Summary

  • Updates from Friday 9 September

Live Reporting

  1. Watch: Parents and children happy to be back

    BBC Midlands Today

    After all the hard work and preparation, it was a relief for Matthew Carpenter to see a successful return for two of his classes today.

    He's the headteacher at Baxter Academy in Kidderminster and he said 95% of the pupils were back today, enjoying what was as close to a normal school setting as they could manage.

    Some parents and children spoke to us when they arrived this morning.

    Parents and pupils said they felt safe returning to school this morning

  2. 'We've checked, checked and double-checked'

    The headteacher at Baxter Academy in Kidderminster says he's been into every classroom ahead of the big reopening and "we've checked, checked and double-checked".

    Years seven and 12 are back today, with the rest of the pupils returning tomorrow and Matthew Carpenter said: "It's been a lot to do, considering we've got nearly 80 classrooms."

    Making classroom safe

    Mr Carpenter explained the school had been split into zones for each year, installed lots of hand sanitiser dispensers, removed excess furniture, turned around desks to face the same way and introduced a one-way system.

    He said he felt "excited" to be back but "nervous" in case there was another virus peak.

    Matthew Baxter

    Matthew Carpenter says he has been around every classroom with the school dog, Bunsen

  3. Headteacher: 'We've got purpose again'

    The headteacher of a primary school in Droitwich says it feels like "our building is coming back to life".

    Emma Rowe from Cutnall Green Primary described the atmosphere during lockdown as "eerie" and that this morning, for pupils' return, "we've got purpose again and everybody's got a little bit more bounce in their stride, slightly wider smiles".

    Cutnall Green PrimaryCutnall Green Primary

    She added: "some of the staff are nervous because they want this to go really, really well for their children."

  4. New park to remember WW2 bombing victims

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    A planned park to remember the victims of a Second World War bomb attack is set to get £17,000 towards the project.

    A German bomber killed seven people and injured another 50 when it hit the Meco works on Bromyard Road, Worcester, on 3 October 1940.

    The seven were the only people to die in an attack on Worcester during the war.

    The park, with a memorial, is set to be created in the St John's area, with the £17,000 coming from the city council.

    The plans also include a new boardwalk over some areas that are prone to flooding and an orchard.

  6. Man bailed after suspected chemical attack

    A man who was arrested following a suspected chemical attack in Ross-on-Wye has been bailed.

    He arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after reports a man was injured when a chemical substance was thrown at him on Thursday.

    The suspect, who is in his 50s, has to return to Hereford police station on 18 September.

  7. Your photos: Blue skies around the West Midlands

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The arrival of September has brought with it beautiful blue skies, and BBC Weather Watchers in Shrawardine, Newport and Hereford have been capturing them in all their glory.

    Dog in fieldTrench1968
    SwansDaveWill
    LakeSunchaser

  8. 'I still imagine me with hair'

    Two girls talk about their experiences of working with a charity to donate hair and what it means to them.

    Read More

  9. Man dies in motorway crash

    A man in his 30s died in a crash yesterday morning which closed the M50 in one direction for most of the day.

    West Mercia Police said it happened at 00:20 near Ledbury.

    The eastbound side of the motorway was closed for more than 12 hours between Ledbury and Tewkesbury.

  10. 'We watched the river coming through the floorboards'

    People whose houses flooded twice in four months are still in temporary homes.

    Read More

  11. Nine-try Exeter thump Worcester

    Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds score hat-tricks as Exeter dominate below-strength Worcester with a nine-try win.

    Read More

  12. Anger over cemetery plans for country park

    The council says developing 11 acres of Arrow Valley Country Park would create 8,000 burial plots.

    Read More

  14. Arrest after 'acid' thrown at man in street

    Police were called to High Street in Ross-on-Wye after a man was hurt in an alleged chemical attack.

    Read More

  15. Plan to transform old cinema into music venue

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The Local Democracy Reporting Service in Worcester has been covering these stories:

    • An empty cinema and former bingo hall could be turned into a music venue under new plans from a Worcester-born actor. Sam Barriscale is trying to raise money to bring the Gaumont Cinema on Foregate Street and said he is hoping to use a crowdfunding scheme to buy the building. The cinema was last used as a Buzz Bingo Club before permanently closing earlier this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
    Buzz Bingo ClubGoogle
    • Dozens of new homes could be built on a former golf course in Worcester. They would go on the old Tolladine course with three homes in nearby Darwin Avenue demolished to make way and housing association Bromford hopes to start work early next year if the proposals are approved.
    • A development of 36 homes on the edge of Worcester is expected to be approved next week despite concerns over the lack of transport links in the plans. Malvern Hills District Council's planning committee will examine the proposal for 36 houses next to the A4440 Southern Link Road. Kempsey Parish Council has called the plans "extremely disappointing" and said it was disappointed the plans did not seem to connect with other planned developments.

  17. Your photos: Scenes from BBC Weather Watchers

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Here are three of the photos picked from the many sent in by our local BBC Weather Watchers.

    They are from users BoardWalk in Droitwich, Worcestershire, Snapper Simon in Church Stretton, Shropshire and Anna L in Stourbridge, Dudley:

    DroitwichBoardWalk
    Church StrettonSnapper Simon
    StourbridgeAnna L

  18. Worcester beat Quins to end losing run

    Worcester finally earn their first Premiership win of 2020 as they score four tries to comfortably beat Harlequins at Sixways.

    Read More

  19. Rise in town's' Covid-19 cases 'linked to family gathering'

    A family gathering is being blamed for a spike in positive Covid-19 cases in Redditch.

    NHS employee taking a test from a person in a carReuters

    Public Health England said there had been 25 new cases in the town in the week up to 22 August, compared to five the week before.

    The director of Public Health for Worcestershire, Dr Kathryn Cobain, said most of cases could be traced to a recent family gathering.

    "We are confident that most cases are linked to a single event in a private household and the risk to the wider community is low. Those who have tested positive are following our advice and self-isolating."

    The town's MP Rachel Maclean said she was calling for a walk-in test centre to be set-up in Redditch.

    "This will increase the number of tests available, enable more people to access tests if needed and provide the community with reassurance that measures are being taken in response to this increase in confirmed cases," the Conservative member added.