Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carmelo Garcia

A disused factory which used to bottle water in Colwall could soon be converted into a three-storey block of retirement flats.

Image source, Herefordshire council

Developers have submitted plans to Herefordshire Council to build 26 retirement flats on the old Malvern Water bottling site off Walwyn Road.

The scheme also includes the construction of five terraced houses with 11 car parking spaces and a single storey outbuilding for waste, cycle and tool storage.

The bottling works at Colwall were the longest continuous bottling facility around the Malvern Hills until it closed in 2010.

A bronze cast of Queen Victoria that stands prominently in Birmingham city centre is to be cleaned.

However, Birmingham Museums Trust, which is behind the work, says it won't look hugely different.

The cleaning won't remove the green patina from the statue, though the trust says it's important work to conserve the 1951 statue and its pedestal.

A statue was unveiled just days before the Queen's death in 1901 - though it was originally made from marble.

Today's version was cast in 1951.

A man wanted in connection with extradition proceedings is believed to have links to Rugby in Warwickshire, say police. , external

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Marcin Krzysztof is wanted in connection with reports of armed robbery, burglary and theft in Poland.

Ben Sidwell
BBC Midlands Today

The first asparagus cut in the Vale of Evesham has been driven by vintage car to the newly opened Broadway station, before continuing its journey by steam train to Cheltenham.

Giving the first crop a special send-off has become a traditional part of the annual British Asparagus Festival and just one of many events over the next few weeks of the asparagus season.

In their bid for protected status, external, campaigners claimed the crop was important to "the economic and cultural history of the Vale of Evesham".

Local voting is set to present the biggest test of public opinion since June's general election.

A campaign, aiming to double the number of female tennis coaches in the next five years, is being launched in Bimingham.

There are currently 800 women coaching the sport in the UK - but that's less than half the number of male coaches.

The Lawn Tennis Association will discuss ways of tackling the issue during a conference at the ICC today.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are some of the top stories covered by Stoke-on-Trent Live this lunchtime:

• Armed police called to Stoke-on-Trent street after man holds gun to his head, external
• Banned driver, 34, gave police his brother's details in foolish bid to avoid punishment, external
• The Big Brexit Survey: How does Stoke-on-Trent feel about the EU Referendum now?, external

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City remain four points from safety in the Premier League with just three game left to play. That's after a 1-1 draw at home against Burnley yesterday.

Image source, Getty Images

Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Officers from Staffordshire Police have seized a number of weapons from a vehicle in Stoke-on-Trent after a chase in the early hours of this morning.

It followed an attack on a man at an address on Croftfield Street earlier today.

Officers tried to stop a vehicle on Sneyd Street, external for a routine check before it sped off.

The police helicopter was used in the search - officers say two men are in custody, and a third is yet to be found.

John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke-on-Trent snooker professional Liam Highfield has made his debut at the Crucible in the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield.

Highfield lost his first round match to the Masters champion Mark Allen by 10 frames to 5.

You can follow coverage of today's action on BBC Sport's dedicated live page.

Image source, PA

BBC WM

Today BBC WM is launching its Make a Difference project.

We'll be working with charities, community groups and volunteers to do something positive about something you want changed.

Our first challenge is helping a food bank in Tyseley in Birmingham.

We'll be helping the build of a new food unit so those volunteering there don't have to work in freezing conditions.

The family of a dead Wolverhampton teenager are urging people to stop spreading rumours on social media.

The body of Viktorija Sokolova, 14, was discovered in West Park, Wolverhampton on 12 April.

Image source, Family handout

A 16-year-old boy from Wolverhampton has been charged with her rape and murder and is in custody.

Police said they had been made aware of "several threatening and inaccurate posts" on social media, which threatened to "undermine the investigation and put innocent people at risk".

Coventry Live
Coventry Live

Some of the main stories on the Coventry Live website today are:

• Coventry woman speaks out over 'hate crime' stalker hell, external
• The dangerous drivers caught hurtling down M6 at more than 100mph, external
• Stunning pictures from Coventry's Vaisakhi parade, external

A suspected arson attack on a Shropshire tourist attraction has destroyed part of a replica World War One trench.

Underground rooms built at the Park Hall Countryside Experience near Oswestry, external, have been "completely destroyed by fire".

Mark Hignett, from Oswestry Town Museum, which supervised the construction, said the innovative project had attracted visitors from all over the world.

A Staffordshire police officer is due to be sentenced today after admitting misusing the force's computer system.

PC Michelle Denne was investigated by the force's performance and standards unit into allegations of breaches of the Data Protection Act .

The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to six counts of offences under the Computer Misuse Act earlier this month.

She is due before magistrates in Birmingham this afternoon.

Sue Strachan, who has vascular dementia, said the record-breaking heat nearly made her quit the race.

BBC News England

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a women in Essex.

Julie Hunt, 47, from Rainham, east London, was found with serious injuries near the A1306 Arterial Road, West Thurrock, on 20 April and died at the scene.

Image source, Google

Florin Ion, 31, of Ipswich Crescent, Birmingham has appeared before magistrates charged with murder and was remanded in custody.

He is due to appear before Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday.

The Library of Birmingham is closed after cracks were found in a pane of glass in its roof.

The library closed early on Friday afternoon after the discovery was made by maintenance workers, the city council said.

This morning the library team tweeted, external that it would closed today “due to an ongoing maintenance issue within the building”.

The £189m library, which only opened five years ago, has nine floors and is covered floor to ceiling by glass panes.

Birmingham Live

Here's a selection of the top stories being covered by Birmingham Live today:

• Family of Wolverhampton West Park murder victim Viktorija Sokolova call for end, external to 'upsetting' rumours
• 'Professional burglar' who smashed into eight cars as he fled police has jail term cut, external
• Police smash £100k cannabis farm in bedrooms of Small Heath house, external

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Athletes who competed at the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast were welcomed home this weekend in Birmingham.

Gymnast Dominick Cunningham, from Birmingham, and Stoke-on-Trent long-jumper Jazmin Sawyers were among those to gather in Victoria Square to be welcomed by the crowds.

Image source, Sport Birmingham