Updates from Friday 9 September
Here are some of the Worcester News stories:
The charges relate to offences allegedly committed in Redditch between 2011 and 2017.
Read MoreHere are some of the Worcester News stories today:
Organisers of the annual Mop Fair say extra safety precautions are being put in place.
Read MoreHere are some of the views our local BBC Weather Watchers have sent us from across the West Midlands.
These are from users Suttonwalker in Sutton Coldfield, Sunshine Seeker in Stoke Edith, Herefordshire and Ray in Oakengates, Shropshire:
Image source, Suttonwalker
Image source, Sunshine Seeker
Image source, RayThe Worcester News has these stories today:
Sale Sharks' rearranged Premiership match with Worcester Warriors on Wednesday is called off.
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BBC Radio WM
Musicians performed outdoors in Birmingham n a bid to get more financial support from the government.
The musicians, including clarinettist Rela Spyrou from Rowney Green, near Redditch, Worcestershire, performed in Centenary Square.
"This year was going to be super, super exciting. There were a couple of really huge tours planned for me and my colleagues," she said.
"Fifteen dates with The Who on a UK tour with them all round the big stadiums, a lovely big tour of Queen classics round and about the theatres, all cancelled."
The Musicians’ Union backed the demonstration, also held in London, and spokesman Stephen Brown said the government's help for self-employed people doesn't provide enough.
"A survey that we recently did revealed that 87% of our members are facing financial hardship and half of them have had to find outside jobs to make ends meet."
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said, in addition to the £1.5bn Culture Recovery Fund, the Arts Council has provided £95m for freelancers.
BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
More job losses can't be ruled out at a specialist school travel company, according to its chief executive.
At the weekend, PGL, which has headquarters in Ross-on-Wye, announced 670 job losses, cutting the workforce by a quarter.
The firm hosts children at residential activity centres across the UK, but has had to cancel visits during the coronavirus crisis.
Chief executive Anthony Jones said they were urging the government to do more to help the sector but couldn't promise an end to staff cuts.
"In this current pandemic I don't think anyone in my position could rule anything out. Our teams know that, they know that we are fighting every day."
BBC Radio Shropshire
Moving magistrates' court trials from Telford to Kidderminster will put more strain on defendants and witnesses, a solicitor has said.
Image source, GoogleThe Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the move was aimed at clearing a backlog of cases and there was more capacity at the Worcestershire court.
But Stephen Scully, from Lanyon Bowdler's solicitors, said it would mean travelling an extra 26 miles for people involved in a case and had happened without warning.
"Initially we thought it might have been an error but, having spoken to to a few solicitors, there's quite a few cases now starting to be moved to Kidderminster. There was no consultation or warning about this."
The MoJ said the arrangement was temporary and anyone with difficulty in getting to Kidderminster would be given priority for a listing at Telford.
We've had some brighter spells mixed in with the cloud this morning, as far as we can tell from photos sent in by BBC Weather Watchers.
Here are three of them from users Videoman in Leek, Staffordshire, Willow 54 in Hereford and David 007 in Kinver, Staffordshire:
Image source, Videoman
Image source, Willow 54
Image source, David 007BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
A Hereford nursery has closed for a fortnight after a child tested positive for Covid-19.
Image source, GoogleLollipops on the Common said a child had tested positive.
The nursery, which operates from the Widemarsh Children's Centre, said it meant a large number of children and staff have to self-isolate for 14 days.
A man has been taken to hospital in a critical condition after he was hit by a car.
Image source, GoogleThe collision happened on Saturday night on Sillins Avenue, Redditch, West Mercia Police said., external
A silver Citroen C2 was driving towards Beoley Road East when it hit the 36-year-old.
He is still in hospital and officers said two 18-year-olds have been arrested.
BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
Worcestershire's director of public health is warning Bromsgrove is in a "precarious position" after a rise in the number of cases of Covid-19.
Image source, GoogleThe infection rate in the town on Monday was 80 cases per 100,000 people, according to Worcestershire County Council, external, compared to 37.0 in the seven days to 25 September.
Dr Kathryn Cobain said some residents are not social distancing or following guidelines.
"Such a high rate of infection could see the district put on a watchlist or considered for further intervention measures," she added.
District council leader Karen May said the rise could also be linked to the town's location.
"I think our close proximity to Birmingham and our function and economic geography into that area is a contributing factor. People live in Bromsgrove, work in the Birmingham conurbation."
Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell are currently under increased lockdown restrictions after a spike in coronavirus cases.
Cash has been stolen by two masked men armed with a knife from a convenience store in Worcestershire.
Image source, GoogleThe pair went into the branch of McColls on the High Street, Belbroughton, near Bromsgrove, on Monday morning, West Mercia Police said., external
They demanded money and, after cash was handed over, left. Officers believe they got in a car outside and sped off.
People who have left a love lock on a footbridge in Worcester have been given a week to reclaim them before the crossing gets a makeover.
Image source, Worcestershire County CouncilSabrina Bridge is going to be refurbished from 12 October.
The county council said, external anyone who has left a padlock attached to the crossing as a symbol of love can get them from the bridge before then.
Any remaining ones will be stored and can be collected from County Hall until 31 October and those left over will be recycled.
In 2014, the BBC looked into the trend for love locks with the unbreakable bond of the padlock supposedly symbolising the everlasting bond between two people in love.
The Worcester News' headlines include:
BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester
More than £500,000 may have to be spent by Herefordshire Council to reopen the swimming pool in Hereford.
Image source, GoogleThe site has been shut since flooding in October 2019, which happened again in February. It caused "substantial" damage to the site.
A report to the council has said, external some of the repairs will be covered by insurance, but others, such as electrical work and concrete, will need to be pay for by the council.
The proposal is to use other budgets to cover the cost, but borrow up to £505,000 if they don't. A decision is due to be taken by the full council on Friday.
Allen Cook
BBC News
The rivers Leam and Avon will be closely monitored today after heavy rain at the weekend.
Image source, BBC Weather Watcher SoadaveThree flood warnings remain in place , externalwith one on the Leam at Eathorpe, Huningham and Offchurch, near Leamington Spa, and two on the Avon at Wyre Piddle, near Evesham, and Strensham and Bredon.
The Environment Agency has said it expected water levels to remain high through the day.
There are also eight flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, dotted across the West Midlands.
In Worcestershire, the county council has said , externalseveral roads and bridges remain closed while First Worcester said some bus services remain disrupted., external
The specialist travel company PGL says coronavirus has had a "significant impact" on its business.
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