Sandwell named Covid-19 'area of concern'published at 18:24 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
The West Midlands borough is added to the Public Health England watchlist as cases rise.
Read MoreSummary
Sandwell named Covid-19 'area of concern'
Girl 'gravely neglected' in lockdown
Further easing of lockdown measures across England halted amid spike in cases
Ex-football coach admits more sexual offences
Peerage for former pro-Brexit MP
Muslims celebrate Eid
Updates from Friday 31 July
Sandwell named Covid-19 'area of concern'published at 18:24 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
'Invisible' girl 'gravely neglected' in lockdownpublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
The 14-year-old, who was "concealed" by her family in Stoke, has a life-threatening illness.
Read MoreLive updates across the weekpublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Vanessa Pearce
BBC NewsLive updates have now ended for the West Midlands.
We'll be back on Monday with all the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Peerage for former pro-Brexit MPpublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
The former Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston Gisela Stuart is to join the House of Lords, the government has confirmed.
She was a prominent pro-Brexit campaigner during the 2016 EU referendum.
She is among 32 new peers, who also include former Chancellors Ken Clarke and Philip Hammond and the former England cricket captain Sir Ian Botham.
Jo Johnson, the prime minister's Remain-supporting younger brother, who quit as a minister last year in protest at government policy, will join them.
Two arrested on suspicion of attempted child abductionpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of attempted child abduction after two children were approached in Stafford.
Officers are investigating reports that the 11-year-old girl and six-year-old boy had been approached by two people in a car on Brook Glen Road.
A 56-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman, both from Stafford, have been bailed while the investigation continues, said Staffordshire Police.
The force said it was aware of reports of other incidents circulating on social media, but it was satisfied the incident on Brook Glen Road was an isolated case and not related to any previous incidents in the town.
Coronavirus: Beauty salons 'gutted' at 'last minute' callpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Allen Cook
BBC News"We are absolutely devastated."
Beauty salons across the West Midlands have reacted with anger and dismay on Facebook to the "last-minute" news about the further easing of Covid-19 restrictions being postponed.
The measures originally due this weekend included an increase in the number of guests permitted at weddings and certain beauty treatments on offer for the first time since lockdown.
However, following an announcement at Friday lunchtime, plans have been put back at least two weeks and mean salons are not able to offer services involving the face, such as eyelash or eyebrow treatments.
Helen Taylor (pictured), who runs Helen Taylor Asthetics in Rugby, Warwickshire, told the BBC it was a major setback.
"I've spent nearly £10,000 preparing to open for tomorrow and now I've got nearly 100 clients to rearrange," she said.
While YLB Salon, Shrewsbury, posted on its Facebook page , externalstaff were devastated and told customers: "Thank you for your understanding and patience during this extremely testing time."
Jenna Woolliscroft, who runs Bella's Beauty in Stoke-on-Trent, said on her Facebook page, external she was "extremely disappointed this last minute decision has been made" and that she was "truly gutted".
HS2: Chris Packham loses legal challenge to rail linkpublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
TV naturalist Chris Packham has lost a legal challenge to HS2 high-speed rail link.
HS2 is set to link London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds and it is hoped it will reduce passenger overcrowding on the network as well as making journeys quicker.
The Springwatch presenter said the government's approval of the contentious project fails to take carbon emissions targets into account.
He took his fight to the Court of Appeal after being refused permission in April by two judges sitting in the High Court for a full judicial review over the Government's decision to approve the scheme.
But in a ruling today three senior judges upheld the High Court's decision and dismissed Mr Packham's claim.
Teenager arrested on suspicion of murderpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
A 17-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was found with serious injuries on Sunday.
Image source, GoogleThe victim was found inside a flat on Tailors View, Arnold Street, Nantwich at about 20:20.
The teenager was arrested in Stockport, police say, and remains in custody.
A 42-year-old man charged with attempted murder in connection with the case is due to appear at Chester Crown Court on 27 August.
A 50-year-old man, also arrested, has been released on conditional bail.
Campaigner 'scaled machinery' to protect HS2 woodspublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Elliott Cuciurean allegedly breached an anti-trespass injunction at an HS2 construction site.
Read MoreTwo taken to hospital after van and HGV crashpublished at 16:53 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Two people have been taken to hospital after a crash involving a van and a lorry on the A500 in Staffordshire.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceEmergency services were called to the area just before 14:00.
Crews remain at the scene making it safe, said the fire service.
A woman and a man were taken to hospital suffering injuries not thought to be serious, the ambulance service said.
Jesse Richards death: Fresh appeal issued on anniversarypublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Officers investigating the death of a father-of-three, 11 years ago, have issued a fresh appeal for information "to help bring his family some peace".
Image source, West Mercia PoliceJesse Richards, 40, died in Evesham, Worcestershire, in July 2009, but his remains have never been found.
Five men were jailed over his death in 2012.
A search was carried out in Corley, Warwickshire earlier this year but nothing of significance was found, said West Mercia Police.
His mother Lucy Richards has appealed for information saying: "Trying to come to terms with Jesse’s murder has been hard enough, as I’m sure any mother would understand, but not being able to lay him to rest has made it even worse.
"Please, if you know anything, put yourself in my shoes and get in touch with police if you have any information at all – no matter how small it may seem.”
Eid Mubarak: Celebrations take place amid virus precautionspublished at 16:11 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Muslims across the West Midlands have been celebrating Eid al-Adha - albeit in a different way due to coronavirus precautions.
Some worshipers have been taking part in virtual prayers with others attending mosques - with social distancing measures in place.
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End of twitter post 3Murder arrest after man found deadpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Emergency services were called to a property on Trentham Road on Thursday night.
Read MoreMidfielder Mrabti to leave Birminghampublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Kerim Mrabti will leave Birmingham City at the end of his contract, but striker Scott Hogan agrees a loan extension.
Read MoreAround the web: Shutdown warning to businessespublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Some of the Express and Star headlines include:
Sandwell named area of concern by the governmentpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
BreakingSandwell, which has seen a surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks has been officially named an "area of concern" by the government.
Earlier, Sandwell Council called on local households not to mix indoors.
It is also asking people who are shielding to continue doing so, unlike the national guidance, which outlines a "pause" in shielding from this weekend.
The council also said anyone with symptoms to self-isolate immediately and book a test, external.
The decision to upgrade Sandwell to an area of concern is not only based on the number of confirmed cases in the area, but also advice from experts.
The number of new cases peaked at 106 for the seven days up to 26 July, according to Public Health England. Although the seven days to 27 July show a small drop to 92 new cases.
Sandwell's rate of 28.1 infections per 100,000 people is still less than half of that in Blackburn & Darwen and even further than that in Leicester when lockdown measures were introduced.
Apartment development site given go-aheadpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom DareNearly 100 apartments are set to be built on the site of the former African Village bar in Birmingham after councillors granted approval for construction to begin.
Image source, Birmingham City CouncilThe eight-storey apartment building will contain 95 homes and be situated at the corner of Birchfield Road and Wellington Road, where the restaurant stood until being demolished following a fire earlier this year.
The Perry Barr development will contain 58 two-bedroom apartments and 37 one-bedroom apartments, with the ground floor providing five commercial units.
Councillors voted to approve the plans during a planning committee on Thursday.
It follows news of 1,000 flats to be built in Digbeth.
Wait continues for football stadium improvement planpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Hereford FC will have to wait a bit longer to hear if plans to regenerate their Edgar Street stadium can go ahead.
Herefordshire Council was expected to approve the first phase of the £14m project in March, but that was delayed by coronavirus,
And at the first cabinet meeting since lockdown, the authority said a decision would have to wait until it had reviewed its spending.
Image source, Hereford FCThe plans include around 100 flats for students or key workers, along with space for businesses and community areas.
It also involves the building of a new stand, to replace the Blackfriars Street end.
Coventry's Shipley signs two-year dealpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Coventry City midfielder Jordan Shipley signs a new two-year contract with the League One champions.
Read MoreAround the web: Pedestrian hit by carpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 31 July 2020
Coventry LiveSome of the Coventry Live headlines include:
