Summary

  • Updates for 5-9 October

  1. Wasps to play in Premiership finalpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    Wasps will play Saturday's Premiership final against Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham, despite 11 Covid-19 cases in the past week.

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  2. Covid-19: Workers urged not to share cigarette lighterspublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    Workers in Shropshire are being urged not to share cigarette lighters and cups during breaks, to stop the spread of Covid-19.

    A cigarette lighter

    Shropshire Council said, external it had seen outbreaks in many workplaces and, with cases increasing, the county was at a "critical point" in trying to avoid tougher restrictions.

    Other items staff are being told not to share during their breaks include mobile phones, cutlery and plates.

    People are also being told by the council not to car share if they can avoid it.

    The rate of new cases of coronavirus in the area has increased from 75.5 per 100,000 people in the seven days to 8 October to 84.8 the following week.

  3. Dudley braced for tougher tier 2 Covid restrictionspublished at 11:01 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    Rob Mayor
    Political reporter, BBC Radio WM

    Dudley could find out today if it will face tougher Covid-19 rules, the leader of the council has told BBC Radio WM.

    Shoppers wearing protective face masks walk along High Street, DudleyImage source, PA Media

    The borough is the only one in the West Midlands not to have tier two rules which ban households from mixing including inside bars or restaurants.

    New cases of coronavirus have been increasing in Dudley with 135.9 per 100,000 people in the week up to 16 October, compared with 95.8 for the previous seven days.

    Council leader Patrick Harley told me if a decision to move them to tier two is not taken today, it is pretty much inevitable in the next week.

  4. Fire destroys 3,500 tonnes of hay and strawpublished at 10:36 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    Several thousand tonnes of straw and hay has gone up in smoke in a huge barn fire.

    The fireImage source, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

    Dozens of firefighters were called last night to a farm in Munsley, near Ledbury, Herefordshire, the fire service said. , external

    The blaze covered about 1,600 sq m and involved about 3,500 tonnes of hay and straw.

    The service said three fire engines had remained at the farm this morning to keep hosing the area down.

    The fireImage source, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service
  5. Presenter barn plan allowed at castle homepublished at 10:13 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    Richard Hammond has been given the go-ahead, but with a number of restrictions in place.

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  6. Plans to create 'largest heath-land habitat'published at 09:44 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    Caroline Gall
    BBC News

    A wildlife charity is hoping to buy more than 100 acres of land to return it to a network of heath-land habitat.

    The land

    Dropping Well Farm, in Worcestershire, has been intensively farmed for decades, but a £1.4m project aims to create the county's largest block of heath-land.

    Worcestershire Wildlife Trust said up to 85% had been lost across the UK over the past 150 years.

    Heath-land habitat must be restored so "wildlife can thrive once again", its chief executive Colin Raven said.

  7. No plans for West Midlands to move to tier threepublished at 09:04 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    There are currently no plans for the West Midlands to move into tier three of the coronavirus restrictions, the West Midlands mayor says.

    People in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull and Wolverhampton are currently under tier two restrictions, which prevents mixed households of six gathering anywhere except outdoors or in private gardens.

    In a post on Twitter, external, Andy Street said the region must "maintain" this position for as long as possible "to help protect people's lives and livelihoods".

    "However our case number are rising," he said.

    "And if they continue to rise in the coming weeks then naturally we will have to begin the dialogue with the government about whether a move into the very high level of restrictions is appropriate".

    Andy Street

    While the region remains in tier two, Mr Street added, he will continue to lobby the government for extra support for businesses.

  8. BBC to broadcast 'phenomenal' 2022 CWGpublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    The BBC will broadcast the 2022 Commonwealth Games as the decision to have more women's than men's medal events is described as "phenomenal".

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  9. Pupils offered chance to 'bring colour' to Covid test sitepublished at 08:42 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    School pupils are being given the chance to "bring colour" to a Covid-19 test site and make it less daunting for children.

    The currently "clinical" siteImage source, Cheshire East Council

    The new centre for walk-through appointments opened recently on Chester Street car park, Crewe.

    Cheshire East Council said it wanted it to look "less clinical" and schools could get involved with creating pictures to fill the walls.

    The authority added there would be no end date for the submission of pictures and it would need to refresh the displays frequently.

  10. City of Culture announcements due todaypublished at 08:34 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    Plans for key events as part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 are set to be revealed today.

    The coronavirus pandemic has seen the launch of the year of the arts postponed until May 2021.

    But organisers say they’re determined to give the city an unforgettable year of events.

    Coventry was announced as the winning city in December 2017Image source, PA Media
  11. Weather: Cloudy and wetpublished at 08:16 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    BBC Weather

    Mainly cloudy with rain spreading in from the south this morning before turning more showery this afternoon. Windy as the day goes on with a high of 15C/59F.

    CongletonImage source, BBC Weather Watcher Dawn Treader
    Image caption,

    This morning in Congleton, Cheshire

    Then cloudy this evening with a few showers before they ease overnight with clear spells developing. Low: 9C/48F.

    Keep up-to-date on your local forecast by going to the BBC Weather website.

  12. Plans to create 'largest heathland habitat'published at 06:30 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    Conservationists want to create a "huge, green heart" of natural habitat in Worcestershire.

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  13. Pubs and cafes 'fighting to keep going'published at 06:28 British Summer Time 21 October 2020

    Hospitality venues adapt yet again to changes brought about by Covid-19 guidelines.

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  14. Burton Albion 0-1 Rochdalepublished at 22:33 British Summer Time 20 October 2020

    Midfielder Matty Lund returns to haunt his former club as his second goal of the season secures Rochdale's first away win as they beat Burton.

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  15. Late Vrancic strike beats 10-man Bluespublished at 22:16 British Summer Time 20 October 2020

    Norwich City strike late through Mario Vrancic to beat 10-man visitors Birmingham City in the Championship.

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  16. Bradford City 1-1 Walsallpublished at 22:15 British Summer Time 20 October 2020

    Billy Clarke earns Bradford a 1-1 draw against Walsall with a second-half penalty.

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  17. Coventry City 1-1 Swansea Citypublished at 21:44 British Summer Time 20 October 2020

    Jordan Shipley's classy finish is cancelled out by a sweet strike on the counter from Andre Ayew as Coventry City and Swansea City share the points at St Andrew's.

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  18. Sunderland 1-0 Crewe Alexandrapublished at 21:22 British Summer Time 20 October 2020

    Sunderland extend their unbeaten start to the League One season courtesy of a 1-0 win over Crewe at the Stadium of Light.

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  19. Cambridge United 3-1 Port Valepublished at 21:15 British Summer Time 20 October 2020

    Paul Mullin continues his sensational early-season form with a hat-trick as league leaders Cambridge United beat Port Vale.

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