Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

A woman from Worcestershire has been able to hold her husband's hand for the first time in 12 months.

Care home residents in England will be allowed one regular visitor from today in the first easing of lockdown since its reintroduction last month.

Thelma Barnett was the first visitor allowed into the Lawns Nursing Home in Kempsey this morning.

Her 83-year-old husband Basil has dementia.

He "doesn't really understand" the virtual chats, she told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester.

"But he really understands it when he walks in the door and sees me very smiley, so that's great."

Naga Munchetty travelled across the UK to understand what race and racism means today.

A mural of Capt Sir Tom Moore on a garage door has been auctioned, raising £260 for NHS charities.

Image source, Claire and Daryl Lancaster

It was painted by Claire and Daryl Lancaster at their home in Redditch when the army veteran and fundraiser died in February.

The mural became an important tribute in the local area, becoming the site for residents to lay flowers.

The couple hoped raising money for the NHS was a fitting legacy for Capt Sir Tom, who raised £33m himself.

A railway line has reopened six months after a train derailed and burst into flames, spilling 330,000 litres of diesel.

The southern end of the Heart of Wales line was closed following the "major incident" in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, on 26 August.

Network Rail said it took 37,500 hours of work to protect the environment and repair the line which runs from Shrewsbury to Swansea.

On Monday passenger and freight services will resume.

Year 11 students have been arriving back at Jewellery Quarter Academy in Birmingham as pupils across England return to school for the first time in two months as part of the first stage of lockdown easing.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Covid tests introduced at schools are voluntary - and there have been warnings from school leaders that getting parental consent has been the biggest difficulty.

Face masks are expected to be worn in secondary school classrooms, where social distancing is not possible, at least for the remaining weeks of this term.

Team GB rugby player Heather Fisher says she "dreads" using public toilets as she is frequently mistaken for a man because of her alopecia.

Officers are continuing to investigate "violent disorder" in Coventry over the weekend when a man and a teenage boy were injured after shots were fired.

Image source, Google

West Midlands Police said officers were deployed to Achal Close in the city at about 00:20 on Sunday.

A 29-year-old man was taken to hospital with leg injuries, police said, and the 17-year-old boy self-presented at hospital later with hand and chest wounds, which are not thought serious.

No arrests have been made, police said, but patrols have been stepped up.

A leading scientist has urged parents on the school run to keep following social distancing as the next few weeks "are going to be crucial" in keeping infection rates down.

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the government's SPI-M modelling advisory group, told Times Radio it was "possible" to keep the R number below one with schools open, but people must continue to follow the rules.

Image source, PA Media

"Just because you're not in the home with your young children, don't use it as an excuse to go out and mix with other people that you otherwise wouldn't have done," he added.

Dr Tildesley said he would have preferred primary pupils to return to school first "and maybe a slight delay for secondary school children going back".

However, he said the impact of vaccinations on infection rates "hopefully is yet to come", with current falls most likely due to lockdown measures.

The man, who was believed to have been in his late teens, died after being found with stab injuries.

Sisters Tia, Scarlett and Imogen are among thousands of pupils returning to school in Birmingham today.

Tia said she was "excited" to be returning to school "because I get to see my friends and do all my favourite activities".

The 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will be a "catalyst" for the post-pandemic recovery in the West Midlands, its chief executive has said.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

The Games have been affected by Covid-19, but Ian Reid said they were still a "real opportunity for the region".

Although coronavirus scuppered the Perry Barr athletes' village, Mr Reid said he was "really encouraged" by how the region responded to challenges.

He said the Games would provide up to 30,000 jobs as well as volunteer roles.

You can read more on this story here.

West Midlands Police is to get a share of government money to target violence hotspots.

The £30m funding is being allocated in a bid to crack down on murders, knife crime and other serious offences.

The money is being made available to forces in parts of England and Wales "most affected by serious violence", according to the Home Office.

In the past two years £100m of such funding has resulted in more than 100,000 weapons being seized and has seen thousands of hours of police activity like increased patrols and searches, the Home Office said.

Extra rail services have been introduced as more pupils return to schools and colleges across England.

West Midlands Trains is one of the companies boosting capacity, with additional carriages introduced to some services.

High winds could bring disruption to travel and transport services across the West Midlands later this week, the Met Office is warning.

Image source, Met Office

A yellow warning for wind has been issued covering the whole of the region from 21:00 on Wednesday until 15:00 on Thursday.

Malcolm Turner was trapped inside his home when Richard Newing set fire to his mobility scooter.

This is the fourth big return to school in England since the start of the pandemic and will come with questions about catching up on missed lessons, young people's wellbeing and a replacement exam system.

The government is considering various measures to help pupils, including longer school days and shorter holidays, according to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

The Conservative MP for South Staffordshire told the BBC ministers were looking at "how the school year runs" after the disruption of Covid.

He also told Sky News a five-term year and changes to summer holidays were under consideration.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

Bellfield Junior School, Northfield, is among hundreds across England welcoming back children for the fourth big return to school since the start of the pandemic.

Questions have been raised over catching up on missed lessons and the government has floated various measures including longer school days and shorter holidays.

But Bellfield head teacher Nigel Attwood said he would not be using the term "catching up" with the pupils and instead the focus would be on how they are feeling.

"The children are where they are at, we need to make sure that we understand where they are at when they come back and spend a week getting to know them and re-socialising and checking their wellbeing," he said.

Luxury car giant Aston Martin has pledged to manufacture all of its electric cars in the UK from 2025.

Image source, Reuters

As first reported in the Financial Times, external, owner Lawrence Stroll said all of its battery sports cars would be made at its plant in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Its electric SUV models would be made at St Athan in Glamorgan, he confirmed.

The company is due to start making hybrid versions of its cars over the next four years, followed by battery-only models.

BBC Midlands Today

Thousands of children across the West Midlands are returning to school today for the first time in months.

Image source, Jane Barlow

They, along with millions of pupils across England, have spent more than two months studying at home in the latest lockdown.

Coventry's St John's CofE Academy is preparing to welcome all 200 pupils today and deputy head teacher Sarah Smalldon said staff had made changes to keep the children safe and happy.

"We have staggered starts in the morning, staggered play times, different lunch times but that is all what the children were used to before Christmas so we are reverting back to that really," she said.

BBC Weather

Dry today with patches of cloud mixed with sunny spells. Light or gentle winds and a high of 9C (48F).

Image source, BBC Weather Watcher Harry the Springer

Staying dry tonight with mainly clear skies which will leave it feeling quite chilly with a low of 1C (34F).

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