Summary

  • Updates from Monday 26 October to Sunday 1 November

Live Reporting

  1. Time-lapse shows HS2 bridge moved into place

    The 900-tonne bridge forms part of the new road network around Birmingham's HS2 Interchange station.

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  2. School meals: 'These kids need feeding today'

    BBC Radio Stoke

    Families struggling to feed their children in Stoke-on-Trent this half term are being urged to contact a local charity.

    Child eating from a plateThe School Food Plan

    The Alice Charity is delivering bags of food to provide meals for the week to youngsters who need them.

    Ministers continue to say they will not fund free school meals for vulnerable children in England over the holidays, as half term begins for many.

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock defended the government's refusal to budge, saying it had increased Universal Credit and allocated £63m to local authorities.

    But Steph Talbot from the charity said: "It is well and good people saying money is allocated to councils and all the rest of it but these kids need feeding today."

  4. Cafes and councils offer free school meals to children

    BBC Midlands Today

    Businesses across the West Midlands are offering free meals to families from today to help stop children going hungry over half term.

    Children having mealsThe School Food Plan

    Cafes, hotels, community groups and councils such as Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Telford & Wrekin and Staffordshire have stepped forward to offer food.

    It's after a campaign to extend the free school meals scheme over the holiday by footballer Marcus Rashford was rejected by the government.

    Kate Taylor in cafe

    Kate Taylor (pictured), from the Courtyard Cafe in Tardebigge, Worcestershire, said they would be offering free lunches for children this week.

    "We didn't have a lot when I was growing up, same as Marcus Rashford, so we just decided that, this is a new cafe, recently opened, so we thought we would offer something to the children."

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the community collaboration was "brilliant" - but said providing help through councils was "the best way to do this".

  5. West Brom's Hegazi joins Saudi side

    Ahmed Hegazi joins Al-Ittihad on loan from West Brom until the end of the season, when he will sign a permanent deal with the Saudi club.

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  6. Tributes to former Grandstand presenter Frank Bough

    BBC Entertainment and Arts

    Tributes have been paid to Frank Bough, one of the most familiar faces on BBC television from the 1960s to 1980s, who has died at the age of 87.

    Frank Bough presenting Grandstand

    Bough was born in Stoke-on-Trent and his family later moved to Oswestry, Shropshire, where he attended the local grammar school.

    He joined the BBC as a reporter and went on to present some of the corporation's most popular shows, including Grandstand and Breakfast Time.

    But his career was brought to an abrupt end by scandal.

    BBC Midlands Today's Nick Owen, who went up against Bough in Britain's breakfast TV battle on ITV's TV-AM in the 1980s, remembered him as "the ultimate broadcaster who combined news and sport brilliantly".

    Astrologer Russell Grant, a regular on Breakfast Time, said Bough was "a great man to work with" and was "always there for advice and support".

  7. Murphy free-kick rescues Newcastle point

    Jacob Murphy's late free-kick for Newcastle cancels out Raul Jimenez's brilliant opener in a lacklustre encounter at Molineux.

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  9. Wolves need to be more clinical - Nuno

    BBC Sport

    Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo says his side need "to be more clinical" after a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United.

    Wolves need to be more clinical - Nuno

    Jacob Murphy's 89th-minute free-kick rescued a point for Newcastle shortly after Wolves had taken the lead through Raul Jimenez.

    It was just the second shot on target from the visitors in a match in which they had 63% of possession.

    "We were patient, we were a threat, we didn't concede many chances and it is a game that we should finish with a victory," said Nuno.

  10. Weather: Showers easing through the day

    BBC Weather

    Light showers this morning but there should be more sunshine around this afternoon with just the odd shower. Breezy with a high of 12C/54F.

    LyonshallBBC Weather Watcher OldStation

    This morning in Lyonshall, Herefordshire

    Largely dry with some patches of cloud this evening which should mostly clear away through the night. Light breezes and a low of 5C/41F.

    You can get a latest forecast for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.

  11. Live updates for the West Midlands

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Welcome to the start of our live service for Monday.

    We'll be bringing you all the latest updates for the West Midlands.

    You can let us know about stories in your area via email, Twitter and Facebook.