Eleven taken to hospital after M5 crash
Cricket club chief executive resigns
Beavers introduced at three secret sites
Judge throws out bid to save pub
Updates on Friday 1 September 2017
Paramedics and an air ambulance were dispatched to Bromsgrove town centre, external on Saturday to reports of a man injured after an "assault".
James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A shortage of school places for pupils with special educational needs is being worked on, Worcestershire County Council says.
A Worcester headteacher, Sarah Harding, claims that local special schools are "fit to burst" and that the council is failing to fund support for her pupils properly.
Councillor Marcus Hart, who's reponsible for Educaiton in the county, says the authority is doing all it can to alleviate the pressure on places.
Image source, Worcestershire County CouncilQuote MessageYou might argue that we're sending more pupils to special schools than perhaps we ought to and that we ought to do more to keep them in the mainstream, but of course there's better diagnosis. Autism is much more widely recognised, which is a good thing, which leads to pressure on places."
Marcus Hart, Worcestershire county councillor
Criminals in Worcestershire's prisons are increasingly having their bad behaviour punished by the use of extended prison sentences, according to figures released today.
The Howard League for Penal Reform says the practice of increasing sentences has gone up at both HMP Hewell in Redditch and HMP Long Lartin in Evesham, with a total of seven years extra incarceration being handed down at the two prisons last year.
Image source, gooThe campaign group describes the practice as "draconian" and claims all the evidence points to it being ineffective at improving behaviour.
Quote MessagePrisons are out of control. More people than ever before are losing their lives to suicide, and violence and self-injury are at record levels. The adjudications system has become a monster that is making these problems worse."
Frances Crook,, Chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform
The Ministry of Justice says the vast majority of offenders leave prison without serving a single additional day, but that prisoners who break the rules should face the consequences.
Here's something you don't see everyday!
Fire and police officers in Bromsgrove have joined forces to do some wacky fundraising.
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A man in his 50's has suffered a serious head injury , externalafter two vehicles collided near Inkberrow yesterday, police say.
The driver of a blue Hyundai was taken to hospital after it collided with a white Ford Ranger pickup on the A422 Inkberrow to Flyford Flavell road at around 15:50.
No one else was injured.
Image source, GoogleA motorcylist has been flown to hospital in Birmingham after a collision involving a car in Malvern, external, police say.
The man in his 30's suffered suffered serious chest and back injuries after the crash on Spring Lane at 17:10 on Friday.
The driver of a silver Skoda Fabia was treated at the scene by paramedics for chest and back pain.
Image source, Google
Gavin Kermack
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Armed police officers have raided a home in Worcester, following reports of a man with a bladed weapon and concern for the safety of two people inside, police say.
Officers arrested a 25-year-old man at the address in Northfield Street shortly before 19:00 on Sunday.
West Mercia Police say the man, who was wanted for breaching of a court order, has been remanded to appear at Worcester Magistrates' Court today.
Claudia Berry
Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A human-sized pear, made from steel, and a similar sized apple have been created to mark the start and end of a new art and heritage trail in the St John's area of Worcester.
The local tannery industry, Roman finds and the former local Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Ernest Payne will be depicted on plaques along the mile-long trail, which will run between Cripplegate and Pitmaston parks.
Image source, Worcester City CouncilThe giant fruit sculptures have been created by Ron Thompson from Planet Arts, a Midlands-based arts partnership.
Image source, Worcester City CouncilQuote MessageThese beautiful and innovative works of art reflect Worcestershire’s strong fruit-growing tradition. It is fantastic that Worcester can boast original new art of such a high calibre.”
Steve Mackay,, Mayor of Worcester
The trail will be officially launched at a ceremony in Cripplegate Park on Friday, 8 September, at 15:00.
The fog has been slow to lift across Herefordshire and Worcestershire this morning, but it hasn't stopped BBC Weather Watchers getting out and about with their cameras.
Thanks to HappySnapper71 in Eaton Bishop and Rocketron in Redditch for sending in these beautiful photographs.
Image source, HappySnapper71
Image source, RocketronJames Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
The headteacher of a Worcestershire school for children with special educational needs is taking legal action against the county council for not paying out the extra funding to which she says her pupils are entitled.
Children who aren't suitable for mainstream school are eligible for tens of thousands of pounds a year for specialist support, teaching and equipment, but Sarah Harding, headteacher at Regency High School in Warndon, says the council isn't fulfilling its statutory duty.
Image source, GoogleQuote MessageEvery child has place funding which is £10,000, but then for the additional interventions we have what's called top-up funding. We believe every child in a special school is legally entitled to top-up funding and Worcestershire as an authority are not meeting that obligation."
Sarah Harding,, Headteacher at Regency High School in Worcester
Worcestershire County Council denies it is legally required to pay top-up funding.
A drunken man hurled racist abuse at doormen outside a Worcester bar, external and accused police of protecting paedophiles when they handcuffed him.
Nina Das Gupta
Presenter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A house on the Gilgal in Stourport has been damaged after a car left the road and crashed into it this morning.
No one was injured, but the road was closed for over an hour.
Quote MessageA car has come down the Gilgal and has gone into the side of the building. There was one person inside the building at the time, but he's out and he's OK. There's been structural damage and there is a structural engineer in attendance."
Commander Alan Banks, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service
Blueschool House re-opens in Hereford today but the refurbishment of the council offices has cost almost £2m - £970,000 pounds over budget.
It will be home to customer services, JobCentre Plus, Home Point and Housing Solutions and the council says the refurbishment will save it £1m during the next decade.
Image source, GoogleOne of the main routes into Hereford, the A438 Ledbury road, is to stay closed at the Lugg Flats until further notice.
The section at Bartestree has been shut since July while Western Power strengthened the road and bridge over a major power cable, but was due to re-open on Saturday afternoon.
Image source, GoogleWestern Power say that the re-opening has now been put on hold due to "unforseen circumstances" and that the council's contractors are carrying out assessments.
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
After a cloudy start with some bursts of rain and drizzle it should be a largely dry day with some bright spells this afternoon and highs of 20C (68F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Police seize car parts which they suspect were stolen from across England by forced workers.
Read MorePolice seize car parts which they suspect were stolen from across England by forced workers.
Read MoreWorcestershire chief executive Tom Scott resigns after just over 18 months in the role.
Read MoreLive updates for Herefordshire and Worcestershire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 on Monday with more live news, sport, travel and weather.
BBC Midlands Today
More on the bumper crop of hops that's being harvested across Herefordshire and Worcestershire - the result of this year's mix of wet and sunny weather.
There's a global shortage of hops due to dry weather in Germany, so there's likely to be a big demand for the crop - good news for farmers.
Find out more on Midlands Today - BBC One at 18:30.
