Summary

  • Updates from the past week

  1. Horse freed after getting caught on metal fencepublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    A horse has been freed by firefighters and vets after getting all four of its legs stuck in a fence in Malvern. 

    It happened on Sling Lane, when the animal tried to jump a metal fence.

    Horse being freedImage source, Amanda Jane Bradley
    Horse being freedImage source, Amanda Jane Bradley

    Local woman Anna Bradley kept the horse calm until firefighters and vets arrived on the scene.

  2. Pensioner left hanging from first floor window ledge after ladder slipspublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    An elderly man has been airlifted to hospital after falling from a ladder in Worcester. 

    The man who's in his mid 70s was left hanging from a first floor window ledge after the ladder slipped. 

    He eventually dropped to the ground near the house in the Henwick Grove area of the city. 

    He suffered a suspected fractured hip and was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

    Air ambulance
  3. Cash machine theft: Police look at links to other raidspublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Police investigating the theft of a cash machine from a post office in Malvern say they are are exploring "possible links with similar recent thefts in Bromyard and Kempsey".

    The gang used a rope to drag the cash machine out of the building, after the stolen JCB was used to smash its frontage.

    Damage to post officeImage source, West Mercia Police
    Quote Message

    A thorough investigation is under way and officers are undertaking comprehensive enquiries in the Barnards Green area as well the areas where the vehicles were stolen. Our investigation is including possible links with similar recent thefts in Bromyard and Kempsey."

    Supt Kevin Purcell

  4. Marathon runner aiming to raise cash for air ambulance service that saved herpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    A PE teacher is running the London Marathon for a second time next week to raise funds for the air ambulance service that rescued her following a motorway crash.

    Lucy DawkinsImage source, The Air Ambulance Service
    Image caption,

    Lucy Dawkins raised more than £10,000 when she completed her first London Marathon in 2015.

    Lucy Dawkins, 27, from Hagley, sustained serious head injuries when her car aquaplaned on surface water and collided with a barrier on the M42 in 2013.     

    Her injuries meant she had to be airlifted to hospital by Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, where she was treated for a fractured skull and laceration to the back of the head. 

    Lucy reovered, with the loss of her sense of smell the only lasting damage.

  5. Freed man to take compensation claim to Supreme Courtpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 13 April 2017
    Breaking

    A man who spent 17 years in jail after being wrongly convicted of attempted rape is taking his claim for compensation to the Supreme Court.

    Victor Nealon, who was convicted in 1997 of the attempted rape of a woman in Redditch won hisappeal in December 2013.

    He spent 10 years more than the seven-year minimum term after he persisted in asserting he was innocent.

    Scales of justice

    He was freed after appeal judges ruled that fresh evidence made his convictions unsafe, but had his applications for compensation rejected by the Ministry of Justice.

    The Appeal Court also turned down his application last year - the Supreme Court today announced that a panel of three justices had granted Mr Nealon permission to appeal.

  6. Watch: Training with the cage fighterspublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Malcolm Boyden
    Presenter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    I've been along to train with some of the mixed martial arts fighters of Hopwood UK, ahead of an MMA event at the Chateau Impney, near Droitwich, next week.

    They were gentle with me, but I got to try my hand at punching a focus pad.

    Media caption,

    Punch pad training at mixed martial arts gym

  7. Slideshow: Weirs, blooms and sunny skiespublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Close-up blossoms and clouds over a weir are just some of the photos the BBC's Weather Watchers have come up with - here are a selection of their photos.

    Thanks to Toppo, Fuzzballpc, Postman Les, and Johnqa.

    Media caption,

    Weirs, blooms and sunny skies

  8. Rugby: Luctonians director of rugby to leavepublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    The director of rugby at Luctonians, Alex Davidson, will be leaving at the end of the season, the club has announced.

    He joined the club as a player and director of rugby in 2010 - giving up playing after the 2012-13 season due to a shoulder injury.

    Alex Davidson

    Luctonians say Ryan Watkins will be stepping up as head coach for the 2017-18 season as part of an "on-going club restructure".

  9. Your pictures: Cathedral creates Easter gardenpublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    You can see the garden for free over the Easter weekend. Two services on Easter day will be broadcast on BBC radio  - the 08:10 Easter eucharist service will go out on Radio 4 and the choral evensong at 15:00 will be on Radio 3.

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  10. On Midlands Today from 13:30: Delays expected for Easter getawaypublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Peter Plisner
    BBC Midlands Today

    On Midlands Today this lunchtime, with the Easter getaway getting under way, we'll have the latest on the situation on the roads in the region. 

    Congestion signs on motorway

    Several of our motorways are expected to see drivers facing double the journey time from today and into the bank holiday weekend. 

    More on BBC One from 13:30.

  11. Rugby: Mills signs new Warriors contractpublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Ryan Mills has signed a new contract with Worcester Warriors, the club has announced.

    The 24-year-old, who can play at fly-half or centre, joined Warriors in the summer of 2014.

    Ryan MillsImage source, Getty Images

    He has amassed 99 points with the boot in 14 appearances this season, including a club Premiership-record, 24-point haul against Saracens in February.

    Quote Message

    I’m very happy to have re-signed for the club. There are recent changes that have happened behind the scenes which have really boosted the confidence of the squad."

    Ryan Mills

  12. Stolen JCB used to steal cash machinepublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    The JCB used to steal a cash machine from a post office in Malvern was stolen from a business in nearby Hanley Swan, police say.

    The raid on the post office at Barnards Green took place at 03:20 this morning.

    West Mercia Police say the thieves used a black Mitsubishi stolen in the Bromyard area to drag the ATM down the road.

    JCBImage source, West Mercia Police

    Two further vehicles were also used by the raiders: A silver Ford Ranger pick-up stolen from the Gloucester area and a blue Audi estate. 

    The ATM was abandoned at Blackmore Industrial Park.   

  13. Trees snapped in half on flood defencespublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    A number of trees have been snapped in half on the flood defence bank on Hylton Road in Worcester. 

    The damage appears to have happened overnight.

    Broken trees

    The city council is investigating the damage.

  14. Watch: Longer season would 'detrimental to players'published at 11:49 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Worcester Warriors’ director of rugby, Gary Gold, says he doesn’t agree with proposals for a 10-month Aviva Premiership season.

    Leicester Tigers’ captain, Tom Youngs, told the BBC he felt the proposals for the 2019-20 season to run from early September to June would "fill players with dread". 

    Gold feels a longer season would be detrimental both the welfare of players and also the game as a whole as he feels there would be a reduction in the quality of matches.

    Media caption,

    Longer season would be 'detrimental to players'

  15. Tourist information centre move: Have your saypublished at 10:54 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Malvern Town Council is asking people for their views on moving the area's Tourist Information Centre. 

    Last September, the district council agreed to move the service from Church Street in the town centre to a new community building on Avenue Road.

    Malvern Tourist Information officeImage source, Google

    The council has created an online page where people can post their comments, external - here are a selection:

    Quote Message

    Malvern needs its TIC in its centre. It is a big draw for visitors bringing valuable trade to the town and is a source from which to gather and give information for locals too. Doubtless the footfall and use of our TIC will only decrease by moving it from its current location and this can only lead to job losses. Please don't let this valuable resource disappear, it's right where it should be!"

    Carole James

    Quote Message

    There is no point in hiding the TIC away where it is not obvious to visitors who do not know Great Malvern, it needs to be obvious and very near the centre."

    Tony Fuller

    Quote Message

    The town needs this, after all we are a tourist town. And everyone is so helpful in there. Keep it here!"

    Wendy Patient

  16. Glamorgan v Worcestershirepublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Listen to live BBC Radio Wales commentary as Glamorgan play Worcestershire in the County Championship Division Two.

    Read More
  17. Trespassing on West Midlands railways hits five-year highpublished at 10:09 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Allen Cook
    BBC Local Live

    The number of people trespassing on railways in the West Midlands has risen by almost a fifth over the past five years. , external

    Network Rail and British Transport Police figures show 588 incidents in 2016 compared with 502 in 2012, external.

    Media caption,

    Simon Munn lost his leg crossing a train track when he was 22

    Across the country, some 115 people have been killed on rail tracks over the past five years, with almost half of them aged under 25. 

    Network Rail and the police said taking a short cut was the most common reason given for trespassing, followed by thrill-seeking.