Summary

  • Updates from the past week

Live Reporting

  1. Parents' 'neglectful actions' led to 13-month-old's death

    Claudia Berry
    Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    The death of 13-month-old Kian Dale has been described by police as a "tragic case".

    His parents have both been jailed after being found guilty of manslaughter over his drowning in a bath.

    Det Insp Justin Taylor said their "neglectful actions" led to the boy's death.

    Worcester Crown Court

    Kian should have had the opportunity to enjoy his bath time whilst under the care of his mother or father, however both Wayne Dale and Lisa Passey chose to leave him in a bath unsupervised upstairs for a significant period of time while they socialised downstairs."

    Justin Taylor, Det Insp West Mercia Police

  2. Pedestrian suffers multiple injuries in crash

    Alistair Binney
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A man has been taken to hospital with multiple injuries after a collision with a car in Stourport, the ambulance service say.  

    The man believed to be in his 50s was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after the collision at Burlish Crossing at 12:11 today. 

    Burlish Crossing in StourportGoogle

    He was treated at the the scene for a head injury, a suspected pelvic injury and minor injuries to his leg by crews from the West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance.   

  3. GP surgery 'must improve'

    Claudia Berry
    Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A Herefordshire GP surgery has been told it needs to improve after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission. 

    The health regulator found Belmont Medical Centre was inadequately led and needed to improve in areas such as safety and the effectiveness of how the practice is run.

    Belmont Medical CentreGoogle

    The centre was given a "good" rating for caring.

  4. Parents smoked as baby drowned in bath

    Lisa Passey and Wayne Dale have been jailed for four years and four-and-a-half-years for manslaughter.

    Read More

  5. Slideshow: Blossoms and trees

    Jerry Chester
    BBC News Online

    Even though the day is overcast BBC Weather Watchers have taken some fabulous pictures. Thanks to Mikesnapper, J@Severn Ridge, The Wolster, Johnqa and Morning Amble.

    Blossom and trees

  6. Baby drowning sentence: Both parents jailed
    Breaking

    Ben Sidwell
    BBC Midlands Today

    The parents of a 13-month-old boy from Tenbury Wells, who drowned after being left unsupervised in a bath for 15 minutes, have both been sent to prison. 

    46-year-old Wayne Dale was given a four-and-a-half-year sentence and 28-year-old Lisa Passey, from Tenbury Wells, was jailed for four years. 

    Both were found guilty of manslaughter after Kian Dale died in September 2015. 

    Lisa Passey and Wayne DaleSWNS

    At their trial, the jury at Worcester Crown Court heard how Kian was left upstairs in a bath while his parents and a visiting friend were downstairs. 

    The court heard how Dale, of no fixed address, eventually made his way to the bathroom, and found Kian lying over the back of the bath seat with his head underwater. 

    A post-mortem examination found Kian had drowned and also had soap bubbles in his lungs

  7. VR enters world of drink-driving horror

    Teenagers who tried out the police virtual reality experience were visibly shocked.

    Read More

  8. Cat shot by pellet gun

    Alistair Binney
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A cat in Kidderminster has been injured by what's thought to be a pellet gun in an act of deliberate cruelty, police say. 

    It's thought the cat was shot in the Larches Road area on the evening of Thursday 20 April or the following morning. 

    West Mercia Police are urging pet owners in the area to be extra vigilant.

  10. Council farmland sale gets under way

    Tenant farmers say they will have to leave if the new owners want to the land themselves.

    Read More

  11. O'Callaghan signs new Warriors deal

    Former Ireland and Lions lock forward Donncha O'Callaghan signs a new contract with Worcester, at the age of 38.

    Read More

  12. Wyre Forest Lib Dems name their parliamentary candidate

    The Liberal Democrats have announced that Councillor Shazu Miah will be their candidate for the Wyre Forest constituency in the general election. 

    Mr Miah says he will be campaigning against a hard Brexit and for keeping Britain in the single market.

    Shazu MiahWyre Forest Liberal Democrats

    Thirty six percent of Wyre Forest residents voted to remain in the EU and many more oppose the reckless decision of this hard-right Conservative government to pursue a 'hard Brexit'. Only the Lib Dems here in Wyre Forest are truly fighting her plans and fought to Remain."

    Shazu Miah, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate

    The deadline for nominating candidates is 11 May, but most parties will want their representatives in place well before that. 

    We'll bring you the latest on the election campaign as we get it.

  13. Hereford postman back doing his rounds after London Marathon

    Jerry Chester
    BBC News Online

    A day after completing the London Marathon, a Hereford postman who's still recovering from a dog attack is back delivering mail across the county. 

    Mike Chandler yesterday completed his 17th London Marathon for Breast Cancer Haven, in four hours and 54 minutes. 

    He's raised £18,000 so far this year, bringing his total fundraising tally through running to nearly £400,000.

    Mike ChandlerMike Chandler

    I’m feeling so proud and privileged to have represented the lovely and generous people of Herefordshire, my wonderful colleagues at Royal Mail and Hereford’s Breast Cancer Haven in the London Marathon. As always in memory of my Mum too.”

    Mike Chandler, Hereford postman

  14. Worcester 'super village' could expand

    Worcester News

    Worcester's controversial "super village" is likely to expand to more than 2,600 homes - with the entire concept coming under sustained attack.

    map showing site of super villageWorcester News

  15. Your photos: Carpet of colour in Malvern

    Claudia Berry
    Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Thanks to Dave Bright from Bright Sky Videos for this stunning picture of bluebells and wild garlic growing at the foot of Ragged Stone Hill in Malvern.

    Woods at Ragged Stone HillDave Bright

  16. Dog behaviourist admits his dogs killed dozens of lambs

    Nicola Goodwin
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A dog behaviourist from Shropshire has admitted that his two pets killed dozens of lambs on a Herefordshire farm.

    Charles Ross-Robertson pleaded guilty to owning two Rottweiler-cross dogs which killed the sheep, valued at £21,000, in Risbury last September.

    At the time, farmer Thomas Hadley (pictured) said his field was "scattered" with dead sheep.

    Ross-Robertson is due to be sentenced in May.

    Thomas Hadley

    The dogs called Brindle and Bourneville have been kept in kennels since the attack, at a cost to the public of £7,500.

    An application has been made for them to be destroyed.

  17. Warriors: O'Callaghan to stay at Sixways

    Trevor Owens
    Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Warriors Warriors' Irish international Donncha O’Callaghan has signed a new deal with the club.

    The former British Lion O'Callaghan, who made the move to Sixways in September 2015 after 17 seasons with Munster, has been captaining the side in recent weeks, as they avoided relegation from the Premiership.

    Donncha O’CallaghanGetty Images

    Donncha is a phenomenon. He must be one of the most professional rugby players in the world and the manner in which he prepares for matches, mentally and physically, is an outstanding example for any young player."

    Gary Gold, Director of Rugby

    Since taking over the captaincy, O’Callaghan’s Warriors have been on a remarkable run which has seen them rack up 17 points in seven games, including wins over Bristol Rugby and Bath Rugby.  

  18. Two years to rebuild delivery firm site destroyed by fire

    Phil Maiden
    Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    The delivery firm ArrowXL which suffered a major fire at its hub in Worcester last Thursday, says it could be two years before the warehouse is up and running again in the city. 

    In the meantime, the company is moving its operation to Chepstow, with work starting there on Wednesday. 

    Warehousing staff will be transported to and from Chepstow each day, whilst delivery staff will continue to be based in Worcester. 

    Aerial shots of massive warehouse fire

    Together, we are looking to the future in Worcester and everyone is fully determined to get back to ‘business as usual’ as soon as possible."

    Charlie Shiels, Chief operating officer at ArrowXL

  20. Puppy smuggling 'biggest animal welfare issue'

    Felicity Sanderson
    Journalist

    Puppy smuggling is the "biggest welfare issue of this decade," according to the RSPCA and it's happening here in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. 

    Sixty seven calls were made last year to the charity by people in the two counties concerned with the illegal trade of puppies. 

    Across the country, the charity says calls about animal smuggling to its cruelty line has more than doubled to 3,600 compared with five years ago. 

    PuppyAFP