Summary

  • Sixty jobs under threat at carpet firm

  • MP "alarmed" by hospitals report

  • Badminton girl nets a new liver

  • Worcester City vow to fight stadium planning decision

  • Updates on Friday 23 June 2017

  1. Water safety advice during heatwavepublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    At about the same time as the teenagers were rescued from the River Wye in Ross-on-Wye, a 15-year-old boy drowned while swimming at Ryders Hayes Mear in Walsall.

    On Monday, a boy drowned while swimming in a reservoir in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

    This week marks Drowning Prevention Week, external and the Royal Life Saving Society has some good advice on how to stay safe around open water, external.

    Graphic
  2. Swimmers still drawn to dangerous quarrypublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    Gullet Quarry in the Malvern Hills still fights off swimmers trying to gain access to the water, despite a number of deaths in recent years.

    People trying to take a dip are still caught sneaking through even though warning signs and barbed wire have fenced it off.

    Media caption,

    The dangerous quarry that still attracts swimmers

  3. Cricket: Moeen breaks throughpublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    Worcestershire 336 v Kent 260 & 354-7

    BBC Sport

    Finally Worcestershire take Kent's seventh wicket, but is it too little too late?

    Adam Rouse is the man to go, caught at short leg off the bowling of Meen Ali, for 68 having put on 149 with Joe Denly.

    Denly goes to tea on 177 with Kent's lead standing at 278.

  4. Christian Bagley murder: Do you recognise man in CCTV?published at 16:09 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    Police have re-released this image of a man they want to speak to over the murder of Christian Bagley in Hereford two years ago.

    Christian was stabbed in the arm and back as he walked under Hunderton Bridge on his way home from visiting his daughter.

    He collapsed in Rogers Avenue at around 22:50 and was pronounced dead a short time later.

    SuspectImage source, Costcutter

    The man in the image was seen entering Costcutter on Belmont Road at just after 23:30 on the night before Christian's murder - Saturday 20 June 2015.

    He was white and spoke with an Eastern European accent. He was wearing an Adidas cap, dark jacket with light coloured motif, light tracksuit trousers and trainers with blue laces.

  5. Five teenagers had been swimming in riverpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    Two teenagers who had to be rescued from the River Wye in Ross-on-Wye last night were among a group of five swimming there, the ambulance service says.

    Ambulance staff were called at just after 19:30 on Tuesday to reports of a drowning near Ross Rowing Club on Rope Walk.

    Members of the rowing club went into the water in a launch to help them.

    “On a hot sunny day, the attraction of cooling off in water is obvious," the spokesman added.

    "However, the dangers of doing so cannot be underestimated. These five are extremely fortunate that members of the Rowing Club were there and able to assist them quickly.”

  6. Bystanders rescue teenagers from riverpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    The pair were among five that got into difficulty while swimming and were rescued by passers-by.

    Read More
  7. #DontFeedGulls: Council launches new campaign over birdspublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    James Pearson
    Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    Gull-proof bins are to be installed across Worcester and people are being urged not to feed them in a new council crackdown over the continuing problem.

    Posters, leaflets, ads on litter bins and radio programmes will all be part of the new campaign.

    Seagulls

    The city council has even come up with a new catchphrase, "feed the bins, not the gulls", which will feature on signs all over the city.

    The hashtag #DontFeedGulls will be used on social media to highlight the issues.

    Quote Message

    Gulls can create problems for all of us in Worcester. They scavenge food, spread their droppings on our buildings and pavements, and they can be very noisy. There is no easy, single solution to the problem, but if we all take a few simple actions, we can help to reduce the nuisance and problems they cause."

    Councillor Joy Squires, Chair of the city council's Environment Committee

  8. Elephants using mud baths to stay cool at West Midlands Safari Parkpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    Justyn Surrall
    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    The elephants and lemurs at the West Midland Safari Park could have the answers to staying cool in the heat.

    Elephants getting a mud bathImage source, West Midland Safari Park

    As well as getting their food in ice lolly form, staff at the park say the African elephants are also using a mud bath to drop their temperature., external

    While they say the lemurs are "experts" at finding the shade in the Worcestershire attraction's near two-and-a-half acres of woodland.

  9. Antiques Roadshow heads to the Black Countrypublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    The Antiques Roadshow is heading to the West Midlands today.

    The programme will use the Black Country Living Museum as part of its 40th series.

    Snip from opening credits

    The show, presented by Fiona Bruce, has a rich heritage in this part of the country.

    It's best ever antique find was last year in Tewkesbury and the first pilot programme was filmed in Herefordshire in 1979.

  10. Man remanded over knife and axe chargepublished at 13:56 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    A man from Kidderminster has been remanded in custody after appearing at Redditch Magistrates' Court charged with three counts of possessing a knife and axe in public.

    Daniel Bebb-Jones, 23, from Merton Close, was arrested on Sunday evening.

    He did not enter a plea and will appear at Worcester Crown Court on 24 July.

  11. Cricket: Lunchtime scorespublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    BBC Sport

    Here is how it's looking going into the afternoon.

    Scores
  12. Bail extended on arrests in animal cruelty probepublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Five people arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty at a kennel belonging to the South Herefordshire Hunt have had their bail extended until August.

    South Herefordshire Hunt sign

    West Mercia Police say they're continuing investigations after a video, secretly filmed by activists, appeared to show fox cubs being taken into a shed where hounds were kept, before being brought out dead.

    The case is now being dealt with by the West Midlands Complex Crime Unit.

  13. Cricket: Big John with the breakthroughpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    Worcestershire 336 v Kent 260 & 205-6

    BBC Sport

    That's a big wicket at the top of Division Two.

    Australia paceman John Hastings dismissesWill Gidman to leave Kent six down with a lead of 129.

    A chase of around 200 for Worcestershire could prove very interesting.

  14. Cricket: Century for Joe Denlypublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    Dave Bradley
    Cricket commentator

    Joe Denly is giving Kent a chance at New Road.

    The 31-year-old reaches three figures for the second time this season with a six off Moeen Ali.

    Kent lead by 128 and Worcestershire are wilting slightly in the heat.

  15. Emotional abuse to children up in West Midlandspublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    BBC Midlands Today

    Reports of children being emotionally abused increased by almost 60% in the West Midlands last year.

    Child

    That's according to new figures released by the NSPCC, external, which says it received 1,017 calls in 2016-17 from people concerned about children, up from 641 calls in 2014-15.

    The charity fears the problem could be the tip of the iceberg and is urging the government to investigate.

  16. Rugby union: Bromsgrove sign former Worcester Warriors starpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Bromsgrove Rugby Club have made a major signing as they prepare for the new season.

    Jake Abbott in action in 2013 for WorcesterImage source, Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

    The former Worcester Warriors and England Sevens star Jake Abbott has joined the Boars, external.

    The club is aiming to bounce back after relegation from National Three South West at the end of last season.

  17. Cricket: Leach strikes againpublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 21 June 2017

    Worcestershire 336 v Kent 260 & 169-5

    Dave Bradley
    Cricket commentator

    You just can't keep Joe Leach out of the game!

    The Worcestershire skipper has just picked up a vital breakthrough at New Road, trapping Darren Stevens lbw for 19.

    Leach now has 3-42 and 39 Championship wickets this summer.

    Kent lead by 93, with Joe Denly unbeaten on 89.

    Follow live coverage on BBC Hereford and Worcester on 738AM and online.