Body found in river at Holt Fleet, Worcester
Richard Johnson narrowly loses out in Gold Cup race
Pershore fear it will lose out on new rail services
£1m dream for Hereford woman battling cancer
Updates on Friday 17 March 2017
Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today
On Midlands Today this lunchtime, I'll be live from what's been called the largest Shire horse competition in the world.
Crowds will see 250 horses paraded over the next three days.
I'll give you a taste of the event so far on BBC One from 13:30.
The emergency services are at the Holt Fleet pub in Worcester after reports that someone has fallen into the River Severn nearby.
We'll bring you more as soon as we have it.
A plucky hedgehog is being nursed back to health after being trapped inside a plastic-wrapped haylage bale for five months, external .
BBC News Travel
The closure of Mill Lane, Wadborough, starts on Monday.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Lizzie Kelly, riding Tea for Two who's trained in Upton-upon-Severn, gets a good luck message from the county council - I wonder who's drawn her in the office sweep stake.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
A new plant that will turn 200,000 tonnes of waste a year into electricity is now "fully operational", Worcestershire County Council says.
The EnviRecover plant on the Hartlebury Trading Estate near Kidderminster has taken 33 months to build.
It will process waste from Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Image source, Worcestershire County Council
Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Worcester Wolves head coach Paul James feels things are coming together for his squad as they build towards the play-offs.
But he says there must be no let up when they head to Leeds Force for a BBL Championship match tonight.
'It's all clicking' says Wolves coach
The BBC's army of Weather Watchers has been busy taking some great photos in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Many thanks to J at Severn Ridge, Mikesnapper, Johnqa, Happysnapper71 and Morning Amble for the photos.
Slideshow: Daybreak and daffs
Today's Worcester News front page, external has the story of a man dying in an early-morning crash near Worcester.
Image source, Worcester NewsA Worcestershire racehorse owner says having a runner in today's Gold Cup at Cheltenham will be the realisation of "a lifelong dream".
Len Jakeman, from Upton-upon-Severn, owns Tea for Two, who's already making history as Lizzie Kelly's ride - she's only the second woman to take part in the race.
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageIt's a dream any racehorse owner has got - I never thought that having a runner would happen to me, it's a lifelong dream. It's the ultimate race to have a runner in."
Len Jakeman, Racehorse owner
Door supervisors at Worcester’s pubs, clubs and late night takeaways have been checked by the police and licencing officials, external .
Officers from the national Security Industry Authority (SIA), the police and the city council carried out the checks on Friday, 3 March.
Image source, Getty ImagesDoor staff at 28 premises were checked and all had the SIA training and licence, the council says.
To get a licence door staff must have:
- The physical capability to intervene when required
- Be trained in first aid techniques
- Be able to deal with vulnerable people and people on their own who are in a vulnerable state
- Be aware of terrorist threats
Quote MessageDoor supervisors regularly encounter violent situations; they play a crucial role in protecting public safety and maintaining order. I am pleased that door supervisors at all the premises inspected did have the right SIA training and licence – important to ensuring the public stay safe while enjoying a night out in Worcester."
Councillor Lynn Denham , Worcester City Council
Council chiefs have admitted it could be five years before Worcestershire’s failing children's services , external gets a "good" grading.
Dan Pallett
BBC Midlands Today Sport
I've been to meet Herefordshire's champion jockey, Richard Johnson, who will be on board joint-favourite Native River in today's Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
He last won the Gold Cup 17 years ago, on Looks Like Trouble, who now lives at Johnson's home.
Cheltenham champion is now the family pet
A lesbian couple were refused permission to get into a Worcester taxi , external - saying the shocking experience "denied us our dignity".
James Pearson
Journalist, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Plans to improve train services between Worcester and London will have a "negative effect" on Pershore, according to the town's Public Transport Group.
As well as completing a new Worcestershire Parkway station at nearby Norton, the county council and Great Western Railway hope to have brand new trains providing an hourly service by December 2018, but it seems these won't call at Pershore.
Image source, GoogleThe front page of this week's Malvern Gazette, external has the story of a promise to get police officers out of cars and back on the beat.
Image source, Malvern Gazette
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
After a dry start, with some bright spells, a cloudy day with showers possible this afternoon and highs of 9C (48F).
You can find a detailed weather report for your area here.
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Jerry Chester
BBC News Online
Welcome to the Local Live service for Herefordshire and Worcestershire on Friday morning. This is how the early morning skies looked in Hereford, as photographed by BBC Weather Watcher LouNik.
Image source, LouNikI'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.
A national charity helping homeless people says the decision whether to hand over cash, food or clothes "should be a matter of personal choice".
The youth homelessness charity Centrepoint was reacting to a poster campaign by Redditch Borough Council, asking people in the town not to give to homeless people on the streets.
Image source, Redditch Borough CouncilQuote MessageIf a young person is sleeping rough, the priority must be to get them off the streets and into safe accommodation where they can access the support that they need."
Paul Noblet , Youth homelessness charity Centrepoint
The charity says anyone who is concerned about a homeless person can ring their helpline on 0808 800 0661.
The council is encouraging people to use a special web page, external to provide a long-term solution.
