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
Wednesday will be a chilly, generally dry but rather cloudy day for all of us. Some brighter spells are possible, most likely in the south.
The odd spot of light rain or drizzle is also possible, mainly over the hills - highs of 7C (45F).
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Good morning.
I'll be bringing you all the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, between now and 18:00.
If you'd like to get in touch, you can email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.
With the 2017 county season here, keep up to date with the latest signings, departures and rumours ahead of next season.
Read MoreAnniversary of 'south pole Shropshire' prompts memories of those living through 1982's bitter winter.
Read MoreWe'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.
Gavin Kermack
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Worcester Warriors have announced the signing of Northampton Saints prop Ethan Waller. , external
The loosehead will move to Sixways ahead of the 2017-18 season.
Waller has played 85 times for Northampton - including 20 European Champions Cup appearances - during his time at Franklin's Gardens.
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A half marathon could be coming to Worcester, as plans are considered by the city council this evening, external.
Worcester City Council say they're hoping to attract more visitors to the city with a longer race and wheelchair event, alongside the annual 10k.
The council will also be discussing whether the Worcester 10k should continue for the next five years, after £135k was secured for the first three years in 2014.
More than 3,000 runners took the streets in last year's Worcester 10k with Olympic Champion Jenny Meadows leading the way.
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
It will be rather cloudy and chilly tonight with hill fog in places and the odd spot of rain.
Clear spells are possible in the south with the odd mist patch - lows of 2C (36F).
Charlie Slater has your forecast
Tomorrow will be a generally dry but rather cloudy day for all of us.
A woman had part of her finger bitten off by a dog in Worcester after a fight broke out with another animal, police say.
The woman, in her 50s, says she was walking her dog in Ronkswood Hill Meadow when it was attacked by a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier being walked by a woman with two young children.
The victim tried to separate the animals when the tip of her finger was bitten off. Officers say the women underwent surgery to remove the damaged tip.
West Mercia Police are asking anyone who might have witnessed the incident on 19 December to contact them on 101.
A racing driver from Hereford says driving over pot holes brought on the imminent birth of his son, so much so that he had to deliver the baby there and then.
Greg Wood, who lives only minutes from the hospital in Hereford, had to pull over after his wife, Rachel, said she could feel the baby's head.
Quote MessageI think it might have been the pot holes on Bodenham Road because after we went over them we had to pull over. We had a nice relaxing drive down and thought it was OK. The contractions were obviously worse than what she thought. As the head came out I could see the umbilical cord was wrapped around the neck. It was my son so I had to make sure he was OK."
Greg Wood, Father to Raffy
Greg added: "I had to clean the car. It was very surreal. I am very proud that I did it."
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
The top stories for Hereforshire and Worcestershire this afternoon include:
Worcestershire appoint former captain Norman Gifford, the ex-England spinner, as club president.
Read MoreA cyclist has been taken to hospital with head injuries after a crash in Hereford this morning.
The accident happened at 07:45 on the junction of Ryelands Street and Whitecross Road.
West Midlands Ambulance Service say the cyclist was a man in his 50s.
Worcester Warriors have signed Northampton Saints prop Ethan Waller. , external
The club says it's a big move for them as he's "viewed as someone with a big future in the game".
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageWe are delighted to welcome Ethan to the club - a player who has won the Aviva Premiership title and experienced Champions Cup rugby. Ethan has been part of a successful Northampton side in recent seasons and has already gained huge experience at the age of 24."
Carl Hogg, Warriors' head coach
Phil Maiden
Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A racing driver from Hereford had to deliver his own baby as he couldn't get his wife to hospital in time.
After his wife went into labour on Saturday, Greg Wood, who lives five minutes away from the hospital, had to pull over en route.
And while he was parked up wife Rachel gave birth to a boy called Raffy.
Plans to bring back sheep to the Bromyard Downs have been met with mixed opinion by locals, who are worried that it will spoil the 114 hectares of open space.
The commons association, who manage the area, external above the town, are debating whether to install fencing along the roads so that livestock can be used to manage the land and wildlife once again.
Image source, Herefordshire Nature TrustQuote MessageHistorically, grazing has shaped the common as we see it today. If we don't reintroduce the grazing I'm afraid over a period of time the encroachment will continue and we won't have a common to enjoy."
James Hawkins, Chairman, Bromyard Downs Common Association
One man told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "Visually it would be very wrong. There are issues with health and ecoli around sheep poo. I don't know what is exactly proposed and I don't think many people do. That's that main problem. It is a public decision."
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
The line-up for the Borderlines Film Festival has been announced and this year , externalthere will be screenings at the Malvern Theatres for the first time.
More than 20 venues across Herefordshire, Shropshire and the Marches will be involved in the 15th anniversary of the UK's largest rural film festival.
Image source, Bordlines Film FestivalThe festival runs for 17 days in February and March and will include 28 film previews plus showings of the award-winning La La Land and Manchester by the Sea.
A women says she is "petrified" about the future of a charity which has helped victims of domestic abuse for more than 20 years after it lost its funding.
The Asha Centre, external in Worcester, which has been open since 1994, will become a voluntary service after losing NHS and council funding.
Quote MessageI'm petrified. I cried my eyes out when I found out. Some of these women they will be lost. You can't just go to your friend down the road. A lot of the women have come off the streets. They have come in for a hot meal because they haven't had [one]. These women won't know where to turn. For me, I'm scared because I don't want to go back to the way I was."
Sarah, Service user of Asha Centre
