Updates from Friday 9 September
We've got a wildlife theme going on in today's selection of photos taken by our local BBC Weather Watchers.
These are from users Liam Ball, in Ironbridge, Shropshire; Poetic Verse, in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire; and Cumulo Jimbus, in Colwall, Herefordshire:
Image source, Liam Ball
Image source, Poetic Verse
Image source, Cumulo JimbusLeigh Hancock was jailed for nine months in 2018 for illegally selling puppies from his Lydney home.
Read MoreNicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Protesters drove a tractor over a bridge in Hereford this morning in a campaign to get the council to reopen it to all traffic.
The Old Bridge has been opened to buses, taxis and bikes but not other vehicles as part of changes brought in by Herefordshire Council to allow social distancing in the city.
The campaigners want cars to be allowed to use it and claim the move will help boost trade.
However, other business owners I spoke to disagreed and say they feel the current situation is a good opportunity to look at reshaping the city for the future.
The council has been approached for a response. Last week the authority revised its initial changes in Hereford and allowed taxis to use the bridge., external
Public Health Officials in Redditch say a sharp increase in positive Covid-19 cases appears to be linked to four large households.
The number has risen from 3 to 25 in a week.
Here are three stories from the Worcester News today:
Rain is set to cause some problems for travel today, with flooding expected on roads.
But the owners of this canal boat in Warwickshire are unlikely to care.
These photos were shared by the BBC Weather Watchers this morning in Warwick and Madley.
Image source, NB Adagio
Image source, Ella MentryTwo girls who have been involved with a charity that uses donated hair talk of their experiences.
Read MoreThere has been an emergency closure of a new section of a Kidderminster road due to a problem with a gas connection, Worcestershire County Council says.
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Here are some of the Worcester News stories:
Thousands of extra seats are being introduced on West Midland and London Northwestern Railway services from next month.
West Midland Trains says the new timetable, which comes into effect from Sunday 6 September, will see available space increased in time for the return of schools and workplaces.
Image source, West Midlands RailServices were reduced in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with passenger numbers dropping by about 95% at the height of the lockdown.
The latest news means the capacity "in many places" on the West Midlands Railway network is to be returned "to near pre-Covid levels".
Among the key changes are:
WMR said the "simpler timetable would be more reliable for passengers with longer trains to help social distancing" and people were being reminded wearing a face covering was compulsory on trains and in stations unless exempt for medical reasons.
A driver has escaped serious injury after their car overturned on the M5 near Droitwich, police said.
Worcestershire's road policing unit said on Twitter, external: "This is why you should always wear your seatbelt. No injuries received."
Image source, @OPUWorcsA man has been stabbed and chased down a street in Worcester city centre.
A member of the public reported the incident at The Foregate during the early hours of Sunday.
Image source, GoogleDet Supt Chris Buffery from West Mercia Police said: "We believe this is an isolated incident, the victim has been treated in hospital for two stab wounds.
"We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this incident or have information that might help our inquiries."
We've been treated to some delightful skies this morning across the West Midlands.
Dave Bayley snapped this picture in Birmingham city centre.
Image source, Dave BayleyBobwalking captured this fluffy cloud-sky in Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire.
Image source, BobwalkingDawn Treader took this picture in Congleton earlier.
Image source, Dawn TreaderBecome a BBC Weather Watcher and send us your photos.
Wasps produce a fine second-half performance to come from behind and beat Worcester Warriors in the Premiership.
Read MoreFrom the Worcester News today:
We've had a morning of blue skies from the look of the photos sent in by our local BBC Weather Watchers.
Here are three from users Quinndrew in Oswestry, Shropshire, Mikes Lens in Hereford and Kath Snapper in Warwick:
Image source, Quinndrew
Image source, Mikes Lens
Image source, Kath SnapperSeveral new-build homes in Hereford have been vandalised.
Image source, West Mercia PoliceThe houses are under construction on St Andrews Close and were damaged on Monday night, West Mercia Police said, external.
Locks were broken, windows smashed, fire extinguishers let off inside the buildings and graffiti sprayed on walls.
BTec students at a college in Worcester have been praised for being "incredibly resilient" after their results were pulled on the eve of them being released.
Image source, GooglePearson said it would be re-grading all its BTecs to bring them in line with A-levels and GCSEs, which are now being graded via school-based assessments.
Neil Morris, head teacher of Christopher Whitehead Language College, said the move had left his pupils with no idea what they would do next.
"They have been amazing, they have been incredibly resilient and I suppose in the long-term, if we get the right results eventually they will cope with it. It's not any way to treat young people, certainly in a pandemic."
Pearson apologised and acknowledged the additional uncertainty the decision would cause.
Worcester Warriors full-back Melani Nanai is banned for three matches for a no-arms tackle on England winger Jonny May.
Read MoreWe've had rain across much of the West Midlands this morning as our BBC Weather Watchers have been finding out.
These three are from users BoardWalk in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Shaun in Stafford and Steve Blackman in Napton on the Hill, Warwickshire:
Image source, BoardWalk
Image source, Shaun
Image source, Steve Blackman
