The organisation representing businesses in Hereford has described new social distancing restrictions as "over the top".

Temporary barriers were introduced this week to widen footways, partial road closures and dedicated cycle lanes to allow people more space.

Image source, Google

Mike Truelove, the Chief Executive of Hereford BID said "there are people around, but it certainly doesn't warrant cordoning off metres and metres of road."

Free parking at hospitals in Herefordshire comes to an end on Saturday.

It will affect the car parks at the County Hospital in Hereford as well as the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.

Image source, Google

The free car parking was introduced at the start of coronavirus lockdown in March.

The leisure centres in Kidderminster and Bewdley are to reopen next month.

The doors at Wyre Forest Leisure Centre open on 7 August then the facility in Bewdley will reopen on 24 August.

Image source, Google

Measures are being put in place to make sure they are Covid-safe, including increased cleaning and a reduction in the number of people allowed to take part in activities.

Customers are being asked to pre-book sessions online.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Introducing free wi-fi to the centre of Worcester could help market traders, the city council has said.

It is looking to appoint a contractor to provide the service and will contribute £10,000 to the set-up cost for the scheme, which will initially last five years.

Image source, Google

The council believes the wi-fi will allow traders to make more use of card-readers and also hopes to gather data from people signing up for the service.

On Monday, the council's economic development subcommittee agreed to move ahead with the plans.

BBC Weather Watchers

It looks like it's going to be another sunny day and the BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing their photos with us.

These ones were taken around Dawley, Rowington and Hereford.

Image source, Liam Ball

Image source, Fraser

Image source, Step Counter

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Health officials in Herefordshire have ruled out a public review into the handling of the coronavirus outbreak at Rook Row Farm in Mathon.

So far, more than 134 workers have tested positive with Covid-19 and the site's been in lockdown.

Image source, Getty Images

Herefordshire's Director of Public Health said there were now only 12 people there who had coronavirus and 96 staff were now well out of isolation and able to get back to work.

Football will be played at Sixways next season following the takeover of local soccer side Worcester Raiders by the owners of the Worcester Warriors.

The club is in West Midlands Regional League Premier Division, but hopes to eventually play in the Football League.

Image source, Getty Images

The Raiders were only formed 19 years ago and had been set to groundshare with Worcester City at Claines Lane.

Worcester Warriors said rugby fixtures would continue to take precedence, but that "“Our vision has always been to make Sixways a multi-sport centre."

And the club said the arrival of the Raiders, now the artificial pitch has passed an FA inspection, would "significantly increase" the use of the stadium.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Villagers in Severn Stoke have welcomed plans for an embankment to protect it from flooding.

And the parish council said: "We cannot stress enough how welcome a flood defence would be and how much the future of the community depends upon it."

Severn Stoke parish councillors have raised some concerns though and have asked for changes to the design, height, slope and location of the proposed barrier.

The village was badly hit by major flooding in 2007, 2012 and earlier this year.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Another bid is being made to turn an old country pub into two homes, with another build beside them.

In June last year Herefordshire Council rejected an application to convert the Cliffe Arms in Mathon, near Malvern, on the grounds it could still be a viable pub.

Image source, Google

Back then, the council said Thomas Hayes hadn't provided enough evidence to demonstrate the pub could not be made a viable business and that it was important to the social well being and vitality of the village.

The Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale said it was "surprised" to see another application and that the owner should look to sell the building to someone willing to run it as a pub.

BBC Weather Watchers

It;s been a mixed day weather-wise today, with some of you seeing blue skies and others thick black cloud.

Here is a collection from BBC Weather Watchers based in Stowe, Severn Stoke and Studley,

Image source, Dodger

Image source, J at Severn Ridge

Image source, Balding Baggie

A head-on crash that closed part of the main road between Worcester and Kidderminster for several hours yesterday afternoon is being investigated.

West Mercia Police said a Ford Focus reportedly swerved across the road into the path of a Mazda 2 near the Caunsall Road junction at around 13:45, causing "extensive damage" to both cars.

Image source, Google

Both drivers were taken to hospital for treatment, but neither are thought to have suffered live-threatening injuries.

Covid-19 travel restrictions kept Robert Smallman, 86, on the other side of the world.

Hereford Times

Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Firefighters called after lorry loses its load, external
• Criticism of city centre upheaval, external
• Attacker beat victim and broke her £3 dinner plate, external

Two men have been charged with murdering 22-year-old Colton Bryan.

Worcester News

Headlines from the Worcester News:

• Tributes to rugby-loving vet, external
• Woman accused of assaulting police officer 'too drunk for court', external
• Neighbours object to homes plan for former golf course, external

BBC Weather Watchers

We're seeing some sunshine again and the BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing pictures of mostly blue skies.

These ones were taken at Stoke Edith, Lower Gornall and Walsall

Image source, Sunshine seeker

Image source, Caraman on tour

Image source, Andreas

The Severn Valley Railway is due to reopen this weekend after four months of being shutdown.

The railway has been losing around half a million pounds a month since its closure in March.

Image source, John Bray

Passengers will be asked to book ahead of time and to note that the company is running a reduced service to begin with.

General manager Helen Smith said: "Once we get to September we hope to move back to more of a normal service, but this just gets us up and running again."

BBC Hereford and Worcester

The number of people with coronavirus at an Evesham food packing site has risen to 23.

All 340 workers at Evesham Vale Growers were tested after 14 members of staff were confirmed as having Covid-19 last week.

Image source, Google

All the people with the virus are being advised to self-isolate.

BBC Weather Watchers

Our local BBC Weather Watchers have been dodging the showers today and still snapping photos from where they live.

These three are from users Di's walk in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, JazzyDee in Sheriff Hales, Shropshire and BoardWalk in Upton Warren, Worcestershire:

Image source, Di's walk

Image source, JazzyDee

Image source, BoardWalk

Allen Cook
BBC News

A man's been arrested after abandoning his car with his children still in it , externalfollowing a crash.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Three cars were involved in the collision on Brickfields Road, Worcester, at about 01:30 today, the fire service said., external

West Mercia Police said the driver made off, leaving his family behind, but was found nearby.

He's been arrested on suspicion of several offences including failing to stop at the scene of a crash and child neglect offences., external