Armed police stormed an 80-year-old farmer's Worcestershire home at 3.30am, seizing £60,000 cash. The raid is part of a major investigation into illegal waste and money laundering. Read the full story.
Discover the eight best towns and villages to live in Worcestershire, from historic Malvern to vibrant Worcester. Find your perfect home in the heart of England.
Worcestershire County Council plans to introduce car park charges at beauty spots like Worcester Woods to bridge a £72m funding gap, sparking anger from residents and visitors. Read the full story.
Staffordshire County Council, led by Reform UK, proposes a 3.99% council tax rise for 2026/27, below the 4.99% cap. Plan includes £21.5m savings and £5.5m investment in children's services.
A controversial plan to pay senior Worcestershire council officers bonuses to stay ahead of a 2028 reorganisation remains undecided. Critics call the proposal 'divisive and hurtful'.
From a bitter bins strike to Labour resignations, Birmingham City Council faced a tumultuous 2025. Explore the key moments and the reasons for optimism as the city looks ahead to crucial local elections and major regeneration projects.
Plans for a major industrial estate near the M5 are submitted for Wychavon, a new 10,000-home town near Worcester promising a car-free lifestyle. Public consultation is now open.
Worcestershire County Council plans to introduce parking fees at popular country parks to help fill a £70 million budget shortfall. Find out which sites are affected and the local reaction.
Eligible households in Kent can now apply for £90 vouchers for supermarket and energy costs via the DWP's Household Support Fund. Support varies across UK councils.
Essex County Council invites residents to share views on the new Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-2029. Consultation focuses on jobs, housing, and community health. Have your say by February 3.
Down Lane in Frant will close to through traffic for up to 18 months for South East Water works from January 13, 2026. Access for residents maintained. Plan alternative routes.
Police have recovered a body from the River Avon in Pershore, Worcestershire. The death is not being treated as suspicious. The family has been informed.
Dudley Council proposes fee increases for services like pest control and cremation to add £2.5m to its budget. Key votes set for January and February 2026.
Explore Ombersley, a Worcestershire village with over 150 listed buildings. Just 40 minutes from Birmingham, it's a perfectly preserved historic escape. Discover its pubs, cafes, and Georgian grandeur.
Kent households can apply for a new £90 cost of living payment from Thursday. Check eligibility for energy or food vouchers from the Household Support Fund.
Dozens of schools across Staffordshire are closed on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, due to dangerous snow and ice. Check the full list of closures and the council's safety criteria here.
Police warn residents after two break-in attempts in Astwood Bank and Redditch. Intruders used force to break locks, targeting vehicles. Call 101 with information.
Explore Little Daydreams Role Play Café in Ombersley. Kids can drive a bus, visit a vet, and enjoy messy play while parents relax with coffee. Open now at The Farm Shop.
A new immersive role play village featuring a double decker bus has opened at a farm shop near Birmingham. Discover Little Daydreams, with its ice cream shed, vets, and sensory room.
Millions of UK households will get a two-month council tax break in 2026 ahead of new property bands. Find out if you're eligible and how the new high-value surcharge will work.
Eligible Surrey households can claim £300 e-vouchers for nine major supermarkets from January 1. Learn how to apply for this Government-funded cost-of-living support.
Police are urgently searching for Barry Forrester, 45, missing from Evesham. He has a hand injury requiring medical attention. Call 999 with information.
A man in his 50s has died after his blue Volvo hit a tree on Goosehill Lane. Police are appealing for witnesses to the tragic Friday morning collision.
Leicestershire County Council is providing weekly supermarket vouchers of up to £140 to families facing hardship. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply.
Mair Wilson, a Powys foster carer for 18 years, receives an MBE. She and her husband have cared for 13 long-term children. Discover how to become a foster carer in Powys.
Dr Tanya Moore, Essex County Council's Principal Social Worker for Adult Social Care, receives an MBE for services to UK social work. Discover her three-decade career impact.
A month-by-month look at the major political and community stories that shaped Birmingham in the first half of 2025, from the bin strike crisis to council bankruptcy fallout.
Birmingham City Council faces a critical year with ongoing strikes and financial fragility. Commissioners see progress but warn of major risks ahead. Read the full analysis.
Reform UK seized minority control of Worcestershire County Council in 2025, ending two decades of Conservative rule. Discover the key events, financial crises, and political defections that reshaped the Midlands.
A major police operation responded to reports of violent disorder involving weapons and damaged vehicles at a Stourport caravan site. Several arrests made. Read the latest.