The future of healthcare in Herefordshire is being discussed at a conference this afternoon.

Healthwatch Herefordshire, which represents patient interests to the NHS, is inviting people to attend the conference, where they'll be able to discuss what they think are the main issues affecting health services, and how things could be improved.

Image source, PA

The conference begins at 13:00 at The Shire Hall in Hereford.

The BBC understands the SAS is under investigation over the deaths of four Taliban suspects in Afghanistan in 2011.

The Ministry of Defence says it is now looking into fewer than 10 complaints of unlawful acts by British forces during the conflict.

Sources say one of the active files concerns the Hereford-based regiment and concerns that excessive force was used.

One of the active files is understood to relate to the deaths of four Taliban suspects during an SAS operation in 2011.

Kidderminster Shuttle

Changes have been made to the route of a major cycle ride which will pass through Wyre Forest , externalafter an outcry by people living and working along the route.

Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Herefordshire's cricketers face a major battle to save their Unicorns Championship match against Dorset at Colwall.

Heading into today's final day, Herefordshire will resume their second innings on 117 for 8 – that's a lead of only 86 runs.

Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Herefordshire's bowls star Robert Weale is celebrating another notable title victory, and this was very much a family affair.

Weale won the British and Irish fours championship for Wales with his brothers David, Brian and Stuart.

Image source, Getty Images

It is the fourth time they have won the title.

The number of butterflies on nature reserves in Worcestershire is "significantly higher this summer", according to a conservation group.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust say volunteers walking on their meadow nature reserves have noticed a rise in the butterfly population, after "several very poor years".

Image source, Wendy Carter

The trust puts the rise in numbers down to the dry and warm weather this year, along with its management plans aimed at producing butterfly-friendly environments.

Hereford Times

A consumer champion for health and social care has said it is disappointed with the decision to close the walk-in centre in Hereford, external.

Great Britain's women’s deaf football squad have been training at the University of Worcester ahead of the Deaflympics, which take place in Turkey in July.

The Deaflympics were first held in Paris in 1924, making them the second oldest multi-sport and cultural festival in the world, the university say.

Image source, University of Worcester

The MP for Redditch, Jacqui Smith, will chair the board of the trust that will take over the running of Sandwell's beleaguered children's services.

The local authority department has received two "inadequate" ratings from Ofsted in the last four years and in 2015 a report warned children were "at risk of harm".

Sandwell Council said the former home secretary would support the aim of "delivering rapid improvements".

Image source, PA

Plans were announced by the Government in October 2016 to introduce an independent trust to run Sandwell’s children’s social care services.

One of Kidderminster's four remaining carpet makers says it will still be manufacturing in the town in five year's time, even if its competitors aren't.

Brockway Carpets are looking to add to their workforce of around a hundred at the moment.

Image source, Google

Planned job losses at Brintons and Victoria Carpets would leave the town with just a hundred workers directly employed in manufacturing carpets - a senior Wyre Forest councillor has warned the industry could be gone altogether by the next decade.

Brockway's managing director, Charles Annable, says the town's industry can only survive if something is done to replenish skilled workers.

Worcester News

A disgraced deputy headteacher from Worcester attempted to incite a "cute" boy he thought was 14 years old to carry out sex acts on webcam, external.

Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Worcestershire's talented young pace bowler Josh Tongue has signed a new four-year deal with the club.

The 19-year-old has established himself in the first-team squad and has taken 30 County Championship wickets so far this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Rachel Maclean, the new Conservative MP for Redditch, has used her first speech in the House of Commons to talk about the future of the town's hospital.

She said the issue of what happens to the Alexandra Hospital dominated her general election campaign

A review said a maternity unit at the hospital would be downgraded, most children's services moved to Worcester and A&E changed to urgent care centre with more advanced cases treated in Worcester.

Four A&E consultants resigned en masse saying planned changes at the hospital meant it would have "neither an A&E service nor a safe service".

Lucy Martin
BBC Weather

A warm but fairly cloudy start with some drizzle possible, but brighter spells later with some sunny intervals and highs of 22C (72F).

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 email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.

Listen to BBC local radio as Worcestershire host Birmingham in the T20 Blast.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

There are some stunning cloud formations in the skies above Herefordshire and Worcestershire today.

Thanks to BBC Weather Watchers Duckysworld, at Wick, and Mikesnapper, at Lower Broadheath, for these incredible shots.

Image source, Duckysworld

Image source, Mikesnapper

School funding is set to force yet another government rethink.

Hereford Times

Two men were arrested for overstaying their visas during separate immigration raids at an Indian restaurant and a fish and chip shop in Hereford. , external