Updates on Thursday 5 May 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates to resume at 08:00 on Friday
That's it for live updates this afternoon.
My colleague Alex Homer will be back from 22:00 bringing you comprehensive coverage of the local and police and crime commissioner elections as the results come in overnight.
He'll be bringing you live text updates for the West Midlands on our dedicated BBC News live page between 22:00 and 08:00 on Friday.
The University of Worcester’s netball squad has received an unexpected end-of-season boost as they have been invited to represent Great Britain at the World Student Games in Miami in July.
The Worcester squad won promotion to the BUCS Premier League for next season with a dramatic win at Newcastle in the play-off final on Wednesday, 27 April.
Under director of netball, Sheli Morgan, they also won the BUCS Trophy and it was this double success that led to their being invited to take part in the international tournament against some of the best student netball squads in the world.
Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Kidderminster Harriers have announced they have offered new contracts to five members of their current squad.
Image source, EmpicsExperienced defender Jared Hodgkiss has triggered an appearance-based clause in his deal while the club has also made offers to striker Evan Garnett, defender Keith Lowe, midfielder James McQuilkin and winger Omari Patrick.
But seven players will be leaving Aggborough - Dean Snedker, Jordan Jones, Gurjit Singh, Reece Hales, Jono Brown, Aman Verma and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner will all be looking for new clubs next season.
A 100-year-old woman has made history by becoming the oldest model to feature in Vogue.
Bo Gilbert, who lives in a housing facility in Alcester, Warwickshire, was chosen for a special campaign to celebrate the magazine's 100th anniversary.
Bo, who never goes out without heels and make-up, was spotted in The Evesham Journal, external by a casting agent.
Shot by fashion photographer Phil Poynter, the photos appear in the commemorative June issue, on sale from Thursday, 5 May.
Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Worcester Warriors, external’ scrum-half, Jonny Arr, says his rehabilitation is going well and he’s confident of being fully fit for the start of next season.
Arr underwent surgery on a knee injury he sustained during January and hasn’t played since, but he says the medical team are happy with the progress he is making.
He plans to work through much of the off-season in order to ensure the knee is strong enough to deal with the rigours of pre-season and then the start of the 2016-17 Aviva Premiership campaign.
BBC Midlands Today
Visitors to the first day of the RHS Malvern Spring Gardening Show have enjoyed an upturn in the weather.
Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
It will stay dry across this evening and overnight with some prolonged clear spells. Generally temperatures will stay in high single figures, although it may turn rather chilly in rural spots around the Malvern Hills. Lows of 7C (45F).
A Hereford couple who paid for their IVF treatment in Greece by holding car boot sales have named their first child.
Image source, Kyle MorganKyle and Kirsty Morgan are calling their baby boy Alyus James.
He was born by Caesarean section on Tuesday.
Elderly residents in Leominster have been targeted by thieves, external who are using distraction techniques in the town's supermarkets.
Here are some of today's headlines:
- An elderly woman been freed after becoming trapped under a car in Kidderminster
- The Home Office is providing more than £500,000 to support 60 refugees from Syria who will arrive in Herefordshire in September
- A Hereford couple who paid for their IVF treatment in Greece by holding car boot sales have named their first child
Woodland Trust, external says it is aware of six ancient woods under threat in Worcestershire.
It says 575 such woods across the UK are under threat from development, according to new trust figures.
Image source, Woodland TrustThe charity says the county is also one of 10 areas for a restoration project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The trust says it is renewing its call for better care and protection of ancient woods, which in many cases will be thousands of years old.
A hoard of rare war memorabilia put up for auction by a militaria and aviation fanatic has an estimated value of £100,000.
Image source, HallsJohn Hancocks, who's 85, said his fascination began as a child in Birmingham when the city was targeted by German bombers during World War Two.
The collection at his Worcestershire farm goes on sale on 24 May with Halls, external, who said the estimated value of the items was £100,000.
Paramedics feared for an elderly woman’s arm after it got trapped under a car, external, the ambulance service say.
She had been trying to get a walking aid out from her vehicle in Kidderminster when the car moved and she fell to the ground face down with her arm trapped under the wheel.
The incident, at Anchorfields at just after 11:00, resulted in firefighters having to lift the vehicle with airbags to get her out.
The ambulance service said when it arrived, it had serious concerns about the level of damage to her arm, but once she was freed, the condition of her arm improved rapidly and she was taken to hospital with bruising as a precaution.
Matt Gardiner has said he and new manager John Eustace have hit the ground running after joining Kidderminster Harriers, external.
Image source, Kidderminster ShuttleAbout 400 people have signed up to take part in the St Richard's Hospice, external annual Malvern Hills sponsored walk on 14 May.
Image source, St Richard's HospiceThere are three routes available over two, five or 11 miles, with the shorter two routes being circular and suitable for the whole family, the hospice says.
To find out more or to register online visit the hospice website, external or call the St Richard’s fundraising team on 01905 763963.
Community fundraiser Jayne Sargeant and fundraising manager Rachel Jones (pictured above) have been to the Malvern Hills checking out the routes.
Refurbishment work has begun in the former Vice Presidents’ Club premises at Edgar Street after Hereford FC decided to relocate the Executive Club there from the start of next season, external.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe club said the decision was partly due to the success of its corporate hospitality offerings in its first season.
It said this had meant on several occasions the RE Resource Group Lounge, formerly known as the Starlite Room, was "very close to being full to capacity" and not as relaxing for guests "as we hoped it should be".
We are back on air on our Worcestershire 104 FM transmitters after they stopped working due to a power fault.
You can also listen on 94.7 FM in Herefordshire, DAB, online and 738 Medium Wave.
Thousands of people are expected at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, external, which is taking place until Sunday.
We're really sorry, our Worcestershire FM transmitters are off air because of a power fault.
You can still listen on 94.7 FM in Herefordshire, DAB, online and 738 Medium Wave.
Today's headlines include:
- The Home Office is providing £500,000 as support for 60 refugees from Syria who will arrive in Herefordshire in September
- More than 90,000 people are expected to flock to Malvern's Spring Festival, external starting today
- A bald eagle is still on the loose in Herefordshire
