:00:10. > :00:13.Welcome to Midlands Today. A big rise in demand for free food,
:00:13. > :00:19.for people who say they cannot afford to feed themselves or their
:00:19. > :00:23.children. There is an increasing need.
:00:23. > :00:29.After the riots, the fund to help shopkeepers who lost business.
:00:29. > :00:32.A ban on drinking alcohol alfresco for over 55s at this housing
:00:32. > :00:36.complex. And Shrewsbury Town at celebrate
:00:36. > :00:40.after knocking at Premier League Swansea City out of the Carling Cup.
:00:40. > :00:50.Be it was a great result for the club, and it really put Shrewsbury
:00:50. > :00:58.
:00:58. > :01:02.Welcome to Wednesday's Midlands Today from BBBC. A surge in demand
:01:02. > :01:06.for free food from parents struggling to feed their children.
:01:06. > :01:10.A Black Country charity which provides free food to vulnerable
:01:10. > :01:15.people have seen a 45% increase in demand since last year.
:01:15. > :01:20.It has fed nearly 3500 people in the last six months of this year,
:01:20. > :01:25.and that includes 1000 children. The food back is now calling for
:01:25. > :01:29.government help. Enough food for three days. Carl is
:01:29. > :01:39.one of a growing number of clients at the Black Country Foodbank in
:01:39. > :01:39.
:01:39. > :01:47.Stourbridge. In 2010 we fed 5324 people. This year, in the first six
:01:47. > :01:53.months, we have already fed to 3300, of which 1100 our children. More
:01:53. > :01:58.and more families are relying on the food back to survive. There is
:01:58. > :02:02.one lady sat on the sofa with me, and she was crying her eyes out.
:02:02. > :02:08.She said the problem is the school holidays, they will each be out of
:02:08. > :02:13.house and home. Staff noticed a seasonal blip in demand of 28%
:02:13. > :02:18.coinciding with families losing free school meals. More than 40,000
:02:19. > :02:24.people under 16 are fed up for free during term-time.
:02:24. > :02:29.Tom is unemployed and living hand to mouth. I was scared, because I
:02:29. > :02:33.am not a person who normally asks for help, but the food back put
:02:33. > :02:38.that confidence in to me, because I grew up in care, so I found it hard
:02:38. > :02:42.to trust people, and the food back put that trust back into it.
:02:42. > :02:47.You can only have a pack like this on three occasions, because the
:02:47. > :02:51.ethos behind the food bank is that it is help in times of crisis.
:02:51. > :02:55.Candy and Matthew were not aware of the three pack limit.
:02:55. > :03:00.Had how will you manage after that? We will be struggling. Just a
:03:01. > :03:04.living from day today. It is all you can do.
:03:04. > :03:11.There are plans for another two distribution centres to be up and
:03:11. > :03:15.running by Christmas. We are joined now by the
:03:15. > :03:21.Conservative MP for Stourbridge, Margot James. This really is a sad
:03:21. > :03:25.state of affairs, isn't it, that things have got so bad? Yes, I
:03:25. > :03:31.quite agree. It is terrible to think that people are needing help
:03:31. > :03:35.with food, a basic essential, in this day and age. The food back has
:03:35. > :03:39.been running for a few years now, as they do a marvellous job, but as
:03:39. > :03:43.you say, it is very sad that people need the service. The figures are
:03:43. > :03:49.astonishing. Should the Government be concerned that people are having
:03:49. > :03:54.to rely on charity for food? quite agree. I think the government
:03:54. > :04:01.are trying to do everything possible to support people who are
:04:01. > :04:06.either out of work or on low pay. In what way? We have exempted low-
:04:06. > :04:10.paid people from the public sector pay freeze, we have increased tax
:04:10. > :04:16.allowances so that nearly 1 million people have come out of the tax
:04:16. > :04:22.system altogether. In Stourbridge, we come under Dudley local
:04:22. > :04:29.authority, as they are helping people stay in their homes, and are
:04:29. > :04:32.helping homeowners through mortgage arrears helping services. I get the
:04:32. > :04:37.feeling that thousands of people are falling by the wayside. Who
:04:37. > :04:42.will rescue them? I agree that there are people on the margins of
:04:42. > :04:46.society, and we are very fortunate in the Black Country, having a very
:04:46. > :04:53.strong voluntary sector, as witnessed by the food back. I think
:04:53. > :04:56.what the government is trying to do through the Big Society is to
:04:56. > :05:01.support a the local voluntary organisations as much as we
:05:01. > :05:07.possibly can. There is something very wrong -- wrong somewhere. It
:05:07. > :05:12.is like the Third World. On another angle, you may be interested to
:05:12. > :05:16.know that research shows on average across the board, people waste so
:05:16. > :05:20.much food. Odyssey not the people we are talking about, but in
:05:20. > :05:25.general. If people stop wasting the food that they purchase, the
:05:25. > :05:30.average family of four would save a �50 a month. There is a huge amount
:05:30. > :05:33.of waste in our society, and perhaps we should look to that as
:05:33. > :05:38.well as supporting the initiatives like the food bank. It is terrible
:05:38. > :05:42.that people should need food from a charity, but the point of our
:05:42. > :05:47.social services and support is to remove that need, and I think in
:05:47. > :05:53.most cases, local government does achieve that aim, but Odyssey as
:05:53. > :06:01.you say, there are too many people that for by the wayside.
:06:01. > :06:08.-- obviously. Hundreds of teenagers sign-up for eight 21st century
:06:08. > :06:11.answer to national service. Does it do the job?
:06:11. > :06:15.Up to �2 million is being made available to businesses in
:06:15. > :06:18.Birmingham to help them recover from the riots. It comes as
:06:19. > :06:22.shopkeepers are being given advice from the city council about the
:06:22. > :06:31.support on offer. Traders have been invited to a
:06:31. > :06:35.dropping session at deceiving. -- a drop-in session deceiving.
:06:35. > :06:39.They were queuing out the door at lunchtime, loyal customers keen to
:06:39. > :06:43.help their favourite sandwich bar get back on its feet. We were
:06:43. > :06:48.horrified when we have had -- had heard what had happened. We're all
:06:48. > :06:53.doing our bit to help. It is quite terrifying what was going on, but
:06:53. > :06:57.it is great it is back. A this is what went on on the first night of
:06:57. > :07:00.rioting. The shopfront was smashed to
:07:00. > :07:05.business, and stock was stolen and destroyed.
:07:05. > :07:11.It is really upsetting. I did not know the full extent until I went
:07:11. > :07:15.through the CCTV, and just to see it is unbelievable. The new class
:07:15. > :07:19.is in, so too is the insurance claim.
:07:19. > :07:24.Everyone needs support, especially independent businesses who do not
:07:24. > :07:29.have lump sums of cash in the bank. Per it is support that this session
:07:29. > :07:34.at the council house aims to give. The government is offering a lump
:07:34. > :07:40.sum of �20,000 -- �20 million to high-street businesses across the
:07:40. > :07:44.country to help them. Birmingham is able to bid for �2 million. Council
:07:44. > :07:48.leaders have been advising businesses how to make a claim.
:07:48. > :07:55.Across the city in Handsworth, this trade a puts the cost at about
:07:55. > :08:01.�20,000. I would ask the city council to support us in any way
:08:01. > :08:07.they can. Perhaps they could reduce our council tax, or contribute to
:08:07. > :08:12.the losses we have incurred. Nothing has been heard so far.
:08:12. > :08:17.the council says it has been proactive, and has visited about
:08:17. > :08:22.100 businesses so far, and knows there are more to get straight.
:08:22. > :08:26.Giles is at Birmingham Council House for us now. What have trade
:08:26. > :08:31.has been telling you? We have heard a lot of sad stories.
:08:31. > :08:36.It was very busy earlier, and it has slowed down a little now. The
:08:36. > :08:41.saddest case is those who have been under-insured. This lady found
:08:41. > :08:44.herself cowering under the counter of her shop as people ransacked it.
:08:44. > :08:49.She was physically attacked, and I know you are still getting over
:08:49. > :08:56.that. You have now got to think about your finances. What have you
:08:56. > :09:03.heard today to give you hope? Actually, I am very surprised,
:09:03. > :09:10.because we can get some help from the council. We cannot claim
:09:10. > :09:19.something from the funds, and the council can help us to recover from
:09:19. > :09:24.the business. Let us talk to a man from the council. This lady was
:09:24. > :09:33.running short. Are you able to help her? I hope so. I believe she has
:09:33. > :09:38.said she has received great support. We are here to work with the
:09:38. > :09:44.council and our partners to help people. How To Make this allocation
:09:44. > :09:49.of money fair? Will make it fair by using our expertise to distributed
:09:49. > :09:55.equally. Thank you. If you have not made the session, you can phone the
:09:55. > :10:02.council. In Wolverhampton, 19 businesses have been contacted by
:10:02. > :10:06.the council in a similar operation. Dudley Council has announced a �200
:10:06. > :10:09.million regeneration plan for the town centre, zoo and Castle. It
:10:09. > :10:15.comes as the Black Country town steps up its efforts to become a
:10:15. > :10:19.city next year to mark the Queen's diamond jubilee. Just one of 26
:10:19. > :10:25.towns will be chosen, with Dudley currently lying 5th in the betting
:10:25. > :10:32.behind favourites, Reading. The Dudley accounts for 9% of the
:10:32. > :10:37.West Midlands population. It has 195,000 residents. Last year,
:10:37. > :10:43.650,000 people visited the main tourist attractions, including the
:10:43. > :10:49.zoo and the Black Country Museum. His city status a realistic dream?
:10:49. > :10:56.It dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, and is the largest town in the
:10:56. > :11:02.Black Country. But now Dudley feels it is time to bid for city status.
:11:02. > :11:07.�26 want to be a city, and you are fair. BBC Radio where there today,
:11:07. > :11:13.finding out about Dudley and what it has to offer. There is a zoo and
:11:13. > :11:18.a castle, and a museum. There is an abundance of industrial heritage.
:11:18. > :11:22.But there is no university, or a mainline railway station. And there
:11:22. > :11:28.is not a cathedral or a League football club.
:11:28. > :11:32.The so why should Dudley bit? have had meetings with people from
:11:32. > :11:38.China up for a long time now, as they struggled to work out where we
:11:38. > :11:43.are. We are uniquely Dudley, we have our own offer. I think that
:11:43. > :11:47.profile will benefit the town and attract investment from overseas.
:11:47. > :11:53.Business leaders are backing the bid, particularly those involved in
:11:53. > :11:59.tourism. There is an opportunity, and you have to take it. Go
:11:59. > :12:02.anywhere in the world, and Dudley Zoo is known. That would help us.
:12:02. > :12:07.little over five miles away is Wolverhampton, one of the youngest
:12:08. > :12:12.cities in the UK, granted that status by the Queen 10 years ago to
:12:12. > :12:16.mark the millennium. We have always been an industrial
:12:16. > :12:21.area for the Midlands, and we raised a lot of wealth for the
:12:21. > :12:29.country. Now we need the help we can get, and by being a city, that
:12:29. > :12:37.will help to do that. But what to the good people of Dudley think
:12:37. > :12:44.about all this? We think we are too small to become a city. I do not
:12:44. > :12:50.think it is big enough. I think it is great ex back it has always been
:12:50. > :12:57.a thriving area. Perhaps it is similar to stun, because we are
:12:57. > :13:01.several small towns are grouped into one. -- similar to stamp.
:13:01. > :13:05.Dudley has nothing. A final decision will not be made until
:13:06. > :13:15.later this year. Until then, everyone is keeping their fingers
:13:16. > :13:17.
:13:18. > :13:24.crossed that Dudley will become We have had plenty of contrasting
:13:24. > :13:29.views on our Facebook page. Suzanne says, I live in Dudley but do not
:13:29. > :13:35.support it. The town is a mess and a depressing place to be. I work
:13:36. > :13:40.there and it was vibrant. I avoided as much as possible now.
:13:41. > :13:44.Matt Dudley says, I take it is an excellent idea. Dudley deserves to
:13:44. > :13:49.be recognised as a city because of its heritage and significance in
:13:49. > :13:53.British history. I am proud to live there ensure its name.
:13:53. > :14:01.The long-held belief that towns must have a cathedral to become a
:14:01. > :14:05.city is simply a myth, dating back to the 19th century.
:14:05. > :14:09.Campaigners against the high-speed rail link in the West Midlands say
:14:09. > :14:15.they are having to start their petition over again because the
:14:15. > :14:23.Government has relaunched its website. Petitions will be
:14:23. > :14:26.considered for parliamentary debate if they attract 100,000 signatures.
:14:26. > :14:30.This petition did not go through the government website so does not
:14:30. > :14:34.qualify. Traders in Tunstall are backing an
:14:34. > :14:37.appeal for an alcohol ban. The town's Chamber of Trade says people
:14:37. > :14:42.are drinking in the street from early as 9 am, and shoppers don't
:14:42. > :14:46.like it. Traders signed petitions calling on the council to enforce
:14:46. > :14:49.an alcohol restriction zone. They say they are losing business
:14:49. > :14:55.because people feel intimidated. There are people drinking and
:14:55. > :14:58.swearing, some of them have got dogs. It is just not a pleasant
:14:58. > :15:03.experience coming into town when people like that are around every
:15:03. > :15:06.day of the week. Residents of a housing complex for
:15:07. > :15:12.those over 55 are being banned from drinking alcohol in communal
:15:12. > :15:17.gardens outside their homes. They say the move imposed by a housing
:15:17. > :15:21.association imposes upon civil rights. This happened after a row
:15:21. > :15:28.between two neighbours. Residents at Bishop Court meet
:15:28. > :15:32.inside to discuss the drinking ban imposed outside. When we got the
:15:32. > :15:40.letter I wanted to go and sit outside and drink. It follows a
:15:40. > :15:47.decision last year after -- stopping them from gathering after
:15:47. > :15:53.10pm in their flats. We are being treated like children, patronising
:15:53. > :16:01.and demeaning, very much so. It is not on. You cannot talk to people
:16:01. > :16:07.like that. You cannot say, there is a communal area but do not commune.
:16:07. > :16:12.You have to be in 10 o'clock, it's not on! If we cannot sit at their
:16:13. > :16:16.on a summer's day and have a drink, there is something wrong.
:16:16. > :16:20.alcohol ban came after a dispute between two neighbours. Residents
:16:20. > :16:25.said that had been resolved amicably. Nevertheless, the
:16:25. > :16:29.landlord, Staffordshire Housing Association, is investigating.
:16:29. > :16:33.There is due to be a meeting between residents and the housing
:16:33. > :16:37.association in a fortnight. The tenants what the meeting brought
:16:37. > :16:43.forward and the alcohol ban lifted immediately. -- want the meeting.
:16:44. > :16:47.For the meantime, be gardens will stay alcohol on three. The only
:16:47. > :16:52.thing we do not want people to do is gather in groups and drink in
:16:52. > :16:56.the scheme, because of the way that is perceived by residents. We have
:16:56. > :17:00.to have it in the interests of every resident. Some people may
:17:00. > :17:04.think it is acceptable, but some of it is not, and that is what we have
:17:04. > :17:10.to deal West. Until an agreement can be reached, for these tenants,
:17:10. > :17:15.the only drinks they will enjoy outside our non alcoholic.
:17:15. > :17:25.Still to come... It is marvelous Marvin as Shrewsbury town pull off
:17:25. > :17:33.a Carling Cup shock. Will it be worthy of a morning? --
:17:33. > :17:37.warming? Find out later. Hundreds of youngsters from the
:17:37. > :17:41.region have signed up for National Citizen Service, which the Prime
:17:41. > :17:46.Minister is hoping to offer to all 16 year olds in the wake of the
:17:46. > :17:51.rights. The summer camp, which Mr Cameron says is in the same spirit
:17:51. > :17:55.of national service, is playing here in Birmingham. What is it like
:17:55. > :18:00.for those taking part? Getting young people working
:18:00. > :18:05.together and communicating is something at the forefront of the
:18:05. > :18:11.Government's agenda, and that is what the national Citizen Service
:18:11. > :18:14.scheme aims to do. Remain in his two -- are the main aim is to plant
:18:15. > :18:18.seeds to allow people to work in their communities after they have
:18:18. > :18:23.left the programme, and to get more involved with their society in
:18:23. > :18:27.general. These youngsters are at the Cumbria Outdoors Education
:18:27. > :18:31.Centre. 500 teenagers from Birmingham have signed up for the
:18:31. > :18:37.three-week course. Across the country in total, there were 11,000
:18:37. > :18:40.places available. Next year, that is being extended to 30,000. David
:18:40. > :18:44.Cameron has announced he wants the scheme available to all teenagers
:18:44. > :18:51.when they finish their GCSEs. It is something these youngsters approve
:18:51. > :18:56.of. It is a good idea. It gives you something to do, positive.
:18:56. > :19:01.Hopefully it will look good on my CV. It means we are not bored at
:19:01. > :19:04.home and hanging about on the streets. In Birmingham, The
:19:04. > :19:09.Challenge Network is one charity delivering the Citizen Service. It
:19:09. > :19:14.was actually responsible for devising a government scheme.
:19:14. > :19:18.truly believe in the Challenge, it actually works and matters. We are
:19:18. > :19:23.working with 3,000 young people across the UK and it is amazing to
:19:23. > :19:27.have an impact on so many young people. It made a difference to
:19:27. > :19:33.this girl. She did the scheme last year and now wants to make a
:19:33. > :19:37.difference in her area. I never thought that it was important to go
:19:37. > :19:43.and ask people on the street in their own city what you can do to
:19:43. > :19:48.help. In the second and third week, the teenagers do charity work and
:19:48. > :19:56.create community projects. It is hoped it will give them a focus for
:19:56. > :20:00.future success. You can find out more information
:20:00. > :20:04.about the scheme and the reaction to it on our Facebook page.
:20:04. > :20:07.Shrewsbury Town are celebrating a famous victory after knocking
:20:07. > :20:17.Swansea City out of the Carling Cup. It is the first time in 18 years
:20:17. > :20:19.
:20:19. > :20:24.they have reached the third round. Introducing MM and JJ, two of the
:20:24. > :20:29.Shrewsbury town's summer signings, who woke up this morning to find
:20:29. > :20:33.the giant-killing was not just a sweet dream after all, it really
:20:33. > :20:37.happened. Marvin Morgan loves the latest gear and he has just started
:20:37. > :20:43.trading in trendy T-shirts and caps with attitude. He has never scored
:20:43. > :20:51.a hat-trick himself but he did get the Shrews: First goal in their
:20:51. > :20:55.famous 3-1 victory over Swansea City. I am from Manchester, so any
:20:55. > :21:01.Manchester club would be a dream. To get a goal against Man City
:21:01. > :21:07.would be a dream. I'm hoping we can get a big club. With 20 minutes
:21:07. > :21:12.left, Mark Wright put Shrewsbury in front. The home fans sensed a shock
:21:12. > :21:18.result was possible. A free-kick sealed the win. It is a great
:21:18. > :21:23.result, said the manager. What was the feeling in the dressing room?
:21:23. > :21:29.It was unbelievable. To win a game like that against a Premier League
:21:29. > :21:35.team, everyone deserved it. Villa Park, Hereford United fans
:21:35. > :21:44.had their own dreams. Their mascot might confident but sadly, it was
:21:44. > :21:52.all a load of bull. It is a tall order tonight? We will do our best.
:21:52. > :21:58.5-2, 2 Aston Villa or something. Miller did not score until 10
:21:58. > :22:03.minutes from time. Eric Lichaj's had his first senior goal for the
:22:03. > :22:12.club. Alex McLeish thanked the Villa fans for their patience.
:22:12. > :22:17.Jimmy Page Bain said, my lads did me proud. -- a Jamie Pitman. Marc-
:22:17. > :22:22.Antoine Fortune scored two goals. World's sealed into round three
:22:22. > :22:28.with a win at Northampton. Tonight's star billing goes to
:22:28. > :22:34.Shrewsbury Town. Morgan and Joe Jacobson will never forget the
:22:35. > :22:38.night they got into the Premier League.
:22:38. > :22:42.More reaction on the BBC Sport website.
:22:42. > :22:46.The country's smallest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is
:22:46. > :22:49.looking to its rich military history as a way of boosting
:22:49. > :22:56.tourism. Cannock Chase is already popular with cyclists and walkers.
:22:56. > :23:00.It's hidden heritage is bringing different visitors...
:23:00. > :23:05.Cannock Chase gets hundreds of thousands of visitors, looking for
:23:05. > :23:09.peace and quiet amongst its vast acreage of trees. In the First and
:23:09. > :23:12.Second World Wars, but Chase had visitors of a different kind.
:23:12. > :23:18.Thousands of soldiers were stationed here and you do not have
:23:18. > :23:23.to look far to uncover the military history. Evidence is all across the
:23:23. > :23:27.Chase today, not least at this cemetery, where nearly 5,000
:23:27. > :23:32.soldiers, mostly German, are buried. All died on British territory. Many
:23:32. > :23:38.died not in battle but from an outbreak of Spanish flu while there
:23:38. > :23:45.were titters of war in 1918. -- why it they were prisoners of war.
:23:45. > :23:50.Local councils have started organising tours. This hot was one
:23:50. > :23:55.of hundreds on Vic Chase in 1915 to house Allied soldiers in military
:23:55. > :24:01.camps. -- Chase. Since then it has been a village hall but has been
:24:01. > :24:05.brought back to become a tourist attraction. This was a centre of
:24:05. > :24:10.the Northern Command were perhaps 40,000 men, at any one time, could
:24:10. > :24:15.be on the camp. In the First World War, perhaps half a million men may
:24:15. > :24:20.have trained here. If you think that this CAB has 40,000, on the
:24:20. > :24:28.first day of the Somme, there were 60,000 casualties, of which 20,000
:24:28. > :24:34.died. It is important not to forget. Today, and volunteers who help with
:24:34. > :24:39.the maintenance of the Chase have been invited to try out the tour.
:24:39. > :24:45.It is our heritage, to remember what things were like and how they
:24:45. > :24:52.lived. I have learned so much in the last hour about the military
:24:52. > :24:57.than in the 40 years I have lived here. There was an American
:24:57. > :24:59.military hospital here in the Second World War. It was also a
:24:59. > :25:06.training ground for the Home Guard. Bringing this rich heritage alive
:25:06. > :25:13.is also a money spinner for the local economy. Visit England have
:25:14. > :25:16.identified heritage as a growth sector. As an attraction run by a
:25:16. > :25:22.Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase, we are looking at
:25:22. > :25:26.how we can maximise this to reinvest into our own properties.
:25:26. > :25:30.War history may not be on the minds of people who come here, but it is
:25:30. > :25:39.a rich heritage helping to give the area a beast in tough economic
:25:39. > :25:47.times. -- a boost. Some of that history is very
:25:48. > :25:57.surprising. And it looks so sunny and lovely!
:25:58. > :25:58.
:25:58. > :26:02.Lots of uncertainty this week, particularly on Friday. Rain
:26:02. > :26:07.tonight, with a yellow warning. It is not as serious as orange or red
:26:07. > :26:16.but it is urging you to be aware of the likelihood of heavy outbreaks
:26:16. > :26:19.of rain tonight. We have had showers crossing the region. You
:26:19. > :26:27.can see later tonight, the cloud thickens up and the rain starts to
:26:27. > :26:31.head on in from midnight. You can see where the heaviest outbreaks
:26:31. > :26:39.will be. Coventry, into Staffordshire, Stoke, which is,
:26:39. > :26:44.just clipping past Birmingham as well. -- Lichfield. It may miss the
:26:44. > :26:50.north-west of Shropshire. The wind is picking up and it will be a born
:26:50. > :26:54.night. Rain is still around in the rush-hour tomorrow morning, still
:26:54. > :26:58.in the eastern half of the patch. It will clear eastwards from 9
:26:58. > :27:03.o'clock and we will see some brief spells of dry weather and sunshine,
:27:03. > :27:10.followed by a scattering of showers. Some of those could be heavy. As
:27:10. > :27:14.the wind eases they will be slow moving and there could be some rain.
:27:14. > :27:18.Temperatures similar to today. Tomorrow night, it clears up.
:27:18. > :27:21.Friday is on because of rain and showers, so there could be wet
:27:21. > :27:26.weather. -- on the cusp.
:27:26. > :27:32.The hunt is on for Colonel Gaddafi. Libyan rebels launched a massive