BBC Radio CWR

Two fee-paying schools in Coventry have said they will merge to save money.

Image source, Google

The Coventry School Foundation, which runs both Bablake School and King Henry VIII School, said the move would "achieve efficiencies" and allow it to revamp the campuses.

The plan will see the two private schools merge and both lose their historic names - instead they will be known as Coventry School, which will open in September 2021, with the merger completed by the following year.

Image source, Google

Officials at King Henry VIII School say it was in 1545 with an older date for Bablake of 1344.

A petition has been set up opposing the merger claiming the move "only seemed to be motivated by the incentive of profit" and more than 950 people have signed it.

Coventry University begins disciplinary proceedings against "a number of students".

Her barrister says she has been "vindicated" after winning a tribunal against Jaguar Land Rover.

The number of new cases of coronavirus in the West Midlands appears to be plateauing, according to health officials.

Image source, Reuters

Clive Wright, from the Department of Health and Social Care, told a regional briefing today the overall rate of infection had come down but "we must not get complacent".

He revealed the figures from Tuesday and then from Thursday for every 100,000 which show:

• Birmingham - from 146.3 to 139.2
• Coventry - from 66.3 to 71.2
• Dudley - from 45.2 to 52.5
• Sandwell - from 113.3 to 107.5
• Solihull - from 75.8 to 79.6
• Walsall - from 78.7 to 72.7
• Wolverhampton - from 76.3 to 74.8

The number of tests being carried out in the region has increased from 30,000 in the week up to 17 September to 42,000 in the last week.

Further restrictions were introduced last month in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull and Wolverhampton banning households from mixing.

Mr Wright said the chance of restrictions being eased in the near future was "unlikely" but they might happen it "we continue to go in the right direction".

Rail passengers are being advised to think twice about travelling this weekend, because of the high winds and rain brought by Storm Alex.

There will be a speed limit of 50mph on trains, which means there will be fewer running and journeys will take longer.

There is also the risk of flooding on the tracks and signalling systems may be affected.

West Midlands Railway said it aimed to run as many trains as possible for as long as it can, but only while it remained safe to do so.

Balvinder Gahir was found with serious head injuries at a property in Leamington Spa in August.

An amber weather warning has been issued for the weekend, covering Herefordshire, Shropshire and parts of Worcestershire and Cheshire.

The latest Met Office warning says heavy rain is expected to bring some flooding and travel disruption from Saturday night into Sunday.

It said homes and businesses could be affected and some communities could be cut off.

Image source, Met Office

A less serious yellow alert also covers Staffordshire, the West Midlands and Warwickshire.

The West Midlands has been badly affected by flash floods in recent months.

In August, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it hadreceived more than 100 emergency calls in just two hours.

BBC Weather

Let's hope you got all your laundry dried, because we're forecast more heavy rain.

Temperatures will be a little bit cooler too - down to about 12C (54F).

And that wet weather is expected to continue into next week.

Image source, Poetic Verse

BBC Weather Watchers

We had an impressive full moon last night and depending on where you were, it seems it appeared in a range of colours.

To a BBC Weather Watcher in Telford it appeared to be bright orange, but in Coventry it was photographed in a more traditional white, while in Admaston it went for the beige look.

Image source, Raj's Range

Image source, Noodles_93

Image source, Country Corf

BBC Weather

The dry weather we had today isn't going to last and we're forecast more showers tomorrow, some of them heavy.

The temperatures will drop a little too - down to about 11C (52F).

And it's expected to stay like that through until next week.

Image source, Shaun

She advises parents to talk to children about how they feel as restrictions bite into normal life.

Defender Michael Rose signs a new three-year contract with Championship club Coventry City.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The future of Stratford-upon-Avon's minor injuries unit and the first aid centre at Shipston’s Ellen Badger Hospital is going to be reviewed.

They were both closed in March, to allow staff to be transferred to Warwick, to help cope with the extra demand created by coronavirus.

Image source, Google

Both centres are set to remain closed through the winter and the review will determine what happens to them next.

Under NHS England guidance, if they cannot become Urgent Treatment Centres, dealing with minor injuries which don't require a trip to an accident and emergency department, they will have to change, to provide other primary care services.

Coventry Live

Here are three stories from Coventry Live today:

• Covid-19 cases continue to rise across Coventry and Warwickshire, external
• Nando's break silence on new Coventry restaurant, external
• Second wave of coronavirus is here says University Hospital chief, external

BBC Radio CWR

The leader of Coventry City Council has said he has no sympathy if students who held a party in their halls are kicked off their courses.

About 200 are thought to have been at the gathering in the privately run Arundel House in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Coventry University said it would take disciplinary action and West Midlands Police is investing a breach of coronavirus rules.

Councillor George Duggins says they should also face fines.

We should see a break in the rain showers today and temperatures up to about 13C (55F).

But tomorrow the rain will return and is set to continue through the weekend and into next week.

Image source, Shaun

Coventry University says the "blatant breaches of the rule of six" risk the health of students.

Three fines of £10,000 have been issues to people for organising illegal gatherings.

Warwickshire Police said fines, external were issued to two men following a party with more than 60 guests in Bramcote on 12 September.

Another fine was issued to a man after a festival at Stratford Recreational Ground was attended by more than 200 people on 24 August.

Image source, Getty Images

Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Tedds said: "There are clearly some people who don’t think the rules apply to them.

"I hope the severity of the fines sends out a very clear message to others thinking of organising an event."

An officer has been hit by a stolen car during a hit and run incident in Coventry, police say.

The PC was pushed on to the bonnet of the oncoming black Fiesta in Hermes Crescent, Wood End, at about 21:45 yesterday, West Midlands Police said.

He was "thrown to the floor" but only suffered minor injuries as the car, later established to be on cloned plates, fled the area.

The vehicle was found abandoned in Doncaster Close, Wyken, an hour later.

Image source, Google

Det Sgt Ged Gray said: "It's through sheer fortune the officer was not seriously injured.

"The driver tried to mount the kerb to get away.

"As an officer approached the car they were deliberately driven at and ended up on the bonnet.

"They were carried a short distance before being flung to the ground and the car was driven away."

Joan Cummins
Midlands Today reporter

The future of the region's only baby hospice looks bleak with donations plummeting by more than half since the beginning of lockdown.

Zoe's Place in Coventry has also been badly affected by the cancellation of fundraising events.

The charity has restructured and made 40% of their staff redundant, but says it's relying on the public to ensure its survival.

Gina Harris, head of nursing at the hospice, said: "The impact of Covid has been the reduction in the service that can offer... unless we get some more support or a real boost to our income I think we will end up closing.".