Worcester News

Here are three stories from the Worcester News today:

• Worcester facing tier two restrictions, external
• £26 million boost to get rid of shared mental health wards, external
• Police help man who fell outside station, external

BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester

A farmer from Herefordshire could be crowned Britain's Fittest Farmer this weekend.

Ben Andrews from Leominster (seen here throwing his wellies) is one of the 10 men and 10 women who have made it through to the final of the Farmers Weekly competition.

He will be dragging tractor tyres, carrying huge weights and rolling bales as part of the challenge which aims to show the importance of both physical and mental health.

Detectives investigating an armed robbery at a bingo hall in Birmingham have released security camera images of two men they want to talk to.

Officers were called to Castle Bingo on Barnes Hill at 22:00 on 3 September after staff members were forced to hand over "a large amount of cash" from the safe.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Ross Ball allowed dealers to "take advantage of him" and use his flat as a base, a court hears.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

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

• Lorry overturned near busy roundabout, external
• Road remains closed following flooding, external
• Skateboarder 'lucky not to lose an eye' after attack, external

Jonnie Meek's parents always maintained he had a reaction to milk he was given at Stafford Hospital.

BBC Radio CWR

Coventry could lose around 600 of its car parking spaces.

The city council is proposing closing six of its car parks, after seeing a "massive downturn" in their use, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

The head of traffic management at the authority, Greg Payne, said that as a result of the downturn in usage, "we're paying to run and operate a number of car parks".

He said the reduction would still leave about 3,000 spaces in the city, but it had to be "prudent" with council tax payer money.

Leighton Phillips assaulted the girls on a train to Shrewsbury while their father slept, a hearing is told.

BBC Weather Watchers

There's a real autumnal feel to the photos from the BBC Weather Watchers today.

These pictures were taken in Telford, Bewdley and Broome this morning.

Image source, Raj's Range

Image source, Spennells Pensioner

Image source, Henry

Police in England and Wales recorded 45,627 offences in 2019, the Office for National Statistics says.

Official guidelines say couples are entitled to refunds except for services already provided.

Hereford Times

Here are three of the stories covered by the Hereford Times today:

• MP slams 'ridiculous' train service to Hereford, external
• Bottle of vodka was found beneath crashed car's seat, court hears, external
• Poacher caught with illegally hunted birds, external

Severn Hospice is hoping to make up some of the money it's lost during the coronavirus pandemic with a Christmas fundraising appeal.

It had to close all 28 of its shops during lockdown and cancelled fundraising events, and said during lockdown it was missing out on £100,000 a week.

Image source, Severn Hospice

It is selling small robin statues this winter and hopes that will raise as much as past appeals.

In 2016, sales of small blue metal forget-me-not flowers raised £120,000 for the hospice.

BBC Radio WM

Shots have been fired at two properties in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham overnight.

West Midlands Police said officers were called to Yardley Green Road shortly before midnight and then, 30 minutes later to Churchill Road.

Nobody was injured, but both properties were damaged and the force said it was considering the possibility the two attacks were linked.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Work on a new medical centre in Wednesbury is expected to start next year and will take around 42 weeks, a report has said.

It is due to be build on King Street, along with five new council houses, on derelict land owned by Sandwell Council.

Image source, Sandwell Council

The new centre will replace the clinic at Woods Mesty Croft and a temporary building at Albert Street.

The Kingsbury House And Resource Centre, which used to be on the land, was pulled down in 2008.

Shropshire Star

Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:

• Murder detectives appeal for info about burned-out car, external
• Council leader backs coronavirus circuit breaker call, external
• Ludlow town walls works inch closer, external

Archaeologists have begun searching for evidence of Roman or Medieval settlements on land near Redditch

The dig is on an 11-acre site of grassland off Ipsley Church Lane, where there's a planning application for a change of use to a burial ground.

Image source, Google

Archaeologist Caroline Rann, who's managing the operation for Redditch Borough Council says it's early days.

A garden centre in Worcestershire is planning a drive-in firework display, to avoid crowds and help it meet coronavirus rules.

The event at Webbs of Wychbold next month will allocate standing area to each car load, to keep them apart.

Image source, Getty Images

The National Fire Chief's Council has warned that if the cancellation of the big displays leads to more fireworks in private gardens, there could be also more accidents.

Two women have been attacked and threatened with a knife in Stoke-on-Trent.

Armed police were called to a property on Harding Terrace in Penkhull just before midday yesterday.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The police helicopter carried out a search for suspects, but no-one has been found.

The women suffered what Staffordshire Police called minor injuries.

Birmingham Live

Some of today's Birmingham Live headlines include:

• Pub chain Marston's to cut 2,150 jobs due to government's new Covid-19 lockdowns, external
• Thief stole £63,000 of cars by posing as a buyer before mowing down one victim, external
• Three teens dead in 24 hours of tragedy on Black Country roads, external