Summary

  • Updates on Thursday 28 April 2016

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday

  1. Coming up on TV: Car 'keying' causes thousands of pounds in damagepublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Sarah Falkland
    BBC Midlands Today

    A garage owner in Worcestershire says he's sickened by the actions of a vandal who "keyed" every car in his compound, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

    CCTV of vandalismImage source, Mark Edginton

    More on Midlands Today from 13:30 on BBC One.

  2. Hereford Times front and back pages: We are the championspublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Hereford Times

    Hereford FC winning promotion features on the front and back pages of this week's Hereford Times, external.

    Hereford Times front pageImage source, Hereford Times
    Hereford Times back pageImage source, Hereford Times
  3. Police discharged Tasers 21 times last yearpublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Andy Giddings
    BBC Local Live

    West Mercia Police say officers discharged Tasers 21 times last year, external.

    The stun weapons were at least drawn, but not discharged, another 143 times.

    TaserImage source, PA

    Across England and Wales, Tasers were used more than 10,000 times last year and that figure has remained fairly stable for the past three years.

  4. Watch: Duck in drain rescued by firefighterspublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Watch the firefighters from Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Service based in Droitwich rescue a duck stuck in a drain.

    It's a story with quacking happy ending

  5. Your pictures: Clouds in Ross-on-Wyepublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Jerry Chester
    BBC News Online

    These stunning shots come from Chris Lyons - the first shows clouds over Penyard Hill and the second shows the sunset over Wilton.

    I'd love to feature your photos on this page - you can emailtweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.

    Penyard HillImage source, Chris Lyons
    WiltonImage source, Chris Lyons
  6. Expansion plans at Sixways could see fans paying morepublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Worcester Warriors' supporters could be regularly paying double to watch their heroes in the future, if the club can expand Sixways' current 12,000 capacity. 

    The club has already announced a 10% ticket increase across the board for next season. 

    Sixways stadiumImage source, Getty Images

    The club's chief executive, Jim O'Toole, believes optimising the club's West Midlands fan base could help them significantly swell the coffers to help them attract top international rugby stars. 

    Quote Message

    I personally think the optimum size [grounds in] the Premiership is what Harlequins have - 14,000 to 15,000. [Northampton] Saints have the same. They can charge £40 to stand because they are full every week and they are sweating the asset by getting the maximum for every seat or standing space."

    Jim O'Toole, Chief executive, Worcester Warriors

  7. Watch: Latest weather for Herefordshire and Worcestershirepublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    It will turn increasingly cloudy through the afternoon with rain arriving later on. Highs of 9C (48F).

  8. Cricket: Moeen hits ton as Worcestershire draw against Gloucestershirepublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    BBC Sport

    England's Moeen Ali scores 136 not out on day four as Worcestershire draw with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

    Moeen AliImage source, Getty Images

    Needing 352 to win from 63 overs, the visitors lost Brett D'Oliveira and Daryl Mitchell to Liam Norwell and were 49-3 when Josh Shaw bowled Joe Clarke.

    But Moeen (136no) calmed any fears of defeat, leaving both sides still waiting for a first victory of 2016.

  9. Your pictures: Priory Park in Malvern as it waspublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    A journey back in time to the 1950s with these pictures of Priory Park in Malvern.

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  10. Newcastle Falcons sign Warriors hookerpublished at 11:18 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Newcastle Falcons have signed hooker Ben Sowrey from Worcester Warriors for next season.

    The 24-year-old has made eight appearances for Worcester this season, three of them in the Premiership.

    Ben SowreyImage source, Getty Images
  11. Consultant resignation: 'Uncertainty is affecting staff morale'published at 11:01 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    The trust running the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch says it is "disappointed" that consultant gastroenterologist, Dr David Aldulaimi, has resigned, but says it is "an opportunity for somebody else to join our team and help to shape the future of our hospital".

    Quote Message

    It is clear that uncertainty around the future of hospital services in Worcestershire has had an impact on staff morale, but the final proposal agreed by our clinicians is now enabling us to move forward with confidence and with the message to patients and staff that 95% what is delivered at the Alexandra Hospital will remain at the Alex."

    Chris Tidman, Chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  12. Playing fields and nature reserve transformed using £665,000 from developerspublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    A second stage of improvements to Diglis Playing Fields and the adjacent Cherry Orchard Nature Reserve are starting, using a fund of £665,000 paid by private developers.

    Gates will be installed at all the entrances to make the area safer for children, and a new car park with space for up to 16 cars will be added, the council says.

    Diglis playing fields, WorcesterImage source, Google
  13. Consultant resignation "another cause for concern"published at 10:17 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    The resignation of another consultant at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch is "another cause for concern", according to the head of a body representing local GPs.

    Dr David AlDulaimi, a consultant gastroenterologist, will leave the hospital in three months - the reason for his departure is unclear.

    Alexandra Hospital, RedditchImage source, Google

    Four accident and emergency consultants resigned from the hospital in February last year, along with a fifth based at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.   

    Quote Message

    The news that he's resigned is somewhat of a shock and a great disappointment. It does make me worry about what's going on, about the sustainability of services at the Alexandra Hospital."

    Dr Jonathon Wells, Redditch and Bromsgrove GP Advisory Forum

  14. Latest: Another consultant resignation; Varnish told to 'let her talent do the talking; stadium expansion planspublished at 10:01 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Gavin Kermack
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:

    - The resignation of another consultant from the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch is described as a "worrying development" by a local GP body

    - Jess Varnish is told to "let her talent do the talking" by former cycling chief

    - Worcester Warriors' Sixways stadium could be expanded to hold 14,000

  15. Promotion for university netball teampublished at 09:43 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    The University of Worcester's netball team won a thrilling British Universities and Colleges Sports play-off final at Newcastle yesterday.

    Worcester eventually came through 50-49 and so will replace Newcastle in the Premier Division for next season.

  16. Jess Varnish should 'let her talent do the talking' says former cycling chiefpublished at 09:28 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    The former president of the British Cycling Federation, Tony Doyle, says Jess Varnish (pictured below with Victoria Pendleton) should take a leaf out of Jessica Ennis-Hill's book and "let her talent do the talking".

    The technical director of British Cycling, Shane Sutton, resigned yesterday amid claims of sexism made by the Bromsgrove cyclist and of using derogatory words to describe Para-cyclists. 

    Jess Varnish and Victoria PendletonImage source, Getty Images
    Quote Message

    [Shane Sutton] is a top athlete, a real rough, tough Aussie who works hard and plays hard. Jess Varnish needs to take a leaf out of her namesake Jess Ennis-Hills' book, who's polite, unassuming and who lets her talent do the talking."

    Tony Doyle, Former president of the British Cycling Federation

  17. Penalty shoot-out heartache for Redspublished at 08:54 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Redditch United conceded a goal deep into added time at the end of their play-off semi-final at home to Leamington and then suffered the heartache of losing a penalty shoot-out.

    Ashley Sammons scored in the first half for the Reds but Leamington levelled and there was no further score in extra time.

    The Reds then missed three of their four penalties in the shoot out.

  18. Consultant resignation from Worcestershire hospital a 'worrying development'published at 08:42 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    James Pearson
    Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    The resignation of another consultant at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch has been called a "worrying development" by the chair of the body representing GPs in Redditch and Bromsgrove.

    The doctor who's resigned is David Aldulaimi, a consultant gastroenterologist. He's worked at Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust since 2004.

    Alexandra Hospital in Redditch

    The reason for his departure is unclear.  

    Four accident and emergency consultants resigned from the hospital in February last year, along with a fifth based at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital. 

  19. Latest: Consultant resign at hospital; Sixways expansion plan; open spaces grants availablepublished at 08:31 British Summer Time 28 April 2016

    Gavin Kermack
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:

    - Another consultant resigns from Worcestershire's main hospital trust

    - Warriors plan to expand Sixways to hold 14,000 but also expect to raise ticket prices

    - Clubs and community groups in Herefordshire can apply for grants to help them to look after the county's green spaces