Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 BST 27 April 2016
Live updates for Herefordshire and Worcestershire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Summary
Updates on Wednesday 27 April 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08;00 on Thursday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 BST 27 April 2016
Reward offered after phone and broadband lines damagedpublished at 17:58 BST 27 April 2016
A £1,000 reward is being offered for information after a spate of damage on broadband and phone lines in parts of Worcester and Kidderminster.
Some rural households and businesses have been left without broadband and phone connections.
There have been 15 attacks on telecommunications networks over the past two months.
Crimestoppers and BT say they will give the award if information leads to an arrest and conviction.
Warriors: Alex Grove to leave at the end of the seasonpublished at 17:52 BST 27 April 2016
Centre Alex Grove will leave Worcester Warriors at the end of the season, external, the club has announced.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe began his 10-year career with the Worcester Academy and went on to make 152 appearances for the club, scoring 29 tries.
Quote MessageI must thank our incredible fans. Thank you to each and every one of you for your support over the years. I look forward to returning to Sixways to support the boys in the coming seasons. See you on the terraces."
Alex Grove
Are you being hit by hail, snow or frozen ice pellets?published at 17:48 BST 27 April 2016
There are some major wintry showers around in Herefordshire and Worcestershire today.
If you're confused over the difference between sleet, snow and hail then the Met Office has this handy guide, external.
If you get caught in one of the storms, and it is safe to do so, send us a picture - you can email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.
Cycling boss denies allegationspublished at 17:40 BST 27 April 2016
Shane Sutton, who has been a GB coach since 2002, denies Varnish's claims, which include a sexist comment about her body shape.
He previously said her contract was not renewed because her times had slowed over the past three years and she was unlikely to win a medal.
Sutton said he looked "forward to taking a full part in the review process so I can respond to the allegations in detail".
Image source, Getty ImagesBritish Cycling had already begun an independent review into its performance programmes following Varnish's comments.
Watch: Weather for Herefordshire and Worcestershirepublished at 17:30 BST 27 April 2016
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands TodayShowers at first this evening could be heavy and thundery in places, but should die out in most parts by midnight.
It will then be a cold night with a widespread frost. Lows of 1C ( 34F).
Jess Varnish backed by Olympic championspublished at 17:20 BST 27 April 2016
Olympic champions Victoria Pendleton and Nicole Cooke both backed Bromsgrove sprinter Jess Varnish and criticised British Cycling.
"I know exactly how miserable they made me," said Victoria Pendleton (pictured with Jess Varnish at London 2012), now retired from track cycling. "I never really felt I had the same respect as my male teammates."
Cooke, a road specialist who is also retired, added: "I have my own experiences of Shane and sympathise with Jess. Speak out and your dreams will be destroyed and years of hard work wasted. Or put up with it and hope."
Image source, Getty ImagesConviction over illegal waste dumppublished at 17:10 BST 27 April 2016
A man has been sentenced after admitting running an illegal hazardous waste site in Worcestershire (pictured).
Image source, Environment AgencyMichael Wright, who traded under the name Port Oils, illegally stored 3,000 litres (660 gallons) of waste oil at the site at Smethwick Drop Forge in Kidderminster.
A judge at Worcester Crown Court gave him a six-month suspended sentence and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Latest: Cycling chief quits after Varnish allegations; man admits running an illegal waste dump; dig at town car parkpublished at 17:01 BST 27 April 2016
Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:
- The technical director of British Cycling has resigned following allegations of sexism from Bromsgrove's Jess Varnish
- A man from Kidderminster has been sentenced after admitting running an illegal hazaroudous waste site
- Archaeological dig ahead of car park redevelopment in Bromsgrove
Archaeological dig to start at car parkpublished at 16:50 BST 27 April 2016
Archaeologists are to begin a dig at a car par in Bromsgrove on 11 May, before it is redeveloped.
The capacity of the Hanover Street car park will be reduced by a third while the investigations are carried out, the council says.
Image source, GoogleQuote MessageThe archaeological dig is compulsory to make sure that the planned development isn’t being built on anything it shouldn’t be."
Guy Revans, Bromsgrove District Council
Travel: Vandals target traffic lights near Kidderminsterpublished at 16:36 BST 27 April 2016
The damage to the lights at Black Bridge near Kidderminster should be repaired by the weekend.
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End of X postHailstorm hits Herefordpublished at 16:16 BST 27 April 2016
Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & WorcesterI've just taken this photo out of the window of our office in Broad Street as a 10-minute hail storm hits the city.
Cycling boss resigns: Varnish allegations had become 'a distraction'published at 15:58 BST 27 April 2016
British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton says he has resigned because the allegations against him had "become a distraction" to British athletes and he decided to step down "in the best interests of British Cycling".
Image source, Getty ImagesBromsgrove cyclist Jess Varnish alleged he had made sexist comments towards her and told her to "go and have a baby".
He had been suspended while the sporting body investigated allegations, external of derogatory comments about Para-cyclists.
Quote MessageI have made clear that I reject the specific claims that have been made against me in recent days, and I look forward to taking a full part in the review process so I can respond to the allegations in detail."
Shane Sutton
Cycling boss quits amid sexism and discrimination claimspublished at 15:41 BST 27 April 2016
British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton has resigned amid claims of sexism and discrimination towards elite cyclists.
He had been suspended while the sporting body investigated allegations, external of derogatory comments about Para-cyclists.
Bromsgsrove's Jess Varnish previously said Sutton made sexist comments towards her and told her to "go and have a baby".
Travel: Accident closes one lane on the A443published at 15:29 BST 27 April 2016
The road is closed at Great Witley - more from BBC Travel.
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End of X postIndependent 'peer review' launched at County Hallpublished at 15:15 BST 27 April 2016
An independent root-and-branch investigation, external is taking place into Worcestershire County Council in a bid to see how the authority is faring.
Latest: Call for Hillsborough criminal proceedings; illegal waste trader convicted; reward after phone line arsonspublished at 15:00 BST 27 April 2016
Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:
- Hillsborough survivor calls for criminal proceedings against those responsible
- A man from Kidderminster has been sentenced after admitting running an illegal hazardous waste site
- A reward is being offered after a spate of damage on broadband and phone lines
Couple visa joy welcomed by their MPpublished at 14:43 BST 27 April 2016
The decision to grant a visa that will allow a couple who've been married for 45 years to be reunited has been welcomed by their local MP, who raised their case in parliament.
David and Maria Summers moved to Hereford from Canada to look after his mother, but Mrs Summers was sent back after officials said they didn't have enough money.
Image source, Summers familyJesse Norman, the MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, raised the couple's case at Prime Minister’s Questions in November.
Quote MessageThis has been a long and frustrating struggle, and it has gone on for far too long. But this decision now means Maria has the right to enter the country again and remain in the UK for at least 10 years."
Jesse Norman
MPs in Worcestershire under fire for blocking bid on 3,000 refugee childrenpublished at 14:25 BST 27 April 2016
MPs across Worcestershire have voted against a bid to let 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees enter Britain, external - sparking a heated row.
Travel: A438 reopenspublished at 14:06 BST 27 April 2016
BBC TravelPolice say the A438 in Tarrington has now reopened after the earlier crash.
