A Worcestershire girl is one of just 12 pupils in the UK to secure a place in final of the word game challenge, Bananagrams. 

Lily Stuart has outperformed 50,000 other pupils in the tournament so far, which involves arranging letter tiles into connected words as quickly as possible. 

The final is in London on 29 April.

Worcester News

More than 70 jobs are set to be axed at a food packaging company in Worcester - representing nearly half the current workforce, external.

Thieves have stolen two minibuses from a school in Kidderminster, just months after three other vehicles had been taken from the site. 

The ContinU Plus Academy caters for pupils who have had negative experiences in mainstream education, and says the minibuses provide vital free transport to and from school for pupils. 

BBC Midlands Today

Our top story this morning: Labour could have a fight on its hands if it's to hang on to its key marginal seats in the West Midlands, latest polls suggest.

The party is trailing by more than 20 points compared to the Conservatives.

Yesterday Prime Minister Teresa May said she intended to call an election in June.

Image source, Getty Images

While Labour would appear to have work to do, the Liberal Democrats say they're excited by the prospect of a snap election.

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

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A chilly but largely bright start to the day. Staying dry but the skies will gradually turn cloudier into the afternoon. 

There will still be some spells of sunshine, these best in the south, where it will feel pleasant - highs of 12C (54F).

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.

Live updates for Herefordshire and Worcestershire have finished for the day but local stories will be added automatically through the night.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's the time of the year when bluebells begin to put on a spectacular show.

These were captured in Doddenham by BBC Weather Watcher, Toppo.

I'd love to feature your photos - of bluebells or anything else that catches your eye in Herefordshire or Worcestershire - you can email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.

Image source, Toppo

A Worcestershire wildlife artist who recently returned from a spell working in Antarctica will be demonstrating her skills at an open day at a Worcestershire nature reserve.

Shelly Perkins was artist-in-residence on board the HMS Protector in Antarctica and will be showing how she transfers her hand-drawn sketches and paintings to a computer to work on them further to complete each piece.

Image source, Shelly Perkins

Tiddesley Wood Open Day takes place between 10:00 and 17:00 on Sunday, 30 April.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

The sun will stay out across most of the region, but it will start to cloud over in Shropshire this evening. 

The cloud will gradually spread over the whole region during the night but southern counties will stay clear long enough for frost to form. Lows of 5C (41F).

The decision to ask Parliament to call a general election on 8 June is "the right thing do do" according to the MP for Redditch County, Karen Lumley.

There will be a vote in the House of Commons tomorrow to approve the election plan - the Prime Minister needs two thirds of MPs to vote in favour to hold a vote before the next scheduled election date of 2020. 

Hereford Times

A Leominster business has written an open letter to the town’s residents regarding a low frequency noise which is thought to be linked to the firm, external.  

A champion bull will be at Edgar Street to help Hereford FC celebrate their second promotion in as many seasons.

Hawkesbury 1 Ronaldo has already paraded around the pitch at Wembley Stadium ahead of the FA Vase Final in May 2016 in front of 20,000 Bulls fans.

Image source, Hereford FC

The club say they are expecting "a bumper crowd" at Edgar Street on Saturday, with Pete Beadle’s men set to be presented with the Southern League South & West trophy following the full time whistle.

The MP for Worcester, Robin Walker, backs the decision to ask Parliament for a General Election on 8 June but says it was "certainly a surprise" as expected to be focusing on "the business ahead".

Image source, Conservative Party

BBC Weather Watchers

There's a lovely spring-like look to the foliage and plants across Herefordshire and Worcestershire on this sunny day.

Thanks to BBC Weather Watchers Mikesnapper, J at Severn Ridge, Hilly and Fuzzballpc for this selection.

Worcester News

Almost 50 "rogue landlords" in Worcestershire have been threatened with court action by firefighters for having unsafe properties during a snap investigation, external.  

In the Southern League Premier Division, Redditch United went down 1-0 at home to Merthyr Town. 

In Division One South and West, Hereford won 2-0 at Evesham United courtesy of goals from Pablo Haysham and John Mills. 

But Ryan Green was sent off for a second bookable offence late in the game, although Martin Horsell saved the subsequent penalty from Evesham's Adam Mann. 

Image source, Getty Images

It's been confirmed Hereford will have home advantage in their Championship game against Division One Central winners, Royston - that game will be at Edgar Street (pictured) on Saturday, 29 April.  

Kidderminster Shuttle

KIdderminster has proved to be a lucky town to live in for a father and son who have each scooped £30,000 thanks to their postcode, external.  

Bosses at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire are "totally in favour" of plans for a statue honouring the work done by munitions workers in WW1 and WW2, according to the chairman of the parliamentary munitions group.

Rob Flello MP says the next step will be start the fundraising - £250,000 to fund the statue and plinth and the same again to make sure it is maintained for future generations.

Image source, National Memorial Arboretum

BBC Hereford & Worcester launched a campaign in January to get national recognition for the difficult and dangerous work done by munitions workers, including those at factories in Worcester and Hereford.

Listen to live BBC Hereford & Worcester commentary as Worcestershire play Northants in the County Championship Division Two.