Worcester News

From the Worcester News:

• Paedophile jailed after arranging to meet 'girl', external
• Scheme for 10 homes in village, external
• Burglars trick great-grandmother out of life savings, external

The annual Applefest in Tenbury Wells has been cancelled amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was due to take place in October, but organisers said planning was too difficult without knowing what restrictions would be in place by autumn.

Image source, Getty Images

Meanwhile, the National Sheep Association has cancelled this year's NSA Sheep Event at the Three Counties Showground.

It was originally due to take place in July and had been put back until October, but has now been called off altogether this year.

Worcester Warriors’ former Wasps stand-off Billy Searle extends his deal with the Premiership club until 2023.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

An 81-year-old man who spent 22 days in hospital, recovering from coronavirus, said he's still not made a full recovery.

David Ray, from Claines in Worcestershire, was admitted to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital on 20 March and said his condition for the first 10 days had been very serious.

Mr Ray said he's been doing some gardening and going for walks since returning home and had been "puffing and panting a bit", but felt he was gradually improving.

Image source, David Ray

He also said he'd been saddened to learn of the death of healthcare assistant Jodon Gait, who was one of the staff who had cared for him.

Mr Gait died of suspected coronavirus 10 days after Mr Ray was discharged.

He said Mr Gait "was a lovely chap who couldn't do enough for people and always had a smile on his face."

Former Worcestershire all-rounder Alex Hepburn was jailed for five years in 2019.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to extend a Worcestershire quarry won't affect two popular festivals, a developer has promised.

Cemex also wants to create a large rowing lake once extraction at Upton-upon-Severn has finished.

Two of the town’s most popular events, Sunshine Festival and Upton Blues Festival, are held at the nearby Fish Meadow.

Transplant patients and some with rare lung diseases were initially missed off the shielding list.

Finley Hill underwent a stem cell transplant after the diagnosis of a rare immune system disorder.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Vandals have broken into a junior sports club and caused about £3,000 in damage as well as stealing a strimmer and sweets.

Image source, Bromsgrove Sporting Colts FC

The burglary happened on Saturday night at Bromsgrove Sporting Colts Clubhouse and saw a window shutter ripped off a wall and locks forced on three doors, West Mercia Police said.

The force has branded it "mindless and selfish" and said the vandalism had caused anger and upset in the area.

Image source, Bromsgrove Sporting Colts FC

The club has launched a fundraising page with more than £1,500 already donated.

Club treasurer Matt Hare said it was a blow to their efforts and, at a time of lockdown easing, "the youngsters are desperate to get back to some level of normality".

Edward Mark Williams was shot and injured by police who were found to have acted proportionately.

Timetable changes include extra peak-time services between Worcester and Birmingham New Street.

Worcester wing Melani Nanai signs a new contract with the Premiership club until at least 2023.

A hospital's had more than 150 handmade face masks donated, external after appealing last week for help.

Image source, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said on Thursday , externalall visitors had to wear face coverings due to the pandemic.

Donated face masks will not replace personal protective equipment used by staff, a spokesperson added.

Ellie Goulding says she can't imagine going back on stage in front of large crowds after spending lockdown with her husband.

Image source, PA Media

The pop star, who is originally from Kington, Herefordshire, is due to release her fourth album next month and tour the UK in 2021.

She told BBC Breakfast watching her performance at Glastonbury had left her shocked at the size of the audience.

"I can't believe I did that in front of all those people. I think I am going to have to build up all that courage," she added.

"I have spent a lot of time by myself and I think I am going to have to build that back up again, whenever I do go back on tour."

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times is covering these stories today:

• Leisure business fights to save future after coronavirus strikes catastrophic blow, external
• Learner driver arrested after failing drug test, external
• Passionate care worker retires after 40 years of service, external

She's sung on dozens of chart hits but after eight years, people are only just starting to recognise her name.

After months of specialist treatment in Singapore, the six-year-old is back in Worcester.

Oscar Saxelby-Lee's mother says having him home "is everything we could have wished for".

Hereford Times

A few of the top stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Mother was asked to leave her baby outside by post office, external
• Extinction Rebellion protesters kick off new campaign across Herefordshire, external
• Firefighters called after explosion heard in Hereford, external

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A six-year-old boy with a rare form of leukaemia is heading home from Singapore after specialist treatment for the illness.

Image source, Family handout/Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust

Oscar Saxelby-Lee, from Worcester, flew with his parents for CAR-T therapy last year, with the help of £500,000 raised through crowdfunding.

He had the treatment over Christmas, a stem cell transplant from his father in March and earlier this month his family posted on Facebook he'd been cancer free for six months.

Today, they posted another message , externalsaying they were now heading home as "the day we’ve dreamt of has now become a reality".