Summary

  • Business leaders call for 'swift' new government

  • Bill Wiggin MP praises Labour campaign

  • All blue in Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  • Brexit minister Robin Walker sees his majority halved in Worcester

  • Hung parliament now confirmed

  • Updates on Friday 9 June

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 BST 16 June 2017

    Live updates for Herefordshire and Worcestershire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 on Monday with more live news, sport, travel and weather.

    Enjoy the sunshine at the weekend.

    Cornfield in the sunImage source, Happysnapper71
  2. Charity performance for terror attack victimspublished at 18:00 BST 16 June 2017

    The Kidderminster male voice choir are to perform a tribute for the victims of recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.

    The choir will be performing at Bodenham Arboretum tomorrow evening with donations being made to a bereavement charity.

    Bodenham ArboretumImage source, Google
  3. Slideshow: Daisies and dappled sunlightpublished at 17:46 BST 16 June 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    As the weather continues to improve, BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about with their cameras.

    Thanks to Postman Les, Pottering Around, Jan from Langrove and Mollie's Meadow for this selection.

    Media caption,

    Daisies and dappled sunlight

  4. Weather: Scorchiopublished at 17:30 BST 16 June 2017

    Rebecca Wood
    BBC Midlands Today

    We're forecast a hot weekend and a muggy night tonight.

    Temperatures could reach as high as 27C (81F).

    Media caption,

    Rebecca Wood has your forecast

  5. Teenager chosen for World Transplant Games teampublished at 17:19 BST 16 June 2017

    A teenager from Herefordshire will be representing Britain at the World Transplant games later this month.

    Kiera Jackson, who's 14 and from Leominster, had a life-saving liver transplant in 2010 at Birmingham Children's hospital.

    Kiera JacksonImage source, Family

    She'll be the youngest member of the GB badminton team.

  6. Dudley man charged with attempted murder in Worcesterpublished at 16:59 BST 16 June 2017

    A man from Dudley has been charged with attempted murder following an incident on George Street, Worcester on Sunday night.

    West Mercia PoliceImage source, West Mercia Police

    Ethan Bell-Milne, 19, from Himley Street in Dudley was charged with attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.

    He has been detained and will appear at Worcester Magistrates' Court later today.

    A 33-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man, both from Worcester, who were arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting attempted murder have been released without charge.

  7. Royal Three Counties Show: Historypublished at 16:44 BST 16 June 2017

    The show goes back 220 years to the formation of the Agricultural Society.

    Royal Three Counties Show dataImage source, BBC/Three Counties Agricultural Society
  8. Slideshow: Towers, trees and sunlit skiespublished at 16:22 BST 16 June 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Here is a selection of the great shots we've been sent by BBC Weather Watchers from across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

    Thanks to Johnqa, Postman Les and Jpk01 for taking these.

    Media caption,

    Towers, trees and sunlit skies

  9. Man who stabbed dog to death banned from keeping animalspublished at 16:01 BST 16 June 2017

    A man who killed his dog and left his body to rot in his flat for several days has been sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and given 250 hours of community service.

    Wayne Bishop, 30, of Weston-Super-Mare admitted killing his dog, General, in a moment of cruelty at his flat in Droitwich when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester.

    He was banned from keeping animals for life.

    The knife recovered from the flatImage source, RSPCA

    General was discovered by police officers with a stab wound to his chest after neighbours raised concern of the stench coming from the property.

    Bishop initially claimed he stabbed his dog after he attacked him but later admitted this was not true and that he had stabbed General in anger.

    Quote Message

    General’s death was an absolutely horrific case of animal cruelty at its worst. There is simply no excuse for such extreme cruelty."

    Rachel Hayward, RSPCA inspector

  10. Blind father to perform wingwalk in memory of sonpublished at 15:43 BST 16 June 2017

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    The dad of a teenager from Worcester who committed suicide in January will be taking to the skies in his son's memory this Father's Day.

    Mark Abel will remember his son Sam and raise money for Worcester charity Sight Concern by performomg a wingwalk on Sunday.

    Mr Abel went blind six years ago after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and has competed for Team GB in the Invictus Games.

  11. 'We’re Worcester people through and through': Rapids get ready for semi-finalpublished at 15:17 BST 16 June 2017

    As The Worcester Rapids get ready to take on Surrey in the Royal London Cup, Captain Joe Leach says his young team are proud to be representing the county.

    Media caption,

    Worcestershire captain Joe Leach dreaming of Lord's final

    Speaking to BBC Hereford and Worcester, he said: “We’ve got one overseas player and then the rest, more or less, have come through our academy. They’re products of Worcestershire in one way or another.

    "We’re Worcester people through and through. We love the club and we can’t wait to put on a show on Saturday.”

  12. Gove aims for 'frictionless access' for British goodspublished at 15:17 BST 16 June 2017

    David Gregory-Kumar
    Science correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

    New Environment Secretary Michael Gove is trying his cabinet wellies on for size at the Royal Three Counties Show.

    He said he wanted to guarantee "tariff free, frictionless access" for British goods to European markets.

    Michael Gove at the Three Counties Show

    Speaking at the agricultural show in Malvern, in his first public appearance as the new environment secretary, Mr Gove said he was "in listening mode" as he talked to farmers about what Brexit meant for the industry.

    Quote Message

    My role is to make sure we come up with everything we can to support our rural economy and help farmers to grow, produce and sell more, but also make sure our environment is protected and enhanced."

    Michael Gove, Environment Secretary

  13. Police to get smartphones to log crime on the movepublished at 14:38 BST 16 June 2017

    Tracey Higgins
    BBC Local Live

    Police in West Mercia are to get smartphones, in addition to their new body-worn cameras.

    The roll-out's part of a £4m investment in technology across the force area.

    West Mercia Police officers

    Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion says it'll help give officers quicker access to intelligence and the ability to log crime while on the move.

  14. Worcestershire build towards Royal London Cup semi-finalpublished at 14:27 BST 16 June 2017

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Worcestershire County Cricket Club are building towards what will be the club's biggest game for several years on Saturday when they will take on Surrey in the Royal London Cup semi-final.

    Joe ClarkeImage source, Getty Images

    The winners of Saturday's match will take on either Essex or Nottinghamshire in the final at Lords on 1 July.

    There will be full commentary on Saturday's game on BBC Hereford and Worcester.

  15. Slideshow: Glad rags belonging to Marilyn, Jacko and Rihannapublished at 14:03 BST 16 June 2017

    Claudia Berry
    Producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    I've been to get a sneak preview of celebrity outfits belonging to Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Rihanna and other celebrities which are going on show at a museum.

    The free display at Worcester's Art Gallery and Museum opens on Friday evening.

    It also includes props and costumes from films including Titanic and Pirates of the Caribbean.

    Media caption,

    Celebrity outfits belonging to Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and Rihanna on show.

  16. Worcester Warriors player in courtpublished at 13:46 BST 16 June 2017

    The Worcester Warriors player Luke Baldwin is due to appear in court this morning charged with assault.

    Worcester Magistrates Court

    The 26-year-old denies the charges relating to an alleged incident at a pub in Worcester in September.

    The scrum half joined Warriors in 2015 from Bristol and is set to stand trial at Worcester Magistrates' Court this morning.

  17. Michael Gove arrives at Three Counties Showpublished at 13:26 BST 16 June 2017

    David Gregory-Kumar
    Science correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

    Michael Gove has arrived and is taking questions at the Royal Three Counties Show.

    Michael Gove at the Royal Three Counties Show

    He has said he is "in listening mode".

    This is Mr Gove's first public appearance as the new environment secretary.

  18. Skipper set for semi-final showdownpublished at 13:16 BST 16 June 2017

    Worcestershire captain Joe Leach hopes to lead club to first Lord's final since 2004.

    Read More
  19. Coming up on Midlands Today: Live from the Three Counties Showpublished at 13:02 BST 16 June 2017

    BBC Midlands Today

    Michael Gove has made his first appearance as the new environment minister at the Three Counties Show in Malvern.

    Michael Gove at The Royal Three Counties Show

    Mr Gove is there to talk to farmers about how the agricultural industry might change after Britain leaves the European Union.

    Our rural affairs correspondent David Gregory-Kumar will be live from the show from 13:30 on BBC One.

  20. Bromsgrove MP heads to Kensington over Grenfell tower block firepublished at 12:44 BST 16 June 2017

    Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid, the secretary of state for communities and local government, says the government "will do whatever it takes" to improve safety in tower blocks following the fire in west London which killed at least 17 people.

    Sajid Javid

    He told BBC Breakfast he wanted to reassure people living in similar tower blocks across the country, saying an emergency review would start straight away but would be informed by the fire investigation report into the tragedy.

    Mr Javid said he was going to the area today and wanted to make sure the council owning the tower block was suitably assisted during the fire's aftermath.