Worcester Warriors forward GJ Van Velze has shoulder surgery, and centre Will Butler is to see a a specialist about his ankle injury.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Councillors will have another say on the future of Shrewsbury's Clive of India statue when they meet next week.

Thousands of people have signed petitions calling for it to be removed, because of his prominent role in the colonial rule of India and Lib Dem councillor Roger Evans described him today as a "very unsavoury character".

But calls to move the statue have been turned down once already by councillors and the Conservative councillor Steve Charmley said: "The decision at the last council [meeting] was was pretty clear to take no further action and I don’t see any reason to change it.”

Image source, Getty Images

A scrutiny committee meeting which discussed the issue today voted by six votes to two in favour of taking no further action.

The matter, and a rival petition to keep the statue where it is, will be discussed by full council on 24 September.

A man who broke his back during a charity cycle ride turns fundraiser again after learning to walk.

Branches in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Ipswich, Shropshire and Wolverhampton are affected.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• 34 jobs at risk as Waitrose to close store, external
• Fans back at Shrewsbury Town, external
• Clive of India statue to be debated again, external

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a man in his 50s was found at a house in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police were called to the property on Strensham Road in Balsall Heath before 06:00 today.

Image source, Google

His death is currently being treated as unexplained and two men and, who are aged 47 and 57, are being questioned.

Birmingham Live

Here are three of the stories from the Birmingham Mail's website today:

• Murder arrests after man found dead in house, external
• Harvey Nichols statement over continued closure, external
• Seven children taken to wrong schools in transport fiasco, external

BBC Radio WM

Sandwell's mayor is backing calls for some exemptions to the new coronavirus restrictions there, to help with childcare.

Dr Ann Jaron, who is also a GP, said the rules, which came into force yesterday, had implications for parents who rely on family for childcare.

Image source, Sandwell Council

Dr Jaron said there were some grey areas at the moment and pointed out it was possible to bend the rules by having a grandparent move in.

"They're not breaking the rules, because they're going to stay there until the restrictions lift," she said.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three of the stories from the Stoke-on-Trent Live website today:

• Ban on troublemakers in town as seven teens arrested, external
• Pub shuts for deep clean after child tests positive, external
• Car-jacking gang steals OAP's car, external

BBC Radio Shropshire

An archaeological dig within the grounds of Shrewsbury Castle is coming to an end today.

Over the past fortnight experts have been finding a lot of pottery, including this fragment of a drinking vessel featuring a man's face.

Some of the pottery dates back as far as the 12th Century and some of the items will have to be taken away for further examination.

The team now have to put all the soil back in the 1.5m-deep pit and replace the turf.

Heidi Carter, who has the condition, says she almost cried her eyes out after seeing them for sale.

Warwick is given approval to be just the second British racecourse in six months to welcome spectators - but only a maximum of 474 will be allowed into Monday's meeting.

Four year groups are kept off school following a boarding pupil's coronavirus result.

A class at Shavington Primary School near Crewe is being asked to isolate for a fortnight after a member of staff tested positive for coronavirus.

The group affected is in year two and the school said it was following government guidance.

Sebbie Hall wanted to raise money for disadvantaged people so they would not be lonely in lockdown.

Waitrose has announced it is closing its store in Shrewsbury town centre in December and selling its supermarket in Wolverhampton to Tesco.

It's also closing supermarkets at the Ipswich Corn Exchange and Caldicot in Wales, with the loss of 124 jobs in all.

The 140 staff at the Wolverhampton Waitrose will all be transferred to Tesco.

Image source, Google

A Waitrose spokesperson said: "We have found trading challenging in these four shops and, despite the best efforts of Partners [Waitrose staff], we have not been able to find a way to make them profitable in the long-term."

Clare Lissaman
BBC News

A Birmingham estate agent says the local restrictions have caused some confusion among customers, who have called to ask if they can still view properties.

Under the restrictions, external people in Birmingham, Sandwell, and Solihull cannot visit other households, but home viewings are included in exemptions because they are business-related.

Image source, Google

Ms Livingstone, the branch manager at Melvyn Danes estate agent in Sheldon, said: "We are still able to view and I have told people I am coming round for business - not for a cup of tea and we are following all the guidance such as only two adults, social distancing and wearing face coverings."

She said inquiries from people wanting to view properties had fallen by "about three-quarters" since the restrictions were announced on Friday.

Chris Johnson was diagnosed a few months after being promoted to assistant chief constable.

Wolverhampton's Director of Public Health has said he's very worried the city is very close to having tighter coronavirus restrictions introduced there.

John Denley also said the evidence points to the virus being spread by get-togethers at homes, rather than in places like workplaces, schools or pubs.

Image source, Getty Images

Yesterday, the leader of the city council urged people there to voluntarily abide by the same rules introduced in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull, banning households mixing.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Asylum seekers at an accommodation centre in Birmingham were not given face masks by staff running the site for several months, according to a voluntary group.

Kings Heath Action for Refugees said people at the Serco-run Selly Oak centre relied on them donating hundreds of masks from May so they could use public transport and get to appointments.

"A huge proportion of people there have underlying health conditions such as pregnant women, frail people. They are the most at risk group, they should be able to protect themselves and each other," a spokesperson said.

The Home Office said it had made masks available to groups running accommodation centres.

Serco said it had received them, handed them out to asylum seekers in mid-August and added "there are plenty of masks" at the centre this week.