BBC Hereford and Worcester

A hairdresser says it could be September before she's fully caught up with all the customers needing an appointment post-lockdown.

Image source, Reuters

The appropriately named The Hairdressers salon in Droitwich will be reopening shortly after 4 July following the government announcing the easing of restrictions yesterday.

Having worked her way through the 45 pages of measures, owner Jo Evans says they'll all have full face shields and would be disinfecting equipment after every use., external

"We've been preparing all through lockdown as to what possible measures we have to put in place. We're ready to rock 'n' roll."

BBC Weather Watchers

A cheeky squirrel, sheltering sheep and beautiful flowers - all in a day's work for our local BBC Weather Watchers!

These three pictures were taken by users Sal in Kinver, Staffordshire, Postman Les in Bromyard, Herefordshire and Mr Twister in Leek, Staffordshire:

Image source, Sal

Image source, Postman Les

Image source, Mr Twister

Worcester News

A few of the headlines from the Worcester News:

• Probe after ‘gang with weapons’ seen after woman attacked near Worcester restaurant, external
• Dad who was hours away from death leaves hospital after beating coronavirus, external
• Green light for new crossing in Worcester welcomed, external

BBC Weather Watchers

Brilliant blue skies are still being photographed by our local BBC Weather Watchers across the region.

Here are examples from three of our users, My Sky Eye in Tamworth, Staffordshire, Grum in Ellesmere, Shropshire and Hedgehog in Evesham, Worcestershire:

Image source, My Sky Eye

Image source, Grum

Image source, Hedgehog

Thames Valley Police said a 44-year-old man from Kent was arrested on 18 June over the palace heist.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A cafe owner fears he could have to get rid of some staff if he is forced to reduce the number of tables inside in order to meet the latest social distancing guidelines to reopen safely.

From 4 July, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants in England will be able to welcome customers inside for the first time since lockdown began in March.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said the two-metre social distancing rule would be relaxed to "one metre plus", with some conditions.

Francini Osorio had already installed shower curtains around booths in his cafe in Worcester to protect customers, external.

But he is now worried he'll have to take tables out in order to keep people at least one metre apart.

"I'm going to have to get rid of some of my staff because I won't be able to generate enough money to support my business," he said.

"I'm going to lose about 38 to 40 people a day. By the end of the month, it's going to be thousands of pounds. I won't have to be able to keep the business afloat."

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Builders in Herefordshire & Worcestershire say a shortage of plaster is holding up the repair of flood-hit properties and other projects.

The UK's major supplier of plaster halted production at the start of the coronavirus crisis and has only returned to normal levels of supply this month.

Dan Campbell, from Finnate Construction Ltd, who has been working on a property in Tenbury Wells, said they have been told it is going to be three to four weeks before they will be able to get any plastering products.

He said the delays will "definitely" impact on repairs.

Worcester Warriors centre Ollie Lawrence signs an undisclosed-length contract extension with the Premiership club.

Police investigating the death of 40-year-old Jesse Richards from Evesham in 2009 are continuing to search a property in Warwickshire.

Officers from West Mercia Police have cordoned off a property on Smorral Lane, Corley.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Five men were jailed over Mr Richards' death in 2012, but his remains were never found.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Radical plans to control traffic in Hereford and Herefordshire's market towns could be introduced in weeks.

Image source, PA Media

Timed closures of high streets to cars, 20mph zones and pop-up cycle lanes are all being proposed by Herefordshire Council, external to help boost cycling and maintain social distancing.

The changes could be introduced as early as next month using emergency traffic orders created by the government to allow for social distancing.

Councillor for transport, John Harrington, said staff were consulting on the changes until 23 June and would come to compromises.

"We are wanting to change the way that we do things, partly for financial reasons, to make people spend more money in Hereford but also to have a better environment to live in."

Image source, Google

But concerns have been raised by some business owners including Jo Geerlings, from the Flying Dutchman cafe, Leominster, who said it could kill off businesses.

"I think there might be a time to pedestrianise the square but in this time, with this pandemic, I think for the businesses it's going to be awful and I'm really worried about it."

Jesse Richards was attacked over a drugs debt, but his body has never been found.

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times is covering these stories today:

• Police investigate children's racial name-calling in skate park, external
• Police officers assaulted in Hereford fracas, external
• Herefordshire marks Armed Forces Week, external

BBC Weather Watchers

We've had some lovely photos in throughout today from our local BBC Weather Watchers, it must be all this sunshine.

Here are three more, from users Ryan Lewis in Redditch, Worcestershire, Reginald in Ashley, Staffordshire and Alonso in Whitnash, Warwickshire:

Image source, Ryan Lewis

Image source, Reginald

Image source, Alonso

Worcester Warriors forward Ted Hill signs an extended contract with the Premiership club until 2024.

BBC Weather Watchers

With lots of sunshine around today, our local BBC Weather Watchers have been busy taking photographs across the region.

Here are three from users Hedgehog in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Timbo in Birmingham and Sue Snaps in Codsall, Staffordshire:

Image source, Hedgehog

Image source, Timbo

Image source, Sue Snaps

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these top stories today:

• Supermarket worker's 'inside job' knife and hammer cash burglary, external
• Ofsted slams children's home after staff 'poorly managed' girl who undressed in public area, external
• Woman's plea for basketball court in park, external

BBC Business News

Go Outdoors' owners say they are preparing to call in administrators as the coronavirus pandemic pushes high street retailers to breaking point.

Image source, Go Outdoors

The chain - specialising in camping equipment, bikes and clothes - employs about 2,400 staff across 67 stores, including Coventry, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Stoke-on-Trent, Kidderminster and Wolverhampton.

JD Sports, which owns Go Outdoors, said in a statement it had looked at the options for Go and had decided to start the administration process.

The coronavirus pandemic has ramped up pressure on the firm.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A hiker's suffered a serious injury after falling down a muddy slope at Symonds Yat.

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

The man fell about 600m while walking on Saturday morning and it took paramedics about 10 minutes to get to him after arriving, the ambulance service said. , external

He was lifted up the embankment on a stretcher before being taken to Hereford County Hospital.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Worcester Cathedral is set to lose £250,000 in revenue this year due to the Covid-19 lockdown, according to its Dean.

Image source, PA Media

The site is reopening its doors to worshippers today, external after being closed since March when the lockdown began.

The Dean, The Very Reverend Peter Atkinson, said it immediately lost 50% of its revenue when it shut from tourists, collections at services and the shop and cafe being closed.

"We shall be needing to look for more money and we shall have to be cutting our costs. Life after Covid is going to be a bit different but the cathedral will be there and it will still be open as a place of prayer and worship," he added.

Lee Longlands' first furniture shop opened in Birmingham in 1932 and it has been trading ever since.