Summary

  • Updates from Monday 12 October to Sunday 18 October

  1. Oxford v Crewe postponed for second timepublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Oxford United against Crewe Alexandra in League One is postponed for a second time with the visitors unable to fulfil the fixture.

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  2. What are the tier two Covid-19 measures?published at 15:39 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Can grandparents look after children? Can I meet friends in a beer garden? And other questions.

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  3. Image released in city punch attack probepublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Police have released an image of a man they want to trace after an assault in Birmingham city centre left another critically injured.

    Photo of man issued by policeImage source, West Midlands Police

    The West Midlands force said the attack happened on Upper Dean Street on 5 October.

    Officers are still trying to identify the injured man who suffered a serious head injury when he was punched. He remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

    Det Insp Richard Marsh said: “The motive of the attack remains unclear, but this appears to be an unprovoked attack on a lone victim."

    Police have described the injured man as black and aged between 40 and 50.

    Three men and two women, arrested on suspicion of assault, have been released on bail with conditions, the force added.

  4. Cheshire leaders criticise Covid tier two movepublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Authorities in Cheshire asked the government for tighter restrictions two weeks ago.

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  5. Harry Potter book sells for 'astonishing' £60kpublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    The rare first edition hardback copy of the novel had been valued at half the amount.

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  6. Pubs and restaurants: City to look for extra fundingpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Birmingham is going to lobby for extra government money for the hospitality industry following the tightening of coronavirus restrictions in the city.

    From Wednesday, different households mixing in indoor settings will be prohibited in Birmingham, meaning people can no longer visit restaurants and bars with friends, or relatives who live in another home.

    The leader of Birmingham City Council, Ian Ward, said: "We tried to persuade government not to make extra restrictions on hospitality - we didn’t win."

    City council offices

    Under the new rules for Birmingham, groups of up to - but no more than - six people from different households are still permitted to socialise in outdoor spaces, but Mr Ward says the council will continue to advise residents not to mix in gardens, because he believes "there is clear evidence" that household mixing of that type "is part of the issue in the city".

  7. Covid-19: New walk-through testing centre openspublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    A new walk-through testing centre has opened at Fenton Manor Sports Complex car park in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Testing will be available for people with coronavirus symptoms, including a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste.

    Testing signImage source, ge

    People with symptoms are being asked to book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus, external or by calling 119.

    A pilot test centre was set up there last month and there were complaints about the speed with which the slots filled up, and later about people not turning up for their appointments.

  8. Police respond to reports of shootingpublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Armed police officers are responding to reports of a shooting in Telford this afternoon.

    One man at the Bridges Business Park in Horsehay has been treated by paramedics for what police believe to be a gunshot wound.

    Crime sceneImage source, Liam Ball

    Supt Jim Baker said initial inquiries suggested the man had been shot at from a vehicle, for which police were searching.

  9. Teenager held on suspicion of terror offencespublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    The 19-year-old is being question by police in London following an arrest in Wednesbury.

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  10. New Covid-19 restrictions: More of your questions answeredpublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    We've been answering your questions about the new three-tier coronavirus restrictions. Here's an explainer to what's been announced.

    The areas facing the West Midlands' toughest restrictions are Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. They have "high alert" status and us such, fall under tier two, which from Wednesday, for example, prohibits different households mixing in indoor settings. Coventry, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, meanwhile, are in the lower category of tier one, where the alert level is "medium" and there are greater freedoms.

    You can check the restrictions where you live by using our postcode guide.

    On Facebook, though, some of you have been sharing your queries about some of the rules which may seem grey areas at first glance. Here's one we answered earlier.

    Among others to pose questions is Julie Evans, who asked: "What about people living in a high risk area travelling to a non high risk area for work?"

    The answer is this is permitted.

    Generally, the government says people should try to avoid travelling outside their local area, or entering another area rated Very High. But work is an exception to journeys between areas of different alert status, subject to sensible travel and workplace precautions, although people are generally advised to work from home if possible.

  11. Altrincham games off after positive testspublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Altrincham's next two National League fixtures are postponed after a number of their players test positive for Covid-19.

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  12. Your questions: The three-tier Covid-19 restrictions systempublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Yesterday's announcement of a new three-tier system of coronavirus restrictions -there's an explainer here- has led to many questions from you.

    Billboard offering face covering advice in BirminghamImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Birmingham has "high alert" status

    The toughest restrictions for the West Midlands focus on Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. These areas are in tier two and deemed on "high alert".

    From Wednesday, people in those areas from different households will no longer be able to mix in indoor settings.

    That was already the case for some of those places with regard to the home. But now different households from each of the areas are additionally prohibited, for example, from mixing in a pub or restaurant. When visiting such a venue, you will have to do so alone, or with members of your own household; sitting apart from anyone beyond that sphere.

    But in response to our Facebook, external post about the changes yesterday, some of you are seeking further clarification on them, with a range of queries.

    Among them is Samantha Jayne, who is one of many to ask whether it is permitted for tier two residents to mix with people from their support bubble.

    The answer to that is yes. While pre-existing support bubbles are drawn from separate homes - as typically a network for single people to aid those cut off from friends and family - they amount to one household. That said, the forging of support bubbles is itself subject to strict rules. Once in one, you can't start over with another.

    The government has also made it clear that support bubbles can be maintained even if the homes from which they're drawn are in areas of different alert status. But again, it's premised on the strict support bubble ground rules being observed.

    We'll bring you more answers to your questions later on.

    For now, here's a reminder of where things stand in the areas outlined above:

    Tier two rules
  13. Moped rider dies in crashpublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    A moped rider died in a crash in Tipton last night.

    West Midlands Ambulance Service said the man was found in a critical condition by the side of the road on High Street in Princes End at about 19:40 and paramedics were unable to save his life.

    High St TiptonImage source, Google
  14. Shell store renovation almost completepublished at 10:52 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

    A £7.3m renovation of Hereford's first world war shell store is almost complete.

    The new building uses the same steel frame as the original giant shed which was built at Rotherwas in just four months in 1916.

    Shell factory

    It contains pods for 25 new and growing businesses and aims to become a hub for defence, security and cyber technology firms.

    The project has been paid for by the European Regional Development Fund, Herefordshire Council and a loan from the Marches Investment Fund.

    Shell factory interior
  15. Exploratory work planned for historic town wallpublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    There are plans to drill small boreholes into Ludlow's town wall to establish its thickness, ahead of long-awaited repairs.

    In 2013, a section collapsed after heavy rain and there was a dispute over who should be responsible for carrying out the work.

    Ludlow town walls

    The explorative work can only start once permission has been granted from the Church and Historic England.

    The 13th Century scheduled monument is said to be among the most complete town walls in Europe.

  16. Around the web: JLR offers voluntary redundancypublished at 10:28 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Coventry Live

    Here are three stories from the Coventry Telegraph's website:

  17. Covid-19: Fines for two more venuespublished at 09:59 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    Two more venues in the West Midlands have been handed £10,000 fines for flouting covid restrictions, police say.

    According to the West Midlands force, officers found 250 people inside the Kasablanca Shisha Lounge in Birmingham over the weekend.

    It added 100 people were found at a premises holding an illegal rave on Phoenix Business Park in Walsall last month.

  18. The volunteers who got the game back onpublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 13 October 2020

    BBC Sport meets volunteers who trained themselves during lockdown to maintain grass pitches for their communities.

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