Summary

  • Updates from 15-19 June

Live Reporting

  1. Secondary school return 'vital' for struggling pupils

    A head teacher says the chance for some secondary pupils to be back in school this week is vital for the ones who have been struggling to work from home.

    School boy at computerGetty Images

    Only 25% of the chosen year groups, 10 and 12, can be on site at a time.

    Bryn Thomas, head of Wolverley CofE Secondary School, near Kidderminster, said staff had seen a "digital divide" between some of their students.

    "It could be as simple as they're from a large family and there aren't enough PCs to go around at home. We know the government has promised laptops but they're still not with us.

    "Some students are literally trying to do homeworking off their phones which is just not easy."

    While Holly Rigby, head of the Telford Park School in Stirchley, Shropshire, told BBC Shropshire staff had worked to make the school safe for returning students.

    "It's very different but I think they will enjoy being here and being back in that community that they're used to. It has been 11 weeks, it's along time so it very much feels like the first day of a new term today."

  2. Jaguar Land Rover to cut factory roles for temps

    The carmaker says it is making the decision "against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic".

    Read More

  3. Artist reopens shop after 'tears and fears' of lockdown

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Spare a thought today, among the usual non-essential shops reopening, for a business opening its doors for the first time.

    The new storeShropshire Council

    Shropshire artist and homeware designer Meg Hawkins was forced like many others to close her giftware shop in the Pride Hill Centre, Shrewsbury, in March.

    At the time on her Facebook page, she said she was "fighting back the tears" and the future felt "a bit scary".

    With the lease running out at Pride Hill, she said her and her team decided to move to the Darwin Centre and opened today.

  5. JLR announce 1,100 agency jobs to go

    Jaguar Land Rover has announced it is to cut up to 1,100 agency jobs across it plants, including those at Solihull and Castle Bromwich.

    Jaguar LandroverPA Media

    Workers on temporary service contracts will lose their jobs by the end of the year - following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the business.

    The carmaker has reported a pre-tax loss of £501m in the three months to the end of March.

  7. Romeo and Juliet cast called ‘garishly diverse’

    The RSC says it is "appalled" at a Sunday Times TV listing which it said "devalued" the actors.

    Read More

  9. Shoppers desperate for bargains as stores reopen

    Non-essential shops reopen for the first time in England since the Covid-19 lockdown was introduced.

    Read More

  10. Lottery winner to buy house and party with winnings

    A truck driver who won £350,000 on a National Lottery game said he would spend his winnings on a new home in Rugby.

    Marcin Jedrzejewski, who lives in the Warwickshire town, said the money would also go towards a 40th birthday party - "when safe to do so".

    Marcin JedrzejewskiNational Lottery

    The self-employed driver successfully picked and matched five main numbers to win the top prize on LottoHotPicks, said the National Lottery.

    The 40-year-old said he had been working throughout the lockdown delivering food across the UK.

    “After years of renting, I can now buy a place I can call home and with no mortgage - this is what people dream of.

    "And I will stay in the Rugby area due to my job and keep delivering across the UK during Covid-19 and beyond.”

    Mr Jedrzejewski added he'd been unable to celebrate his 40th birthday in May with family in Poland due to coronavirus restrictions, but will have an "extra special" celebration when lockdown lifts.

  11. Incredible 'lightning rainbows' illuminate UK skies

    Simon King
    BBC weather presenter and meteorologist

    All of us will have seen a rainbow before, most of us a lightning strike. But have you ever seen the two combined? The chances are you haven't but that's exactly what some of our BBC Weather Watchers captured over the weekend.

    HednesfordCrazz1993

    A stunning display in Hednesford, Staffordshire, photographed by Crazz1993.

    This combination of lightning and rainbows was probably down to a few factors coming together.

    Firstly, there was a lot of energy within the atmosphere so when the thunderstorms developed there was plenty of electrical charge which produced a lot of lightning.

    The storms were also quite localised so there were sunny spells between the showers. And lastly, the timing was spot on. As the sun was setting, the angle of the sun was just right with the thunderstorm to form rainbows.

    DudleyBenc04c

    A double rainbow and lightning was seen in Dudley. Photo by Benc04c.

    You can see more images in our story here.

  12. In pictures: Shoppers flock to city centre

    Queues have formed outside several city centre shops in Coventry, where some non-essential stores have reopened.

    City centreDylan Parrin
    PrimarkDylan Parrin
    Sports DirectDylan Parrin
    JD SportsDylan Parrin

    Sports Direct and JD Sports in the city centre have opened for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown, along with Primark.

    Improvement work around the city centre is continuing, said the council, with a few issues "still to be ironed out," as the spaces open back up again.

  13. Your photos: Bloomin' marvellous

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Here are some fantastic photos of flowers in bloom from across the West Midlands, care of our BBC Weather Watchers.

    These three are from users Balding Baggie in Studley, Warwickshire, Lee Nuttall in Wolverhampton and EmW in Shrewsbury, Shropshire:

    StudleyBalding Baggie
    WolverhamptonLee Nuttall
    ShrewsburyEmW

  15. Huge oxygen tank starts five-day journey by road

    A huge oxygen tank has started its slow, five-day journey across three counties today.

    Police are warning delays on roads will be "inevitable".

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    The cylinder, which is empty, is 40m (131ft) in length and 6.5m (21ft) across, started its long journey in Cheshire today.

    The journey will see it move across Staffordshire, through Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford and Cannock, and end up in Warwickshire on Friday.

  16. In pictures: Lightning storm captured

    Thunderstorms are set to affect parts of the West Midlands very soon, the Met Office is warning.

    Photographers were able to capture some stunning images of Saturday's storm over the West Midlands.

    This was taken by Tim Cornbill in Sutton Coldfield.

    LightningTim Cornbill

    Rich Edkins took this of the storm in Tamworth.

    Tamworth lightningRich Edkins

    This video of the storm was captured in the Earlsdon area of Coventry by Mia McCann.

    Lightning storm captured over Coventry

  17. Stabbing witness 'could hold key information'

    CCTV images have been released of a man who potentially helped save a woman's life, after she was stabbed in an attack in Erdington.

    CCTVWest Midlands Police

    The 35-year-old victim suffered a number of knife wounds to her neck and body in the attack on Wood End Road on 23 April, said West Midlands Police.

    Officers investigating the attack said they believe the witness saw the whole incident and could hold key information.

    The woman has been discharged from hospital to recover at home.

    A man has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article and using threatening behaviour with a bladed article.

  18. Thousands at town's first post-lockdown farmers' market

    BBC Radio Stoke

    The first farmers' market in a Staffordshire town since lockdown attracted about 3,000 people, according to Stafford Borough Council

    People at the market on Saturday

    The event on Saturday was moved from its usual site on High Street, Stone, to the town's Westbridge Park due to social distancing rules.

    The local authority said many of the traders sold out before the market closed.

  20. Shopper 'delighted' at retail return

    After an early morning rush about 50 people could be seen queuing outside outside Birmingham's Primark store by mid-morning.

    Primark queuePA Media
    PrimarkJaydee Darrock

    One shopper said it had been "a delight" to get shopping again.

    The woman, from Birmingham, said: "There was a very large queue because of the social distancing but if you want something you have got to queue.

    "It took a long time but I bought a lot of dresses, nightwear and bras. I have missed it a lot and I'm really happy."

    QueuesPA Media

    Retailers are required to introduce plastic screens at the tills and floor markings to keep shoppers two metres (6ft 5ins) apart - measures that are already a regular fixture in supermarkets.