BBC Midlands Today

A project to create new orchards is getting under way after being delayed due to the pandemic.

Three new orchards have been planted at the county's National Trust-run Brockhampton Estate in Herefordshire after years of decline.

It's estimated that during the last century, over half of all orchards across the country have been lost.

"We've lost 22 hectares at Brockhampton so putting in this orchard has put that back and some, so we really feel that we've done our bit," says Iain Carter, countryside manager with the National Trust.

"You know, we're in Herefordshire, surely orchards are what's associated with our county."

The project, funded by the People's Postcode Lottery and the Arts Council, aims to be an all-year-round visitor attraction, and has easy access to the public and people with disabilities.

Having begun in March 2020 with two laps, Mr Jones said he had increased the number to complete 40 a day.

The Queen is due to confer city status on one or more towns in 2022 to mark her 70-year reign.

Volunteers transform a site after visitors failed to find their relatives' final resting place.

Kacy John Daniel Flynn is charged after the boys were injured in Stoke-on-Trent last week.

An artist from Shropshire has walked 300 (483km) miles to the COP 26 conference in Glasgow, carrying a 10-ft polar bear sculpture to raise awareness of the impact of climate change.

Bamber Hawes' bear, called Clarion, is made of bamboo, willow and tissue paper.

He said he was overwhelmed by the reaction from people he'd met on his journey.

Shropshire Council investigates what caused it to collapse and replaces several others in the area.

A flood alert has been issued by the Environment Agency (EA) for the Severn Vyrnwy confluence, external.

Recent rainfall means river levels are rising at the gauge at Llanymynech, which straddles the border between Powys and Shropshire.

Consequently, flooding is imminent, the EA says.

"We expect flooding to affect low lying land and roads adjacent to the river from the Welsh border at Llawnt to Shrawardine near Shrewsbury, it said.

"Other locations that may be affected include Llanymynech, Maesbrook and Melverley."

The water is expected to peak at Llanymynech this morning at levels between 3.9m and 4.1m.

Work is to begin to repair a collapsed sewer pipe in Shrewsbury.

The work on Longden Road will start on Wednesday and is expected to take five days.

The pipe is underneath the middle of the road, adjacent to the Kingsland Road junction, Shropshire Council said.

Severn Trent Water waste department carried out further investigations on Longden Road after a blocked sewer caused problems in October.

Due to the location of the sewer, an urgent temporary road closure will be required to undertake a permanent repair.

Severn Trent operatives are currently using tankers to relieve the system on a daily basis to prevent the road from flooding, the authority said.

While the road is closed, traffic will be diverted and access will be maintained to properties and businesses at all times.

Affected residents and business will be notified, with advance warning signs placed on site.

Two men have been seriously injured after a car crashed with a lamppost in the early hours of the morning.

The vehicle ended up on its roof at the junction of Jobs Lane and Jardine Crescent in Coventry at about 03:45, said the ambulance service.

The two occupants from the vehicle were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

A dog had to be rescued by firefighters after becoming stuck on a ledge under a railway bridge.

The stranded collie was saved by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews close to Mill Street in Leominster on Saturday.

Image source, Leominster Fire Station

The dog was retrieved by the water rescue team and reunited with its owner.

Image source, Leominster Fire Station

A man has been left with life-changing injuries after being hit by a people-carrier.

West Midlands Police said it happened at 20:00 BST on Saturday near Dishley Street Bus Station in Leominster.

Anyone who saw the incident is asked to contact the force.

BBC CWR

The Lord Mayor of Coventry said the thousands of people who ran the city's half marathon in torrential rain showed the resilience and stamina of people in the city.

About 3,000 people made the start line for yesterday's race for the first time in three years.

Councillor John McNicholas said: "I've seen pride in Coventry coming out where it should be. We are proud Coventrians whether we choose to live here, or whether we were born here, we're all Coventrians today, well done everybody for your fortitude in these very, very wet conditions."

Teams are working to make the area safe after the gantry sign came loose on Sunday.

Andy Street says he is "feeling ok" and "glad to be double jabbed".

BBC Midlands Today

More walk-in Covid vaccination centres for 12 to 15-year-olds are to open across the Midlands.

In some parts of the region, fewer than 10% of that age group have been vaccinated.

Health bosses hope offering jabs without booking an appointment will encourage faster take up.

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It will be a cloudy and breezy day with some spells of rain and highs of 14C (57F).

Harold Jones is also raising funds for charity by completing walks around his garden.

The latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the West Midlands and south Cheshire.

High winds and fallen trees disrupt travel from London, amid storm damage across England.