Ten years for man who drove off after hitting police officer
Teacher guilty of 'unacceptable professional conduct' over pupil emails
Lifeline for new football stadium plans
Allowances rises a 'slap in the face for local people'
Early opening for Cathedral square restaurants
Rare butterfly numbers on the rise
Updates on Friday 14 July 2017
Music lessons and other small teaching groups at a Barnt Green school will now be taught on board a bus, in an attempt to combat space constraints, external.
Enjoy some of the stunning nature photos chosen in a competition to feature in next year's Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, external calendar.
This selection from the 12 winners come from Lyndon Bracewell, Kate Barry, Rebecca Fox, John Caswell and David Oliver.
Prize-winning nature photos
BBC Sport
Worcestershire's Moeen Ali, who took 10 wickets in the first Test and scored 87 runs in the first innings, will be hoping for more success with bat and ball as the second test against South Africa gets under way.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat - you can follow the match on the BBC Sport live page.
Image source, Getty ImagesA Poundstretcher store will be relaunching tomorrow after closing for a £350,000 makeover, external.
A former teacher at King's School Worcester has been found guilty of "unacceptable professional conduct" and "conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute" over emails he exchanged with a pupil.
Laurence Paul admitted sending "inappropriate messages via email/social media including messages which were flirtatious and / or sexually suggestive" and that some of the messages were sent late in the evening or at night.
The disciplinary panel also ruled, external that he had asked the pupil to delete the messages.
However, it found that allegations he failed to take action when he knew the pupil had developed feelings towards him, and that his actions were sexually motivated were "not proved".
Image source, GoogleA professional conduct panel from the National College for Teaching and Leadership found that Mr Paul's behaviour was "indicative of his naivety and lack of awareness".
But they decided not to ask for a prohibition order - banning Mr Paul from teaching - as this was not "a proportionate and appropriate response".
The school say Mr Paul is no longer working for them.
Proposals for a new football stadium in Worcester are going back before planners.
The application from Worcester City FC's Supporters Trust was thrown out last month over concerns about the impact on Perdiswell Park.
But members of the committee are being told to reconsider after planning officers said their reasons for refusal weren't "sufficiently robust".
Image source, Getty ImagesThe club have been without home in the city since 2013 when their St George's Lane ground was sold for redevelopment.
Rob Crean, from the supporters trust, says it's time the club came back to the city.
Quote MessageWe should have football back in the city, we need it, and I don't know why it's taken so long. I think the political world needs to be supportive and not obstructive."
Rob Crean, Worcester City Supporters Trust
Munster will be coming to Sixways for one of Worcester Warriors' pre-season games.
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The leader of Worcestershire County Council is defending an above inflation increase in his allowance.
From September Simon Geraghty will get just over £34,000 - an increase of £3,000.
Image source, Worcestershire County CouncilThe rise comes after councillors voted to accept the recommendation of an independent panel, despite moves from Labour and Liberal Democrat members to block the increase.
Mr Geraghty told BBC Hereford & Worcester the money reflects the responsibility of the job he does.
Quote MessageAs leader of the council effectively you are accountable for over £800m of tax payers money and thousands of staff. So it has to be proportionate to a full-time job as that's what the leader of the council is."
Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A new shopping and eating venue in Worcester city centre will today see the opening of its first new restaurants.
Three restaurant chains will start trading early at Cathedral Square, ahead of the official opening event on 29 July.
Image source, PorterfieldThe £20m complex features a balcony with views towards Worcester Cathedral, and now only has one unit left to fill.
Worcestershire County Council is putting the finishing touches to the public open square created when a traffic roundabout was removed.
An above-inflation increase in the allowance for the leader of Worcestershire County Council has been called "a slap in the face for local people" by an opposition councillor.
Councillor Simon Geraghty will see the money he gets as leader rise by more than £3,000, to just over £34,000, while cabinet members are getting an extra 8% in their allowances.
Image source, Worcestershire County CouncilQuote MessageI think it's just extraordinary - we are about to face a budget process where we are cutting tens of millions of pounds of services from what we do as a council. To do this now is a slap in the face for local people."
Chris Bloore, Labour councillor
The numbers of a rare butterfly on the Malvern Hills are increasing, according to a conservation group.
Butterfly Conservation say sightings of the Grayling butterfly are on the rise.
The group is just beginning its annual Big Butterfly Count survey.
Hunt for rare butterfly on Malvern Hills
James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Controversial stadium plans, which would give Worcester City Football Club a new home, have been handed a lifeline.
Last month, the city's planning committee said it would reject proposals for a 4,400-capacity ground next to Perdiswell Leisure Centre, on the grounds it would damage the area's green space.
Image source, GoogleBut planning officers have now told the committee their reasons aren't sufficiently "robust".
The application will now be considered again next Thursday.
After a cloudy start with the chance of some drizzle, it should brighten up this afternoon with some sunny spells in store.
It will feel quite warm in the sunshine this afternoon, with top temperatures of 20C (68F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Jerry Chester
BBC News Online
Welcome to the Local Live service for Herefordshire and Worcestershire on Friday 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.
PC Stuart Harris was dismissed from West Mercia Police for gross misconduct.
Read MoreWe'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.
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
West Mercia Police has decided to take over responsibility for patrolling motorways itself and is pulling out of the Central Motorways Police Group (CMPG).
The force said it wanted to "ensure more locally based and more community focused arrangements" for its sections of the M5, M42, M50 and M54.
The CMPG was set up in 1990, to jointly patrol the regions motorways and was made up of a number of forces, including West Midlands, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.
Quote MessageI have made the significant decision for West Mercia Police to withdraw from the Central Motorway Policing Group as I believe it to be the best way forward for how we police our motorways and roads across our force area in the coming years."
Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, West Mercia Police
A PC who served for four years as a firearms officer has been sacked with immediate effect for falsifying training records, external, West Mercia Police says.
Stuart Harris, 45, was based at the force's headquarters at Hindlip just outside Worcester following a transfer from West Midlands Police.
A public misconduct hearing found that the officer had "breached the high standards of behaviour expected by completing training records claiming he had undergone training on two dates last year".
Quote MessageThe panel found that PC Harris' actions amounted to gross misconduct and breached the standards of professional behaviour in the area of honesty and integrity, orders and instructions and duties and responsibilities. It is for this reason he was dismissed from West Mercia Police without notice."
Supt Helena Bennett
After a largely dry and bright evening, there may be some showers at times overnight.
However, many places will stay dry and mild with some clear spells - lows of 15C (59F).
Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary spelt out her concerns about disabled people during a visit to Worcester today.
Debbie Abrahams was at Deaf Direct in Lowesmoor speaking to charities about cuts in support.
She said four million disabled people are in poverty and in need of extra support.
Quote MessageWe want to transform the culture around social security. We recognise its there for people in their time of need, it's like the NHS. Nine out of ten disabilities are acquired, so it could happen to you, it could happen to me."
Debbie Abrahams, Shadow work and pensions secretary
