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Updates on Friday 27 January 2017
Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
BBC Hereford & Worcester's campaign to gain recognition for the munitions workers of World War One and Two will be discussed at Westminster today.
So far, 25 MPs have signed the Early Day Motion which was submitte, externald to Parliament by North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin.
Image source, Herefordshire CouncilParalympic medal winners Rebecca Redfern and Claire Cashmore are officially opening the new Perdiswell swimming pool later this morning.
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Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online
The former Mid-Worcestershire MP, Sir Peter Luff, says birthday cards for boys and girls are far too stereotypical.
His comments on Twitter about the card selection in Waitrose caused a social media debate, with some people telling him that children are happy with pink ones for girls and blue cards for boys.
Mr Luff says the choice available in all shops shouldn't be so limited.
Image source, Twitter/Sir Peter LuffAn Ofsted inspection, external has rated Worcestershire County Council's children services "inadequate".
The report cites "widespread and serious failures" in the services provided to children who are in need of help and protection.
The inspection criticises "elected members and senior leaders" who had not taken "sufficient action to ensure the protection of vulnerable children".
It said the "corporate failure leaves children in Worcestershire at continued risk of significant harm".
Sarah Portlock
BBC News Online
Ofsted inspection rates Worcestershire County Council's children services "inadequate".
More to follow.
Image source, OFSTED
Phil Maiden
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
The latest headlines for Herefordshire and Worcestershire this morning include:
- A Herefordshire family have been forced to re-mortgage their house, and dip into their pensions, in order to pay for life-changing treatment for their teenage daughter
- A BBC Hereford & Worcester campaign to gain recognition for the munitions workers of World War One and Two will be discussed at Westminster today
- An appeal has been launched to find new lock-keepers to work on Worcester's canals
Tim Race
News Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester
There's a fog warning in place until 11:00 and I managed to snap some pictures of the eerie fog lingering around this morning.
I took these on Pitchcroft, Worcester's racecourse.
Image source, BBC/Tim RaceIf you have any pictures you'd like to share, send them in to us via email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message us on Facebook, external.
Image source, BBC/Tim RaceAn appeal has been launched to find new lock-keepers to work on Worcester's canals.
Image source, GeographThe Canal & River Trust, external is searching for people from across the region interested in helping passing boaters, welcoming visitors and giving a hand in maintaining the canals.
Caroline Kendall, a volunteer development co-ordinator for the charity, says being a volunteer lock-keeper can be a very rewarding role.
Widespread fog could cause difficult driving conditions, the Met Office is warning.
It has issued a yellow warning of fog which is valid until 11:00 today.
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A cold, foggy and frosty start to the day with the fog taking quite a while to lift in many areas.
Where it does clear there should be a good deal of dry and bright weather this afternoon. Highs of 6C (43F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online
Welcome to Herefordshire and Worcestershire Live on Tuesday morning.
We'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, external or message via Facebook, external.
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.
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
Temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing tonight and there could be more fog around too.
Charlie Slater has your forecast
A new training academy for the engineers of the future has opened in Redditch.
The £1.5m Engineering Centre of Excellence was opened by business minister Margot James, on the same day as Theresa May announced further investment in science, research and innovation, as part of a new strategy to boost the country's economy after Brexit.
It's hoped the centre will train up to 200 young engineers over the next four years.
Image source, Midland Group Training ServicesQuote MessageWhat it means is that they've got a centre of excellence on their doorstep that doesn't just provide qualified engineers, it also tailors the training that engineer students take here, to the needs of the particular companies who hire them."
Margot James, Business minister
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this evening - businesses need certainty, that's the message from the Midlands, as the government today launched its industrial strategy for post-Brexit Britain.
Image source, ReutersThe prime minister shared her plans for how to grow the Midlands economy by £34bn by 2030 and to create an extra 300,000 jobs by the end of this parliament.
We'll be assessing them on BBC One from 18:30.
Work to secure the foundations of the new bridge at Eastham near Tenbury Wells, external has been completed - a key milestone in Worcestershire County Council's project to replace the crossing, which collapsed in May last year.
With the time-consuming piling process now finished, work on the main span of the bridge can begin, with the lifting of the first beams into position due to take place in late February.
Image source, Worcestershire County CouncilQuote MessageWorks are currently progressing well despite the winter weather, thanks to the efforts of everybody on site and involved behind the scenes, and the new bridge is on track to be open to road users from spring 2017."
Marcus Hart, Cabinet Member with responsibility for highways
Work to clean the stonework recovered from the original bridge is continuing - around 10,000 of the 12,5000 bricks have already been dressed and are in storage, ready to be reused as cladding for the new bridge.
A man has been arrested after armed officers raided a site in the village of Hanley Swan, Worcestershire.
A number of weapon magazines were discovered, but police said there were no firearms or ammunition.
The man is in custody and being questioned on suspicion of theft.
West Mercia Police says there was no no risk to the wider public.
House prices in new towns such as Redditch, have risen much faster over the last ten years, than property elsewhere in the country.
The average increase nationally is just over a quarter, 26%, but in Redditch house prices have risen by 521% in a decade.
The Halifax, which produced the figures, says it's largely because the new towns are within easy commuting distance of major commercial centres.
Image source, GoogleA banner emblazoned with the word "Trump" , externalsurrounded by hand-drawn hearts has been removed by students.
A team of army reservists has completed a 1,100 mile (1,770km) trek across the Antarctic in honour of an adventurer who died making the journey.
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