Updates from Friday 9 September
Here are three stories from the Worcester News today:
BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
A farmer from Herefordshire could be crowned Britain's Fittest Farmer this weekend.
Ben Andrews from Leominster (seen here throwing his wellies) is one of the 10 men and 10 women who have made it through to the final of the Farmers Weekly competition.
He will be dragging tractor tyres, carrying huge weights and rolling bales as part of the challenge which aims to show the importance of both physical and mental health.
There's a real autumnal feel to the photos from the BBC Weather Watchers today.
These pictures were taken in Telford, Bewdley and Broome this morning.
Image source, Raj's Range
Image source, Spennells Pensioner
Image source, HenryHere are three of the stories covered by the Hereford Times today:
Archaeologists have begun searching for evidence of Roman or Medieval settlements on land near Redditch
The dig is on an 11-acre site of grassland off Ipsley Church Lane, where there's a planning application for a change of use to a burial ground.
Image source, GoogleArchaeologist Caroline Rann, who's managing the operation for Redditch Borough Council says it's early days.
A garden centre in Worcestershire is planning a drive-in firework display, to avoid crowds and help it meet coronavirus rules.
The event at Webbs of Wychbold next month will allocate standing area to each car load, to keep them apart.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe National Fire Chief's Council has warned that if the cancellation of the big displays leads to more fireworks in private gardens, there could be also more accidents.
Here are three stories from the Hereford Times today:
Glasgow-born John Clayton is involved in efforts to control the crop-eating insects in East Africa.
Read MoreBBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
Five months after it was bought by Herefordshire Council with 17 empty units, The Maylord Orchard shopping centre in Hereford is now almost full again.
The local authority purchased it in June for £4.5m and it said all but two will have new retailers within a few weeks.
Image source, GoogleThe shopping centre has 42 units and the council said offering rent discounts for local and startup businesses has led to a surge of interest.
From the Worcester News today:
BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
A £7.3m renovation of Hereford's first world war shell store is almost complete.
The new building uses the same steel frame as the original giant shed which was built at Rotherwas in just four months in 1916.
It contains pods for 25 new and growing businesses and aims to become a hub for defence, security and cyber technology firms.
The project has been paid for by the European Regional Development Fund, Herefordshire Council and a loan from the Marches Investment Fund.
BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
Hereford Racecourse will stage its first meeting of the new winter jumps season, but no spectators will be allowed to attend.
Arena Racing, which operates the course, has made changes to the facilities to ensure they meet the Covid-19 rules introduced by the British Horseracing Authority.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe regional executive director at Hereford, Rebecca Davies, said the return of spectators should be possible eventually, with the right safety measures in place.
That is likely to mean all tickets being bought in advance and track and trace being introduced.
Worcester City FC's manager is racially abused during a fixture in Walsall, officials say.
Read MoreNew enforcement measures come in for drivers in Worcester today after a survey found more than 1,100 motorists ignored restrictions on bus lanes in a busy part of the city in just two weeks.
Image source, GoogleRestrictions apply 15:30 - 18:30 on the lane into Lowesmoor from Sansome Street and around the clock on the bus gate access from Lowesmoor to St Nicholas Street which drivers facing fines of up to £60 for breaking the rules.
Jon Fraser, who is in charge of highways for Worcestershire County Council, said the area was identified as a highly polluting and hopes the new restrictions should hopefully improve the air quality.
"First Bus has also told us they can't rely on their journey times and that's another reason we need to get the cars out of that route to improve the bus journeys," he said.
Cath Mackie
BBC News
Adapting to life under coronavirus is tough for many schools, but at New College Worcester there is an extra layer of difficulty.
All 69 pupils are all blind or vision impaired, making social distancing challenging.
The school has adapted by enforcing a strict hygiene regime and teachers wear masks at all times.
Coronavirus: How blind school in Worcester is keeping pupils safe
New College Worcester, a school for blind or vision impaired youngsters, is adapting to Covid rules.
Read MoreA court heard Richard Perrin was arrested after a relative found messages on his phone.
Read MoreBBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
West Mercia Police's professional standards department is investigating a video that appears to show an officer hitting a teenager being arrested in Kidderminster on Monday night.
The video has been widely shared on social media.
The force says two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and released under investigation.
Campaigners at Open Cages say undercover filming showed cruelty at chicken farms supplying Tesco.
Read MoreBBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
The Severn Valley Railway is set to receive £900,000 from the government to help it recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which it says "is crucial to getting us through the next six months".
Image source, Tom ClarkeMore than 450 heritage organisations are set to share the first wave of a £1.57bn government scheme to help them through the pandemic.
The Culture Recovery Fund is aimed at securing the future of museums, galleries and heritage sites.
The railway, which runs for 16 miles from Kidderminster in Worcestershire to Bridgnorth in Shropshire, is among sites to receive funding from the first tranche of £103m.
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway with £318,000, Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust with £309,800 and National Memorial Arboretum Company Ltd with £296,600 are also among those benefiting.
Quote MessageThis money is crucial to getting us through the next six months. It's gonna make a huge difference because this year we're facing potential revenue losses of two and a half million pounds. So you can see that the money from the Culture Recovery Fund, £906,000, is going to really help us to get over that."
Lesley Carr, Severn Valley Railway head of communications
