Lisa Wright
Journalist, BBC News Online

The theft of two minibuses from a Kidderminster school is expected to severely harm its finances, the head teacher has said.

The theft at Continu Plus Academy follows a similar break-in in February, which saw three minibuses taken.

In that case, head Sara Devo said the insurance payout was worth only "about a third of the value of the three minibuses that were stolen".

Image source, Continu Plus Academy

She said the latest theft had affected its ability to transport about 45 pupils and had "really hit us hard". She said the school was attempting to find temporary replacements.  

A man and a boy had to be airlifted to hospital after their off-road vehicle overturned on a farm near Bromyard.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said a 52-year-old was left with a deep cut to his head, while the 10-year-old boy suffered an elbow injury. 

Both were taken to Hereford County Hospital. 

Image source, West Midlands Ambulance Service

Ledbury Reporter

Parents were ordered to carry out unpaid work after appearing in court for the second time for failing to send their children to school, external.

BBC Sport

England star Moeen Ali is expected to feature for Worcestershire this weekend in their Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire. 

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes described the 29-year-old spinner as a "wonderful character" as well as a "great cricketer".

Image source, Rex Features

The problem will be who will make way after the team's eight-wicket win over Glamorgan last week.  

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Robin Walker, the Conservative MP for Worcester, says he was "surprised" at Prime Minister Theresa May's announcement to call a snap general election but added he's happy to contest his seat.

Worcester is 58th on Labour's target list, with Mr Walker defending a majority of 5,646.

MPs are expected to vote this afternoon to back Theresa May's call for the general election on 8 June.

Image source, Robin Walker

You can follow live coverage and reaction of the announcement on BBC News' dedicated live page.  

BBC Politics

Applications to register to vote surged in the hours following Theresa May's snap election announcement.

More than 150,000 applications were made on Tuesday, the biggest total recorded for a single day since the 2016 referendum campaign.

The figures include those checking to see if they are already registered to vote, as well as those who are ineligible.

Image source, PA

About five million applications to register to vote were made in England and Wales between 1 January and 20 April 2015, ahead of the last general election.

Details here if you need to register., external

Ben Te'o becomes the first Warriors player to be selected for a Lions squad and the club were quick to congratulate the New Zealand-born centre after he was presented with his jersey.

Bromsgrove Advertiser

Here's how the front page is looking for the Bromsgrove Advertiser this morning.

The top stories includes work planned for the M5.

Take a look at these stories and more here, external.

Image source, Bromsgrove Advertiser

ContinU Plus Academy unable to transport pupils to and from school.

Eight people were arrested as part of an investigation into a suspected human trafficking gang.

The arrests were made during early-morning raids in Lancashire, Tyne and Wear and Worcestershire.

Police said eight women suspected of being trafficked to the UK from Romania for prostitution were rescued during the raids in Blackburn, Preston, Blackpool, Gateshead and Evesham.

Police said it was one of the biggest operations of its kind in the country.  

Arrests are made during early-morning operations in Lancashire, Tyne and Wear and Worcestershire.

Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Worcester Warriors' centre Ben Te'o has been named in the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of New Zealand.

Ben Te'o's inclusion in the party had been widely predicted, but it was felt it might come down to a choice between him and his fellow England centre Jonathan Joseph, however both made Warren Gatland's extended 41-man squad. 

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Te'o has started in only one of his eight internationals for England - against Italy in this season's Six Nations Championship, but he has clearly made sufficient impression on Warren Gatland to make the cut.

BBC News Travel

There are problems on the trains between Droitwich and Worcester Shrub Hill, train operator London Midland is warning.

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

A man has been arrested in Worcester as part of an investigation into a suspected Romanian human trafficking gang. 

The 24-year-old was arrested at an address on St Margaret's Road, Evesham.

Lancashire Police say a series of raids were carried out in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Blackburn, Preston, Blackpool, Gateshead and Evesham. 

A total of eight women were found inside the addresses and were suspected of being trafficked to the UK from Romania for the purposes of prostitution.

Worcestershire boss Steve Rhodes says he is happy to change a winning team to bring in England's Moeen Ali.

BBC Weather Watchers

Our BBC Weather Watchers have sent in some stunning pictures this morning.

This one was taken in Chaddesley Corbett by Karlsskies. We can't believe how vividly pink the sky is. 

Image source, Karlsskies

Bromyard is our next location for another gorgeous pink sky, courtesy of BBC Weather Watcher Postman Les.

Image source, postman Les

If you have a picture you'd like to share, sign up and become a BBC Weather Watcher here. 

Ledbury Reporter

A Hereford man broke into a building belonging to an historic abbey, external after a night of heavy drinking because he wanted to "talk to a monk", a court was told.

A month on from the attack on Westminster, police officers from across the West Midlands will take part in a charity rugby match tonight. 

Officers from West Mercia and Warwickshire will take on their colleagues from West Midlands Police at 19:00 at Finstall Park in Bromsgrove. 

Image source, PA/Facebook

They're raising funds for the families of the officers who were affected by the attacks, which saw a police officer and four others killed.

The Worcester-based UKIP MEP James Carver says he'd like to contest a seat in the West Midlands.

It won't be the first time he's contested a general election, most recently in 2015, when he came third in the Stourbridge seat, won by Conservative Margot James.

MPs are expected to vote today to back Theresa May's call for a snap general election in June. 

The prime minister said she wanted to be able to go into the Brexit negotiations with the backing of the British people.

Assuming enough MPs back her, Parliament will be dissolved on 3 May and you'll have until 22 May to register to vote.