Health chiefs in Wolverhampton are considering a package of measures aimed at helping to improve the health of children and young people in the city. They are looking at expanding the range of activities which take place in schools and the local community as the city seeks to address high rates of obesity among residents, particularly children.

The Beat the Street challenge created a ‘hullabaloo’ in more ways than one across Wolverhampton, as more than 24,000 people who signed up to play the seven week walking, cycling and running game the city clocked up more than 141,000 miles. Instead of the normal double beep which players became used to when they tap their special Beat the Street cards against Beat Boxes around the city, the boxes heralded the start of spring by making different noises – from bells to cuckoos.

Birmingham’s annual Zombie Walk returns for its eighth year this Saturday 18 June, organisers have announced. Back by popular demand, over one thousand ‘living dead’ are expected to take to the city’s streets to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. The cadaverous crowd will gather on judgement day to weave in and out of the backstreets of Birmingham, making eerie groans and showing off their best zombie slow walks.

A successful Residents Week 2016 wrapped up with a celebration of volunteers in the city at the Civic Centre. The Mayor, Councillor Ian Brookfield, hosted 80 volunteers in his parlour to recognise their contribution to Wolverhampton. City of Wolverhampton Council staff also got into the spirit of volunteering during the week as members of Corporate Leadership Team swapped the office for a city centre soup kitchen.

Analysis of the driving behaviour of more than 4,300 motorists over a period of 18 months has revealed for the first time, the direct impact mobile phone use at the wheel has on the risk of an accident – whether hand held or hands free.  Analysing speed, road type and hard braking activity when they are using a mobile phone, Wunelli, a LexisNexis Risk Solutions company, with insurance broker Drivology has found that drivers who use a phone hand held at the wheel almost double their risk of an accident as hard braking increases by three quarters (75%), while those on hands free increase their risk by a fifth.