Summary

  • Lorry crash and fire closes M42 at M5 junction

  • Rescue service to launch boat named after crew member killed in crash

  • Fly-tipper fined after being caught on camera dumping waste

  • London Midland conductors in strike vote

  • Top judge to open mock courtroom for students

  • Updates on Friday 20 January 2017

Live Reporting

Jerry Chester

  1. Cash machine theft: 'There's a massive hole'

    A villager has spoken about being woken up by thieves using a JCB to steal a cash machine from the local store.

    The raiders struck at 02:30 this morning at the McColls store on the A38 in Kemspey, Worcestershire.

    JCBMalvern Cops

    We all thought it was strong winds or something, and it turned out they were using a forklift truck-type digger to physically remove the cash machine. There is a massive hole and you can see into the shop."

    Alan, Kempsey villager

  3. Watch: Weather for Herefordshire and Worcestershire

    Lucy Martin
    BBC Weather

    It will be a grey day for many, with the odd spot of light rain and drizzle possible, mainly over the hills.

    Towards the south and east of the region it'll be brighter with some sunshine. Highs of 8C (46F). 

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  4. Latest: Cash machine theft; Virgin Mary in homes row; tree donations for war memeorial

    Phil Maiden
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Here are some of the main stories we are looking at in Herefordshire and Worcestershire:

    - Thieves use a JCB to steal a cash machine from a village shop in Worcestershire

    - Campaigners hope sightings of the Virgin Mary will stop plans for 200 new homes in Evesham

    - Companies donate trees and hedges to complete a war memorial in Herefordshire

  5. Cash machine stolen from village store

    Thieves have stolen a cash machine from a village shop in Kempsey in Worcestershire. 

    Police believe a JCB was used in the robbery at the store on the A38, which took place at around 02:30 this morning.  

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  6. Good morning from today's Herefordshire and Worcestershire live page

    Jerry Chester
    BBC News Online

    Welcome to the Local Live service for Herefordshire and Worcestershire on Thursday morning. 

    I'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens. 

    If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us on @bbchw or message via Facebook.

  7. Our live coverage across the day

    We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning. 

  8. Watch: Weather for the West Midlands

    Shefali Oza
    BBC Midlands Today

    Cloudy conditions will remain this evening and overnight, allowing for a frost-free night with light winds. It will also remain rather murky, with further mist and hill fog likely over higher ground like Garway Hill. This could then lead to one or two outbreaks of drizzle. Lows of 4C (39F). 

  9. Worcester 10K for five more years - and a half-marathon

    Worcester News

    Worcester's 10K race is going to be staged for another five years - with council chiefs calling the event "world class". 

  10. Pete Beadle 'not openly looking to freshen it up'

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Hereford FC manager Pete Beadle says he's happy with the squad he has and is not actively looking to add to it in the short term. 

    Pete BeadleGetty Images

    But he says this doesn't rule out him making enquiries should the right sort of player unexpectedly become available. 

    The Bulls boss feels they have plenty of competition for places within the current squad.

    We're not openly looking to freshen it up. I think if we were going to freshen it, we'd bring in one or two players that haven't been playing lately and get them involved and they're all chomping at the bit and they all want to be part of what we're doing at the moment."

    Pete Beadle, Hereford FC manager

  11. 'If I can do it anyone can do it'

    Rosalind Brotherton started her school career feeding children at lunchtime and ended up as head teacher.

    Read More

  12. Worcester to stage half marathon

    Worcester will also get its own half marathon after plans were approved by the city council. 

    It means Worcester is now in line with cities like Cardiff, Leeds and Birmingham - who currently hold half marathons. 

    The council hopes the 10k event will eventually become self-sufficient in terms of funding.

  13. 'Delight over support for' Worcester City Run

    An events company says it's "delighted" Worcester City Council has agreed to support the Worcester City Run events for another five years up to 2021. 

    Christopher SilverAndy Burton

    Events of the North said last year's race day included a 10k run and a 3k run for under-16s. Christopher Silver (pictured above) won the Worcester City Run Bike Run.

    Speaking ahead of September's initiative, former British athlete Steve Cram, from Events of the North, said: "Following their launch in 2014, the events have become firmly established in the city and have grown in popularity year on year.  

    "The council’s backing for our proposal to explore new options for 2017 and beyond opens up exciting opportunities."  

  14. Latest: Scorpion stowed away in Amazon package; memorial to pilots; dozens of dog fighting reports

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Today's headlines include:

    - An expert has confirmed a creature found in a rucksack delivered to a Kidderminster family is a scorpion

    - Volunteers are putting the finishing touches to a memorial to more than 1,800 pilots and instructors who trained in Herefordshire during World War Two 

    - There have been more than 60 reports of dog fighting in Herefordshire and Worcestershire over the past decade

  15. Memorial to pilots and instructors

    Joanne Malin
    BBC Hereford & Worcester News

    Volunteers are putting the finishing touches to a memorial to more than 1,800 pilots and instructors who trained in Herefordshire during World War Two.  

    An olive tree and hedges will be planted around the memorial at the Shobdon Aerodrome by local residents and children. 

    Crews were prepared at the No 5 Glider Training School before taking part in some of the war's most significant battles including the landings at Arnhem and Normandy. 

  16. Holocaust Memorial Day event to be held in Bromsgrove

    Residents are invited to join nine schools and readers from all faiths to take part in a public Holocaust Memorial Day event in Bromsgrove this month.

    It will be held in the Parkside Suite in Market Street on 26 January at 11:00, a day before the official Holocaust Memorial Day.

    Bromsgrove District Council chairman and host of the event Helen Jones said: “Every year we set aside time to remember and think about the tragedy and atrocity of the Holocaust as a community, so that such a thing may never be allowed to happen again." 

  17. Your photos: Arrow Valley Lake

    Paul Wilde sent in these photos from a walk to Arrow Valley Lake in Redditch.    

    The images include swans on Abbey Park pond and a squirrel on a walkway.

    SwansPaul Wilde
    PondPaul Wilde
    SquirrelPaul Wilde

  19. Online scorpion 'wasn't dangerous'

    A creature that a Kidderminster family say was found in a parcel delivered from online retailer Amazon is definitely a scorpion, a professor says.   

    It was discovered in the packaging for a rucksack bought by father-of-two Matt Strange. 

    The family said Amazon had told them it was investigating the incident.

    Prof Adam Hart, from the University of Gloucestershire, said: "Scorpions are very common in many parts of the world, they are venomous and some species can give a very painful sting. However, their sting is not generally fatal to adults."

    Scorpion

    The stinger at the end of the tail appears to be missing in this animal and, although there are some reports of it happening, it is very unlikely indeed that a dead scorpion could sting you. That said, that very few people would tick the 'optional scorpion' box on an online order!"

    Prof Adam Hart, Professor of science communication

  20. Dozens of dog fighting reports

    Phil Maiden
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    There have been more than 60 reports of dog fighting in Herefordshire and Worcestershire over the past decade.

    About 5,000 calls have been made to the RSPCA about organised dog fighting and the West Midlands has the second highest number of cases in England and Wales. 

    The animal charity says many dogs involved with the fighting die in the ring or later from severe trauma or injuries.