REGISTER OFFICES NOW CLOSED WITH MARRIAGES POSTPONED AND DEATHS NOTIFIED TO THE AUTHORITIES 'BY PHONE'

NEW parents in Atherstone and district will not be able to register the birth of their baby until stay-a-home Government guidance on the coronavirus outbreak changes, it has emerged.

And in future all information about deaths are now being conducted by phone in "necessary" changes announced today in Warwickshire as the virus affects every facet of life's magical and tragic moments.

The traditional register offices throughout the county have been closed until further notice to comply with Covid-19 restrictions as the pandemic claimed 29 Warwickshire lives out of a UK total of 653 in the last 24-hour recording period.

Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies have already been put 'on hold' as a result of virus-led regulations by the Government and all bans of marriage or civil partnership deferred.

If a wedding ceremony has been cancelled due to the pandemic, or couples want to move their special day due to coronavirus or the illness of a close relative, they should contact Registration Services to re-book their ceremony at [email protected].

Registrars have agreed to move ceremonies to a later date – within a 12-month timeframe – and waive the re-booking fee, provided the day of the week is kept the same.

Future ceremonies can still be booked by emailing [email protected].

Registering births has been stopped as a result of the pandemic but a spokeswoman for the county council said parents are being reassured that child benefit and universal credit can still be paid prior to birth registration.

For more information on claiming child benefit click here and for Universal Credit here.

All death registration appointments are now being conducted by telephone with Atherstone and district residents being asked to book a phone appointment online or by calling 0300 555 0255.

If a death occurs at the George Eliot hospital, Nuneaton, bereavement teams can forward contact details to the county's registration services and an appointment is not needed.