Anna Russell
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Five teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of drugs-related offences b, externaly police investigating the death of a 17-year-old boy.

They were called to reports of a person collapsing on Old School Lane, Hereford at 04:15.

The teenager died in hospital and his death's being treated as unexplained by detectives.

The five they have arrested, aged 16 to 17, are all still in custody.

League One play-off finalists Shrewsbury Town sign striker Aaron Amadi-Hollloway from Oldham for an undisclosed fee.

Worcestershire Rapids will play Northamptonshire Steelbacks this evening in the Vitality T20 Blast, hoping to continue their winning start to the contest.

Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images

They've won all three of their matches in the competition and their visitors are currently bottom of the table.

Third in the same table are the Birmingham Bears and they host the Leicestershire Foxes this evening at Edgbaston.

Idris Akinwunmi transferred £13 into his account after the attack on National-Lottery.co.uk

Allen Cook
BBC News

The former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson says he'll vote against Theresa May's Brexit plan unless it's changed, but he's fallen short of calling for her to go.

The government has published its blueprint for UK relations with the EU and the White Paper is aimed at ensuring trade co-operation, with no hard border for Northern Ireland, and global trade deals for the UK.

But North Shropshire's Conservative MP Owen Paterson says he can't support it.

However, the Worcester MP and Brexit minister Robin Walker says he's backing the new strategy.

Joshua Cook
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

A dementia cafe in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, has been given an award.

The group brings together dementia sufferers and their carers.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A cow's been rescued after getting stuck in a river.

Fire crews were called at around 08:00 to the land off Oakwood Road near Rudyard, Staffordshire.

Tractors were used to hoist the animal out.

Coventry Live
Coventry Live

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

• Work starts on the super site which will employ 1,000 people, external
• Coventry is the UK's most affordable university city, external
• Trouble sees Build-A-Bear store closed , externalon 'Pay Your Age' day

The British diver who found the boys trapped in a Thai cave said he was relieved they were alive.

Plants and local wildlife are benefiting from two years of cows grazing on a local nature reserve, a council's claimed.

Image source, Tamworth Borough Council

Cattle are about to move on to the Broad Meadow in Tamworth for a third summer, external.

The cows are allowed to graze until winter when they return to their farm before the ground turns too wet.

The borough council says, after two years, there are more snake’s head fritillaries (pictured) in the area than any time this century.

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

A chief constable of Cheshire Police says he “wholeheartedly” apologises to people who were “affected” by their time working with him.

Simon Byrne, who was suspended from Cheshire Constabulary last year, is accused of bullying and humiliating staff between May 2014 and March 2017.

He denies the allegations and an accusation of gross misconduct.

He accepted yesterday that some people who worked with him had been upset and worried by his actions, but he said that was never his intention.

This morning he gave an apology, but said other events may have contributed to the feelings of those who’ve complained about his conduct.

He also denied knowing that senior officers at his former force were in “morbid terror” of him and he defended having high standards, and occasionally being abrupt, brusque and blunt.

The hearing is due to end today.

BBC Business News

Six Poundworld stores in the West Midlands are among another 80 branches which will be closed, the company's administrators have said.

The latest announcement means that 105 of the company's 335 stores are now earmarked for closure, including the one in Crewe, Cheshire.

Image source, PA

The closures in this region include two in both Coventry and Shrewsbury and one in Burton upon Trent and Bloxwich, resulting in 85 job losses.

They're set to shut by 22 July.

Poundworld went into administration last month after failing to cope with rising costs, fewer shoppers and greater competition.

A protest will be held in Birmingham later over the visit of US President Donald Trump.

People also gathered at Birmingham's Central Mosque today to travel to London to join a march there.

One protester Naeem Malik said of the President: "Everything he stands for we are against"

But another member of the public disagreed, saying "he's the sort of person who can bring things together".

Sporting Lisbon say they want 57 million euros (£50m) in compensation for Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio following his transfer to Wolves.

A number of fish have died at an angling pool, external after the recent heatwave is suspected to be behind a build up of algae.

Image source, Environment Agency

The Environment Agency says staff have been working with Ombersley Angling Club at its pool near Droitwich Spa since Wednesday.

Algal blooms squeeze out slower growing plantlife and use up the available oxygen in the water.

Image source, Environment Agency

The Environment Agency says it's been pumping oxygen into the pool, external and levels have now stablised, saving the remaining carp., external

Shropshire Star

The top stories today on the Shropshire Star website include:

• Teenager taken to hospital after Telford street attack, external
• Mass protest to demand free parking in Shrewsbury, external
• Shrewsbury bus station could be scrapped as part of shopping centre plans, external

Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Hundreds of elderly and disabled people in Worcestershire are going to be offered smart speakers in a bid to improve their quality of life.

Last year, Hampshire County Council said it became the first local authority to trial the technology allowing residents to live independently. , external

The aim was for the voice-activated speakers to be used to remind them to take medication, check when a carer is due or work the television or other devices.

Now, Worcestershire County Council's aiming to roll out them out in the next 12 months and says the move could save money in the long-term.

The work of musician Delia Derbyshire is to be featured at this year's Proms, which kick off on Friday.

The work of the Radiophonic Workshop, where the Coventry musician worked, will be celebrated at the Pioneers of Sound Prom on 23 July.

They'll play The Delian Mode - a spooky piece of incidental music that Doctor Who arranger composed for a 1969 episode of The Sky At Night.

Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire

A man is in a critical condition in hospital after being attacked.

He and two other men were taken for treatment after the assault happened late on Wednesday night in Wellsfield in Woodside, Telford, external, police said.

Image source, Google

Two are still in hospital, with one since discharged - only the 34-year-old is said to be in a stable but critical condition.

Officers say a 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Despite rain and possibly thunderstorms being forecast today for the West Midlands, more fish are set to be rescued from a river that's still drying out., external

Image source, Environment Agency

Parts of the upper River Teme in north Herefordshire completely dried out in the space of just a few days in the heatwave.

Hundreds of salmon, trout and lampreys have been rescued by the Environment Agency.

Today, the organisation says staff are back at the river and will also be checking the nearby River Redlake in Shropshire as it's also drying out., external