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Graduates Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones were killed at a Learning Together event in November 2019.

Sophie Madden
���˿��� News, West Midlands

A Shropshire bar-owner said the latest lifting of restrictions was the closest he had got to being able to properly reopen his venues.

David Gregg, who runs Telford's Albert's Shed, plus Albert's Shed and Albert's Pour House in Shrewsbury, said it was "a step closer to fully reopening".

Under the new restrictions, live performances will be able to resume at his Telford venue.

"There are still a lot of restrictions in place," he said.

"It will mean having a fully seated audience of 100 people, instead of a couple of hundred people jumping up and down in front of stage, but we had experience of it at the end of last year, we're all set up for it and it is something which is better than nothing."

Image source, Albert's Shed

“One of our venues in Shrewsbury has not opened since the 20th March last year, but it will reopen on Friday for live music.

"It is the closest we have got to getting properly open in well over 12 months.

“We are hesitant really, there is no guarantee all restrictions will be lifted on 21 June, there is a chance we will have to carry on under the current restrictions for a little while longer, but.. it is a step in right direction.”

David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, ���˿��� Midlands Today

As ever with coronavirus, today is all about risk.

The government has decided that despite an incomplete vaccination campaign and the arrival and spread of the Indian variant (B.1.617.2) it is still opening things up today.

Image source, PA Media

There are scientists who are very worried the new variant could be much more infectious meaning there's a real chance we will see another peak in deaths as big as any that have gone before.

But the government has decided to go ahead with relaxing lockdown. That's a risk on their part.

And now each of us have to make a decision about what sort of personal risk we are prepared to take with our health and the health of those around us.

Asking people if they've been vaccinated before deciding whether or not to hug them? Sitting inside a badly ventilated pub where people are shouting and singing? It's all about risk.

Whatever any of us decide today, we'll be watching the numbers as all those little decisions we all take add up to the big picture the government has to deal with in a few weeks' time.

The charges do not directly relate to the continuing fire at Greenway Polymers in Telford.

Among the businesses reopening today are cinemas, with some limits on numbers.

The Regal Cinema in Evesham has had a revamp during lockdown, including a new bar, new toilets and a new roof.

Image source, Google

Eva Moeskops, from the cinema said: "175, 200 max we can get in at the moment, when we usually do have 280 people.

"Already Friday might is looking really busy, the first Monday is looking really busy so we're very, very excited about that."

The Dean of Worcester Cathedral says he cannot wait to reopen its doors.

The 800-year-old building will be open to general visitors.

Image source, Getty Images

Peter Atkinson said: “It is one more really important and exciting step along the way to reopening and reactivating the life of the cathedral.

“We have been open for prayer for many months, we have been open for public services to a limited extent but we have not been open for general visiting and that is what has become possible.”

The latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

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