BBC Shared Data Unit

Councils in the West Midlands have received just over £300m in grants from the government to help them cope with coronavirus, a BBC investigation has uncovered.

The biggest recipient has been Birmingham City Council, which has been given £70.31m and the figure is likely to be higher because one council, Shropshire, didn't say how much it has received.

Image source, Getty Images

Councils in the region are forecasting a shortfall of more than £377m as a result of coronavirus.

The minister for local government, Simon Clarke (pictured above), said his department was "working on a comprehensive plan to ensure councils’ financial sustainability over the financial year ahead".

He said that would involve working with the councils and that £3.2bn of non-ring-fenced emergency funding had been given to local authorities around the UK already.

A weather warning for thunderstorms, affecting the West Midlands, has been extended.

There is a risk of flooding and travel disruption during the yellow warning which is now valid from 12:00 on Friday until 09:00 Saturday.

Parts of Herefordshire and Shropshire could be affected by storms later today and overnight, the Met Office is also warning. , external

Warwickshire Cricket Club has unveiled its new "sustainable" shirt.

The kit has been made from bamboo, the club has tweeted.

The so-called dust devil, which looks like a mini tornado, blew newly-cut grass high into the air.

BBC Shared Data Unit

Councils in the West Midlands could face a shortfall of about £377m as a result of coronavirus.

They have faced increased costs from supporting vulnerable people, while their income from fees and rates is falling.

Image source, Getty Images

A BBC investigation asked councils for their estimated shortfall, the money they have received from the government so far and whether they planned to use a section 114 notice to effectively declare themselves bankrupt.

None of the councils in the West Midlands said they intended to take that route, but 10 of the 14 councils said they forecasted a shortfall as a result of coronavirus.

Four councils, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Solihull and Worcestershire didn't give any shortfall estimates and a fifth, Warwickshire said it expected a shortfall, but couldn't say how much.

Express and Star

Some of the Express and Star headlines today include:

• Police vow to clamp down on rising tide of violence in West Midlands, external
• 61,000 jobs lost in West Midlands during lockdown , external
• Girl injured as shotgun fired and pipe bombs thrown on Black Country street, external

A crash involving a lorry and car in Cheshire has left three women seriously injured.

Collision investigations continue on the A34 at Astbury near Congleton, following the crash shortly before 02:30.

The women - who were all in the car - are being cared for at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

An aerospace firm, with sites in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Banbury in Oxfordshire, is warning that 300 jobs are at risk.

Collins Aerospace, which is part of Raytheon Technologies, provides avionics and other systems for commercial aviation and the military.

Image source, Collins Aerospace

The Unite union described redundancies as "premature" with the government's job retention scheme continuing until October.

However, from August, firms will be sharing some of the costs associated with furloughing employees.

It is one of several aerospace firms warning of job cuts in recent days and Unite called for more government support for the sector.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Local Democracy Reporting Service in the West Midlands has been covering these stories:

• Plans for Birmingham's future after lockdown which could see wider pavements and curbs on car usage have moved forward a step. The city council's cabinet approved the emergency scheme, which also includes expanding the cycle network, and will bid for government funding.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

• Job losses and debt from the impact of coronavirus could lead to more people taking their own lives, health bosses in Walsall have warned. Councillors were told there's been no increase in suicides but officials were worried about the coming months as the economic affects set in.
• Two schools in Birmingham will be expanded to teach an extra 374 pupils as part of proposals to tackle the city's rising population. The city council approved business cases for both Kings Heath Boys Secondary School and Waverley School, Small Heath, amid an increase in birth rates and with more families moving into the city.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A five-year-old girl is in hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car.

Image source, Google

The collision happened on the A449 in Powick, near Worcester, yesterday afternoon, police said. , external

The force said it was near the junction with Powyke Court Close and appealed for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

BBC News Travel

Speed restrictions have been put in place on some rail services due to the high temperatures today.

Passengers are also being reminded to wear face coverings while using public transport, despite the hot weather.

BBC Sport

Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty has warned the government's decision not to reopen pools could affect people's mental health.

Image source, Getty Images

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said pubs were among the venues that could reopen on 4 July, but indoor sports facilities were not mentioned.

Peaty, from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, said the announcement was "disappointing, frustrating" and "doesn't make any sense".

He said: "People will talk about how much the pubs bring in [to the economy] in terms of tax, but you also have to think about the health benefits that swimming provides.

"With mental health concerns on the increase we're in a dangerous position, and there's a risk that if the pubs are open but [people] can't exercise then [they] will choose the pub each day and have no balance."

BBC Weather

We told you earlier to get set for another warm one. Here's some more detail:

It will be dry, hot and humid with highs of - wait for it - 32C (90F).

Enjoy it while you can, though. Thunderstorms are set to affect travel across parts of the West Midlands, with a yellow warning issued from tomorrow until 06:00 on Saturday.

Image source, Weather Watchers/Fraser

Some of the UK’s biggest local authorities say they are facing what amounts to bankruptcy unless the government provides them with more support during the pandemic.

A BBC investigation has found that nearly 150 councils -- including the biggest, Birmingham -- have forecast a combined budget shortfall of up to £3.7bn.

Authorities that can't balance their budgets must issue what's known as a Section 114 Notice, curbing all but essential spending.

Birmingham City Council - the largest authority in Europe - said "given the size" of its forecast shortfall of £212m across 2020-21 and 2021-22 after £70m government funding already received, a section 114 notice "would not rectify this situation".

Several car cruising events have been planned across the West Midlands over the next few days, police say.

Image source, West Midlands Police

A High Court injunction banning such meetings is in place across Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country, the West Midlands force said.

The meetings can attract hundreds of cars and spectators and often feature vehicles being raced and driven in convoy.

With lockdown restrictions easing, West Midlands Police said , externalit was aware of several planned events and said those taking part faced prosecution.

Allen Cook
BBC News

We've got another day of warm weather ahead and temperatures could be higher than yesterday.

Image source, Littleacorns

Wednesday was officially the hottest day of the year in the UK and temperatures peaked at 30C in Shrewsbury, according to the Met Office., external

The forecast is more sunshine today and for temperatures to climb to 31C in the West Midlands.

We'd love to see your photos of you safely enjoying the hot weather.

Email us your pictures and we might feature you later today.

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

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

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

The Royal National Institute of Blind People says it "represents the low point in our 152-year history".

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe says "it hurts deeply" after defeat at Wolves keeps them in the Premier League relegation zone.

Ahmed Elmohamady's late header rescues a point for Aston Villa at Newcastle, but it is not enough to lift them out of the bottom three.