BBC Local Live: Herefordshire & Worcestershire on Friday 20 January 2017

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

Latest: Scorpion stowed away in Amazon package; memorial to pilots; dozens of dog fighting reportspublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
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
Bromsgrove Advertiser back pagepublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Bromsgrove Advertiser
Bromsgrove Sporting boss Paul Smith is still waiting to see whether goalkeeper Chris Jay can recover from injury, external in time to face Bristol Manor Farm in the last 16 of the FA Vase later this month.
Image source, Bromsgrove Advertiser
Scorpion 'could have been danger to young son'published at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Justyn Surrall
BBC Hereford and Worcester
A family from Kidderminster said they were awaiting a response from online retailer Amazon about a scorpion which was delivered in a package.
Matt Strange said he was first aware of the dead insect when he reached "in the dark" into the packaging of his newly delivered rucksack.
He said a live scorpion could have been a real danger to their young son.
Media caption,
A Kidderminster man receives a surprise in the post - a scorpion.
Amazon is yet to comment on the find.
Changes to charges at two council car parkspublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Hereford Times
Changes to charges at two Hereford car parks are to be implemented from February, external.
'Looking forward' to Ethan Waller's arrivalpublished at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Worcester Warriors, external head coach Carl Hogg says he's delighted to have completed the signing of Northampton Saints loosehead prop Ethan Waller (pictured below) for next season.
Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images
With the news Val Rapava Ruskin is to leave Sixways at the end of the season, Warriors have moved quickly to secure the 24-year-old's signature.
Quote Message
Obviously Premiership, it's about set piece, it's about scrum time and we know he can deliver that... so looking forward to bringing him on board."
Carl Hogg, Head coach
Council agrees to invest more than £120k in tourism jobpublished at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Phil Maiden
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Worcester City Council, external has agreed to invest more than £120,000 in a new job to help promote tourism in the city.
It's part of a five-year strategy to boost the industry that's worth £160m each year.
Plans to use the money to pay for a tourism and marketing officer were approved at a cabinet meeting last night.
Bromsgrove Advertiser front pagepublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Bromsgrove Advertiser
The front page of today's Bromsgrove Advertiser, external carries the story about families angry at roadworks near a school in Worcestershire.
Image source, Bromsgrove Advertiser
'Scorpion found in parcel'published at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
BBC Hereford and Worcester
A family in Kidderminster say they were stunned to find a scorpion in a parcel they had delivered from online retailer Amazon.
The creature was found in the packaging for a rucksack bought by father-of-two Matt Strange.
He says it appears the scorpion may have come from the Far East.
Image source, bbc
Quote Message
It's got... Chinese writing on it. I ordered it off Amazon and thought nothing of it, perfectly good goods and as they're good customer services, you think that's going to be it."
Matt Strange, Father
Latest: Dozens of dog fighting reports; more than £120k for tourism job; 'scorpion in parcel'published at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Today's headlines include:
- There have been more than 60 reports of dog fighting in Herefordshire and Worcestershire over the past decade
- Worcester City Council has agreed to invest more than £120,000 in a new job to help promote tourism in the city
- A family in Kidderminster say they were stunned to find a scorpion in a parcel they had delivered from online retailer Amazon
New trampoline park to open at Redditch's Imagination Street this weekendpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Bromsgrove Standard
Youngsters from across Redditch and Bromsgrove will have a spring in their step from Saturday when the eagerly awaited trampoline park at Imagination Street opens, external.
Watch: Weather for the West Midlandspublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Cloudy and mainly dry for most of the region with light winds, perhaps a few spots of drizzle over higher ground such as Bredon Hill. Mild in the north, but feeling colder in the south where some brighter spells are possible.
Highs of 7C (45F).
get involved
Are you up for the FA People's Cup?published at 11:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Get Inspired
Ever dreamed of lifting a trophy on the pitch at Wembley? Well, here's your chance.
BBC Get Inspired has again teamed up with the Football Association to launch the 2017 FAPeople's Cup, a free five-a-side knockout competition that gives the people of England the chance to play in their version of the FA Cup.
Media caption,
FA People's Cup: keepy-uppy challenge with Radio 1Xtra's Nick Bright
Watch as Radio 1Xtra DJ Nick Bright shows his (almost) silky ball skills, while explaining how you can get involved - and for all the information you need, read our Get Inspired guide.
Worcester couple wake up to find scene of 'carnage' in their drivepublished at 11:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Worcester News
A shocked couple woke up to find "carnage" on their driveway after a driver ploughed into both their cars following a police chase, external.
Latest: Plea over dog fighting suspects; City of Culture team rally-up supportpublished at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Today's headlines in Herefordshire and Worcestershire this morning include:
- Police are calling for people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to report anyone they suspect of being involved in dog fighting
- Hereford's City of Culture bid team will be in Leominster today to update local people on the campaign
- Worcester Warriors look forward to the build-up of Saturday's clash as they host Russian side Enisei
City of Culture: Team look to rally support for 2021 bidpublished at 10:35
Hereford's City of Culture bid team will be in Leominster today to update local people on the campaign.
Hull has just been unveiled as the UK's City of Culture for 2017, external and Hereford's bid for 2021, external hopes to follow in its footsteps with a unique mix involving the county's market towns and villages too.
Today's meeting is at the Leominster Town Council at 17:00. It's hoped local people will provide ideas on how the bid could boost the local arts and economy.
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Warriors look ahead to the weekendpublished at 10:10
Worcester Warriors' scrum-half Luke Baldwin feels the squad will take heart from their performance in Brive - but the challenge now is to build on that on Saturday when they host Enisei.
The Russian club will be Warriors' last opponents in this season's European Challenge Cup.
Despite eventually going down 17-14 in France, Baldwin says there were plenty of positives.
Image source, Getty Images
Quote Message
There's a lot of things that we worked on in the week, in terms of our defensive structure and sticking to our systems came off pretty well. There was a couple of enforced errors which led to them scoring a couple of tries. We were very unlucky at the end. I think it has given the whole squad a lot of confidence."
Luke Baldwin, Worcester Warriors' scrum-half
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Weather: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 09:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Another dull, cloudy and overcast day again. The weather will very much be like yesterdays.
Media caption,
Charlie Slater with the day's West Midland weather forecast.
Student to embark on 'out of this world' adventure to NASA Space Camppublished at 09:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
Hereford Times
A Hereford student is to embark on an "out of this world" adventure to Space Camp in the USA., external
Latest headlines: 'Dog fighting more rife' than people realise; City of Culture team rally-up supportpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
BBC Hereford and Worcester
The top stories that we're looking at for Herefordshire and Worcestershire this morning include:
- A Worcestershire dog warden is urging people to report cases of dog fighting, even if it means they incriminate themselves
- Hereford's City of Culture bid team will be in Leominster today to update local people on the campaign
- Worcester Warriors look forward to the build-up of Saturday's clash as they host Russian side Enisei
Dog fighting 'more popular than you think'published at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017
A dog warden says the number of dog fights being held in Herefordshire and Worcestershire is higher than figures suggest.
The RSPCA says there have been 60 reports of dog fighting in the two counties over the past 10 years and 5,000 across the country.
Image source, Getty Images
Quote Message
I think it goes on a lot more than what people realise. You have to bear in mind the complaints that have been taken aren't all going to be all of the complaints. A lot of people won't come forward."
Pip Singleton, Dog warden
Last year, campaigners called for tougher penalties for dog fighting, amid concerns about its prevalence on Britain's streets among young people.