Summary

  • Updates from Monday 11 January to Sunday 17 January

Live Reporting

  1. Midlands leading the way with total vaccine doses

    Data from the NHS shows 447,329 doses of coronavirus vaccinations were administered across the whole of the Midlands between 8 and 10 January.

    That puts the region top of this table, but it includes the East Midlands and the area as a whole has around 11 million people living in it - so it's a big area compared to some others.

    GraphNHS England/BBC

    The NHS figures also show 35.7% of over 80s in the Midlands have received a dose now and 1.9% have had a second dose.

    That proportion is lower than most other regions, with the North East and Yorkshire leading the way with 45.9%.

  2. Bentley told to destroy clothing in trademark row

    Bentley Motors lost a legal battle with a Manchester-based clothing company of the same name.

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  3. Appeal after arrest over sexual assaults near McDonald's

    A man has been arrested after three women were sexually assaulted outside a McDonald's restaurant in Birmingham.

    A man was seen by someone at the Bordesley Green branch on 20 November approaching and grabbing the women, West Midlands Police said.

    A fourth woman reported she was sexually assaulted on the same day outside nearby Dixy Chicken.

    McDonald's Bordesley GreenGoogle Maps

    Detectives are now appealing for the three women to contact the force.

    "We know that you might not be completely sure what happened or how to talk about it, but our trained officers and partner organisations are here to listen and work together to support you in any way we can," a spokesperson said.

    The 39-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and has been released pending further investigation, the force added.

  4. Plans for homes on historic hotel site

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Plans to build 51 homes on the site of a historic hotel in Droitwich have been put forward.

    Parts of the Raven Hotel date back to the 16th Century and the central section of the building is Grade II listed, but it has fallen in to disrepair in recent years.

    Raven HotelGoogle

    The new plan replaces one put forward in 2018 involving flats and houses, along with a bar and restaurant.

    And it would mean the creation of nine two-and-three-bed flats, 22 terraced houses and 20 two-to-four-bed homes.

    But the listed parts of the building will remain.

  5. Pharmacy to be first in Midlands to offer vaccinations

    A Telford pharmacy has become the first in the Midlands to deliver coronavirus vaccinations.

    People in the area who are eligible will be offered the choice of going to the Woodside Pharmacy or a vaccination centre within 45 miles.

    They can also choose to wait until they can get an appointment at their local GP or hospital.

    Woodside PharmacyGoogle

    Telford and Wrekin Council is also lobbying to get a large vaccination site set up at the Telford International Centre before the end of this month.

  7. Villa-Everton match postponed

    BBC Sport

    Aston Villa's trip to Everton on Sunday has been postponed, because a "significant number of players and staff" remain in isolation after a coronavirus outbreak.

    Newcastle United’s postponed match at Aston Villa, which was due to be played on 4 December, has been rescheduled and will now be played on Saturday 23 January.

    Villa ParkGetty Images

    Villa already have three games in hand they are due to play one of those, against Manchester City, on Wednesday.

    That game was originally scheduled to take place on the opening weekend of the season but was postponed because of City's progress in last season's Champions League.

  8. Staffing a barrier to Nightingale Hospital opening

    More staff will have to be found if the NEC Nightingale Hospital is to open, the chief executive of University Hospitals Coventry has said.

    Andy Hardy said they could be used for recovering Covid patients, but added: "The NHS will have to try to find the staff somewhere to do that when many of us have actually got staffing challenges anyway."

    University HospitalGoogle

    There are now 213 people in University Hospital with coronavirus and 42 of them are critical.

    It's double the number of patients it was seeing on Christmas Eve and some non-urgent operations have been cancelled from this week.

  9. More than 1,000 oppose development plan

    More than 1,000 people have now signed a petition to stop hundreds more homes being built in Shifnal, triggering a debate on the issue by Shropshire Council.

    The local action group Shifnal Matters is angry at the latest proposed alterations to Shropshire's Local Plan, which could see up to 3,000 homes being built in the area.

    There are also plans for 100 hectares of employment land.

    Shifnal planShropshire Council

    Shifnal Matters had asked Shropshire Council to extend the consultation by another four weeks, because of difficulties in talking to people during the lockdown.

    It has also prepared a report for planning inspectors, claiming the plans don't follow government guidelines.

  10. Ex-Labour candidate in Tory switch over Covid response

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    A former Labour general election candidate for Bromsgrove has defected to the Conservatives.

    Michael Thompson, a teacher at Bromsgrove School, stood for Labour in 2017, but he quit the party over its stance on private education.

    Michael Thompson

    Since then he has served as an independent councillor, but has now joined the district's Conservatives because he is impressed at how the party has navigated the coronavirus pandemic.

    He said the party had "developed the courage to change, modernise and embrace the ideas of others".

  11. Bank holiday folk festival called off

    Decisions are starting to be made on spring events in the West Midlands and this morning we've heard this year's Upton Folk Festival has been cancelled.

    The organisers said the decision to call off the May Bank holiday event was made for the safety of everyone involved, with coronavirus still with us.

    Upton Folk Festival

    Earlier this week it was announced that the Bewdley Carnival would not go ahead as organisers said the current lockdown made it impossible to have meetings and plan ahead for the summer event.

  12. Pope speaks about 'relief' at resigning captaincy

    BBC Radio Stoke Sport

    Port Vale's Tom Pope has said "it felt like a relief" when he stepped down as captain.

    He explained he took the decision because he wasn't in the starting line-up and said: "I think when you're captain and you're sitting on the bench it feels like other people are laughing at you."

    Tom PopeGetty Images

    Pope has also said he didn't fall out with ex-manager John Askey and their working relationship had nothing to do with his decision to step down.

  14. Fines for not wearing masks at Birmingham indoor market

    Eighteen people were fined for not wearing face masks at Birmingham indoor market.

    Police received several complaints some traders and customers were not adhering to Covid-19 regulations.

    Market stallGetty Images

    Two people were told to leave the premises for not wearing masks, and another two were arrested for failing to appear at court after their details were taken for not wearing a face covering.

  15. More than 800 sign up to be Covid volunteers

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    More than 800 people have applied to volunteer at Coronavirus vaccination and testing centres in Shropshire.

    The application form was only launched last week and the charity coordinating the recruitment said it has been a fantastic response.

    Covid jabGetty Images

    Shropshire Rural Communities Charity is now following up references and the first volunteers could be working within a fortnight.

  16. Woakes frustrated by England isolation

    BBC Sport

    Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes said it's "difficult for everybody" after being told to isolate himself from the England team for a week.

    He flew out for their tour of Sri Lanka with Worcestershire's Moeen Ali, who has since tested positive for coronavirus.

    Chris WoakesGetty Images

    Woakes had only just returned to training with the squad and is being forced to sit out the first test match, which got under way in Galle today.

  17. Weather: Rain, with some sleet in places

    BBC Weather

    Today we're going to see more rain, some of it heavy, and maybe sleet too.

    And it's going to be colder than yesterday, with temperatures only just above freezing.

    LilleshallJazzyDee

  18. Live updates for the West Midlands

    Andy Giddings
    BBC News

    Welcome to our live service for Thursday.

    We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

    We love to hear from you, so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email,Twitter and Facebook.

  19. Lockdown students learning 'totally new skill set'

    With schools closed to most students, young people are getting to grips with remote learning.

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  20. Guide dog delay 'like losing sight all over again'

    A blind social media star could wait years for a new guide dog due to delays linked to the pandemic.

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