Almost 200 government-backed loans have been given to first-time buyers in Herefordshire, latest figures show.

The BBC has been looking at the impact the government's Help to Buy scheme's been having across England.

In Herefordshire there have been 192 loans taken out at an average per loan of £40,391. That works out at 2.3 loans per 1,000 homes - the average loan for England, including London is £46,301.03. 

Image source, PA

This puts the county at 218 out of 325 local authority areas in England for the rate of loans per household. The average house price is £217,533.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Unemployment in the West Midlands rose by 17,000 to 168,000 in the three months , externalto December, official figures show. 

They show the region saw the largest jobless increase compared to the rest of the country - four other areas also saw rises.

Image source, DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

It means the current unemployment rate in the West Midlands is 5.9%, the Office for National Statistics said. 

That compares to UK unemployment falling in the same period by 7,000 to 1.6 million.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Plans to reduce crew numbers at Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service have been branded "dangerous" by a union.

The county fire authority will vote later whether to cut the number in each crew from five to four.

Steven Gould, local secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “It is astounding that the fire authority are willing to condemn their firefighters to working in much more dangerous circumstances."

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service says almost half of all calls already involve crews of four, and say there's no operational need to maintain numbers.

Droitwich Spa Advertiser

A pastry chef left her job at a city restaurant and now cooks 1,000 meals a day for refugees, external.  

BBC Weather Watchers

Here's a rather frosty and damp photo of Lower Broadheath, courtesy of BBC Weather Watcher, Mikesnapper.

If you would like to share your photos of where you live, you can email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.  

Image source, Mikesnapper

Tracey Higgins
BBC Local Live

Record levels of hate crime were recorded in the aftermath of last year's EU referendum, with the West Mercia force reporting one of the biggest rises.  

New figures compiled by the Press Association show that in the West Mercia area the number of hate crimes rose by 64%, the fourth largest increase in England and Wales.   

Image source, Ewa Banaszak

David Isaac, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, warned that many people are currently feeling anxious.

Nicola Beckford
Journalist, BBC Midlands Today

Staff from Severn Trent will be going into primary schools to talk to children about the problems sewer blockages cause across the region. 

The water provider say it is costing them around £20m a year to unblock all of the sewers affected. 

The main causes are people flushing wet wipes and similar products down the toilet, or a build-up of fat and oil poured down kitchen sinks.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Thick cloud will shroud the hills this morning, but it'll be a mostly dry start to the day.

Outbreaks of showery rain will quickly push eastwards through the morning, with drier and brighter conditions developing later this afternoon - highs of 11C (52F).

Welcome to Herefordshire and Worcestershire Live on Wednesday 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.

With the 2017 county season here, keep up to date with the latest signings, departures and rumours ahead of next season.

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.

Worcester Warriors' scrum half and self-confessed dog lover, Johnny Arr, is backing an appeal to find new homes for the residents of the Dogs Trust centre in Evesham.

He's had an eight-month-old Terrier puppy named after him, who has recently been rehomed by the charity.

“As a big dog lover I am delighted to have one of the pups at Dogs Trust in Evesham named after me and I’m so pleased he has found a loving home - I’m sure he’ll be a winner with his new family," he said.

Image source, Worcester Warriors

The charity can care for about 80 abandoned and unwanted dogs. 

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

It's going to be cloudy overnight, with some rain forecast for parts of the West Midlands tomorrow.

A Malvern high school is reassuring parents after its head teacher was suddenly put on "special leave" days after announcing job cuts. 

The Chase School said Richard Jacobs is not currently working at the school but has not confirmed why.  

Image source, Google

In a statement, Matt May, chair of governors, said the school, like others, is facing  "a significant financial challenge" and are looking at a wide range of options, in consultation with staff, governors, unions and other stakeholders.

Deputy head teacher Mike Fieldhouse will step up to become acting head teacher of the school.

We told you earlier that Worcester City Council is asking for views on the best way of preserving Lark Hill conservation area, so here is some historical background:

- The five-hectare area was designated a conservation area by city council in 1980 

- The protection recognises the "high quality early 19th Century architecture, the consistency of building style, and the density of listed buildings".

Image source, Worcester City Council

- There are 18 conservation areas within Worcester city and all are currently being reviewed

- The review will assess the "unique architectural and historic interest of the area" to be referred to alongside planning applications and plans to enhance the area

More than 10,000 litres of illegal alcohol have been found during an operation across the West Midlands, HMRC says. 

Fifty officers from HMRC, Trading Standards and the police visited 24 retail premises last week in Birmingham, Dudley, Worcester, Telford, Stoke, Coventry and Wolverhampton. 

Image source, HMRC

Products were seized from 18 premises and included 13 litres of spirits, 1,580 litres of wine and 18,100 cans of beer.

HMRC said around £20,000 had been evaded in duty costs and VAT. 

Redditch Advertiser

A machete wielding man , externalwho threatened a driver in Bidford High Street is being hunted by police.

The Chase School, in Malvern, confirms Richard Jacobs is not currently working at the school.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is visiting a Worcestershire hospital this afternoon, on what's being described as "a private visit.", BBC Hereford and Worcester has learnt. 

The Department of Health is refusing to confirm the details although, it's understood he'll meet senior staff at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, at 16:00.

Image source, Google

It comes just days after a whistle-blower claimed staff at the hospital had been transferring patients to a non-existent ward, on paper, to make it look as if they were meeting government targets.  

Hospital bosses rejected this and said the ward was adjacent to A&E.  

Your views are being sought on how Lark Hill conservation area in Worcester should be preserved.

The city council has set out a proposal to "ensure that the pressures and demands of development do not have a negative impact”.

The area is of significant Georgian architectural and historic interest, the council say.   

Image source, Worcester City Council

A public exhibition will be held at St. Martin’s Parish Centre on London Road on Tuesday, 21 February from 17:30 to 19:30.

The public consultation will run until Monday, 20 March.