will ultimately be responsible for the safety of staff and pupils when schools re-open.

And Andy Street said in that regard they were no different from "an office, a factory, a bus station, whatever".

Image source, WMCA

Mr Street said that governors could help, but if any head had concerns about safety, they should raise them with the government.

And he added: "And then we’ve got to see what central guidance can be given to try to get people comfortable with that."

Mental health nurse Lillian Mudzivare and midwife Safaa Alam worked at a Birmingham hospital trust.

BBC Weather

Temperatures in the West Midlands could rise to 18C (64F) this weekend, but the region is still likely to see a lot of cloud.

But it's likely to get warmer and sunnier towards the end of next week, with temperatures forecast to rise to 24C (75F) in places.

This photo was taken by BBC Weather Watcher Stokie Richie in Stafford today.

Image source, Stokie Richie

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Tennis courts, bowling greens and parks around Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth are going to be closely monitored when they re-open, Warwick District Council has warned.

Today, the tennis courts at Victoria Park and Christchurch Gardens in Leamington Spa, St Nicholas Park in Warwick, and Abbey Fields in Kenilworth all re-opened, but with limits on access and the number of players able to use them.

Image source, Getty Images

A limited number of bowling greens in Victoria Park will re-open in the next few days.

More than 100 pairs of shoes were placed outside Shropshire Council’s headquarters in Shrewsbury this morning to mark a year since the authority declared a climate emergency.

Activists from Extinction Rebellion, who were behind the gesture, said they were frustrated by the progress the authority had made so far.

The group said the shoes represented the Shropshire residents who wanted to protest but couldn’t go because of lockdown.

Shropshire Council has been approached for a response.

The organisers of the Evesham River Festival say after trying to delay a decision as long as possible, they have now accepted this summer's event will have to be cancelled.

It was due to be held on 11 July and they've pencilled in 10 July as the date for its return in 2021.

The league season is over for Walsall, Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra, after League Two clubs voted to decide the final table on a points-per-game basis.

But it hasn't yet been agreed how promotion and relegation will work, because the divisions above and below them haven't agreed how their seasons will end.

Image source, Getty Images

The League Two clubs also agreed to hold playoffs when football is able to resume.

Crewe were top of the table when the season was halted in March and Port Vale were just outside the playoff places, but could sneak in, depending on how the points-per-game are awarded.

It has been suggested that the points could be weighted, so that teams that have played more away games than home games aren't at a disadvantage.

The drug is currently used to treat schizophrenia but may have a new application, scientists find.

The staff roles are under threat at the firm's 10 plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham.

Worcester News

From the Worcester News today:

• Alex Hepburn appeals against rape sentence, external
• MP makes first trip to "spooky" House of Commons, external
• Claim fish and chip shop served raw sausage, external

Police have reported and turned back a full car which had driven over 100 miles to Aberystwyth from Cannock in Staffordshire.

The four occupants were not from the same household, the Dyfed-Powys force added.

BBC Sport

Coventry City will have to wait a bit longer to learn whether they've been promoted to the Championship.

They led League One when play was suspended in March, but a meeting of clubs this lunchtime has failed to agree on whether the season should continue or be brought to an end.

Coventry City chief executive Dave Boddy said he wanted the season to be ended and he suggested the fairest solution might be to rank teams based on their points-per-game.

Image source, Getty Images

But six League One clubs, Peterborough United, Oxford United, Sunderland, Fleetwood, Portsmouth and Ipswich Town have been opposed to ending the season now and the clubs will have to meet again on Monday.

BBC Weather Watchers

We've seen a little bit of sun today, but a lot of cloud too and the BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing their photos while out exercising.

Image source, Peter Steggles

Image source, Laura and Glenn

And Weather Watcher Liam Ball has either been climbing the Wrekin to take his photos, or he's been flying.

Image source, Liam Ball

Police say they're treating as suspicious the death of a man whose body was found in a Leamington Spa river.

Firefighters were called just before 06:30 to Jephson Gardens and the area has been cordoned off.

Image source, Google

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A Telford mosque has been given permission to install mortuary equipment so that it can carry out pre-funeral rituals.

The Shropshire Islamic Foundation plans to convert what is currently a warehouse at the town's Central Mosque in Wellington.

Image source, Google

The changes will allow family members to wash the body, place a shroud around it and pray with the deceased ahead of the funeral, in line with Islamic tradition.

The planning application also said: “There will be no embalming, autopsies or similar procedures carried out on the premises.”