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

  1. Latest: Unemployment rises; giant postcard protest; minor roads get funding boost

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

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

    - Unemployment figures for the West Midlands have bucked the national trend and increased

    - Postal workers are bringing a giant 200ft (61m) postcard to Bromsgrove to raise awareness of the potential closure of its Post Office

    - £12m to be spent repairing minor and estate roads in Worcestershire

  2. Future of Labour Party to be discussed in Hereford

    Hereford Times

    The Hereford and South Hereford Labour Party has called a special general meeting which will take place at 19:00 on Wednesday, 27 July at the Railway Club.  

  3. Your pictures: Tiddesley Wood 'alive with wildlife'

    Worcestershire Wildlife Trust cares for more than 70 nature reserves across the county.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

  4. No play fountain in lido park

    A bit of a blow for people looking to cool off, but the outdoor salt-water lido in Droitwich is still open for business.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

  5. Twohig agrees new Worcestershire deal

    Left-arm spinner Ben Twohig becomes the second academy graduate in six days to sign a new contract at Worcestershire.

    Read More

  6. Bid for funding from £25m pot by Herefordshire

    Nicola Goodwin
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Herefordshire could benefit from £25m of government funding for projects such as the proposed new university and creating a new centre for cyber security. 

    Bids have also been put in for funding to help the building of the Model Farm industrial park at Ross-on-Wye and a development of 1,500 new homes plus business land at Leominster. 

    Further projects which could benefit from the government's New Growth Deal include restoring the World War One shell store at Rotherwas.

  7. Your photos: More blue skies

    BBC Weather Watchers

    We've had some great photos of the blue skies over Herefordshire and Worcestershire sent in by BBC Weather Watchers.

    This one, taken in Lower Broadheath, comes from Mike Snapper.

    Lower BroadheathMike Snapper

    This picture was taken in Upper Sapey by Cloud9.

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

    Blue skiesCloud9

  8. Busy night of local football

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Redditch United are through to Saturday afternoon's Worcestershire Senior Cup final after they last night beat Worcester City 2-0 at Stourport.  They will now meet either Evesham United or Kidderminster Harriers in that final.

    Harriers went down 2-0 at home to Burton Albion in their pre-season match at Aggborough, while Evesham United drew 1-1 at home to Gloucester City.   

    Hereford were 2-0 winners at Undy Athletic, with Rob Purdie and John Mills on target for the Bulls.

  10. Cricket: Clarke plays for England A against Pakistan A

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Worcestershire's Joe Clarke made 35 for England Lions as they beat Pakistan A by seven wickets in their triangular series match at the College Ground in Cheltenham.

    Joe ClarkeGetty Images

    Ben Duckett was the hero for England A - he scored 163 not out as they got home with more than three overs to spare.

  11. Latest: Minor road repairs targetted; swimmers ignore quarry warnings; bid for share of £25m funding pot

    Kate West
    Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester

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

    - Extra £12m to be spent on minor roads in Worcestershire

    - People ignoring warning not to swim in a quarry where two drowned

    - Herefordshire bids for share of £25m of government funding

  12. Minor roads to be repaired in new £12m programme

    Matthew Bone
    Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    An extra £12m is going to be spent improving the state of residential roads in Worcestershire. 

    The new money doubles the amount the county council is spending on roads. 

    PotholesPA

    Today marks the start of a two-year programme which will concentrate on local routes.  

    John Fraser, the council's highways manager, told me Worcestershire's main roads and B roads are in "pretty good condition", so it is switching its priorities elsewhere.

    People keep telling us it's the roads they see first thing in the morning, when they are going to work or coming back - the unclassified roads, the minor roads, the estate roads, some of the rural roads - are they ones they are concerned about."

    John Fraser, Worcestershire County Council

  13. New security doors as improvements continue at multi-storey car park

    New security doors are being fitted at the Churchfields multi-storey car park in Bromsgrove, as part of an on-going improvement programme.

    Churchfields multi-storey car park BromsgroveGoogle

    The council says work on the doors will begin next week and may cause some disruption to car park users during this time.

  14. Warning signs ignored in quarry where two drowned

    People visiting Gullet Quarry, near Malvern, have been ignoring warning signs and jumping into the water to cool down - despite two people dying while swimming there three years ago.

    Warning sign

    Two men died at the quarry

    Duncan Bridges, the director of the Malvern Hills Conservators, the charity which looks after the hills and the quarry says people don't realise how cold the deep waters can get.  

    Unfortunately we still have some people who think the signs, the fences and the warnings don't apply to them and we've had groups down there drinking alcohol and jumping in - as a result of them ignoring our warnings we've had to call the police."

    Duncan Bridges, Malvern Hills Conservators

  15. Neighbour rescues woman with MS from house fire

    A Herefordshire man is being called a hero after breaking into a burning house, to rescue his neighbour who has MS. 

    Hereford house fireHWFRS

    House fire

    Phil Fussell managed to pull out Susan Kitson, who's unable to walk to safety, before emergency services arrived at the house in Holmer.

    She lives downstairs you see, so it was a quick in, grab her, and out - you couldn't stay any longer, it was just too smokey."

    Phil Fussell

  16. Latest: MS fire rescue hero; quarry drowning warnings ignored; road repair budget doubled

    Kate West
    Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester

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

    - A Herefordshire man is being called a hero after breaking into a burning house to rescue his neighbour who has MS

    - People visiting a Malvern quarry have been ignoring warning signs and swimming, despite two people drowning there three years ago

    - The budget to repair local roads in Worcestershire has been doubled

  17. Watch: How hot will it get today?

    Heavy and thundery downpours will clear away from northern parts early morning, with most places becoming largely dry and bright, with sunny spells for the afternoon. 

    Highs of 28C (82F).

    Latest weather forecast

  18. Travel: Contraflow in Bewdley

    BBC Travel

    The roads across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are generally clear but there is a contraflow on the High Street in Bewdley between Lower Park and Park Lane while repair work goes on at the church.

    More from BBC Travel

  19. Good morning from today's Herefordshire and Worcestershire live page

    Jerry Chester
    BBC News Online

    Welcome to the Local Live service for Herefordshire and Worcestershire on Wednesday morning. This picture of today's blue skies was taken in Strensham by BBC Weather Watcher, Field Basher.

    Blue skiesField Basher

    Blue skies

    I'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens. 

    If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us on @bbchw or message via Facebook.

  20. Our live coverage across the day

    Live updates have finished for the day but stories could still appear through the night and into tomorrow.

    We'll be back from 08:00 on Wednesday with more live news, sport, travel and weather.