BBC Midlands Today

There have been no coronavirus-related deaths recorded in the West Midlands for a fifth day in a row, figures show.

Image source, Reuters

The data from NHS England , externalhas the total number of Covid-19 deaths recorded since the pandemic began at 3,852.

This evening from 18:30, BBC Midlands Today will be examining if this marks the start of the end of the pandemic or if we are just moving into a new phase of living with coronavirus.

It's thought four trailers full of rubbish abandoned in the Bromsgrove area in the last fortnight were all dumped in lay-bys by the same person.

The Environment Agency said the first load was reported on 12 July and then three more appeared within five miles of the first, all containing household, commercial or industrial waste.

Image source, Environment Agency

The Environment Agency said the trailers were all similar and asked people to check waste removal companies were registered before using them.

Birmingham Live

From today's stories on the Birmingham Live website:

• Bus passenger rants at driver as he refuses to pay £1 fare, external
• Birmingham teenager among gang who attacked prison guards, external
• Ian Paterson patients' inquests open three years after rogue breast surgeon jailed, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A planned overhaul of Birmingham's University Station is to get £12m government funding , externalto help it deal with a big rise in passenger numbers.

Image source, Transport for West Midlands

It was designed for 400,000 passengers a year when it opened in the 1970s.

But the growth of the University of Birmingham and neighbouring Queen Elizabeth Hospital means it now serves 3.3 million people.

The government says the £56m scheme, which will include more lifts, a ticket office and public toilets, should be completed in time for the city's Commonwealth Games in 2022.

BBC Radio WM

West Bromwich Albion fans are being urged not to celebrate in big groups if the club secures promotion to the Premier League tonight.

The warning comes days after health bosses said they were worried by the "sharpness" of the rise in Covid-19 cases in Smethwick.

Image source, Getty Images

The Baggies could confirm their return to the top flight tonight in the final round of Championship games.

Sandwell Council's director of public health, Lisa McNally, told BBC WM: "It is going to be amazing but we are at a really difficult time we are seeing really high rates of infection of Covid-19 in Sandwell."

“So please don’t find yourself in a crowd close to other people leaving yourself vulnerable to infection that could make you ill but also also makes those close to you very ill.”

Fans of Championship winners Leeds United and Premier League champions Liverpool have also been urged not to gather in crowds.

BBC Shropshire

A woman has been flown to hospital with "multiple injuries" after she was attacked by a dog in Oswestry last night.

West Mercia Police said it was called to Cabin Lane at around 17:40 and she needed treatment for wounds to her face and arms.

The rottweiler dog was seized by officers and an investigation is under way.

A parish council has decided against building an office in the garden of its clerk.

Wheaton Aston councillors had originally agreed to spend between £10,000 and £20,000, saying in the long run it would save money spent renting office space.

Image source, Google

Some people in the village objected to the expenditure, so the council has decided to carry on renting an office for the clerk.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

The Stoke-on-Trent Live website's headlines today include:

• Boss caught employing illegal workers at restaurant speaks out after being bombarded with racial abuse, external
• Stoke-on-Trent teen kung fu kicked OAP in face during reign of terror, external
• Worker reunited with son after 100 days of lockdown, external

The most seriously ill patients with Covid-19 are more likely to come from deprived areas, external, a new study led by the University of Birmingham has found.

The team also found patients from black, Asian and minority communities were disproportionately likely to live in areas of high deprivation - 69.9% of BAME patients compared with 50.2% of white patients.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Researchers studied 408 patients treated for coronavirus at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, from 1 March to 13 April and their backgrounds.

They found issues like high air pollution, low-quality housing and overcrowded conditions were risk factors in people being admitted to intensive care.

The Office for National Statistics has separately found the most deprived parts of England and Wales have been hit twice as hard by coronavirus as wealthier areas.

BBC Weather Watchers

There could be some rain on the way, but for most of us today has been dry, with some blue sky and light cloud.

These BBC Weather Watcher photos were taken near Hereford and Rushbury.

Image source, Step Counter

Image source, Peter Steggles

Warwickshire's friendly with Worcestershire will be part of a pilot programme aimed at spectators returning to sporting events.

GKN owner Melrose has warned that because of difficult trading conditions, job losses are likely.

GKN makes parts for aircraft and the automotive sectors and has its headquarters in Redditch and a factory in Telford.

Image source, Google

In a statement, external, Melrose said sales across its group of businesses had fallen between March and June, but had started to improve following lockdown.

But it said aerospace sales were expected to remain low into next year.

BBC Sport

West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic is urging his players to seize the chance tonight to return to the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

The Baggies face an almighty fight with Brentford and Fulham for the second automatic promotion place in the Championship, a "prize" which it has been estimated could result in a £170m increase in revenue.

Going into tonight's game with mid-table Queens Park Rangers, West Brom are one point clear of Brentford and two above Fulham.

"This season is longer than ever and we should be proud of what we have done so far. Now is the time to finish it off, we've got to do it," Bilic said.

Image source, Getty Images

For Birmingham City, despite being just two points above the relegation places, their position should be safe, whatever their result, due to Wigan's 12-point deduction for going into administration.

It does depend on Wigan's appeal against the penalty, but the sanction would be applied after their game at the DW Stadium, meaning they unofficially occupy the final relegation place.

Even if the Latics win, with the deduction they can only potentially overtake Luton Town and Charlton Athletic but not the Blues, who would be safe.

Patients of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson may have died unnaturally, a review found.

BBC News Travel

A lane's shut on the M6 near Birmingham after a large amount of diesel spilled across the carriageway.

Image source, Highways England

Highways England said it happened at about 08:00 between J6, for Spaghetti Junction, and J7 but didn't reveal the cause. , external

Specialist crews have arrived to help clear up, external but one lane remains shut.

A pedestrian who died after being hit by a car in West Bromwich has been named by police.

Anthony Whitehouse was on Newton Road near the junction with Wigmore Lane when the collision happened on Thursday, West Midlands Police said. , external

The 27-year-old, from Stone Cross, suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.

The driver of the grey Audi involved in the collision stopped at the scene and officers said he was helping with their investigation.

They're also trying to trace the driver of a silver four-door saloon, possibly a Mercedes, which the Audi overtook just before the collision.

Despite restrictions being eased, many firms have been unable to fully restart operations.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• GKN owner Melrose in job cuts warning, external
• Estates will 'explore all avenues' over homes plan, external
• Hospice's shop to move to bigger premises, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Christian Barnett

Here are three of the stories covered by our Local Democracy Reporting Service in Worcestershire in the last 24 hours:

• A takeaway will be demolished to allow a path to be built between Foregate Street in the city centre and the River Severn.
• The number of young people claiming out-of-work benefits in the city has more than doubled since March, to 760 in June.
• A Worcester city centre coffee shop has been given permission to sell alcohol until 23:00.

A teenager's been charged with attempted murder over allegations he deliberately drove a car at a man outside a pub in Birmingham.

The 22-year-old victim was hit on Hurst Lane, Shard End, on Monday and carried on the bonnet for around 20m (66ft) before falling under the car's wheels, West Midlands Police said. , external

He suffered several broken bones and remains in hospital.

The 17-year-old accused, originally from Stechford, who can't be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and breaching a harassment restraining order.

The force said he was due to appear before magistrates today.