Brierley Hill

Businesses can apply to receive a one off cash payment of up to £18,000 as part of a "restart grant" announced by the chancellor.

Rishi Sunak said those in hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses can apply through the new UK-wide Recovery Loan Scheme to help businesses of all sizes through the next stage of recovery.

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A father is set to walk and cycle a distance of 363 km (225 miles) to raise money for charity in memory of his son, who died after 363 days.

Baabzi Miah, from Birmingham, is raising money for Mencap after son Adam who was born with Down's syndrome and pulmonary hypertension, died in 2017 at 11-months-old after suffering complications due to flu.

He said the organisation helped his son "in every way" during his life.

Family handoutCopyright: Family handout

The challenge will start on 21 March, which is World Down's Syndrome Day.

Mr Miah said: “I’m going to start this challenge with 5km a day and then increase the daily target by 1 km so hopefully I'll be completing it within six weeks.”

Family handoutCopyright: Family handout

Families with school-aged children are being urged to have Covid-19 tests as schools prepare to reopen to all pupils from Monday.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardcare, from City of Wolverhampton Council, said: "Our schools have worked incredibly hard to create safe learning environments for staff and pupils, and the onus is now on us all to do everything we ensure they remain safe in the coming weeks and months.

“Regular testing of staff, secondary school pupils and households and bubbles is a key part of this."

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Secondary pupils will be asked to take three tests in school under supervision.

Family members and members of childcare or support bubbles can either order home test kits online or collect home test kits from a test site.

It's going turn a little chillier over the next few days but today we also have the risk of showers.

We could see some heavy rain and even a rumble of thunder, and you can expect some overnight frost.

Temperatures will reach between 7 and 12 Celsius.

BBCCopyright: BBC

A University Hospitals Birmingham facility has been recognised as a centre of excellence for patient care.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission was praised following an exercise designed to recognise and award neuro-oncology centres for their excellence.

Facilities were measured on a range of criteria including excellent clinical practice and training opportunities; emphasis on patient quality of life; providing clinical trials and offering a high standard of research opportunities.

Quote Message: The human-centred way in which care is organised in the centre of excellence is what you would want for any person that you loved most in the world. They are the places that I would have wanted my mum [Tessa Jowell] to have been treated and any person could know that their most loved one is getting the best possible treatment and care from Jess Mills Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission co-founder

The human-centred way in which care is organised in the centre of excellence is what you would want for any person that you loved most in the world. They are the places that I would have wanted my mum [Tessa Jowell] to have been treated and any person could know that their most loved one is getting the best possible treatment and care

Some of the Birmingham Live headlines today include:

• Murder probe after man stabbed to death
• 'Mini forest' of 600 trees springing up in Erdington
• Business secretary welcomes plans for a car battery 'gigafactory'

An additional £10m is to be spent on looking after the most vulnerable people in Dudley.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

More than £5m is to be invested in adult social care, with money earmarked to meet the rising costs of social care for people with complex dementia and learning disabilities, said Dudley Council, after the budget was approved on Monday night.

In addition, there is to be a £4.8m extra spend on children’s services.

The council is to increase the basic rate of council tax by 1.99% next year, with a further 3% for services for older and more vulnerable people. This increase equates to about £1.03 extra a week for a Band B property in the borough.

Quote Message: We never take a decision to increase council tax lightly. However, with levels in Dudley some of the lowest in the country and the lowest in the Black Country, increases are difficult to avoid if we want to continue to provide services people will be proud of from Steve Clark Cabinet member for finance

We never take a decision to increase council tax lightly. However, with levels in Dudley some of the lowest in the country and the lowest in the Black Country, increases are difficult to avoid if we want to continue to provide services people will be proud of

Today is expected to be dry with a good deal of cloud. It will feel chilly under the cloud with light winds of variable direction. Highs of 6 to 9C (43 to 48F).

Tonight will be dry and cloudy throughout. Mist and fog patches will develop overnight under calm conditions. A cold night with light winds. Lows of 2 to 5C (36 to 41F).

Get the latest forecast on the BBC Weather site.