Local Democracy Reporting Service
Mark Cardwell

More than 20,000 vulnerable people across the West Midlands could lose their social care without councils receiving extra support from the government, Labour has warned.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward has said front-line services will “bear the brunt” of a reported £10bn funding gap for local authorities in England as a result of coronavirus.

The government said it had provided an extra £3.2bn, on top of an initial £1.6bn, to cover councils’ extra spending to tackle the pandemic, but Labour says another £10bn is still needed.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has previously said the emergency funding comes on top of a £2.9bn rise in spending power for councils.

The spokesperson added councils would be allowed to defer £2.6bn in business rates payments to central government, and they had been paid £850m in social care grants upfront in April.

Wasps sign Birmingham-born lock-forward Myles Edwards from French Pro D2 club Oyonnax.

A home's been left badly damaged after a severe fire this lunchtime.

Image source, Simon O'Connor

West Midlands Fire Service said it was called to Perton Road, Wolverhampton, after 13:00.

It said no-one was hurt and tweeted a photo , externalshowing the fire had burst through the roof and destroyed a nearby vehicle.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

Former football coach Barry Bennell is charged with offences relating to two complainants.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

People will be allowed to travel on West Midland Trains without a face mask if they turn up without one, the operator has said.

Image source, Getty Images

More frequent services are now running across the country as the lockdown eases and people are encouraged to return to work.

West Midlands Trains said it would run as many carriages as it could to cope with the extra demand, but urged people to only travel by train if they have to.

Spokesman Andy McGill added the operator would be recommending passengers wear face masks, but they wouldn't be turned away if they didn't have one.

"It is advisory, it's not mandatory so we won't be turning people away but our strong advice is to follow that advice from the government and to help reduce the spread," he said.

A college that was closed amid protests last summer has been bought by the charity that used to own it.

Image source, Google

Stourbridge College was shut by Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) four years after it spent £5m revamping the site.

The Foundation of Thomas Foley, which sold off the college site in the 1950s, bought it back so another school it supports, Old Swinford Hospital (OSH), will be able to admit girls.

BMet has been approached for comment.

BBC Weather Watchers

With a dry, warm day, we're getting spoiled with lots of lovely photos of the West Midlands sent in by our many local BBC Weather Watchers.

Here are three, from users Suttonwalker in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Rons View in Coleshill, Warwickshire and Fiona D in Staunton on Wye, Herefordshire:

Image source, Suttonwalker

Image source, Rons View

Image source, Fiona D

A fox has been rescued after becoming trapped in plastic fencing.

Image source, Coventry City Council

Image source, Coventry City Council

Image source, Coventry City Council

It was freed after being discovered by emergency service unit officers who said the animal was "in distress and choking" near Lyng Hall School, over the weekend, said Coventry City Council.

BBC Business News

Shopping centre operator Intu has warned that it risks defaulting on its debts unless its lenders give the firm significant breathing space.

The firm owns the Merry Hill and Potteries shopping centres in Brierley Hill and Stoke-on-Trent.

Image source, Google

The coronavirus pandemic has hit rental income and Intu said there was no certainty how quickly the market would recover once the lockdown is lifted.

It also said it was unable to sell any of its shopping centres to raise funds.

Some parks in Warwickshire have reopened, with a booking system in place for car parks, said the county council.

The four main sites at Kingsbury, Ryton, Hartshill and Pooley have opened today, it said.

BBC Shropshire

Dozens of people who gathered in a park for a "rave" despite lockdown rules should have faced tougher penalties, according to the leader of the local council.

Image source, @TelfordCops

West Mercia Police said a DJ had set up for the party at Granville Country Park in Telford, Shropshire, on Saturday.

Police dispersed the group from the Donnington park and officers said they "do not fine unless there is no other action open".

But Telford and Wrekin Council leader Shaun Davies told BBC Shropshire he thought not fining them "sent the wrong message".

"You would have to be a complete idiot to think that was the right thing to do in these circumstances. They put themselves at risk, their friends and families at risk and public services at risk by doing what they did," he said.

Shropshire Star

A few of the headlines from the Shropshire Star today:

• Speeding campaign rolled out across Shropshire as lockdown starts to ease, external
• Post Office in Telford getting £40k facelift as new owner moves in, external
• Inspectors demand improvements to help for children with disabilities and special needs, external

Louise Brierley
BBC News

While many in the hospitality industry are worried about the future, Great British Menu finalist Kray Treadwell remains optimistic.

"The first thing people will want to do is go and eat out", said the 28-year-old chef.

He is planning to open his debut restaurant at the Custard Factory in Digbeth, in Birmingham against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

Named after the birth weight of his daughter, who was born 18 weeks premature, the opening of 670 Grams has been put back to August.

Buses are being diverted away from a road due to drivers queuing for a tip.

Congestion on Rounds Green Road is affecting the 12 and 12A services in Oldbury, Sandwell, said National Express West Midlands.

Hay-on-Wye will not welcome 280,000 visitors this year, with the literary event running online.

Vicky Norton
BBC Radio Stoke

A road's still shut this morning after a fire in a derelict building.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Firefighters were called yesterday afternoon to West Street, Congleton, Cheshire, after smoke was seen coming from a chimney. , external

They found the blaze was on the second floor and, after putting it out, spent the night checking it wouldn't flare up again.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

The fire service said West Street remained shut this morning between Wagg Street and Antrobus Street., external

BBC Radio Stoke

A consultation is starting today over up to 950 potential job losses at JCB's UK plants.

Image source, JCB

The firm says the roles are under threat at its 10 factories in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham in north Wales due to disruption from the pandemic.

JCB currently employs about 6,700 people in the UK, including agency employees.

The consultation's set to last 45 days and talks are also due to start with staff representatives.

Ian Murphy
BBC News

Image source, @NHSCAPTAIN1000

Captain NHS will be running every day until he has completed 1,000 miles to show his support for all our incredible front-line workers.

Everyone has a favourite superhero and Captain NHS wants to protect the world from the evil supervillain 'Cryptic COVID-19'.

You can see his adventures unfold on Twitter.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A woman's been taken to hospital after a car and a bus collided in Worcester this morning.

The crash happened on Bromyard Road at about 07:40, the ambulance service said.

A spokesperson added the woman was driving the car and thought to have had a "medical episode" just before the collision.

West Mercia Police said, external officers expected the road to be shut " for some time".

Social distancing measures have been introduced at Birmingham's New Street station.

Image source, Network Rail

New measures have been deployed on trains and at stations amid fears that more people might use public transport to return to work in England this week.

Train firms have operated reduced services due to coronavirus, but more frequent trains are now running.

Image source, Network Rail

People are being encouraged to only use public transport for essential journeys when they have no alternative.