Summary

  • Extra funding for hospitals confirmed

  • Replacement bridge opening date announced

  • Sanctuary for sheep with abnormalities

  • WW1 pilgrimage for grandson

  • Worcestershire in first innings collapse

  • Updates on Friday 21 April 2017

  1. Couple who witnessed sexual assault sought by policepublished at 13:40 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    A woman has been sexually assaulted by a man who was "exposing himself and performing a lewd act", police say.

    West Mercia Police say the 28-year old was "touched inappropriately" as she walked down Four Pools Lane in Evesham, external.

    Four Pools Lane, EveshamImage source, Google

    Police say they want to trace a man and a woman who they think may have witnessed the assault, which happened between 18:45 and 19:15 on Saturday, 8 April. 

    Described as being in their 40s or 50s, they were seen walking along the footpath and it is believed that they disturbed the offender who hid in the bushes, a spokesman said.  

  2. Slideshow: Bright blossoms and blue skiespublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    There's been a lovely start to the day and the BBC's Weather Watchers have been out early catching some great pictures. 

    Thanks to Mikesnapper, Morning Amble, Johnqa, NuseJ and Alley from Marden for these photos. 

    Media caption,

    Bright blossoms and blue skies

  3. Football: Draw keeps City above the drop zonepublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Worcester City were held 0-0 by visiting Stockport County and so remain just outside the relegation places on goal difference. 

    City's only rivals for the final relegation place, Gainsborough Trinity, also drew 0-0 in their game at Brackley Town and so it's "as you were" at the foot of the table.

  4. TB threat to farms: Badger cull factspublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    A farmer says a lack of fairness in dealing with TB is crippling the British industry.

    Michael Brown, from Aymestry, Herefordshire, is calling for bagers to be vaccinated or culled after losing his Charolais cow to TB.

    Badger culling has been rolled out to more parts of England, in a bid to tackle bovine TB.

    Seven new licences have been granted, external for parts of Cornwall, Herefordshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset.

    Badger cull facts
  5. Harriett Baldwin MP: Election call 'was reluctant decision'published at 12:21 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Harriett Baldwin, the Conservative MP for West Worcestershire, believes the Prime Minister has "reluctantly decided" to ask Parliament for a general election on 8 June so she can "secure a clear mandate for her government to get the best possible deal for the United Kingdom as we leave the European Union".    

    Harriett Baldwin
    Quote Message

    Tomorrow the House of Commons will vote on this issue and I look forward to working to secure this legislation, and then gaining the support of the country and the people of West Worcestershire on June 8.”

    Harriett Baldwin,, MP for West Worcestershire

  6. Snap general election 'shows tremendous courage' - Bill Wiggin MPpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    The Conservative MP for North Herefordshire, Bill Wiggin, says Prime Minister Teresa May's decision to ask Parliament to approve a general election on 8 June shows "tremendous courage".

    Teresa May said Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership following the EU referendum.  

    Bill Wiggin MPImage source, Conservative Party
    Quote Message

    “I think it shows tremendous courage by Theresa May. It will give her the mandate she needs to get the best possible deal for Britain in our negotiations with the EU. I am looking forward to Mrs May being returned as Prime Minister on 8th June.”

  7. Football: Harriers win through to play-offspublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Kidderminster Harriers confirmed their involvement in the Vanarama North play-off places yesterday when they won 4-1 at bottom side, Altrincham. 

    Harriers are four points behind the leaders, AFC Fylde with two games to play.

  8. Travel: Worcestershire road closedpublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Horn Lane, near Martley, will be closed today so the council can fix the surface.

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  9. What's that helicopter doing flying so low?published at 11:01 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    If you see a yellow helicopter flying low over Worcester today, it's checking overhead electricity cables for Western Power Distribution.

    Take a picture if you can - they love to tweet them. 

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  10. Travel: Road closed for three dayspublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    BBC News Travel

    The road surface on the C2025 near Stockton-on-Teme in Worcestershire is being fixed this week. 

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  11. Bride's appeal after wedding presents stolenpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    A bride from Herefordshire is pleading for any information which might help her recover gifts that were stolen from her wedding. 

    Zara Owens married her fiance William in Hampshire on Saturday, but discovered on Monday that many of her wedding presents had been stolen from a car parked at the venue.

    Bride and groom cutting cake

    Zara says many of the presents had yet to be opened.

    Quote Message

    We have no idea what they were - we've seen some of the cards and there are some lovely messages where people have said 'we hope you enjoy this little gift for your home', but we don't know what they were."

    Zara Owens

  12. TB a threat to thousands of businesses, warns farmerpublished at 09:40 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Nicola Goodwin
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A Herefordshire farmer says thousands of farms will go bust unless the government takes the issue of TB seriously. 

    Michael Brown, from Aymestry, will get less than £2,000 in compensation after his prize-winning Charolais cow tested positive for TB but he says she's worth more than £15,000.  

    Charolais cowImage source, Reuters

    He wants the disease controlled for the good of badgers, cattle and all animals.

    Quote Message

    Either vaccination - and they are trying to process a vaccine at the moment - but also vaccinating or shooting badgers around here because we are in a very intense TB situation and nothing is being done for us."

    Michael Brown, Farmer

  13. Munitions workers memorial: The 'canary girls'published at 09:20 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Nicola Goodwin
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A BBC Hereford &Worcester campaign has helped to finally secure a national memorial for the munitions workers of World War One and World War Two.

    They will get a statue at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, once £250,000 has been raised to pay for it.

    Munitions facts
  14. Cycle race organisers asked about disruption to residents and businessespublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    The organisers of a controversial cycling race have a "long way" to go before their event can go ahead, Worcestershire County Council say.

    The council have now written to the CSM Active, the company behind Velo Birmingham, external, and asked them to provide information about how they will reduce the impact of the race on businesses and residents, when it passes through parts of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

    Cycle raceImage source, Getty Images

    The 100-mile (160km) race is due to take place in September.

    General entries have already sold out, and more than 15,000 riders could take part, the organisers predict.

  15. Memorial to honour munitions workerspublished at 08:40 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Nicola Goodwin
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Britain's munitions workers are to be honoured with a statue at the National Memorial Arboretum, thanks to a campaign run by BBC Hereford & Worcester. 

    More than a million people worked in terrible conditions to supply shells, bombs and bullets for the allied troops, including at factories in Rotherwas in Hereford, and Blackpole in Worcester.

    Munitions workerImage source, Getty Images

    Hundreds were killed by explosives or suffered from diseases caused by the chemicals they were handling. 

    Rob Flello MP, the chairman of the parliamentary munitions group, says they need to raise £250,000 for the statue and plinth.  

  16. Watch: Your 50-second weather forecastpublished at 08:20 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    After a chilly start, sunshine will turn a little hazier later in the afternoon as a veil of cloud moves in from the northwest. 

    It will be a dry day with light winds across the board - highs of 12C (54F).  

    Media caption,

    Weather for the West Midlands.

  17. Good morning from today's Herefordshire and Worcestershire live pagepublished at 08:12 British Summer Time 18 April 2017

    Jerry Chester
    BBC News Online

    Welcome to the Local Live service for Herefordshire and Worcestershire on Tuesday morning.

    I'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens.

    If you'd like to get in touch you can emailtweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.