Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

School holiday dates have altered in Coventry this year after complaints.

The city council says it is to bring it in line with the half-term dates in Warwickshire after complaints from parents.

Some were having to pay for twice as much childcare if their children went to schools in two different authorities.

The autumn term in Coventry will start on 1 September with the first half-term holiday from 26 October.

BBC Weather Watchers

We've had rain across much of the West Midlands this morning as our BBC Weather Watchers have been finding out.

These three are from users BoardWalk in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Shaun in Stafford and Steve Blackman in Napton on the Hill, Warwickshire:

Image source, BoardWalk

Image source, Shaun

Image source, Steve Blackman

Coventry Live

The Coventry Live website's covering these stories today:

• Coventry school holiday dates change after complaints, external
• Police appeal after head-on crash in Coventry leaves woman in critical condition, external
• Shut-down ‘inadequate’ care home in Coventry could become a massive HMO, external

BBC News Travel

Drivers are facing eight miles of congestion on the M40 southbound near Leamington Spa this afternoon after a vehicle fire.

Image source, Highways England

Just one lane is open past the scene, external of the blaze between J13 and J12, Highways England said.

Motorists are being warned of 90 minute delays and advised to consider using the M6 and M1 if heading from the West Midlands to London and south east England., external

Isobel Corrie was on a flight back from Thailand when James Birch had a cardiac arrest mid-flight.

Lady Anne Dodd says the late comic would have been "thrilled to bits" to help the Shakespeare project.

A woman has been critically injured in a head-on crash in Coventry.

A VW Golf - which earlier had failed to stop for police officers - was driven on the wrong side of Foleshill Road before crashing into an Audi.

A 49-year-old woman travelling in the rear of the blue Golf suffered serious internal injuries and her condition is described as life threatening, the force said.

Image source, Google

The 20-year-old male driver of the Golf was also transferred to hospital having suffered a fractured kneecap, while a 16-year-old male passenger has since been discharged from hospital.

The Audi driver, suffered minor injuries.

Police said they will question the driver when he is fit to be interviewed.

West Midlands Police is appealing for witnesses , externalto the crash at 13:45 on Monday in Foleshill Road.

Kellie Smith "bought sweets" for her victim and smoked cannabis with him in her car, a court hears.

Two-year-old Eleanor Manton was spotted by children's wear brand JoJo Maman Bébé for modelling work.

Police Scotland officers discovered the haul after stopping the van on the M74 in Lanarkshire.

Hospital staff applaud as the iconic plane marks their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

A van driver has been arrested after the seizure of what authorities alleged was an estimated six million illicit cigarettes.

Image source, HM Revenue and Customs

The driver, from Coventry, was stopped by Police Scotland in Lanarkshire last Friday.

Officers discovered the haul in the back of the van and alerted HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The 32-year-old was arrested and interviewed at Motherwell Police Station before being charged with Excise Duty fraud, HMRC said.

A drive-through coronavirus testing site in the centre of Coventry is to remain until the end of the month.

Image source, Google

The site at Moat Street car park was initially planned for a fortnight - ending on Sunday.

But now the council say the importance of testing means they plan to keep it for at least a couple more weeks.

The rate of people testing positive for coronavirus is rising in the city with 17.5 people per 100,000 testing positive in the seven days up to 11 August.

A man is being treated for serious injuries after falling from a flat's balcony in Coventry.

It happened at a property on Bath Street at about 19:00 on Monday, said West Midlands Police, launching an investigation.

He received urgent trauma care at the scene before being taken to hospital, added the ambulance service.

Jack Willis and Wasps attract praise for their impressive Premiership return on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

Four people suffered serious injuries when two vehicles crashed in Coventry on Monday.

It happened on Foleshill Road at about 13:50 shortly after Warwickshire Police attempted to stop one of the vehicles, the force said.

Teenage boys and a man from one car received trauma care at the scene before being taken to hospital.

The driver of the second, a woman, sustained serious injuries and was taken to the city's University Hospital.

The case has been referred to the force's professional standards department.

A fruit distribution centre in Coventry remains closed today after a total of 30 staff tested positive for coronavirus.

Image source, Google

Banana supplier Fyffes said it was putting "enhanced infection control measures" in place and stopping normal operations at the site in Walsgrave, Coventry, until Wednesday morning.

An outbreak was reported last week after 10 employees tested positive.

The site at Cross Point Business Park on Richardson Way was set for a "thorough clean", Fyffes said, adding the safety of workers was its "number one priority".

Wasps forward Thibaud Flament opts to leave at the end of the season after turning down an offer from the Premiership club.

A Coventry student has described a government U-turn on how A-level grades are awarded as a "weight off my shoulders".

A-level and GCSE students in England will be given grades estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm, it has been announced.

Zara from Bishop Ullathorne School in the city said: "I have been feeling so heavy and miserable and angry these last couple of days.

"I was predicted A*AA and was given A*AB and that one grade meant that I couldn't go to any medical school.

"I understand though that my university does have a set amount of spaces and that they might not have enough space for me, so if I have to defer for a year I will."

The fruit supplier's distribution centre in Coventry has closed for 48 hours to allow for cleaning.