Elliot Ball

Herefordshire health campaigner Ashleigh Harley has challenged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to a rock battle as part of an event raising awareness of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Harley, who was diagnosed in 2020 after years of debilitating symptoms and private healthcare, will perform “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini” outside Downing Street with singer Brian Hyland. She says delayed diagnosis and limited NHS access to treatment severely affected her childhood and contributed to the progression of her condition. Hyland has expressed support for the campaign, while the Department of Health was asked to respond.

Worcester Cathedral will hold its annual animal blessing service, welcoming creatures ranging from llamas and lizards to spiders and working dogs. Canon Kimberly Bohan said the service supports people concerned about aging or ill animals and recognizes the contribution of police, search-and-rescue and other service animals. Smaller animals will have a designated area, and attendees have been asked to bring only animals likely to behave well around others. The event follows previous services that attracted unusual participants, including Pablo the singing goat in 2022.

Burlish Meadows near Stourport-on-Severn has been listed as an Asset of Community Value after Wyre Forest District Council agreed in principle to sell part of the country park to Kidderminster Harriers Football Club. The listing gives the community up to six months to organize a bid and secure financing before a sale can proceed. Campaigners cite more than 3,000 petition signatures and about 1,000 written objections, while Worcestershire Wildlife Trust says any successful community purchase should protect and enhance the site's habitats. The council stresses that the listing does not prevent future disposal or development decisions, which would remain subject to legal and planning processes.

Accountant Chloe Cartwright is launching free Lift The Weight exercise sessions at Valhalla Gym in Redditch for women who have experienced domestic abuse. The 45-minute low-impact classes, including Reformer Pilates, will be followed by group discussions on topics such as body positivity and mental wellbeing. Designed with privacy measures and support from gym trainers, the programme aims to rebuild participants’ confidence, create a supportive community and eventually help them feel comfortable exercising independently.

Herefordshire Council is reducing new pavement licence fees from £500 to £150 and renewal fees from £350 to £105. Samantha Morgan of Drapers Lane Deli in Leominster welcomed the change, saying outdoor seating encourages visitors to spend more time in the town and visit other shops. The council hopes the lower costs will help cafés, restaurants, pubs and other hospitality businesses create more vibrant high streets.

Visitors described fearing for their lives when two fighting rhinos charged vehicles at West Midlands Safari Park on 9 August. Zoe Farmer said her car was struck while her four-year-old grandson was nearby, and criticized the park for failing to provide immediate guidance and focusing on liability. Charlotte Baker said the incident left her family distressed and that her husband required hospital treatment the following day. The park said three vehicles were affected, keepers responded immediately, guests were checked and offered assistance, and the rhinos were monitored after settling. It reminded visitors that the safari drive is an environment where animals roam freely.

A major repair operation is underway on the railway between Stourbridge Junction and Hagley after a fire damaged signalling, phone lines and lineside fencing. Network Rail aims to reopen the line on 22 August, though it warned that the extent of the damage could delay the work. The fire destroyed 19 properties, damaged 18 homes and affected about 40 acres, according to emergency services.

Veterinary nurse Abbie Harvey helped rescue eight horses from a fast-moving fire in Stourbridge after seeing Norton Road engulfed in flames. She and other workers evacuated the animals just minutes before the field was scorched, while local residents supplied water and assistance. Harvey later received medical attention for breathing difficulties, chest crackles and bruising but was cleared after tests. The fire destroyed 19 homes and damaged 18 others.

Worcester Cathedral has begun work to repair and rebuild its vulnerable north-west pinnacles, five years after Storm Arwen caused one of the cathedral's north-east pinnacles to collapse. Scaffolding is expected to remain in place until early January 2027. The project follows an investigation that identified further structural risks and is supported by a £249,956 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The westbound M50 near Ledbury reopened shortly before 18:30 after a large field fire sent smoke across the motorway and caused its closure between the M5 junction and the Ledbury junction. A separate fire near Ripple prompted the deployment of six fire engines. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fires remained unknown.

Nineteen-year-old Musa Rafiq was banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work after being convicted of dangerous driving for travelling at 98mph in a 30mph zone near Leigh & Bransford Primary School in Leigh Sinton. He was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge. West Mercia Police said the case should warn other reckless drivers, while local councillor Chris McSweeney said he would have preferred a longer ban and highlighted wider road-safety concerns in the area.

A baggage-system failure at Birmingham Airport left Gavin Sparks’s family without suitcases and essential medication for more than three days after they flew to Dalaman, Turkey. Sparks’s wife struggled to manage a gastrointestinal condition and Sparks had difficulty accessing medication for type 2 diabetes. The family criticised the lack of instructions after arrival, while Birmingham Airport apologised and said contingency plans were reuniting passengers with their bags. The disruption cost the family nearly a quarter of its holiday and caused additional expenses for affected travellers.

Martin Cowley, 70, of Pershore, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court to 11 years and nine months in prison after being convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault against a girl under 16 during the 1990s. He must sign the sex offenders register for life, is barred from contacting under-18s under a sexual harm prevention order, and received a 15-year restraining order preventing contact with the victim.

A community archaeology project in Dorstone, Herefordshire, funded by £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is investigating nine sites across the village to reconstruct its history. Excavations have uncovered artefacts ranging from prehistoric flint to Victorian and Georgian material. Archaeologists say the settlement has around 6,000 years of habitation and may provide new insight into how early communities formed in Britain.

The Courtyard in Hereford has launched The Amp, a temporary 1,400-capacity arena in its car park, to host major acts including James Morrison, Blue, Russell Howard and Al Murray. CEO Ian Archer said Herefordshire residents deserve access to larger performances and that the venue could help the 400-seat theatre remain financially viable. More than 16,000 tickets have been sold, and the arena will be dismantled on 31 August while plans are developed for a permanent location in Hereford next year.

Droitwich Spa Lido attracted more than 6,000 additional visitors in July compared with the previous year, making it the busiest July since reopening in 2007. Its success contrasts with the decline of UK public outdoor pools from more than 300 to about 125. Campaigner Deborah Aydon attributes the closures primarily to reduced public funding and policy changes, while manager Seb Parker credits year-round opening, cold-water swimming, community support and a planned £12.5m refurbishment. Growing interest in outdoor swimming may herald a new revival of lidos.

Milo, a horse who began losing his sight at age 12, will compete with his owner Megan Share in the veteran dressage category at the Royal International Horse Show in Hickstead, West Sussex. Despite initial veterinary advice that he should not be ridden, Share gradually resumed training and competition after a year and a half. The pair qualified on their first attempt at the Wiltshire Horse Show, exceeding expectations by winning their category and becoming champions.

A Worcestershire farm has planted 30 hectares of hemp, drawing local attention due to the crop’s resemblance to cannabis. Farm manager Jake Freestone says the licensed crop is grown for fibre, not drugs, and helps build resilience against climate change due to its heat and drought tolerance. The hemp adds carbon to the soil, requires little fertiliser and no pesticides, and offers environmental benefits while potentially improving the farm’s economic outlook.

Three businesses under investigation for illegal waste activity forfeited over £275,000 as West Mercia Police identified additional offences across three counties. Two men were previously arrested in Worcestershire, where firearms, cash and suspected stolen goods were recovered. Further items linked to money laundering were found at a separate site. The Environment Agency stated it has taken enforcement action as criminal inquiries continue.

Severn Valley Railway has invested thousands of pounds in sprinklers and spark‑reduction devices to lower wildfire risk along its heritage line after a wildfire was linked to a steam train elsewhere in the country. Despite a nationwide steam‑train ban by Network Rail, the railway continues operating under its own risk system, currently at red level, with operations suspended if conditions rise to red‑red. Temperature and rainfall determine risk status, with extreme heat recently triggering a full halt to steam services for staff and passenger safety.

A Herefordshire wildlife rescue centre and the charity Born Free argue that the UK’s 50‑year‑old Dangerous Wild Animals Act is outdated and fails to protect exotic animals kept as pets. Rescue owner Lindsay McKenna criticises insufficient enclosure standards and a lack of legislative updates, while broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher urges a formal review through public petitions. Government officials say licensing is tightly controlled. Charity data shows more than 2,200 active licences for dangerous wildlife across the UK, with significant numbers of primates, wild cats and venomous snakes still kept in private homes.

A Herefordshire businessman received a suspended eight‑month prison sentence for illegally dumping chemically treated human waste from his portable toilet hire company. Investigators traced waste discharged along the A449 to an unlicensed cesspit at his premises, with DNA testing confirming its origin. He admitted multiple waste‑related offences and was ordered to complete unpaid work and pay full prosecution costs. Local authorities emphasised the environmental and public‑health risks of fly‑tipping and highlighted the multi‑year investigation that led to enforcement action.

A long-running charity football match between Tesco and Morrisons staff in Evesham continues to honour Gill Payne, who died of breast cancer 29 years ago. Organized since 1998 by her son Mark Payne, the annual event has raised over £35,000 for St Richard's Hospice. The friendly supermarket rivalry returns at Evesham United’s Jubilee Stadium, with all proceeds supporting the hospice’s care for people with serious illnesses.

Sexist comments in response to West Mercia Police’s Jog On initiative prompted concern from running ambassador Lillian Istance, who said the reactions reflect a wider culture of disrespect toward women. The scheme uses plain-clothed officers to identify street harassment, and police highlighted that many online responses were dismissive or offensive. Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion condemned the misogynistic remarks and stressed the importance of countering behaviours that make women feel unsafe in public spaces.

A 78-year-old man with stage four cancer plans to join Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 cycling challenge after initially struggling to cope with his terminal diagnosis. Inspired by Hoy’s message about living fully despite illness, he will ride from the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome to raise money for several cancer charities, with his own fundraising directed toward a new Maggie’s support centre in Coventry. He credits Maggie’s with helping him manage the emotional impact of treatment and the realities of end‑of‑life planning.

Siblings Ria and Luke Simons have raised more than £270,000 for St Richard's Hospice through Woo Fest, a family music festival they founded in memory of their father. The event, twice named the UK's Best Small Festival, has become the charity’s largest individual fundraising effort. Hospice representative Abby Holliday credited the pair for transforming personal loss into substantial support for community hospice services.

A bin lorry fire in Wychavon prompted local officials to warn residents against disposing of hot ashes, warm disposable barbecues, and hazardous items such as batteries, vapes and gas cylinders in household bins due to fire risks. Councillor Emma Stokes urged the public to use proper disposal routes to protect collection crews and recycling facility staff. Guidance was issued outlining correct handling procedures for batteries, electrical items, vapes, disposable barbecues and gas cylinders.

Residents in Wychavon were warned not to dispose of hot ashes, warm disposable barbecues, batteries, vapes or gas cylinders in household bins after a bin lorry fire forced crews to dump waste to tackle the flames. Councillor Emma Stokes urged correct recycling and disposal methods to protect staff, vehicles and facilities, with detailed guidance provided for handling batteries, electrical items, vapes, barbecues and gas canisters.

A care home manager convicted of stealing £22,500 from a dementia patient has told staff she will return to work, prompting shock and concern among employees and local MP Harriet Baldwin. Ann Comer received a suspended prison sentence after investigators found she used a resident’s bank card for personal spending, including cash withdrawals and a trip to Dubai. Staff at Springfield House in Malvern expressed disbelief that she was being allowed to resume her role. Worcestershire County Council and the Care Quality Commission are reviewing safeguards at the home following the court case.

A man in Hereford narrowly avoided being hit by a dead eel that appeared to fall from a tree near the River Wye, likely dropped by a bird such as a cormorant. He described hearing a commotion in the branches before the eel landed beside him in a damaged state. The incident left him startled, and he speculated about possible folklore meanings associated with eels.

A former manager of Springfield House care home in Malvern received a suspended one‑year prison sentence after being convicted of stealing £22,500 from a resident with dementia. Police found she had used the victim’s bank card for regular cash withdrawals, including funds used for a trip to Dubai. An investigation by West Mercia Police linked the withdrawals to her spending, leading to six fraud convictions. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is scheduled.

A damaged food shipment prevented Lara Vafiadis and her crew from beginning their planned 5,500‑mile Indian Ocean rowing attempt from Australia to Kenya. Australia’s biosecurity rules led customs to seize the shipment, delaying departure until a replacement can be secured. The loss created major financial strain, prompting a public appeal that drew donations and new sponsors, and the team plans to depart once new supplies arrive.

Police are seeking information after an overturned VW Golf was found abandoned on London Road in Worcester. The occupants had fled before officers arrived but have since been identified, with inquiries ongoing to determine who was driving. No serious injuries were reported, and authorities are appealing for witnesses or anyone who saw the vehicle prior to the crash.