Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

A jury has been told a former headmaster at an approved boys school in Worcestershire abused pupils by forcing them to strip naked from the waist down while being caned.

David Burns, who’s 87 and now lives in Cambridge, denies 21 counts of historical abuse during his time running the now-closed St Gilbert’s school in Hartlebury.

Image source, PA

The claims are being made by 16 former pupils and the offences are alleged to have taken place between 1966 and 1972.

The trial at Birmingham Crown Court continues.

A lorry has shed it's load including a consignment of pens on the A45 Stonebridge Highway in Coventry.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The road is partially blocked at the junction with the B4113 Saint Martin's Road.

West Midlands Police joked on Twitter , externalthat the lorry was going to be a "write off".

After Thomas's Tour de France trophy was stolen, here's five more things that were pinched.

A minute's silence will be held before Villa's next home game against Swansea City on Saturday, 20 October in memory of Doug Ellis, who's died aged 94.

In a statement, the club said it was deeply saddened to learn of Ellis's death and he had "dedicated his life to Aston Villa"., external

Former Aston Villa manager Brian Little, who led the team to success in the 1996 League Cup, the last trophy they won under Ellis's stewardship, Tweeted: , external"I was always taught to speak as you find. To me you were fantastic."

A motorcyclist has been taken to the major trauma centre in Stoke-on-Trent after coming off his bike and hitting a bus shelter last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it happened on Hanley Road in the Sneyd Green area just before 20:00.

It reported the driver of a car that was also involved was unhurt.

BBC Business News

Cadbury's owner Mondelez paid no tax from its UK subsidiary last year, despite profit increasing eightfold to £185m.

Mondelez UK Limited, the British sales and distribution arm of the US confectionery giant, had sales of £1.6bn in 2017 according to its latest accounts.

Profit before tax was up more than 700% to £185m, compared with £22m the previous year.

Image source, Getty Images

But the accounts show a tax credit for £320,000 in 2017, partly due to almost £30m of income being deemed non-taxable.

There was also a decrease in the UK corporation tax rate from 20% to 19% in April 2017, while the company paid out a (non taxable) dividend of almost £250m to its parent company.

Mondelez UK is part of a network of 48 British subsidiary companies owned by US food giant Mondelez International.

According to the Daily Mirror, the UK arms of the business made profits of £1.3bn last year but together paid just £5.9m in corporation tax.

BBC Sport

Gary Rowett says striker Saido Berahino has won back the respect of the other players, after his disappointing move from West Brom nearly two years ago.

Stoke City paid £15m for him, but he failed to score in 31 matches.

Image source, Getty Images

He finally broke that duck in a League Cup clash with Huddersfield in August.

Rowett said the Berahino was working hard in training and that he'd tried to show belief in the player, saying "he'll score goals, anyone who's seen him finish in training, you know he's going to score goals".

Hereford Times

Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Help needed to restore truck for mechanic's funeral, external
• Glitches found in council system designed to prevent overspend, external
• Patients with hospital appointments asked to leave extra time, external

A Shropshire health boss has said local hospital managers "don't help themselves" and could have been more transparent over the staff shortages in accident and emergency.

Last week the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust set out how many extra doctors and nurses would be needed to keep both units open 24 hours a day.

Dr Julian Povey said "sometimes it's a bit like trying to catch a bouncing ball, you want to catch the ball but it is so hard when you don’t know what the numbers are”.

Telford's A&E department is due to close overnight for at least six months, because of a lack of staff.

Courtney Jones, 26, died in hospital after he was found injured at a home in Hampshire.

The former MP for Worcester says he believes three badgers he found dead within feet of each other had been illegally killed in what he described as a "wildlife crime".

Michael Foster, who introduced a private members bill to ban hunting with dogs in 1997, was a prominent opponent of fox hunting and said the animals were found on ground next to a quiet road near Leigh Sinton.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Foster says he thinks the nearby Badger cull has encouraged some people to kill them outside of the legal zones.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Three senior members of the West Mercia Police Federation are being investigated, following a complaint.

We understand it relates to the conduct of the former branch chair Russ Yeomans, former secretary Jamie Harrison and another official, Sgt Nigel Mortimer.

In a statement, the assistant chief constable of West Mercia Police, Martin Evans, said an audit was carried out which led to the matter being referred to the Independent Office of Police Complaints.

A locally managed inquiry is now being led by a Warwickshire Police lead investigator.

Oritse Williams appeared before magistrates accused of raping a fan after a concert.

This is what the Midlands Metro will look like when work is finished to expand the line through Victoria Square, past the Town Hall and Library of Birmingham.

The track will be battery powered, so does away with the need for overhead wires, said Transport for West Midlands.

The £840m extension is currently under construction and is due to open in late 2019.

Former JLS star Oritse Williams has appeared in court charged with rape over an alleged attack on a fan in a Wolverhampton hotel room.

Image source, PA

The 31-year-old from Croydon, London, appeared at a brief hearing at Walsall and Aldridge Magistrates' Court, where he was granted unconditional bail.

He was ordered to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 8 November.

Co-defendant, Jamien Nagadhana, 31, from Hounslow, London, facing a serious sexual assault charge, was also bailed to the same date.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three stories from Stoke-on-Trent Live today:

• Man arrested after 27-year-old attacked with sword, external
• Baby shaker jailed after leaving tot with seven broken ribs and brain injury, external
• Foxes and badgers shot dead and found dumped near the A50, external

Catherine Buckley, 37, attempted to watch Lady Gaga hit A Star is Born with her four-week-old.

Former Aston Villa chairman Sir Doug Ellis dies at the age of 94.

A 64-year-old remains in hospital "fighting for his life", following a hit-and-run crash in Coventry on Monday, police said. , external

Image source, West Midlands Police

The man was struck while crossing the road on St James Lane, in the Willenhall area of the city at about 19:20 on Monday.

CCTV of the vehicle, believed to be a white Audi A3 or S3, has been released in a bid to trace it said West Midlands Police.

Sgt Alan Wood, of the force said the driver should "do the decent thing" and hand themselves in to police.

The mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, said he's been left "deeply saddened" at the death of the former Aston Villa owner, Sir Doug Ellis, who'd died aged 94.

Sir Doug was twice chairman of the Birmingham side, and his departure in September 2006 ended a reign which spanned nearly 40 years.

The leader of Birmingham City Council, Ian Ward, said he never lost his passion for the club or the city.