Performances of a children's play have been cancelled after a tour van containing staging, props and costumes was stolen.

Image source, Dear Zoo

Dear Zoo, based on the books by Rod Campbell, had been touring theatres all over the UK and was due in Worcestershire on Sunday.

Producer Chris Davis said the Mercedes truck containing £50,000 worth of goods was stolen in Peterborough on Saturday morning.

Performances of the play at the Atrix Arts Centre, Bromsgrove on 28 and 29 April have been cancelled, the venue said.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Any early fog should lift to leave a mostly dry day with sunny spells and highs of 16C (61F).

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

The play, based on the books by author Rod Campbell, had been touring theatres all over the UK.

Candidates standing for election to the European Parliament in West Midlands

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

It will be a cloudy night with outbreaks of rain and strong gusty winds with lows of 6C (43F).

Hamish Rutherford makes another century as Worcestershire beat Northants to claim a third One-Day Cup win in four games.

Worcester News

From the Worcester News:

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A spell of strong winds is expected across the West Midlands, with a yellow weather warning issued. , external

There could be delays to road and rail travel between 21:00 on Friday and 15:00 on Saturday, the Met Office said as Storm Hannah moved in from the Atlantic.

Roof sheeting thought to contain asbestos has been dumped in the River Wye near Hereford.

The Environment Agency believes it could have been thrown into the water at Bridge Sollars and it's working with Herefordshire Council to remove it.

Image source, Google

It says it's "appalled", and while the material poses no threat to people or animals, it wants it removed from the water as soon as possible.

Scientists estimate it affects 15% of the population - but many people have no idea what it is.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

After a clear start rain will spread from the west and winds will strengthen during the afternoon with highs of 14C (57F).

Eight horses were found neglected at a farm yard in Stoke Prior, Worcestershire.

Worcester Warriors hooker Jack Singleton agrees to return to former club Saracens on a three-year deal.

The Worcester Foodbank said it helped a record number of people in the last financial year.

The charity handed out nearly 7,000 food parcels and said almost a third of those supplies were needed to feed children.

It said low incomes and the roll-out of Universal Credit in the city last year had forced people to its services.

BBC Weather Watchers

The BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing some dramatic photos of dark grey cloud over the West Midlands today.

These pictures were taken in Bromyard, Gnosall and Southam.

Image source, Postman Les

Image source, SPJ

Image source, Little Acorns

BBC Weather

It will be a largely dry night with some clear spells and lows of 4C (39F).

Worcester News

From the Worcester News:

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• Abuser slapped his wife when she didn't bring him clean socks, external
• Restaurant owner cleared of immigration wrongdoing, external

New jobs could be created in Kidderminster with the construction of a new factory at Silverwood's Business Park, a company says.

Barton Firtop, which makes filtration products, has bought a 3.6-acre site to build new manufacturing, testing, warehouse and office facilities.

Image source, Google

The firm says it will move across staff from its two sites in Bromsgrove and another in Kingswinford and there will be 100 people working at the new plant, with the possibility of another 50 in the future.

It said: "Our company currently has space limitations and this problem is compounded by operating between three separate sites."

A woman who died in a crash on the A38 in Worcestershire on Monday has been named by police as Gail Lewis from Rubery.

Image source, West Mercia Police

The 74-year-old died when the car she was travelling in crashed with another vehicle at about 16:00 between Bromsgrove and Junction 5 of the M5.

She was described by her daughter Michelle as "loving and selfless".

"Mum devoted so much of her time to caring for other people; she was always putting everyone before herself," she said.

West Mercia Police are calling for any witnesses to come forward.