Updates from Monday 25 to Friday 29 September 2017
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.
A woman from Worcestershire has been chosen to take part in one of the most ambitious polar expeditions ever.
Teacher Claire Shaw, from Broadway, will be part of a team attempting to reach the northern pole of inaccessibility which is more than 200 miles further than the geographic north pole and remains the last significant place in the polar regions yet to be explored by humans.
Claire says she's never done anything like this before.
Image source, Claire ShawQuote MessageI am a real novice at this sort of thing. I've done hill walking in the past. I've done little two day expeditions and things like that... but that's the idea of this programme. We are trained as novices to become competent polar explorers."
Claire Shaw
Claire's formal polar training begins in January 2018 and the expedition runs from February until May.
Four new world records have been set in the Canna UK National Giant Vegetables Championships held at the Malvern Autumn Show this weekend.
The first record breaker was a chilli weighing the same as a can of soup, 0.348kg, grown by Kevin Fortey from Cwmbran (pictured below).
Ian Neale from Newport set the first ever record for the world's longest chilli at 401mm.
Joe Atherton from Mansfield produced the world's longest parsnip at 6.550m and the world's longest radish at 6.703m.
Image source, Malvern Autumn Show
Image source, Malvern Autumn ShowDuring the weekend, the Three Counties Showground welcomed over 65,000 people through the gates for the annual harvest celebration.
Quote MessageThe passion and perseverance of these growers is amazing and our visitors absolutely love it. We never fail to be astounded at the sheer size and scale, they literally are one of the biggest drawers of the show.”
Diana Walton,, Head of Shows at Three Counties
Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather
After a day which started wet for parts of the West Midlands, here's how tonight and, importantly, tomorrow are looking.
You can also keep yourself up-to-date with the latest forecasts from the BBC Weather website.
Alex Hamilton.
Worcestershire Biological Records Centre has been awarded a £58,200 National Lottery grant to study rare species near the Malvern Hills. , external
Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A former teacher from Herefordshire died from a heroin overdose, an inquest has heard.
Martin Watkins, 51, from Leominster was admitted to the County Hospital on 15 April with abdominal pain and found to have multi-organ failure.
His long-term partner Jan Drury said in a statement that he had only taken the nasal heroin to ease the chronic pain in his chest - something he'd suffered from for years.
The Herefordshire coroner Mark Bricknell recorded that the death was drug related.
Fungi thrive in the damp autumn air and spiders don't seem to mind it either. Thanks to BBC Weather Watchers Karlsskies in Chaddesley Corbett and LouNik in Hereford for sending in these stunning pictures.
Image source, Karlsskies
Image source, LouNikOne of the killers handed staff a note saying they decided to "free" their victim from "darkness".
Read MoreTwo inmates at Long Lartin Prison near Evesham have been sentenced for the murder of another prisoner.
Brett Rogers was found dead in his cell in June.
Gary Lindley, 41, was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 17 years and six months, while Billy White, 24, was given a whole life term.
Image source, GoogleThey pleaded guilty to murder at Worcester Crown Court.
Quote MessageThis was a vicious and premeditated attack by two very dangerous men. The judge has recognised the danger they pose to the wider public and we welcome the length of their sentence."
DI Paul Hardman, West Mercia Police
Facebook
There's been a mix of comments on the BBC Midlands Facebook page about Velo Birmingham.
The 100 miles of road closures across the West Midlands angered some people who struggled to travel, but many said the event was a resounding success. Here's what you've been saying., external
Claire Taylor, external: It's been fab for our city! We should be grateful we got the chance to hold the event. Yes there was inconvenience with road closures but it's one day out of 365 & we had plenty of notice to plan.
Mustak Choudhury writes:, external Why do people have to complain about the Velo? They have been warned about it. It's only Sunday. Chill.
Donald Skoyles adds:, external One day of road closures and everyone loses their minds. Yorkshire had the Tour de France leg, London gets loads of events causing road closures, Manchester gets the North Run and when Birmingham gets remembered by big event organisers, what do we do - complain, moan and whinge.
Not everyone welcomed the cyclists
Andy Carr-smith had to change his plans:, external So many comments of "it's one day out of the year" - My friends and I had to wake up earlier than normal so our event, booked last year by the way, could still go ahead. Fortunately for us people were willing to come earlier.
Steve Carey adds:, external Some road diversions would have been useful rather than just closing roads!
A toddler was rescued by firefighters after being trapped in a locked car in Malvern. , external
The father of the England and Worcestershire cricket hero Moeen Ali says he was too excited to sleep last night, after watching his son make England's second fastest century in a one-day international.
Moen reached 100 in just 53 balls as England beat the West Indies in Bristol to lead the five match series 2-0.
His dad Manir says he couldn't be more proud.
Image source, BBC SportQuote MessageI had so many telephone calls and text messages from all over the world. Four o'clock [in the morning] this guy rang me from India. Actually to see your own son playing that sort of innings. I was so chuffed yesterday I didn't know what to say."
Manir Ali
Claudia Berry
Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A Worcestershire tea room owner is asking the organisers of the Velo Birmingham cycle race to choose a different route next time, after her visitor numbers fell by 70% compared with the Sunday before.
Gill Edmonds, who owns the Garden Tea Rooms in the grounds of Witley Court at Great Witley, kept her business open yesterday, despite the closure of most of the nearby roads for most of the day.
The closures enabled 15,000 cyclists to complete the 100-mile route around Worcestershire, Birmingham and Staffordshire without the usual dangers posed by traffic.
Image source, GoogleQuote MessageOn last week, visitor numbers were 70% down...15,000 cyclists had an amazing time, but for them to have that amazing time, thousands more were inconvenienced. I would just say if it is so marvellous [for tourism] and closed roads are wonderful... if they do it again, they should choose another route and spread the love."
Gill Edmonds,, owner of the Garden Tea Rooms in Great Witley
Tom Edwards
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
The union Unison has blamed cuts to the NHS for the large number of staff on long-term sick leave.
More than 1,000 workers across Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been on long-term sick leave over the last year.
Carl Mansell-Green from Unison says staff are going sick because they're overworked.
Quote MessageToday at Hereford County Hospital you will have staff doing 12 and a half hour shifts with no break whatsoever, none. They are unable to even leave the ward because they don't have sufficient staff."
Carl Mansell-Green,, regional organiser for Unison
More than 700 acute trust staff in Worcestershire and more than 500 in Herefordshire have been off work for more than a month - including 21 who were off for a whole year.
Quote MessageWe want to provide better support for our staff on long-term sick leave with stress, anxiety and depression and will be introducing resilience training and support for staff to help manage the conditions, whether they are suffering with them, or want to support colleagues."
Sue Smith,, Human Resources manager for Wye Valley NHS Turst
Shaun McCormick has been given a suspended prison sentence for attacking his neighbours., external
A player from Droitwich Spa Cricket Club has celebrated 50 years with the club, by finishing as the second team's leading wicket-taker.
Martin Woodward, known as "Woody", joined Spa in 1967 as an opening batsman and now with 1,450 runs to his name, holds the club record for the most Saturday league runs.
In his 50th playing season, he helped the second team win the Worcestershire County League 2nd XI Division 2 title.
Image source, Martin WoodwardQuote MessageCricket has given me the opportunity to play with and against some great people and provided many fantastic memories, including being picked for an England 50+ team which defeated a West Indian Select XI at the Kensington Oval in Barbados and bowling one over to Sir Vivian Richards in a Pro Am match at New Road. I was delighted when he batted back the first ball but not so when he hit the next five for 28!”
Martin Woodward,, Droitwich Spa Cricket Club player
BBC Midlands Today
This lunchtime on Midlands Today, we'll hear how part of the region's topped the UK's "crash for cash" postcode league.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe scams are run by fraudsters who manufacture collisions with other road users, hoping to profit from insurance claims.
We'll have more from 13:30 on BBC One.
Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
The Hay Festival is to expand its schools programme following the appointment of the former head of Hereford Sixth Form College.
Jonathan Godfrey has joined the board of directors and will develop the education work through free school days, Hay Levels videos and the Hay Festival Academy., external
Dr Godfrey was awarded an OBE for services to education and says becoming involved with the world-famous festival is a privilege and a delight.
Whitney Bridge at Whitney-on-Wye has been named as the Best Visitor Attraction in the County by Visit Herefordshire.
Husband and wife team Grahame Penny and Maggie Taylor bought the 18th Century toll bridge five years ago and have since developed the site for visitors.
Image source, Grahame Penny and Maggie TaylorQuote MessageWhitney Bridge is now taking full advantage of its riverside location so that our visitors can enjoy everything from fishing and swimming to canoeing and camping or just relax in our riverside garden and picnic area to watch our resident kingfishers, swans, otters and even salmon leaping in the river.”
Maggie Taylor,, joint owner of WhitneyBridge
Cyclists from round the country took part in a 100-mile (161km) bike road race across the West Midlands at the weekend.
The 15,000 riders started and finished in Birmingham and went through parts of Worcestershire and Staffordshire.
Hundreds turned out to watch the Velo Birmingham at the half-way point in Bewdley
