Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

The largest polytunnel farm in Herefordshire could soon be built on 91 acres of land, but many people living locally aren't happy.

Farmer George Leeds has applied to grow strawberries in more than a mile of plastic tunnels near Hereford and to install 72 caravans for more than 300 workers., external

Image source, Getty Images

He says it will help to meet the demand for British strawberries and the workers will contribute to the local economy.

But people in the nearby village of Ocle Pychard have told BBC Hereford and Worcester that it will ruin their community overnight.

A consultation on the plans with Herefordshire Council finished earlier this month and the plans are now awaiting a decision by councillors.

West Midlands police is experiencing a spike in emergency calls.

Coventry Observer

Some of the stories featuring in this week's Coventry Observer are:

• Ex-staff owed money in Earlsdon cafe's collapse, external
• Family speaks out over mum-of-five's death in Coventry hospital, external
• Violence surges following final whistle of World Cup defeat, external

Image source, Coventry Observer

Footage shot in the street shows an armed, masked man outside a ram-raided jewellers.

A man found guilty of stabbing his wife to death on New Year's Eve, after she planned to leave him, has been jailed for life.

Image source, Facebook

David Clark, 49, will serve a minimum of 15 years for murdering his wife Melanie, 44, at their home in Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

Birmingham Crown Court heard he was controlling and bullying toward both his wife and her children from a previous relationship.

Jason Corden-Bowen, of the Crown Prosecution Service, described Clark as a "violent and abusive man who would not accept the fact that his wife had called time on their relationship".

The Environment Agency says water temperatures in the River Wye in Herefordshire reached 25C (77F) yesterday.

It has rescued more than 1,000 fish from the River Teme in the past week, because the hot weather has caused water levels to fall and smaller rivers to dry up completely in places.

Image source, Environment Agency

What's more, higher water temperatures mean a lower oxygen content.

The Environment Agency also reported temperatures of 22C (72F) in the River Severn in Tewkesbury.

There is gathering momentum to honour the two British divers who helped rescue the trapped Thai boys.

The North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson is the latest to back calls to give John Volanthen and Coventry's Richard Stanton the George Cross.

Coventry Live
Coventry Live

Some of the stories making the headlines on the Coventry Live website today include:

• Friend of cave rescue hero says mission was toughest ever, external
• Firefighters hampered in suspected arson, external
• Killers of Nuneaton mum launch bid to appeal life sentences, external

Robin Grey
BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City defender Moritz Bauer says he is relishing the challenge of playing more games in the Championship this season.

Image source, Getty Images

The 26-year-old joined the club from Ruben Kazan in January and signed an improved five-year deal earlier this month.

The Potters start their season away to Leeds United on 5 August.

Shaun Addison, 27, is remanded into custody after being charged with the murder of Matthew Powney.

A health organisation has revealed it's already £2.5m over its deficit target for this financial year.

Image source, PA

Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is aiming to end 2018-19 with a shortfall of £13.3m.

But the group's revealed this week that there's already an estimated overspend.

The CCG's accountable officer, Simon Freeman, said he "would normally expect variances at this point in the year" and was "not overly concerned at this stage".

However, auditor Mark Stocks warned that if the CCG was a corporate business it would “struggle” to finance its deficit.

Fire crews have been working to make the site of a jewellers safe, after a ram raid robbery in the Harborne area of Birmingham.

Image source, @SnapperSK

Image source, @SnapperSK

Firefighters were called shortly after 11:00 to reports of a car crashing into a shop, said West Midlands Fire.

Crews also had to deal with petrol that had spilled from the crashed car.

The area, on Harborne High Street, remains cordoned off.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two Staffordshire MPs on opposite sides of the house have pressed the government for a debate on the emergency service, external within the NHS and the need for "proper investment" in the health service.

Image source, Conservative Party

Jeremy Lefroy (pictured), the Conservative MP for Stafford, told the Commons that the country needed all available A&Es and there should be a ban on plans to close any more.

While the Labour MP for Stoke North, Ruth Smeeth, said there was a need for a "truly integrated health economy".

Responding, the leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, said the NHS in England is to get an extra £20bn a year by 2023 and that there have been several health debates already and "there will be many further changes to debate".

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times is covering these top stories today:

• Favoured bypass route is revealed, external
• Council preparing for life after Brexit, external
• New order to restrict street drinking needs to be amended, external

Work is being carried out to resolve the issue of "disgraceful" accommodation offered to police officers deployed to cover the visit of Donald Trump, which starts later today.

The Police Federation in the West Midlands has complained of the conditions, saying officers are expected to sleep in gymnasiums with no hot water and restricted access to hot foood.

A National Police Chiefs Council spokeswoman said Essex Police were working "at speed" to resolve the issue.

"Some of the accommodation pictured today for officers supporting the major operation for the US presidential visit is not acceptable and below the standard of other accommodation for this operation," she added.

A man "surfing" on top of a moving car, people jumping into a canal and a large fight were some of the bigger incidents ambulance crews say they were sent to after the England defeat last night.

Image source, Simon Hunter

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

West Midlands Ambulance Service says that, as soon as the final whistle was blown, "the phone lines lit up".

They say the number of calls rose by 15% compared with the same time last week - with 1,100 calls between 21:30 and 04:30., external

Overall, paramedics say they were called to more than 40 reports of assaults, several road crashes and drink-fuelled cases of "bravado leading to injuries".

Long queues have been reported outside Build a Bear stores and its shop in Telford has had to close for the day, after it reported an "overwhelming" response to a "pay your age" offer.

Some people queued from 06:30 in Telford town centre, to take advantage of the deal, with the store offering gift vouchers to people who gave up waiting.

Across the country, nine-hour waits and even fights have been reported, external.

The chain said all its stores around the country were seeing similar crowds.

Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News

A chief constable has told a hearing he did not bully or belittle his staff, but admitted he could sometimes be blunt.

Simon Byrne, who was suspended from Cheshire Constabulary last year, has begun giving evidence against bullying allegations between May 2014 and March 2017.

Today, he admitted he could sometimes be blunt if he was frustrated by equipment that didn’t work and admitted he may have said things in meetings that could be interpreted as blunt.

He also conceded that late night emails to staff could “lack finesse”.

Asked about occasions when he was accused of berating or belittling staff, he said some of those staff had lied to him.

Mr Byrne denies gross misconduct and the hearing continues this afternoon.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A jewellers shop has been robbed after thieves are believed to have ram-raided it with a car.

Police say it happened this morning on Harborne High Street, Birmingham.

Image source, SnapperSK

They say they think three men, armed with weapons, then made off with items from the store.

A police officer's been pictured on social media removing an axe from the scene., external

Image source, SnapperSK

Armed police were called to the road and are still there while officers say no-one's thought to have been hurt.

Convoys of police officers from the West Midlands have been making their way down to London today, to assist with the visit of President Trump.

This photo was taken by Staffordshire Police Inspector Mark Joynson this lunchtime.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Chief Constable Gareth Morgan tweeted, external: "Many thanks for your service representing Staffordshire Police. Know that you’ll make a brilliant contribution to this national effort. Take care and look out for each other."

The force won't say how many officers are travelling to London for the visit.