BBC Hereford and Worcester

A man who saved a teenager from drowning but couldn't save a second man says he finds it difficult to sleep at night.

Yanek Kowal, who was on holiday from Hereford, pulled the 18-year-old to safety from Ullswater in the Lake District last month, but was unable to rescue a 21-year-old whose body was later found by divers.

The pair had got into difficulty swimming out to a pontoon off the lake's east shore.

Mr Kowal, a former lifeguard, was given a special award by the Royal Life Saving Society this week.

He said his wife and family are supporting him as he's still trying to cope with what happened.

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times is covering these stories today:

• Driver tells of rocks thrown from bridge, external
• Hereford in line for multimillion-pound boost, external
• Dashcam captures moment car veers across road, external

A CCTV image has been released of men police would like to speak to after four vulnerable women had their bags snatched.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The four women, all aged over 70 and with visible walking difficulties, were targeted during a four-day spree across Solihull and Sutton Coldfield in July, police say.

In three cases the victims’ bank cards were then used to steal cash, said West Miidlands Police.

Another bag theft attempt and burglary are also believed to be linked.

Det Con Julie Stokes said: "These were traumatic experiences for the victims and some have been left frightened to go out on their own now.

"It was a despicable act to target these knowing they were vulnerable due to their age and walking difficulties."

The body of a woman has been found at an address in Erdington, police say.

The 54-year-old was discovered at property on Summer Road shortly before 10:00.

The West Midlands force says her death is being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination is due.

She was last seen alive at 18:00 on Thursday.

A engineer is on site assessing a burst water main that's shooting water about 30ft (9m) into the air in Worcester.

The burst was initially reported at about 11:15, said Severn Trent.

"Once we know what’s happening, we can then plan and do the repair work," said the company in a statement.

The burst isn't affecting water supplies in the area, it said.

Worcester News

The Worcester News' headlines today include:

• Woman devastated after 12th car written off by hit-and-run driver, external
• Council leader welcomes extra money for social care and schools in Worcestershire, external
• Third Lidl supermarket could be coming to Worcester, external

Wolves midfielder Sadou Diallo joins League One side Accrington Stanley after the transfer window shuts.

BBC News Travel

An overturned car is blocking the J6 entry slip road of the M42 southbound in the West Midlands.

Driver and passengers heading to nearby Birmingham Airport are being warned of slow traffic in the area.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Drivers are being warned of slippery conditions on roads in Staffordshire this afternoon after a car came off a road and overturned in a field., external

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

It happened this afternoon in Ramshaw, near Leek, the fire service said.

it said the people inside had managed to get out by the time crews arrived. It's unclear if there are any injuries.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A water main appears to have burst in Worcester.

BBC Hereford and Worcester recorded water shooting about 30 ft (9m) into the air on Tolladine Road:, external

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

A police officer seriously hurt when a banned driver crushed her against a fence has told the BBC she believed all officers should now be given Tasers.

Image source, PA Media

PC Claire Bond was responding to reports a car had hit a garage in Stafford last year when she was struck and then dragged along by the car.

Her leg and kneecap were broken and she said "I look back now and I have no doubt that I would have used a Taser in order to stop him from going any further if I'd had one."

Gurajdeep Malhi, 26, from Stafford, was jailed on Monday for more than 12 years after admitting grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.

Last month, Northamptonshire's Chief Constable said he was issuing tasers to all frontline officers following the death of PC Andrew Harper in Berkshire.

Birmingham winger Jefferson Montero is out for "several weeks" after picking up a thigh injury against Stoke.

A man has been charged with knife and robbery offences following incidents in Rubery, police say.

The 27-year-old from the town has been charged with three counts of robbery and three counts of possessing a blade in public.

He's due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court later.

Coventry Live

Some of the Coventry Live headlines today are:

• New Lidl and 100 houses proposed for Coventry, external
• Drama as Nuneaton homes evacuated during police search, external
• The roads that will be closed as Men's Tour hits Warwickshire, external

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has added his voice to criticism that Boris Johnson should not have used police officers in the background of a "party political rant about Brexit".

Image source, PA Media

Some 35 officers stood for at least 20 minutes while the prime minister made a speech on police funding in Wakefield.

PCC David Jamieson said the set-up "did appear that those people around him are confirming, or whatever, the views that he was expressing.

"Clearly that's not right.

"I would have a lot to say if anything like that happened here in the West Midlands."

West Yorkshire's Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson said it was a "political stunt", and has asked for the prime minister to apologise.

In a statement, the chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, John Robins said he was "disappointed" his officers had been used as a backdrop, although the visit had been pre-arranged, before the drama of recent Brexit debates in Parlaiment.

It was the force's understanding, he said, that "any involvement of our officers was solely about police officer recruitment."

"We had no prior knowledge that the speech would be broadened to other issues until it was delivered," he added.

A man has had to be rescued after falling from the roof of a building in Hall Green, Birmingham.

The fire service used a rope system to help the man who landed on a flat roof shortly before 09:45 on Cole Bank Road.

He was treated for multiple injuries, said the ambulance service, before being taken to hospital.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, it added.

A woman's been jailed after eight horses were found neglected at a farm yard.

Annette Nally, of Prior Road, Oldbury, had denied animal cruelty after it was alleged she failed to feed or water the animals properly at Stoke Prior in Worcestershire, last summer.

But the 50-year-old was convicted of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and a charge of failing in her duty of care.

She was given a 26-week prison sentence at Kidderminster mMagistrates' Court today and disqualified from keeping animals for life.

BBC Weather Watchers

After the blue skies yesterday, the clouds have rolled in across the West Midlands today, judging by the photos we've been sent by our BBC Weather Watchers.

These three are from users Mrs Baggins in Bromyard, Herefordshire, Littleacorns in Southam, Warwickshire and Stormchaser Al in Halesowen, Dudley:

Image source, Mrs Baggins

Image source, Littleacorns

Image source, Stormchaser Al

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Worcestershire Rapids are in action this evening as they head to Sussex for their T20 Blast quarter-final.

Image source, Getty Images

It is a repeat of last season's T20 Blast final, which Worcestershire won by five wickets.

They are likely to be without an overseas player after New Zealand called up batsman Hamish Rutherford for an international match.

The winners of tonight's game will secure another trip to Finals Day at Edgbaston on 21 September.

You can follow commentary on the game on BBC Hereford and Worcester or the BBC Cricket website.

Shropshire Star

A few of the headlines appearing on the Shropshire Star website today:

• Big boost as Telford to get up to £25 million in New Towns initiative, external
• Cat ban call for house buyers on Shropshire estate, external
• Apology over Shropshire pavement permits price hike, external