Latest news with #Herefordshire
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Hereford County Hospital to get three nature-inspired murals
An artist is creating a series of nature-inspired murals to add colour to the outside of a Hylton rolled up his sleeves to commence spray painting three large art works on the walls of the MRU and Radiotherapy Unit at Hereford County new creations are said to celebrate Herefordshire's "natural beauty" and will feature apple blossoms, robins, kingfishers and woodpeckers. Work to create them began on for the murals was provided by donations to the Oncology Trust Fund, which supports enhancements that benefit patients and staff beyond essential service delivery needs. The post on the Wye Valley NHS Trust's Facebook page said passers-by wanting to watch the progress would be welcome to during the next couple of weeks. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Rare opportunity' to create two family homes at farmhouse for £725,000
A "rare" opportunity to purchase a Herefordshire farmhouse and barns for redevelopment has arisen. Agents Savills are marketing Little Corras Farm in South West Herefordshire, which lies between Kentchurch and Pontrilas. (Image: Savills) The unlisted, stone farmhouse, which is set within 1.65 acres, comes with flagstone floors, exposed timber beams and open fireplaces. There is a sitting room, dining room, kitchen and two further reception rooms to the ground floor, while upstairs has three good-sized bedrooms with open fireplaces and "impressive views", along with a fourth smaller bedroom and a shower room. There is also a cellar. (Image: Savills) Little Corras Barns is a collection of traditional barns with Class Q planning consent for conversion into a single residence. According to the plans, the house will offer around 3,971 sq. ft. of accommodation, plus garaging of around 484 sq. ft. The ground floor will comprise an entrance hall, open plan kitchen and dining room, sitting room, library, master bedroom with a dressing room and en suite, a further bedroom with an en suite, and a boot room leading to a two-car garage. A separate building provides space for a home office, gym or leisure facility. (Image: Savills) A spiral staircase leads to the first floor, which will be home to two further bedrooms, both with en suite facilities. Outside, there is an outdoor entertaining space in the middle of the courtyard, with stairs leading up to a terraced patio. To the rear of the house, there is "ample opportunity" to create an enclosed garden and parking area. Savills says that alternatively, the barns could provide stabling or equestrian facilities, conversion to a pool or gym, or could be used as a party barn. Read more: Bluetongue cases confirmed in Herefordshire cattle Farmer hits out at 'short-sighted' decision to close farming scheme The 'stunning' farmhouse up for sale for £1m with views of Black Mountains Grace Gardiner, who is marketing the property for Savills, said the sale represents a "rare opportunity" to create two family homes in the heart of rural Herefordshire. "Its elevated position affords the property incredible views, taking in the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons," she added. The property is being offered for sale as a whole or in two lots for a guide price of £725,000 as a whole or £495,000 for Lot 1 and £230,000 for Lot 2. For further information, please contact Grace Gardiner on 07816 184 103 or email
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Lucy Letby moans ‘I'm the fattest I've EVER been' after splurging prison job cash on junk food & chocolate, inmates say
SERIAL child killer Lucy Letby has moaned that she's getting too fat in prison after spending more than £50 on crisps and sweets. The former nurse devours junk food and Quality Street chocolates paid for by working three different prison jobs inside HMP Bronzefield. 2 Britain's most prolific child killer is serving 15 whole-life orders. The 35-year-old from Herefordshire was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others while working at the Countess of Chester in 2015 and 2016. One fellow inmate complained to the Mirror that Letby's behaviour is annoying other lags - and she cries to win sympathy from guards. They said that staff are scared of the nurse so "pander" to her and treat her like "a princess". The killer has jobs as a laundry worker, earning £8 a week, a kitchen worker - another £8 a week - and a library worker. A source told the Mirror: "She gets almost £20 a week, which in prison money is a lot. She buys loads, and loads of junk food. She's put on loads of weight, she's got quite fat, you wouldn't recognise her. It's all put on around her face. "She was moaning that she's the fattest she's ever been. She weighs 72 kilos [almost 11 stone 5oz] - she's not fat, but fat for her, you know as she was really, really skinny." It comes after The Sun reported Letby and the stepmother of murdered Sara Sharif have bonded in prison over family card game Uno. Letby and Beinash Batool — who is serving 33 years over ten-year-old Sara's death — spend hours playing the game in their cushy jail unit. The child killers — both inmates with 'enhanced' privileges at HMP Bronzefield, Surrey — also spend time in each other's cells and in the kitchen together. But their love of the Uno game, which sees players try to match cards and yell 'Uno' when they have just one left, has sparked fury among staff and lags. Our source said: 'It's a grim spectacle. They spend ages at the table playing and get really into it. 'People are angry, but staff have to do what they can to keep prisoners happy. 'Letby and Batool started sticking together and have now become quite friendly. 'They are both enhanced prisoners, so they get a lot of freedom and can buy decent food. And they are often in the kitchen, chatting and making cheese toasties. 'The difference between them is that Batool does not discuss her crime, while Letby tells anyone who will listen that she is innocent. 'They both have jobs, with Letby doing cleaning and Batool helping in the library. 'They are also monitored closely by staff as they are at risk of attack. But their lives will stay quite comfortable as long as they behave.' Letby, 35, and Batool, 31, are held on Unit 4 of 527-inmate Bronzefield, which is run by private firm Sodexo. They both have TVs with Freeview channels and a DVD player, along with books and films, which they can order from the library. Others on the unit include Sian Hedges, jailed for life in 2024 for killing 18-month-old son Alfie Phillips. Shamed prison officer Linda de Sousa Abreu, who romped with a lag, was also held there until her release last month. Letby — convicted of the murders of seven babies and attempted murders of seven more while a neonatal nurse — has regular legal meetings as she plans her appeal. Sara's dad, Urfan Sharif, is serving at least 40 years for murder after she was beaten to death at the couple's home in Woking, Surrey.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Vaccine scepticism affecting bluetongue jab uptake for sheep and cows
Vaccine scepticism and misinformation is affecting uptake of bluetongue jabs needed to protect farm animals, senior vets have shared with the BBC suggest fewer than 1% of Wales' eight million sheep have been vaccinated so far against the potentially fatal of livestock from England into Wales has been restricted in recent weeks, with new cases of the disease subsequently found near the border in fear the impact could be "catastrophic" should bluetongue take hold in Wales, where livestock farms dominate the agricultural landscape. Spread by midges, bluetongue presents no threat to food safety or human health, but can have serious consequences for ruminant livestock like sheep and and farming organisations are using this week's Royal Welsh Agricultural Show in Llanelwedd, Powys, to push for greater uptake of available show - one of Europe's biggest agricultural events - has banned sheep and cattle from England and Scotland this year, as part of efforts to try and keep the virus out of Wales for as long as government restrictions also limit the movement of sheep across the border without a negative test, while cattle must be fully vaccinated. The latest bluetongue outbreak began in the Netherlands in 2023, where tens of thousands of sheep have blown over from the continent began infecting livestock in the south east of England restrictions helped slow the virus' spread, but as of 1 July the whole of England was classed as a restricted zone for temperatures mean the midge population is now active and the first cases this year were confirmed on 11 July after pre-movement tests on two cattle in has since been revealed these animals were due to be sent on to Wales. "It's been seen as something that's a long way away - but now there's a real possibility that it could get into Wales," warned Phil Thomas, of the Wales Veterinary Science Centre (WVSC)."There's been a lot of misinformation, a lot of downplaying of the disease and I think post-Covid there's also a lot of vaccine scepticism out there," he fact the virus had arrived in less livestock dense parts of the UK to begin with had helped limit the spread, he monitoring of affected farms in the south east of England had revealed worrying implications should the disease reach the UK's sheep and cattle farming heartlands.A recent WVSC webinar for Welsh vets heard of farms in Norfolk experiencing long term fertility issues in herds and flocks which had been infected."There was a sheep farm where 30% of their animals were sick, around 5% died but surviving rams were infertile and the ewes were giving birth to deformed lambs," Mr Thomas example involved a suckler herd of 120 cows where fewer than 60 calves were born the year after infection."It's a big economic loss, and that's a lot of dead stock if it gets into the stock-dense areas that we have in Wales and the borders," he added. An industry wide social media campaign has been launched in recent weeks, with Welsh vets and farmers making an appeal for others to consider vaccinating their livestock."There's been real concern over lack of uptake of the vaccine," explained farm vet Sara Pedersen and member of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework were coming up against "quite a bit of misinformation" such as people saying "it's harmless and it won't reach Wales", she said."We really felt we needed to cut through that and make the most of the opportunity of keeping it out for as long as possible."When it comes it could have catastrophic effects," she warned. How many animals have been vaccinated? The latest figures shared with the BBC showed the vaccine had been prescribed by vets for 154,260 animals in Wales, including 103,970 cattle, 48,904 sheep, 200 camelids (llamas and alpacas) and 1,186 goats. Animal keepers themselves have reported vaccination of 79,694 animals, including 48,403 cattle, 30,898 sheep, and 393 others, including camelids and goats. At Llandovery livestock market in Carmarthenshire, none of the farmers BBC Wales spoke to had vaccinated their animals so far."I'm right down in west Wales so haven't thought of vaccinating yet," explained Alan Jones."But I am keeping an eye on it and reading the news all the time.""We're lucky that bluetongue hasn't affected this area yet," added Gruff Jones, who was worried about how much he would have to spend on vaccination."There are so many costs involved in farming now with fertiliser and feed and everything - add that on and there won't be any profit at all," he Page felt the Welsh government should offer to pay towards the costs of the jabs."There should be more help for farmers to vaccinate their sheep," he said. Jabs cost between £2.50 and £3 per sheep and between £5 and £6 for Roberts of the National Sheep Association (NSA) in Wales said the organisation was urging its members to consider vaccinating their flocks."Even if it ends up that there are not many outbreaks this year, you're still putting in protection for next year - it's well worth doing," she also called for research into whether the vaccines go further than alleviating symptoms in sheep and prevent viremia - circulation of the virus in the blood - to be might allow for the prospect of an easing of cross-border movement restrictions for vaccinated sheep."I'm hoping that information does come through sooner rather than later," she said, adding it would further incentivise uptake of the NSA is asking the Welsh government to set out a plan for how it intends to deal with the disruption to trade along the border as a result of the restrictions."It's coming into peak sales time now with breeding rams and ewes, we need an announcement soon," Ms Roberts said. Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the Welsh government was doing its "very best to hold the disease back", buying time for farmers to vaccinate their he warned "the wolf is at our door". He said he was being updated daily by officials and Wales' chief veterinary officer and the Welsh government would keep movement restrictions under review throughout the summer. "But I just want to say very frankly and honestly that every time we make an adjustment it increases cumulatively the risk of bluetongue incursion into Wales," he said.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
West Mercia Police to add 51 new officers
Neighbourhood policing teams across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire will see more than 50 new Mercia Police said there would be 29 new police constables, two sergeants and 20 police community support officers (PCSOs).Five of the constables would be dedicated rural crime officers, the force Constable Richard Cooper said the new officers would be posted where data and intelligence showed they were needed most. The approach would "help increase our presence in local communities and ensure we are tackling crime for the people we serve", he West Mercia's 2023/24 budget, 40 more officers were added, with 10 town centre policing teams launched in force said that from the end of September, there would be two local policing areas instead of the current five, but added there would be no change to dedicated officers, safer neighbourhood teams or how areas were policed."[It] amends our organisational structure to make sure there is consistency across the force area and better response times by not having arbitrary boundaries within the area we serve," the force said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
