BBC Midlands Today

Parking changes on Cannock Chase look set to be a battleground as Staffordshire County Council considers a £7.8m package of measures designed to protect the heath and woodland.

The majority of the 26-square-mile site is owned by the local authority and it is evaluating a plan put forward by a group of local organisations.

They include closing 51 small car parks and introducing parking charges at others.

Victoria Wilson, the council's cabinet member for communities, has said the parking changes are part of a long-term need to change people's habits to protect Cannock Chase., external

"The reality is that while many small lay-bys will close, there will be more parking places overall, disabled access will be provided for and 50 locations across the Chase will still have free parking," she said.

But the suggestions, which could be voted on next month, have been criticised by some local residents including Emma Hawley.

"Pushing people on to these car parks is going to mean that the walking paths are a lot busier, you are going to be passing a lot more people, it is not going to be as quiet," she said.

BBC Radio Stoke

A hospital boss in Stoke-on-Trent says she can't believe people are still not taking coronavirus restrictions seriously during lockdown.

The city has the highest coronavirus infection rate in the West Midlands, with 557.8 cases per 100,000 population in the week up to 13 November.

Image source, PA Media

The University Hospitals North Midlands Trust revealed yesterday the Royal Stoke University Hospital was treating 304 patients with coronavirus, up from 186 at the end of October.

Trust chief executive Tracey Bullock said, despite the evidence of rising cases and people in hospital, she was still seeing people not taking the disease seriously.

"There are still a lot of people who are saying 'well I don't know anyone, friend or relative, who has been affected by Covid'," she said.

"But I think that is a dangerous strategy because to know someone who has been affected by Covid, it might be the worst case scenario and that person has not had a good outcome from it, someone has died as a result of it.

"Does that need to happen before people sit up and pay attention, do they need to lose loved ones?"

Stoke-on-Trent Live

A few of the headlines from the Stoke-on-Trent Live website today:

• Mum slams 'despicable' scammer who used her disabled son's face for £1k appeal, external
• Cannabis leaves strewn over street as 'masked gang armed with knife barge their way into drugs factory', external
• Baby shaker avoids jail after tot suffers brain damage - twice, external

BBC Midlands Today

A rare collection of books owned by Rugby School are due to be auctioned this afternoon and expected to raise thousands of pounds.

Image source, Forum Auctions

They include William Shakespeare's Fourth Folio, from 1685, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and titles from Daniel Defoe and Aristotle.

About 300 books in total from the school's library will go under the hammer.

The school said it was committed to using resources to benefit students.

BBC Midlands Today

People in the West Midlands are being warned of a "bumpy winter ahead" for the NHS by an intensive care consultant from Birmingham.

Dr Ron Daniels, a consultant at University Hospitals Birmingham, said residents had to understand Covid-19 was not going away, on top of the usual winter pressures.

"Winter is always a busy time for the NHS and with the added problem of Covid-19 on top of all of the other conditions that cause pressure on the NHS during the winter, it is going to be a bumpy winter ahead," he said.

It comes as community chiefs in Dudley have warned lockdown restrictions could be extended over Christmas if coronavirus cases continue to rise.

While the latest figures revealed Stoke-on-Trent has the highest coronavirus infection rate in the West Midlands with 543 cases per 100,000 population in the seven days to 12 November.

BBC Sport

Birmingham City's Continental League Cup tie against Leicester City tonight has been postponed after a Blues player tested positive for coronavirus.

Image source, Getty Images

A Birmingham statement said the player was in quarantine and a number of others who have been in contact with the individual have to self-isolate.

"A new date for the cup tie will be announced in due course," the statement said.

Express and Star

The Express and Star is covering these stories today:

• Wolverhampton rapid testing to get underway, external
• Rapid Covid tests to be rolled out in Dudley, external
• Work progressing on £1.4m Cannock cemetery, external

Andy Giddings
BBC News

A "selfless" nine-year-old boy who helps look after his deaf-blind brother has been nominated for a national award.

Image source, Filler Family

Zach Filler from Redditch helps six-year-old Luca play with sensory toys while his parents are busy.

Zach has had to spend most of his time at home since the Covid-19 pandemic began because of Luca's vulnerability.

He has been shortlisted in the Young Sibling of the Year category of the Sense Awards, external.

BBC Weather

There'll be some scattered showers around before more light rain spreads eastwards in the afternoon. Rather windy with a high of 14C/57F.

Image source, Chilli3

Then clear spells this evening before turning cloudy in the early hours with a chance again of some scattered showers. Staying blustery with a low of 7C/45F.

You can keep up-to-date on the forecast for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to the start of our live service for Wednesday.

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 , externaland Facebook., external

Zach Filler has been shortlisted for a national award over his support of his deaf-blind sibling.

Forces in England and Wales were advised on Friday to temporarily suspend issuing the fines.

Johnson Service Group has been hit by a slump in demand from the hotel and food processing sectors.

Allen Cook
BBC News

We'll be back on Wednesday from 08:00 with the latest for the West Midlands.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has been covering these stories in Shropshire this week:

• Cars will be banned outside a primary school at drop-off and pick-up times under plans to create Shropshire's first "school street". From 30 November, part of Greyfriars Road, Shrewsbury, will be shut to try to improve road safety, cut pollution and promote social distancing near Coleham Primary School.

Image source, Google

• More than 200 new homes are set to be added to a village after the latest phase of a decades-long development project was approved. Outline planning permission for up to 800 homes in Lightmoor, near Telford, along with education, retail and leisure facilities, was granted 17 years ago and is being built in stages.
• Plans for 27 affordable homes have been drawn up to try to address a housing shortage in a Shropshire village. Wrekin Housing Group has been tasked by Prees Parish Council and Shropshire Council to develop a site behind the medical practice after a housing needs survey identified 19 families currently looking for a home in the area.

BBC Midlands Today

A mother said she felt "absolutely helpless" when her nine-year-old son developed sepsis after his appendix burst on holiday.

Image source, Family handout

Seb Owen, from Stoke-on-Trent, was in Greece when he was rushed to hospital and had to undergo emergency surgery.

His mum, Naomi Owen, said other parents needed to be aware of the symptoms of sepsis, also known as blood poisoning.

"Hearing the words from your nine-year-old son that he wants to die, he feels like he is dying, are absolutely horrendous, and [you're] just feeling helpless as well, absolutely helpless," she said.

Symptoms in children include fast breathing, a seizure or convulsion, and a mottled, bluish or pale appearance.

Analysis earlier this year showed one in five deaths around the world was caused by sepsis, with youngsters most at risk.

In total, 33 residents and 23 staff members at the Worcester site have tested positive for Covid-19.

A police dog attacked with a rusty machete, external during investigations into reports of a break-in is "recovering well" and expected to be back at work in a fortnight.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Stark, a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois cross, was sent with PC Paul Hopley to the scene at Larch Avenue in Handsworth, Birmingham, at 04:00 on Saturday.

There the dog was struck on the head with the weapon, but he managed to bite his attacker on the leg, the West Midlands force said.

Image source, West Midlands Police

PC Hopley said: “When I saw the wounds so close to Stark’s eye I feared the worst. I thought he could have been blinded in that eye.

"[The attacker] struck Stark a few times with the machete but I managed to disorientate him with incapacitant spray and then tackle him to the floor."

Image source, West Midlands Police

A 16-year-old from Birmingham was arrested on suspicion of knife possession and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He remains in hospital having undergone treatment for dog bites, according the force.

A pedestrian has suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car in Birmingham.

The man in his 40s was struck on Dolphin Lane at about 12:30, police said.

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The driver of the car stopped and is helping officers with their inquiries, said West Midlands Police.

The road remains closed from Norland Road to Shirley Road.

BBC Radio Stoke

Students at a college are going to be taught online for the next fortnight, external as there are too many staff off due to the coronavirus.

Image source, Google

Thirty staff at Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College have been told to self-isolate through the NHS Covid-19 app.

Deputy principal Matthew Marshall said teachers could still work from home, allowing students to access virtual classes and not compromise their safety.

"With that number of staff not in work, we need to consider the safety of the building so if there was a fire alarm, can we safely ensure students are able to evacuate and assemble outside?" he said.