Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans for a distinctive "checkerboard" office block in Birmingham's Centenary Square have been approved for a second time by councillors.

The 10-storey grade III-listed building at 5 Centenary Square will have 30 car parking spaces, 160 cycle spaces and a roof top terrace area, developers say.

The plans were previously approved in 2019, but now include an extra storey of office space and extra space for plant machinery.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

The Canal and Rivers Trust had been critical of a potential impact of the views out of Gas Street Basin, "although the impact might be minimal", but councillors unanimously approved the latest plans on Thursday.

A £10m loss caused by Covid-19 stops Chester Zoo supporting endangered species in Africa and Asia.

A deer has had to be cut free from school railings after getting stuck between them.

Image source, RSPCA

The animal was discovered at Smestow School, Wolverhampton, on 9 February, the RSPCA said.

Two rescuers found the roe deer, who was not hurt but unable to get free.

After trying to bend the railings with a car jack, they and the school caretaker used a saw to ease the animal out.

Image source, RSPCA

Rolling Stones signatures also feature in the pages called a "who's who of pop music".

Express and Star

The Express and Star has the following stories:

• Covid hospital admissions drastically fall but health chiefs warn pandemic is 'by no means over', external
• 2,000 back-office jobs to go at Jaguar Land Rover, external
• Facebook apologises over Black Country faggots and peas censorship row, external

Youth services in the West Midlands have been cut by 82% over the past decade, according to research from the YMCA.

The region has seen the biggest cuts in the country, although the national figure shows spending has been cut by an average of 73%.

Image source, Getty Images

The charity is calling for significant reinvestment from the government amid increasing demand for mental health services in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chief executive, Denise Hatton, said without reinvestment, "we would be condemning young people to become a lonely, lost generation with nowhere to turn".

A government spokesperson said it was providing "dedicated support" to help manage the impact of the pandemic on young people, and has provided more than £250m for youth organisations.

Two people have been taken to hospital followig a crash involving a car and a van in Uttoxeter last night.

Paramedics were called to Ashbourne Road just before 19:00 GMT and found four patients, two of whom were seriously injured.

Image source, Google

"The van driver, a man, was trapped as a result of the collision and ambulance staff worked closely alongside colleagues from the fire service to cut him free," a spokesperson from West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

He was taken to Royal Stoke Hospital for further treatment after paramedics said his injuries were potentially serious.

The driver of the car had managed to get himself free, the ambulance service said.

His injuries were not thought to be serious but he was also taken to the same hospital.

Two boys, passengers in the car, were assessed and discharged at the scene.

BBC Sport

Birmingham’s Elliot Giles ran the second-quickest indoor 800m in history as he set a new British record at the World Indoor Tour in Torun, Poland.

The 26-year-old clocked one minute 43.63 seconds to beat compatriot Jamie Webb, who finished second in 1:44.54.

The British record had been held by Sebastian Coe since March 1983.

It is Giles' third victory of the series, following wins in the season opener in Karlsruhe and the tour's second meet in Lievin on 9 February.

It's too soon to say if leaving lockdown at the end of May is the right decision, the boss of Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust says.

Prof David Loughton says trying to predict now when it should end was the wrong thing to do.

"The NHS needs some respite, there's no doubt about that," he said.

"My staff and the staff throughout the NHS have had a pretty horrific 12 months of this. I think we need to be cautious in terms of leaving lockdown to make sure this does not come back again in another wave that doesn't overwhelm the NHS."

Image source, Getty Images

He criticised people who have broken rules and attended parties or gathered in people's homes and urged people to stick to the government's message of "hands, face, space".

"They basically don't think it's going to happen to them. But sadly in my organisation alone, 725 have lost their lives to Covid.

"Some of the patients in intensive care, they're not in their 80s any more you know, we've got 20s, 30s and 40s in intensive care fighting for their lives..."

The chief executive of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has praised his staff and science teams in the region who've helped turn the tide of the pandemic, although he warns that "we're not out of the woods yet".

Prof David Loughton said although the peak has passed within New Cross Hospital, the general public still had a vital part to play by sticking to the rules.

He said the trust had 350 in-patients during last month's peak around 27 January, with 75 people in intensive care.

Mr Loughton said that number is now down to 168, but overall there have been 725 deaths.

"It's starting to look better but we're not out of the woods yet by any stretch of the imagination," he said.

He thanked the "unsung heroes" at the National Institute for Health Research, based at the trust, who had been involved in trials for five vaccines and developed treatments for Covid-19.

The family of Alethea Taylor, who was murdered by her husband in 2012, have renewed their appeal for information that will help them find her body.

Mrs Taylor was last seen in Orleton, Herefordshire, in January 2012. Her body has never been found.

Image source, Family handout

Her husband, John Taylor, was handed a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering the former teacher but has never revealed what happened to her.

"I hope that one day, either he's told somebody what happened and they come forward or he actually just decides to say, 'OK, that's where she is'," Mrs Taylor's niece, Lorraine McKillop, said.

The family have taken part in a Channel 5 documentary, Countdown to Murder, in a bid to get the information they need.

"If anybody knows anything at all, it's easier just to come forward," Ms McKillop said.

"Whether it's right or wrong, police can follow it up, check it out, just so we can find her."

Campaigners are worried over a dam that has been part of road relief proposals.

Two people have been taken to hospital after a serious crash in Redditch on Wednesday night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to the junction of Breaches Lane and Icknield Street Drive at about 20:23 GMT after reports of a two-vehicle crash.

Image source, Google

The driver of one of the cars, a man, had to be cut free and was treated at the scene by paramedics for serious injuries before being taken for further treatment at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham.

His passenger, a second man, had injuries which paramedics said were "potentially serious" and was taken to Worcester Hospital.

The driver of the second car was discharged at the scene.

West Mercia Police said it had to close a number of roads in the area overnight - including Breaches Lane, Icknield Street Drive, Morsefield Lane and Bartleet Road. The force is yet to confirm whether the roads have since reopened.

It's a wet and windy start this morning but that should be out of the way by this afternoon, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 9C.

Into the evening things will be dry for a time, although it'll be a chilly night, and there's more rain waiting in the wings for tomorrow.

Christmas lights and trees are left up late to raise spirits during the pandemic.

Tracey Green, from the West Midlands, uncovered the inscribed book at a railway station she is renovating.

Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor will return to former club Sale Sharks on a three-year deal from next season.

Thousands tune in for the latest Handforth Parish Council meeting but Jackie Weaver is not present.

Championship leaders Norwich City ease to a comfortable victory at Coventry to move four points clear at the top.

Millwall move into the top half of the Championship with a comfortable win over Aitor Karanka's strugglers.