BBC News Hereford & Worcester

A dull and wet start for most with outbreaks of rain which should clear by this afternoon leaving clear skies with some sunny spells. High: 11C/52F.

BBC Weather Watcher WolgarstonSciCopyright: BBC Weather Watcher WolgarstonSci

The evening and night should stay dry with clear skies. Turning chilly with a low of 0C/32F.

You can keep up-to-date on the weather for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.

Police are searching for a man who attempted to rob a shop in Bromyard with a knife last night.

This CCTV image has been released by West Mercia Police, who said the man walked into the Premier store on High Street at 19:40 and demanded cash from the till.

West Mercia PoliceCopyright: West Mercia Police

No-one was hurt and the man left without any money.

Pupils at a primary school in Worcestershire are being joined by two new classmates.

A pair of curious robins have made the most of open windows at Astley Primary School, near Stourport, and regularly drop in on lessons.

Astley C.E. Primary SchoolCopyright: Astley C.E. Primary School

Headteacher Alison Reakes-Williams said they fly in when the children are out playing and first made an appearance in September.

The birds have been gradually getting braver and now appear to know their way around all the classrooms. They have been so friendly one allowed itself to be picked up.

She is planning to introduce some robin-themed crafts for Christmas and said the children "were really surprised at first, but they've really appreciated seeing these beautiful little birds up close."

Astley C.E. Primary SchoolCopyright: Astley C.E. Primary School

Have you been visited by curious birds during lockdown? Post your pictures on Twitter or email:newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

It will by a dull and cloudy day with the possibility of brighter spots later and highs of 12°C (54°F).

Plans to redevelop an area of Worcester have been described as "grossly out of scale with the surrounding area" by a group objecting to the plans.

The Victorian SocietyCopyright: The Victorian Society

The Lowesmoor Wharf project aims to create a "vibrant new waterside" destination, say developers, and will include the demolition of several buildings including Vesta Tilley House.

A former music hall, it has strong links to Worcester-born Ms Tilley, who was known for being a male impersonator.

The redevelopment plans have prompted a number of objections including from the Victorian Society which is in the process of submitting listing applications "to help ensure their survival".

The group's director, Joe O’Donnell, said: "The sensitive redevelopment of Lowesmoor canal basin could preserve and enhance the conservation area’s character. However, the current proposals are as far away from sensitive as it is possible to get."

Britain's biggest traditional auction of mistletoe, held every Christmas at Tenbury Wells, has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The town sits alongside the River Teme where Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire meet - and experts say it provides some of the best growing conditions for mistletoe.

It's the first time in 160 years that the event hasn't gone ahead.

Auctioneer Nick Champion says there will be a lot of "disappointed customers".

"I am sad, I've been doing it since 1977 so it's a long time, and there's a lot of characters come to the auction and it is missed."

It will be a dry day with some bright spells and highs of 10C (50F).

A Conservative councillor and former mayor has voluntarily left the party after being criticised for comments he made about Rolf Harris.

During a poll about Christmas songs online, the former Evesham mayor Mark Goodge defended the inclusion of the Australian's song Two Little Boys and argued the singer wasn't a convicted paedophile.

When contacted by BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester, Mr Goodge said he should not have made the comments and he did not mean to defend Mr Harris's actions.

He has voluntarily stepped down from the party while an investigation takes place.

The Conservative leader of Wychavon District Council Bradley Thomas said Mr Goodge's comments were poorly judged and would be considered offensive and inappropriate.

Harris was jailed for five years in 2014 for several counts of indecent assault, relating to four girls between 1968 and 1986, but released on licence in 2017.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape after a woman was attacked in Hereford.

The victim, in her 20s, had been approached by a man in the St James' Road area on Thursday afternoon, West Mercia Police said.

She was attacked and sexually assaulted.

Officers said a 32-year-old man, from Hereford, has been arrested and remains in custody.

Emergency funding for sports in England will be "really, really wanted" according to a netball coach in Worcester.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The government has announced the rescue package of £300m in England for sports impacted by the absence of spectators because of coronavirus.

Netball is being given £4m from the total split between England Netball and the Superleague.

Severn Stars Netball team, based in Worcester, are part of the Superleague and head coach Melissa Bessell said the funding was very welcome.

"For us it is going to be really important to get that money back into the clubs and the real grassroots for netball," she said.

A school has been told to pay £187,000 in legal costs after unsuccessfully trying to stop another school opening a rival sixth form.

GoogleCopyright: Google

John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, had challenged a Department of Education decision to allow the move by Dene Magna in Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire.

But a High Court judge ruled in the government's favour and left John Kyrle with the legal bill.

The school said the legal challenge was worthwhile to protect the school and jobs for the future.

But Paul Deneen, from the National Education Union, said the school had let down parents and pupils.

"I think it is unacceptable that funding which was supposed to be available for the teaching of children should have been used for legal fees. It is absolutely ridiculous," he said.