BBC Local Live: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Friday 22 July 2016

Summary

Mental health patients 'feel abandoned'
New university set to buy council sites
'World Cup' number plate sells for more than £4,000
Updates from Friday 22 July 2016

Live Reporting

Your pictures: Summer skies and scudding cloudspublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
BBC Weather Watchers
It's not as blazingly hot as yesterday, but our teams of BBC Weather Watchers have come up with some great shots.
This one, taken at Lyonshall, comes from Johnqa.
Image source, Johnqa
The river bank at Hereford is also looking very summery, as this snap from JanieJane13 shows.
You can send me your photos by email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.
Image source, JanieJane13
Police investigate racially motivated incidentpublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
BBC Hereford and Worcester
A racially motivated incident in a Leominster park involving a group of children is being investigated by police.
West Mercia Police say a 58-year-old man was walking through the park on Coningsby Road last month when a number of children started using racist language towards him.
Police say they want witnesses to come forward.
Latest: Pair sentenced for child offences; lottery claim woman cleared of theft; racially motivated incident investigatedpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:
- A man has been jailed for 20 years and a woman given a two-year suspended sentence for offences against children
- A grandmother from Worcester who failed in her claim for a £33m National Lottery prize is cleared of theft
- Police in Leominster are investigating a racially motivated incident
West Midlands MEP 'would back return of the death penalty'published at 16:53 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM
West Midlands MEP and UKIP leadership candidate Bill Etheridge says there should be a referendum on the death penalty and he would back its reintroduction.
He said: “For my part I believe that the very worst crimes deserve the ultimate penalty and I propose that those who murder and rape children, those that commit sadistic acts of murder and torture and those that commit acts of murder through terrorism against our country or our people should be subject to the death penalty at the discretion of the presiding judge."
The MEP, who stood in 2012 as UKIP’s Police & Crime Commissioner candidate in the West Midlands Police force area, also said three strikes should mean "life behind bars for violent criminals".
The death penalty is opposed by the UK government, Amnesty International, the UN, the European Union and 16 US states.
Pair sentenced for offences against childrenpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
A 55-year-old man has been jailed for 20 years and a 36-year-old woman given a two-year suspended sentence for a series of offences against children.
Keith Williams, of John Haider Building, Hereford, was found guilty at Hereford Crown Court in June of 10 offences, including rape and sexual assault. He was put of the sex offenders register for life.
Tracey Louise Williams, of George Bew Close, Hereford, pleaded guilty to four counts of child cruelty and was sentenced at the same court on Friday.
Police praised the courage of the victims for coming forward and giving evidence.
Quote Message
I hope this will encourage other victims to speak out in order to gain the justice they deserve."
Det Con Lisa Grogan
Your pictures: Lizards and slow wormspublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
The pictures were taken at one of the wildlife trust's reserves near Woolhope.
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Leading cricketer diespublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Hereford Times
Leading Hereford cricketer and all-round sportsman Vic Jones has died, aged 84, external.
University helps Rio-bound Paralympian swimmerpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
A 16-year-old swimmer from Droitwich, who'll be competing in the Paralympic Games in Rio, has been given strength and conditioning training as part of the University of Worcester’s outreach programme.
Image source, University of Worcester
Becky Redfern will compete in Rio in the 100m breaststroke S13 for visually impaired swimmers in September.
The former Droitwich Spa High School student broke the world record in her event a few weeks ago.
Quote Message
I cannot wait for the Paralympics - I'm looking forward to spending time with the team and getting to know everyone but also racing and hopefully coming home with my first Paralympic medal."
Becky Redfern
Your pictures: Cloudless skiespublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
I feel hot just looking at this picture taken in Redditch by BBC Weather Watcher Punxsutawne Phil - clearly a fan of the film Groundhog Day.
Just a reminder not to look directly into the sun - even for a quick snap.
Image source, Punxsutawne Phil
Failed lottery claim woman cleared of theftpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
A grandmother from Worcester who staked a failed claim to a £33m National Lottery jackpot has been cleared of stealing a purse from a pensioner's home.
Susanne Hinte, of Borrowdale Drive, Warndon, was acquitted of theft by magistrates in Birmingham after a three-day trial.
Your pictures: New fire station being builtpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
The new station, near Evesham Leisure Centre off Abbey Road, external, is due to open in November.
The old fire station will become a supermarket.
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Latest: Racially motivated incident investigated; extra £12m spent on roads; teen swimmer off to Riopublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:
- Police in Leominster are investigating a racially motivated incident in one of the town's parks
- Unclassified and residential roads around Worcestershire are are to benefit from an extra £12m being put into the repair budget.
- A teenage swimmer from Droitwich is to compete in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio
Unemployment increases in West Midlandspublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Alice Bentley
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
Unemployment across the West Midlands has gone up, external.
Image source, Getty Images
In the March-to-May period, 165,000 people were out of work in the region - an increase of 13,000 on the previous quarter.
In contrast, figures for the whole of the UK show a fall of 54,000 to 1.65 million.
Fundraiser in memory of Bewdley man's five-year-old daughter raises £1,105published at 14:15 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Kidderminster Shuttle
A charity event raised £1,105 to support a campaign launched in the memory of a five-year-old girl who tragically died from a rare disease, external.
Basketball: Worcester Wolves bring in Jermel Kennedypublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Worcester Wolves have confirmed the signing of experienced forward Jermel Kennedy for the new BBL Championship season.
Image source, Worcester Wolves
A product of NCAA2 Lander University, Kennedy joins from the Spanish club CB Clavijo Logrono, and has also played in Finland, Germany and Uruguay.
The Wolves head coach Paul James feels Kennedy has what it takes to make a major impact on the BBL in the coming season.
Quote Message
I believe his all-around game is perfectly suited to the BBL
Paul James, Worcester Wolves head coach
School photo 'treasure trove' rescuedpublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Photographs chronicling the history of a Worcester school from the mid 1960s have been unearthed by the widow of a former teacher.
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Your pictures: Highlights from street cricket tournamentpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
The six-team contest, to raise money for charity, was held in Angel Place in Worcester yesterday.
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Watch: Another sunny afternoon for you to laze onpublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Largely dry and bright with sunny spells this afternoon. It will be another very warm day in the sunshine - highs of 28C (82F).
You can read a full forecast on the the BBC Weather page
Media caption,
Weather for the West Midlands.
Power cut hits part of Kidderminsterpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Western Power Distribution says there are 96 homes affected but supplies should be back on by 13:30
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Deputy in line to become Chief Constablepublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 20 July 2016
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
The Deputy Chief Constable of West Mercia, Anthony Bangham, is in line to become Chief Constable.
He has been nominated by the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion to succeed David Shaw and now needs the confirmation of the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel.
Image source, West Mercia Police
The PCC said Mr Bangham was chosen "following a robust selection process" which saw him face questions from local councillors, police colleagues and others, including young people.