Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons says his new captain GJ van Velze will be calm and composed on the pitch.

Image source, Getty Images

The South African was captain of the side from 2014 to 2017 before being sidelined with a concussion injury. , external

Worcester will start their Premiership season at home to Wasps on 1 September.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Crews are battling a woodland fire covering almost two-thirds of an acre.

Three fire engines were sent just before midday to the area off Uttoxeter Road near Hilderstone, Stone, Staffordshire. , external

The fire service says crews found 2,500 sq m "well alight" and are using water backpacks and beaters to try and get it under control.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Emily Lloyd

Work is set to start on the first part of a huge new housing estate in north Shropshire

Image source, Google

Developers Anwyl Construction Company Ltd have been given approval by Shropshire Council for the first 156 homes., external

They'll go on land west of Tilstock Road and the authority says later phases, to fill in the rest of the development, will have to be decided on in the future.

Outline planning permission was given in May 2015 for the 500 houses along with a convenience store, a new primary school and sports pitches.

BBC Weather Watchers

This picture's come from BBC Weather Watcher Martyn C, in Hereford, and shows the fields being harvested across the county:

Image source, Martyn C

If you want to become a BBC Weather Watcher and maybe see a photo you've taken get showcased by us, please head to the website and sign up.

Facebook

Many more of you have been sharing your tributes and memories of BBC Radio Shropshire presenter Vicki Archer after she died suddenly at the age of 41.

On the BBC Radio Shropshire Facebook page, Chris Bradley wrote, external: "This is shocking and very sad news. Whilst I didn't know her personally, her warm personality and humour shone through on her radio shows."

Jenny Emerson added, external: "So shocked to hear this sad news about Vicki, I just can't believe it. She always cheered me up when I was having a bad day. I never got to meet her but I still feel like I have lost a dear friend."

Louise Bath posted, external: "Vicki felt like a member of the family! All of you wonderful Radio Shropshire people do, but Vicki was rather special."

And Jackie Potter said, external: "Such devastating news about a lovely person. I have listened to Vicki an Adam for years, I feel I have lost a friend."

Warwickshire's Ian Bell still has the hunger to play for England - 12 months on from doubting whether he wanted to play cricket at all.

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times is covering these stories today, among others:

• Drugs and cash seized after chase, external
• Uni bosses hope to convert offices, external
• Shop owner slams city council for not keeping town hall tidy, external

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell tells BBC WM's Bears Podblast he considered retirement following a difficult spell in 2017.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Gardeners and farmers may be looking forward to the forecast rain, set to hit the West Midlands later this week, but it may be bad news for fish.

Image source, Environment Agency

The Environment Agency's been warning fisheries across Staffordshire and Warwickshire, external that the change in weather could lead to a rise in algae, effectively "choking" the fish.

They say the cooler, wetter weather can cause algae to bloom, giving off toxins and causing oxygen levels in waterways to drop.

Last month, a similar change from heatwave to thunderstorms led to a "significant" number of fish deaths in the River Tame and River Anker., external

Lucie Plant
BBC Hereford and Worcester

A trial is going on in Worcestershire to see if virtual digital assistants can help give disabled and elderly people more independence.

Richard Whitmore, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, said his device made him feel less isolated while he waited for carers.

Worcestershire County Council hopes assisted technology could benefit hundreds of people, including those with severe disabilities.

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

Ian Woosnam has fond memories of the Shropshire golf club where he started as a boy and has returned to unveil an honours board, listing all his achievements.

They include winning the Masters, the Ryder Cup (both as a player and as a captain) and topping the Order of Merit table.

And he still remembers a conversation he had with a member of Llanymynech Golf Club, when he was asked what his ambitions were.

The brother-in-law of Samantha Eastwood's ex-fiance has appeared in court accused of her murder.

Ben Russell
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

A community supermarket scheme aiming to reduce the demand on food banks is set to open its doors in Coventry.

Image source, Google

Based at the Foleshill Community Centre, the citizens' supermarket will sell food for up to a third of the supermarket price to try and reduce the demand on food banks.

Gavin Kibble, one of those behind the scheme, said there would also be support services on hand.

Ipswich boss Paul Hurst signs Jon Nolan and Toto Nsiala from his former club Shrewsbury for undisclosed fees.

Drivers had been warned to be on the lookout for an imposter in a black car with flashing blue lights.

Allen Cook
BBC News

People around the world may well be eating a Staffordshire delicacy today - as 8 August is Oatcake Day. , external

The first one was organised in 2010 and the day aims to get recognition for The Potteries' much-loved signature dish.

For those not aware of the foodstuff, also occasionally called the Tunstall Tortilla and Clay Suzette, imagine a pancake or French crepe but using oats and you're not far off.

Oatcakes are made from a batter of oatmeal, flour, milk and water and are cooked on a griddle.

Last year, we on BBC News told you of their worldwide appeal and I'm sure there'll be people globally raising a fork to the air in celebration today.

Wolves have signed the Spanish winger Adama Traore for a new club record transfer fee., external

The 22-year-old has arrived from Middlesbrough for a fee in the region of £18m.

He says he's looking forward to the challenge of playing for Wolves in the Premier League.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Lives are still being put at risk because warnings about swimming in open water are being ignored, the owners of a quarry in Warwickshire say.

The owners of Judkins quarry in Nuneaton said people are regularly trespassing on the site to go swimming, despite the dangers.

Last month, Luke Murphy, died in Blue Pool in Bishops Itchington (pictured) after he went swimming in a disused quarry

Image source, PAUL EVANS

The 17-year-old suffered a head injury either upon or after entering the water, according to the pre-inquest hearing.

Yesterday, we reported that swimmers are continuing to swim at Blue Pool despite warnings from police.

Frances Cronin
Health reporter

A family from Herefordshire are the face of the new campaign to map the location of defibrillators, after their teenage son collapsed at school and was saved by his own father.

Ethan Askew, 15, was running on the playing fields at the Steiner Academy in Much Dewchurch, near Hereford, when he collapsed and stopped breathing.

Image source, Askew Family

His dad Stuart works as premises manager at the school - he and other staff started CPR on him and then used the school's brand new defibrillator before paramedics arrived.

Ethan had surgery during which they replaced his artery and now, aged 16, he says he's fully recovered and "even better than before".

NHS England and NHS Scotland are joining the British Heart Foundation and Microsoft over the next 12 months to create a database of defibrillators across the UK.

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star has these top stories today:

• 29 speeding deaths in three years on Shropshire roads, external
• Quarry pool decision delayed again for Big Town Plan results, external
• BBC Radio Shropshire DJ Vicki Archer dies aged 41, external