Summary

  • Updates from Friday 9 September

  1. Second Worcestershire school confirms virus casepublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 11 September 2020

    Another school in Worcestershire has confirmed a case of Covid-19.

    The head teacher at Burlish Park Primary, in Stourport, said one person had tested positive and all pupils and staff in their reception year group had been sent home for 14 days.

    Burlish Park PrimaryImage source, Google

    Earlier this week a year seven class at Woodrush High School, in Wythall, near Bromsgrove, sent pupils home for 14 days after a confirmed case.

  2. Worcester foot bridge to be removed for refurbishmentpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 11 September 2020

    Worcester's Sabrina foot bridge is going to be taken away to be refurbished this autumn.

    It will be the first time this has happened since it was installed in 1992 and the first stage will be to put up scaffolding around the bridge.

    Sabrine BridgeImage source, Worcestershire County Council

    Worcestershire County Council said the bridge was "incredibly well used" and its main span would be put back into place later this year.

  3. Historic moment as baby rhino is bornpublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 11 September 2020

    This is the first Indian rhino calf to be born at West Midland Safari Park.

    He hasn't got a name yet, but he arrived on Tuesday and for the time being he is being kept in a private area to bond with his mother.

    Baby rhinoImage source, West Midland Safari Park

    The park has been keeping this species of rhino for more than 10 years and deputy head keeper Shelley Tudor said: "We are absolutely delighted and have been waiting a long time for this moment."

    Baby rhinoImage source, West Midland Safari Park
  4. Pizza Hut confirms restaurant closurespublished at 10:14 British Summer Time 11 September 2020

    Pizza Hut has confirmed the locations of 29 restaurants it will close as part of a major restructuring plan which will see about 450 jobs lost.

    Pizza Hut signImage source, PA Media

    Three are earmarked for closure in the West Midlands region:

    • Newcastle-under-Lyme
    • Stafford
    • Worcester

    The restaurant chain said it was part of a rescue deal "to mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19".

    The firm added it was trying to offer other roles to staff at the restaurants.

  5. Worcester City start new life at Claines Lanepublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 10 September 2020

    Worcester City FC played their first league game at their new Claines Lane home last night.

    The club's had to play home matches away from Worcester for the past seven years after leaving St George's Lane.

    Worcester City signImage source, Getty Images

    The result went against them though, as City slipped to a 0-1 defeat against Tividale.

  6. 'I would bottle up my feelings'published at 06:08 British Summer Time 10 September 2020

    Dan Pendry-Moore hopes to help those with mental health problems in the modified car community.

    Read More
  7. Play-off chasing Bath beat Worcesterpublished at 21:54 British Summer Time 9 September 2020

    Bath keep up the pressure on the Premiership's top four with a bonus-point victory over Worcester Warriors.

    Read More
  8. Homeless man attacked with stun gunpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 9 September 2020

    Police release images of two men they wish to trace over the assault on Wednesday morning.

    Read More
  9. Homeless man attacked with 'stun gun'published at 15:39 British Summer Time 9 September 2020

    A homeless man was attacked with what's been described as an "electrical stun device" in Rubery.

    He was taken to hospital with minor injuries after being attacked at around 09:00 near the Co-op on New Road.

    CCTV imagesImage source, West Mercia Police

    West Mercia Police has released the CCTV image above, showing two men officers would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

  10. Care home visits halted over virus 'acceleration'published at 19:22 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    Health bosses in Solihull and Bromsgrove ban most care home visits to protect vulnerable residents.

    Read More
  11. Brine baths plan wins royal approvalpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    A campaign to revive some of the brine baths in Droitwich has won royal support.

    During their heyday in the early 19th Century, one of the baths bore the 'Royal' title, after visits from Queen Adelaide (pictured below), the wife of William IV.

    Queen AdelaideImage source, Getty Images

    Buckingham Palace has now given the campaign permission to use the "Royal" prefix and the search continues for a location for the new baths.

  12. Victorian Christmas fayre cancelledpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Worcester’s Victorian fayre has been cancelled this year.

    The city council said because the coronavirus had not gone away, "the risks incurred in allowing this winter event to go ahead were simply too high".

    Victorian fayre

    The council estimates the four-day event attracts 150,000 visitors and contributes £7.3m to the local economy.

    And it said last Christmas there had been 200 market stalls and 185 coach loads of people travelling to Worcester to be there.

    A range of smaller-scale, socially-distanced events are being planned instead, over the four weekends leading up to Christmas.

  13. Hotel to serve honey made in rooftop hivespublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Honey made on the roof of a Hereford hotel will soon be served to its guests.

    The Green Dragon has teamed up with local business Hey Honey which now has two hives on the city hotel's roof.

    Honey beesImage source, Getty Images

    The bees moved in during lockdown and are said to be thriving in their urban home.

  14. Fidow set to make return for Warriorspublished at 13:24 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Samoa international wing Ed Fidow will make his first appearance for Worcester Warriors since January in tomorrow's Premiership match against Bath at The Rec.

    Ed FidowImage source, Getty Images

    Fidow suffered a groin injury last month and has missed five matches since then.

    He will become the 42nd player used by Warriors since the resumption of games last month.

  15. Covid-hit pub shuts after 'abusive calls'published at 08:56 British Summer Time 8 September 2020

    A village pub linked to three cases of coronavirus has closed with the owners saying they had "received several abusive calls over the past couple of days".

    Two members of staff and a customer at the Inn at Welland, near Malvern, have tested positive.

    Management had originally said it would stay open with the support of Worcestershire County Council.

    The Inn at WellandImage source, Google

    But it has now said that having come under pressure it will close until 16 September.

    The owners said they wanted to "thank everyone who took the time to send us positive messages of support and best wishes".

    They said they will be "adding further elements to our existing stringent cleaning procedures" with staff being required to wear masks or visors at all times.

    Customers will be temperature checked and asked to wear a mask when they move about the restaurant, they added.

  16. Kitchener & Piutau banned for three gamespublished at 21:16 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Worcester's Andrew Kitchener and Bristol's Siale Piutau are banned for fighting in the Premiership game on Friday.

    Read More
  17. 'Excessive movement inside' overturned park boatpublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    One person was taken to hospital and three others suffered minor injuries at West Midland Safari Park.

    Read More
  18. Pizza Express confirms restaurant closurespublished at 13:20 British Summer Time 7 September 2020

    Plans by Pizza Express to close 73 of its restaurants, putting 1,100 jobs at risk, have been approved by creditors.

    A Pizza Express signImage source, PA Media

    The chain said nearly 90% voted for its restructuring deal, which will also see it secure a cut in rent costs.

    Last month, the firm said it was forced into the move by the enforced closure of restaurants during the pandemic, the cost of reopening and the uncertainty over the UK's economic future.

    Pizza Express has said these sites in the West Midlands were earmarked for closure:

    • Birmingham - Corporation St
    • Birmingham - Mailbox
    • Bromsgrove
    • Dudley - Merry Hill
    • Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
    • Hereford
    • Ludlow
    • Moseley
    • Stafford
    • Stourbridge
    • Walsall
  19. Four injured in safari park water ride accidentpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 6 September 2020

    An eyewitness heard a "big bang" at the Wild River Rafting ride and saw a boat upside down.

    Read More