Summary

  • Updates from Monday 26 October to Sunday 1 November

Live Reporting

  1. End of furlough scheme 'like switching off life support'

    BBC Radio Stoke

    The furlough scheme ends on Saturday and will be replaced with the Job Support Scheme for at least six months from 1 November.

    The Regent Theatre

    To qualify, workers must have been on their employer's payroll since 23 September.

    But for Paul Wood, a worker at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, he isn't eligible as with the theatre shut, there is no work to do.

    He told BBC Radio Stoke furlough ending was "like having life support mechanism switched off".

    "We are not covered by any new support system from the chancellor because this relies on you being able to do part-time hours - well there are no hours to do," he said.

  3. Covid-19: 'We will need more restrictions'

    The West Midlands "will need more restrictions," Mayor Andy Street has said.

    “We have to take further action to turn the tide sooner rather than later,” he told a West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) briefing, amid speculation that Birmingham is likely to be moved to tier three.

    Andy StreetPA Media

    However, Mr Street said what the restrictions will look like "has not yet been confirmed or discussed".

    Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward called for a four-week national "circuit breaker" however the mayor said he was "personally not at that level".

    "What we've learned is that the virus doesn't respect political boundaries," he said.

    "We will have a West Midlands-wide discussion but it might not be the same for all seven areas [of the WMCA]."

    Local leaders are expected to discuss options with government next week, however Mr Street said he and other leaders were "not sitting around waiting - we are preparing our options".

  4. Covid-19: 'We need a circuit breaker'

    Kathryn Stanczyszyn
    Political Reporter, BBC WM

    The leader of Birmingham City Council has called for an immediate four-week "circuit-break" lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.

    Councillor Ian Ward told a regional briefing this afternoon that the government’s localised tier system "just isn’t working" and said a month-long full national lockdown would have the "best chance of driving rates down" as well as "giving government time to address serious problems with the Serco test-and-trace system".

    Bull statuePA Media

    Last week, the prime minister said test-and-trace needed to improve to provide faster results.

    Birmingham City Council's Labour leader described how hospitals in the city were coming under increasing pressure and said that delaying the decision would mean more avoidable deaths.

    He also said he didn't believe a move to the current highest tier of restrictions - tier three - would be effective enough.

    The government has previously defended the three-tier system, saying it is designed to "protect lives and livelihoods".

  5. Man charged after boy hit by car

    A man has been charged after a teenage boy was seriously hurt in a crash.

    The 15-year-old suffered injuries including a fractured skull in the collision on Baths Road, Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday, police said.

    The 20-year-old, from Meir, was originally arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but has since been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent (GBH), causing serious injury by driving and driving without insurance.

    He's due to appear before magistrates today.

    Two others, a 15-year-old girl and a 31-year-old man, both arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 17-year-old boy, arrested on suspicion of GBH, have all been released under investigation.

  6. Furlough ending: 'Really great to have everyone back'

    BBC Radio CWR

    A small business owner has praised the government for supporting her and her staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Jo Williams

    Jo Williams runs Joco Gifts in Nuneaton with a staff of six who have been on the furlough scheme since March.

    She said the funding and grants from the government along with freezing business rates kept the business going.

    With the scheme ending on Saturday, Mrs Williams said she would bring them all back full-time for the important run up to Christmas.

    "It is daunting in the fact that we could go into a higher tier and we [may] have to close again, but it is really great to have everyone back," she said.

  7. Arrests after children pulled from burning house

    A man is suspected of attempted murder following the rescue of four girls in Birmingham.

    Read More

  8. Covid-19: 'Sleepless nights' over furlough ending

    BBC Radio CWR

    A woman from Coventry said being on the furlough scheme had been something of a "rollercoaster" ride for her.

    For the past seven months, the government has been subsidising the wages of employees hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with employers contributing to the cost since August.

    Planes grounded at airportReuters

    Ellie Ashman, from Earlsdon, works as an air stewardess in the travel industry which was badly affected by the pandemic and is on the scheme.

    "It is scary and the amount of sleepless nights I've had over furlough, waiting to see if I would get my job - I've been offered redundancy, but then I got offered a new contract, it has been a rollercoaster."

    She told BBC Radio CWR she had been looking for other jobs as she wouldn't be moving on to the Job Support Scheme which replaces the furlough scheme.

  9. Trains face disruption

    BBC News Travel

    Train services are disrupted this afternoon between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester Piccadilly after a person was hit by a train.

    National Rail Enquiries said it was affecting Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and Northern passengers and could see services delayed, cancelled or diverted until about 16:00.

    Elsewhere, services are being disrupted between Shrewsbury/Birmingham International and Aberystwyth due to flooding.

    Transport for Wales services have been replaced with buses between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury.

  10. Premier League footballer donates school meals to hometown

    BBC Radio Stoke

    A Premier League footballer said he donated hundreds of schools meals to children in his hometown over half-term as he didn't want them to go hungry.

    Ashley Westwood now plays for Burnley, but started his career at Crewe Alexandra and his family still live in Crewe.

    Ashley WestwoodPA Media

    He told BBC Radio Stoke he donated 500 meals across half-term in partnership with his old club.

    "As much as I can I will help out my community, that is what Crewe is like as a town," he said.

  12. Covid-19: Pubs plead for tier 3 in bid for more support

    BBC Radio WM

    Moving Dudley and Staffordshire into tier three would be better for pubs, two landladies have said.

    The areas will instead move to tier two from Saturday with households no longer being able to mix indoors in any setting.

    The Winning Post, TamworthGoogle

    But for Lisa Finlay, who runs The Winning Post in Tamworth, she still has costs and said she would not get the emergency support firms would get in tier three if ordered to shut.

    "We've still got bills to pay, our bills have gone up because of table service because you have to have more staff on. The 10pm curfew is affecting the take because we're not taking as much money, shutting early."

    Penny Corbett runs the Little Barrel in Dudley and said she had been dreading the announcement of going into tier two.

    "For all the hospitality trade I think they should go into tier three definitely. The 10pm curfew, that is killing us as well. You have to get them out by 10pm, you only have to go one minute over and the police are there," she added.

  13. Yours photos: Animals in the great outdoors

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Today's photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers reflect some of the wildlife across our region.

    These three are from users Balding Baggie in Studley, Warwickshire, Angus and Me in Hednesford, Staffordshire and Mightyship in Moreton on Lugg, Herefordshire:

    StudleyBalding Baggie
    HednesfordAngus and Me
    Moreton on LuggMightyship

  14. 'Circuit break' closure for school after Covid-19 outbreak

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    A secondary school is closing next week after half-term as a "circuit break" after an outbreak of Covid-19.

    Meole Brace SchoolGoogle

    The head teacher of Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, has written to parents and said 14 members of staff were self-isolating after four positive cases of two staff and two students.

    He said the move would introduce a "circuit break" for the school so it can be sure all cases "have been dealt with".

    Lessons will switch online and the school said students who get free school meals will be sent supermarket vouchers to use next week.

  15. Wolves look to extend unbeaten run against Palace

    BBC Sport

    Wolves will be aiming to continue their unbeaten in October when they host Crystal Palace tonight in the Premier League.

    Wolves celebrating scoring in their last matchPA Media

    The home side have two wins and a draw from their three games this month and last lost to West Ham at the end of September.

    Wing-back Jonny continues his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury but he is likely to be their only absentee.

    Adama Traore, Joao Moutinho and Marcal could return to the starting line-up.

    Elsewhere tonight, Coventry City host leaders Reading in the Championship looking to avoid defeat for the third game in a row.

  16. Covid-19 infection rates 'at dangerous levels'

    Covid-19 cases in West Bromwich are now at "dangerous levels", according to Sandwell Council.

    Centre of West BromwichGoogle

    The latest figures show the infection rate in the area at 483 per 100,000 people compared with 299 per 100,000 for the wider Sandwell area.

    The council says rates are also very high in the areas around the town including Hateley Heath, Charlemont with Grove Vale and Greets Green and Lyng.

    Sandwell is currently in tier two of Covid restrictions with households not able to mix indoors in any setting.

  18. Triple-murder suspect arrested

    Anthony Russell is suspected of killing a mother and son in Coventry and a woman in Leamington.

    Read More

  19. Town park reopens after £2.5m revamp

    BBC Midlands Today

    A park has reopened to the public after a £2.5m overhaul.

    Victoria Park

    Victoria Park, in Stafford, sits next to the town's railway station and had been shut since work began in July 2019.

    The borough council said the revamp using lottery funding included a new cafe and a restored bandstand and toilets.

  20. Attempted murder arrests after boy hit by car

    BBC Radio Stoke

    Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a boy was hit by a car.

    The 15-year-old victim suffered a fractured skull, a broken thigh and a shoulder injury in the collision on Baths Road, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday, police said.

    Baths Road, Stoke-on-TrentGoogle

    His injuries have been described by officers as potentially life-changing and he remains in hospital in a stable condition.

    The two men, aged 31 and 20, were arrested on Thursday and remain in custody.

    A 15-year-old girl was also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on Tuesday and released under investigation.

    Police have previously arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, and he was also released under investigation.