Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

An inquiry is under way after 22,000 NHS letters weren't sent to GP's across Worcestershire over a seven-year period, from 2011.

The plan is to review the most urgent cases first, but leave any patients who have already died until the end of the process.

Any worried patients should contact the PALS service on 0300 1231732.

Bromsgrove Standard

Bromsgrove Sporting boss Paul Smith is urging his players to carry, external the form over from their FA Cup extra preliminary round replay victory at Rocester into their Midland League Premier Division opener at Quorn this weekend.

A councillor says it "beggars belief" that nobody knew about the delay in letters being sent to GPs in Worcestershire, some of which are believed to be over a year late.

About 22,000 letters, including some about follow-up care, were never sent to GPs, after hospital appointments.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has been rated inadequate since December 2015 and was heavily criticised earlier this week by the Care Quality Commission.

The trust blamed problems with a "computer system" for the failure to send out the letters.

The Olympic rower Alex Gregory has reached the Arctic ice shelf in an attempt to become to become one of the first men to row across the Arctic Ocean.

The double gold medalist, from Evesham, is part of a six-man team attempting the challenge.

Last night he posted: "We're going strong, really pushing into an area of the sea no one has ever rowed to before. Life in the boat is not easy, in fact it's pretty awful... But we're all enjoying the challenge & making the best of it."

The ocean is said to be one of the most inaccessible oceans in the world.

BBC Hereford and Worcester

Budding young entrepreneurs in Worcestershire are being urged to follow their dreams by entering a new competition to open a shop for a whole year - for free.

Wychavon District Council is offering a pop-up shop, external in the centre of Droitwich for 12 months for someone aged under 30, in a package worth £25,000.

Why do you think you should be given the prize? Apply online., external

BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today this lunchtime, we'll have more on the news that a new rail operator has been awarded a contract to run the West Midlands rail franchise.

West Midlands Trains Ltd will take over routes currently operated by London Midland from December.

We'll hear what they are promising to deliver for passengers from 13:30 on BBC One.

Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

We've discovered that thousands of letters which should have been sent to GPs alerting them to follow-up appointments only came to light when the St Stephen's practice in Redditch received a letter which was a year old.

The letter was one of 69 letters, fortunately none of which were critical.

My understanding is that this has been known about since at least June and I was told about it because there was some concern that the public had not been made aware.

Dr Shaun Pike, the GP who chairs the Worcestershire Local Medical Committee, said many of the letters will be unimportant, but there will be a small number of patients who will have come to harm and there may be patients undiagnosed.

Kidderminster Shuttle

The front page of the Kidderminster Shuttle includes the story Inquiry launched after rapist strikes in Kidderminster., external

There are plans to tell the story of Worcestershire's first car number plate and its association with West Mercia Police.

The AB1 plate has been bought by former chief constable Paul West at an auction to raise funds for the force.

Mr West says he paid £160,000 because he didn't want it sold to someone outside the county "with no connection to policing".

BBC Hereford and Worcester

The head of a company whose base in Worcester burned down in April says loyal staff are behind their decision to stay in the county.

Delivery firm Arrow XL's hub in Blackpole was completely destroyed in a huge fire in April.

Since the blaze, staff have been taken by bus to work at their facility in Chepstow.

A new distribution centre has opened in Droitwich, while work is continuing to get a new warehouse back up and running in Worcester.

A rare number plate owned by West Mercia Police has been sold to a former chief constable of the force, Paul West, for £160,000.

The AB1 registration was the first to be issued in Worcestershire and was used by chief constables up until 2011, when it was withdrawn from use because of concerns it was a security risk made the car easily identifiable.

Image source, Bromsgrove School/BBC

The decision to sell it was made by the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, who said the money would be put back into policing.

Worcestershire's director for cricket Steve Rhodes has confirmed the club is looking to bring in another overseas player after it was confirmed John Hastings is to return to Australia for treatment on his foot injury. , external

Image source, Reuters

The New Road club is considering extending Mitchell Santner's stay to beyond the end of the T20 Blast competition as cover, but the New Zealander is not available through to the end of the summer.

Steve Rhodes says in recent seasons they have brought in West Indies players to see them through September, but this option isn't open to them this summer and are looking to "find the one, when the timing is right".

Listen to BBC local radio commentary of Tuesday's action in the National League and National League North.

Worcester News

A Dutch/Japanese consortium has won the right to operate to operate , externalthe next West Midlands rail franchise, taking over from the current operator London Midland.

Rail passengers are promised longer trains with more seats as part of the deal that will see West Midlands Trains take over London Midland services.

The new operator - which takes over in December - has pledged to introduce about 400 carriages with space for an extra 85,000 passengers on rush hour trains. That's set to be rolled out by 2021.

Image source, West Midlands Rail

Announcing the change, the Department for Transport said compensation would be paid to passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more.

Outgoing operator London Midland said a new long-term franchise meant further investment could now be made in the region’s rail network.

Michele Paduano
Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

Tens of thousands of hospital appointment follow-up letters have not been sent to GPs due to a computer system issue.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said it had a backlog of 22,000 letters, from 2011 to 2017 about patient appointments and care.

Some patients may not have received the follow-up care they should have, the chief executive said. The trust said a review is under way.

An initial review into the letters error found 11,000 letters require no further medical actions.

The focus is now on reviewing the remaining letters, which should be completed by September.

The trust which runs the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch; Kidderminster Hospital & Treatment Centre and Worcestershire Royal Hospital says patients adversely affected will be contacted by the trust.

West Midlands Trains Ltd has been announced as the new rail operator for routes currently run by London Midland.

Image source, WM Trains

It's a joint venture between a dutch train company called Abellio and two Japanese train companies. It will be jointly managed by the Department for Transport and West Midlands Rail - which is a consortium of 16 local councils.

The consortium has pledged an investment of £1bn, as well as more services, longer trains, more seats for passengers along with free wi-fi.

Worcestershire NHS Trust says some patients may not have got the care they should have.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A generally dry and fine day with some blue sky and sunshine - highs of 20C (68F).

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

Good morning.

I'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather as it happens for Herefordshire and Worcestershire between now and 18:00.

If you'd like to get in touch you can email, tweet us on @bbchw, external or message via Facebook, external.