BBC Hereford and Worcester

Two of Worcestershire's most "overlooked" dogs are hoping to find new homes before Christmas, having already spent a total of more than 500 days in kennels. 

Three-year-old rottweiler-cross Vinnie (bottom) has been at the Dogs Trust centre, external in Evesham since January and was joined by Bruno (top), also three, in March.

Image source, Dogs Trust

Chris Slight centre manager, says it has been difficult to watch so many other dogs find homes before them.

"No-one has really shown any interest in them and 700 odd dogs have been through ahead of them so I just think it's time for them to find their 'someone special'," he said.

"We're rooting for them both and hoping that there are local dog lovers who have space in their homes and hearts to give them a family of their own."  

Image source, Dogs Trust

Midlands "Metro Mayor": what's the point of new-style regional boss?

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A Worcester flood campaigner has described calls to reorganise the management of England's flood risk as a "terrible idea". 

MPs are calling for the Environment Agency to be stripped of the responsibility and for a new Rivers and Coastal Authority to be created to take over the role to improve on what they're calling a "fragmented and ineffective" system. 

Mary Dhonau from the Know Your Flood Risk, external campaign says the idea is madness.

"Abolishing the Environment Agency's role in flooding is a terrible idea, it's a waste of vital expertise that's already there and it could cause delays in planning better ways to avoid flooding," she said.

"They are the experts, they're doing the job - give them the tools and the money to do it."

Image source, Getty Images

Claudia Berry
Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Here are some of the stories we're looking at this evening:

- A distraught woman watched her poodle die after an "unprovoked attack" by a German Shepherd in Kidderminster - police are trying to trace a man in his 30s, external

- A 71-year-old pensioner is recovering in hospital after falling from the roof of his house in Redditch and landing on concrete

- A Worcester flood campaigner has described calls to reorganise the management of England's flood risk as a terrible idea

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Used Halloween pumpkins are being used to create electricity by Severn Trent, which is throwing them into its anaerobic digestion plant located in Coleshill.

The company has been asking its staff to bring them in and says one 600g (1.3lb) pumpkin could power a light bulb for 24 hours.

The Coleshill plant produces 2.4MW of energy a year – the equivalent of powering 4,000 homes.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

People will get the chance to have their say on plans to bring in parking charges on the streets of Hereford City Centre this month.

The council is proposing to charge 50 pence for half an hour on Broad Street, King Street and other parts of the city centre, where parking is currently free. 

Residents living within a mile of the city centre including Whitecross Road, Broomy Hill and off Edgar Street could also face new charges. 

A consultation will run from 17 November for a month. Click here , externalto view the plans.

Image source, OLI SCARFF / GETTY

A Redditch pensioner has been taken to hospital in Birmingham after falling from the roof of his house and crashing through a skylight in his porch.

The 71-year-old, who lives near Moreton Stanley Park, suffered a head injury and severe rib injuries after hitting a waterbutt on his way down, before landing on concrete, the ambulance service has confirmed.

Despite being in considerable pain, he managed to get back inside the house and climb up the stairs to reach his phone to call for help. 

West Mercia Police

A poodle has died following an "unprovoked attack" by another dog in Kidderminster.

A woman was walking her pet poodle in open fields near the Spennels housing estate when it was attacked by a black German shepherd which was running loose at around lunchtime on Wednesday.

The owner attempted to stop the attacked but the poodle suffered multiple injuries and died a few hours later.

Police, external are trying to trace a man in his 30s who left the scene taking the German shepherd with him.

Worcester Warriors' young Academy winger Josh Adams has signed an undisclosed-length first-team deal with the Premiership club.

Welshman Adams, 21, who joined the Academy from Llanelli Scarlets in the summer of 2015, made his Warriors debut when he came off the bench in the 37-22 defeat at Bath in September.

He has since made a further five appearances, capped by his first try for the club in the European Challenge Cup tie against Russian side Enisei-STM in Moscow.

Image source, Worcester Warriors

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Bomb disposal experts are carrying out controlled explosions in some schools in Worcestershire to destroy a chemical previously used in chemistry lessons that could become explosive.

Neil Crumpton, from Stretton, Herefordshire, is the Head of Science at Ludlow C of E School. 

He said the chemical known as 2,4-DNP had to be destroyed, because the government has changed the A-Level syllabus meaning the substance will no longer be needed.

Image source, PETER MACDIARMID / GETTY

"There are stocks across the country in schools that people are now needing to dispose of," he said.

Police said they were called to support two of the controlled explosions in Redditch and Evesham on Monday.  

The De Montfort School, external in Evesham confirmed a controlled explosion had taken place at the site and said there was "no ongoing risk to students or staff”.

Claudia Berry
Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Here are some of the stories we're looking at this afternoon:

- A poodle has died following an "unprovoked attack" by a German shepherd in Kidderminster - police are trying to trace a man in his 30s, external

- IVF treatment, hearing aid services and treatment for patients with unhealthy lifestyles, could all face cuts - as health bosses in Worcestershire try to reduce costs by £25m

- A 71-year-old pensioner has been taken to hospital after falling from the roof of his house in Redditch

Danielle Hayden
Broadcast journalist

Worcester's Commandery, external is set to receive about £500,000 of new investment.

The museum will get £380,000 from the city council and almost £100,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to renovate the site and to also build new interactive exhibition spaces.

Worcester City Council hopes the investment will help boost tourism in the city.

City councillor Roger Berry, says the investment will pay off for local shops and businesses too.

"Clearly if you’re going to have an attraction you have got to develop those facilities and we believe that will result in a significant expenditure on the tourist market," he said. 

"Every pound spent in the Commandery will see expenditure of over £2 throughout city facilities."

Image source, The Commandery

The new Bromsgrove railway station remains closed for £100m improvements, including new signalling and preparing the line for electrification.

Image source, Andy Roland

Send us your questions about the area and we'll investigate.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Largely bright and sunny this afternoon, but it will feel rather cold.

Maximum Temperature: 11C (52F).

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A Worcestershire schoolgirl has fought off a man who attacked her for her phone while she was walking through an underpass in Reddtich, police say.

The 11-year-old was walking home from school, near Prospect Road North, when a man grabbed her from behind and then snatched her phone. 

Image source, Google

The girl screamed and grabbed the phone back before running home.

Police say she was not injured, but was shocked by the incident. The offender also ran away.

West Mercia Police, external would like to hear from anyone who may have seen what happened at about quarter to four yesterday afternoon.

Hereford Times

A woman needed to be cut from the wreckage of a crash in Bridge Sollars this morning, external.  

BBC Midlands Today

Life after the Olympics - what happens when you've spent your whole life training as a top sportsperson and then one day, it stops and that's all over. 

Image source, Getty Images

Well today in part of the Midlands, Olympians and Paralympians have been getting advice on life after sport and how to get a job. 

We'll have more on BBC Midlands Today from 13:30 on BBC One.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Here are some of the stories we're looking at this afternoon:

- Health bosses in Worcestershire are looking to make cuts to IVF and hearing aid services, as part of £25m savings targets  

- A group of MPs is calling for a "radical" overhaul of the way floods are dealt with in England

- Worcester's Commandery museum will receive £500,000 of investment from the city council to improve the building's exterior and build new interactive displays

Ledbury Reporter

It could be 10 golds and out for Ledbury in Bloom as early as mid-November, with one of the town's most successful organisations set to fold or go into suspension, because of the lack of a chairman, external.