Summary

  • Investigation call after hospital corridor deaths

  • MP to raise hospital funding with health secretary

  • Save the Alex campaign group disbands

  • Man exposes himself to 11-year-old girl

  • Details emerge of a panto staged by munitions workers 100 years ago

  • Updates on Friday 6 January 2017

Live Reporting

Jerry Chester

  1. The FA People's Cup is back - sign up now!

    #PeoplesCup

    Looking for a new project for the start of 2017? How about getting fit/fitter with a chance to win free tickets to the FA Cup final?

    BBC Get Inspired has again teamed up with the Football Association to launch the 2017 FA People's Cup, a free knockout competition that will give the people of England the chance to play in their version of the FA Cup. 

    From Sunday League regulars to folk who have only kicked a ball in their back yard everyone can take part.

    Find out more and sign up here.

    Enter the free competition and you could win free tickets to the FA Cup final on 27 May

  2. Weather: cloudy with some rain

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    A cloudy day with the odd spot of rain in places, followed by a cloudy night with further patchy rain at times. 

    You can also get latest forecasts from the BBC Weather website.

    Sara Blizzard with the afternoon weather forecast for the West Midlands.

  3. New four-legged member of staff joins school to help pupils

    A golden retriever called Orlando has joined the staff of Bishop Perowne CE College in Worcester to help support vulnerable pupils. 

    He'll be working on Mondays and Fridays and joins fellow retriever Boris in helping students in the school's Nurture Base to overcome anxieties and shyness.

    Pupils regularly read to the dogs who listen without passing judgment, helping to build confidence for when they have to read in front of others. 

    Orland and Boris with pupilsBishop Perowne CE College

    We are continually looking for different ways to ensure every student can reach their full potential. Our Nurture Base team has seen fantastic results with Boris, so we decided to introduce Orlando. Orlando has fitted in extremely well and loves the attention he receives.”

    Mark Pollard, headteacher

  4. Fire alarm cuts short broadcast

    Were you watching Midlands Today at 13:30?

    Here they are with the reason for an abridged broadcast:

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  5. Eight-hour wait for patients in A&E

    Patients in A&E at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital have had to wait up to eight hours to see a doctor this morning. 

    The trust which runs the hospital says it is still experiencing high demand after a busy Christmas and New Year period.

    Four of the county's Minor Injuries Units were closed over the weekend so staff could help out at A and E departments, but have now reopened.

    A and E reception

  7. Head shave spectacle for Hereford fans

    A Herefordshire woman battling breast cancer has watched four of her friends have their heads shaved in front of more than 4,000 people.

    Julie Nicholas from Ledbury, who lost her hair after undergoing chemotherapy, was thrilled when her friends showed their support during Hereford FC's match yesterday against Evesham at Edgar Street. 

    Her friends Marce Furness and Karen Hackley say they couldn't have had a better backdrop for the occasion.

    Marce Furness and Karen Hackley

    Hereford fans are amazing - where else could you get this done? We were supposed to be in the middle of the pitch, but we ended up in front of the meadow end which was a bit nerve-racking. We'd just like to thank everyone for their support."

    Marce Furness, who had her head shaved at Edgar Street yesterday

  8. Man dies after colliding with a bridge in a stream

    A 24-year-old man has been found dead in his car at Dodford near Bromsgrove after it left the road and ended up in a stream.

    West Mercia Police say they believe the blue Peugeot 206 left the A448 Kidderminster Road at around 06:45 yesterday morning and then collided with a bridge in a stream below the carriageway.

    The man was pronounced dead at the scene. 

    Kiddermisnter Road at DodfordGoogle

  9. Calls for crackdown on buskers in Worcester city centre

    Worcester News

    A crackdown on "aggressive" buskers could be on the way to Worcester after concern it is disturbing shoppers.

  10. Latest: Munitions workers' campaign launch; a third of 10 and 11 year olds overweight or obese

    Here are some of the main stories we are looking at this lunchtime: 

    - A Hereford pensioner inspires a campaign to win official recognition for all munitions workers in the two world wars

    - At least a third of children leaving primary school Herefordshire and Worcestershire are overweight or obese

    - The Ross Gazette is today celebrating its 150th birthday

  11. 'We were the only two who got out alive'

    More than 70 years after the end of World War Two, there are calls for munitions workers to be recognised.

    Read More

  12. Former munitions worker, 93, inspires campaign for recognition

    A 93-year-old Hereford pensioner has inspired a campaign to win official government recognition for all those who worked in munitions factories during the two world wars. 

    They were mainly women and were often called the 'canary girls' because the toxic chemicals they worked with turned their hair and skin yellow. 

    Nancy Billings survived a bomb which dropped on the Rotherwas munitions factory in Hereford in 1942. 

    Nancy Billings

    I think a lot about my sister-in-law Amy. It affected her chest and I think it must have been the TNT she worked with. I know it was very dangerous because she used to say if you press it down too much it would blow up. They had to be so careful. I do think they should have got a medal for what they did. I do really."

  13. A cold and frosty morning in Severn Stoke

    Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher J at Severn Ridge who took his beautiful photograph of Severn Stoke near Worcester this morning. 

    Severn StokeJ at Severn Ridge

  14. Ross Gazette celebrates 150 years

    Nicola Goodwin
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    The Ross Gazette, one of the few surviving independent local newspapers left in the UK, is today marking its 150th birthday.

    The paper has reported on two world wars, the sinking of the Titanic and the town's change of name since it was launched in 1867. 

    The general manager Charlotte Reynolds says they've survived recent changes in the industry, because they're independently owned.

    First edition of Ross Gazette

    We pride ourselves on being an independent paper. We're local faces, local places and it's all about being a community paper."

    Charlotte Reynolds, Ross Gazette general manager

  15. Closing minor injuries units 'adds to the problem'

    All minor Injuries units across Worcestershire have reopened as normal this morning, following two days of closures in Bromsgrove, Evesham and Tenbury.

    The Health and Care Trust, which runs the units, says staff had been diverted to the accident and emergency departments at the Worcestershire Royal and the Alexandra hospital to deal with an increase in demand there. 

    Peter Pinfield, the chairman of Health Watch Worcestershire, says it's vital to keep the units open.

    We are all encouraged to go to minor injuries units. They're the ones who can help you, you'll be seen quicker, you can be dealt with. If you've not got a minor injuries department open, for whatever reason, you've got no choice but to go to A and E, so that adds to the problem."

    Peter Pinfield, Health Watch Worcestershire

    Worcestershire Royal HospitalPA

  17. A jolt for the electric car industry

    A big investment in battery technology is vital to win the electric car race.

    Read More

  18. Football: Hereford maintain 13-point lead over Tiverton

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A crowd of 4,406 turned out at Edgar Street yesterday as Hereford maintained their 13-point advantage at the top of the Southern League Division One South and West table, with a hard-fought two-one win over Evesham United.

    Evesham United's manager Paul Collicutt felt his side had frozen in the first half of the match. 

    The Robins remain in third place in the table.

  19. Latest: Munitions workers' campaign; minor injuries units reopen

    Here are some of the stories we are looking at this morning:

    - A campaign has been launched by BBC Hereford and Worcester to win official recognition for the munitions workers of both world wars 

    - Three Worcestershire minor injuries units reopen this morning after being closed for two days while staff were diverted to A and E departments in the county

    - At least a third of children leaving primary school in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are overweight or obese

  20. New campaign for world wars munitions workers

    A campaign has been launched by BBC Hereford and Worcester to win official recognition from the government for the munitions workers of both world wars. 

    They were mostly women and were often called the 'canary girls' because the toxic chemicals they worked with turned their hair and skin yellow. It also caused their teeth to fall out and often led to an early death. 

    Nellie Bagley from Bewdley, who worked at Rotherwas during World War Two, says they weren't allowed to talk about what they were doing

    World War II munitions workers at RotherwasDavid Gilbert

    There were posters everywhere - war with a big ear on it and 'gossip costs lives'. They were all over the place. You were aware all the time of being watched."

    Nellie Bagley, World War Two Rotherwas munitions worker