Summary

  • Updates from Monday 13 January to Sunday 19 January

  1. Cyber attack probed at schoolpublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    James Pearson
    Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A suspected cyber attack at a Herefordshire school is being investigated by police.

    John Kyrle High SchoolImage source, Google

    John Kyrle High School, in Ross-on-Wye, has written to all parents and pupils after the security breach on Monday.

    It said classes and registration had been unaffected, but teachers and pupils weren't able to access the school's servers.

  2. Oscar Saxelby-Lee cancer news - 'We are elated!'published at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    "We are thrilled, we are elated!"

    The mother of five-year-old Oscar Saxelby-Lee, was reacting on BBC Hereford and Worcester to the news that her son is now cancer-free.

    OscarImage source, Family handout/Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust

    They are currently in Singapore, where the youngster, from Worcester, has been getting CAR-T therapy for his leukaemia.

    This week, a charity supporting Oscar said: "No leukaemia has been detected in his blood or bone marrow at all."

    Mum Olivia said: "We've never heard those words before, it's incredible."

    However, Oscar still has to undergo a further bone marrow transplant soon and she added: "We've still got a battle to win and there's a lot of uncertainty."

  3. Man injured in fire at UB40's Red Red Wine pubpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    The Eagle and Tun pub in Digbeth was the location of the video for the band's number one hit.

    Read More
  4. 'No bids' for Town pair despite rumourspublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    BBC Shropshire

    Shrewsbury Town boss Sam Ricketts says he's had no bids for Fejiri Okenabirhie or Josh Laurent (pictured) despite rumours linking them with moves away from the club.

    Josh LaurentImage source, Getty Images

    The pair both have contracts which run out this summer.

    Quote Message

    There have been no bids or anything for Fejiri from anyone. He's a young player who can score goals. Josh has done really well, certainly improved since I've been at the club. Again, no contact from anyone in terms of Josh so I take that as he's staying."

    Sam Ricketts, Shrewsbury Town manager

  5. Woman acquitted over girl's road deathpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    She has been cleared in connection with the death of six-year-old Jannatul Bakya.

    Read More
  6. Large tree blocks A449published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    BBC News Travel

    A tree's fallen and blocked the A449 just outside Ledbury, Herefordshire.

    West Mercia Police is urging drivers, external to avoid the area.

    Tree downImage source, West Mercia Police
    Police directing trafficImage source, West Mercia Police
  7. Costs double for stalled hospitalpublished at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    The 669-bed Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick is now expected to open in July 2022 - a delay of three years and nine months.

    Hospital siteImage source, Google

    The costs have risen to at least £998m, some more than £300m more than expected, the National Audit Office has found.

    Following Carillion's collapse, work on this and Royal Liverpool Hospital stopped while the trusts, government and private investors attempted to rescue the projects.

    When these attempts failed, the government decided to terminate the PFI schemes and provide public financing to complete the hospitals.

  8. Stoke boss ponders move for Blackpool midfielderpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    Matt Sandoz
    Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill hasn't ruled out a move for Blackpool's Jordan Thompson in this month's transfer window.

    Jordan ThompsonImage source, Getty Images

    Stoke have been strongly linked with the 23-year-old midfielder, a man who O'Neill has worked with in the past.

    Quote Message

    Jordan's a player I know well, a player I've seen develop from a very young player from under age groups in the Northern Ireland and Jordan's a player that I admire, I think he's a player with a big, big future ahead of him."

    Michael O'Neill, Stoke City manager

  9. Foster carers reach five-year highpublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Tom Davis

    More people are wanting to become foster carers in Coventry than there have been in the past five years, with the number of carers also increasing, new figures show.

    Council House

    An annual review of Coventry City Council’s fostering service showed there were 184 approved households for fostering at the end of 2018-19, with 339 available places.

    Both figures have increased for the past four years and are the highest in five years, which is the latest data presented.

    Thirty-three households were newly approved as foster carers last year, which is said to represent the “highest ever number of new approvals” in the service.

  10. Flybe confirms it will get a tax and duty holidaypublished at 11:48 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    BBC Business News

    Flybe has hit back at media reports that its rescue plan included repaying a tax debt was thought to top £100m.

    FlybeImage source, Getty

    The company, which operates a third of flights out of Birmingham Airport, agreed a payment plan with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for "less than £10m" it said.

    It said the arrangement would be for a "matter of months" before the tax and duties are paid off.

    The airline defended the move as "a standard Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC that any business in financial difficulties may use".

  11. Goalkeeper suffered sexist abuse during gamepublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    BBC Sport

    Crystal Palace Women goalkeeper Lucy Gillett said she was subjected to sexist abuse during Sunday's Championship game at Coventry United.

    Lucy GillettImage source, The FA

    The 25-year-old said men in the crowd called on the referee to "check the gender" of several Palace players.

    "It is something I don't think should be at a women's game - or any game. It is not acceptable," she told BBC Sport.

    The Football Association has been made aware of the incident, and is looking into it.

  12. Bypass '50:50 chance' of being scrappedpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    A long-planned bypass is in serious doubt, with a councillor saying there's now just a "50:50 chance" it will go ahead.

    Proposed bypass routeImage source, Herefordshire Council

    The route of the Hereford bypass and southern link road was approved in 2018 but then paused last year by Herefordshire Council after a group of independents took control of the authority following elections.

    Now a councillor leading a review into traffic in the city is suggesting more river bridges are built as an alternative to help ease congestion.

    Other possible schemes include turning off the traffic lights at key junctions, a light railway on the Great Western Way and more separated routes for cycling and walking.

    Councillor John Harrington led the review and said these ideas "are things that we could do much, much more quickly and would have a greater impact I think on congestion".

    The suggestions are part of the review and the council said climate change would play a major part in any decisions made in the future.

  13. Track inspection delaying trainspublished at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    BBC News Travel

    A problem with the track is affecting rail services around the Harbury area.

    A track inspection is under way, said Network Rail.

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  14. How bad are things in Birmingham?published at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    In a letter sent to the council a month ago, the FSA's chief executive Emily Miles said she was "extremely concerned about the effectiveness of the food safety service being provided by Birmingham City Council and about the potential risks to public health".

    The FSA says the council has a "growing backlog" of more than 1,000 overdue inspections for premises already rated - 70% of which are deemed "high risk".

    Aerial view of part of BirminghamImage source, Getty Images

    It also says a further 1,200 premises are yet to receive a rating at all, 86% of which are likely to fall into the high-risk category

    On top of all of this - it is estimating at least 1,000 new registrations will be made this year.

    And in addition to its worries about inspections, the FSA has said it has concerns about a "reduction" in the number of complaints about hygiene that are being inspected.

    So even the grubbiest takeaway might be getting away it.

  15. Boy 'cancer-cell free' after Singapore treatmentpublished at 10:39 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    The five-year-old's family says they "are rejoicing at this magical time in our lives".

    Read More
  16. Your pictures: Early morning startpublished at 10:25 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    BBC Weather Watchers

    The BBC Weather Watchers have been out snapping images of the early morning.

    These were taken in Worcester by Nathan H, Sutton Coldfield, by Sutton Walker and Bodenham, Hererfordshire by Step Walker

    WorcesterImage source, Nathan H
    Sutton ColdfieldImage source, Sutton Walker
    BodenhamImage source, Step Walker
  17. Dumped dog tied to telegraph pole 'lost property'published at 10:04 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2020

    An abandoned German shephard, found tied to a telegraph pole in Sutton Coldfield, will be put up for rehoming if not claimed within seven days.

    DogImage source, Birmingham City Council

    The "quite underweight" and "extremely hungry" animal was found by a passing dog walker on Peddimore Lane at about 08:30 on Thursday and could have been there all night, said Birmingham City Council.

    The four-year-old animal was then collected by the council's animal welfare team.

    "The dog was very nervous, but officers managed to scan him at the kennels," it said.

    "He is microchipped, but the registered owner states he rehomed the dog 12 months ago.

    "He has settled into the kennels where he will have to remain as ‘lost property’ for seven days, thereafter - if not claimed by an owner – he will be put up for rehoming."