Hereford Voice

The new restaurant in the former 'Ask Italian' unit in Broad Street Hereford is due to open next week. Dirty pizzas | Retro cocktails | Chilled vibes They are just adding the finishing touches to their new and exciting restaurant in Broad Street Hereford before their grand opening next week! (take-away only at the moment) Check out their Facebook page with a chance to win a delicious free bumper meal in their opening 'Giveaway' We would like to wish them the best of luck and welcome this new foodie to Hereford's city centre.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service were called to a serious agricultural building fire in Kings Pyon, near Hereford at around 13:03 on Monday, 18 January 2021. The fire was in a large agricultural building – two barns approximately 120m by 120m containing 500 tonnes of straw. Livestock in the barns were all evacuated. photographs courtesy of HWFRS In total 12 appliances were involved in fighting the fire with crews coming in from Kingsland, Hereford, Eardisley, Leominster, Kington, Wyre Forest, Tenbury Wells, Fownhope, Ledbury and Malvern. The fire was fought using four hosereel jets and two main jets supplemented by a water carrier and a dam. There were no casualties. Crews from Worcester and Tenbury Wells were still in attendance on site on Tuesday morning maintaining a watching brief, before this was scaled back to one crew from Eardisley. “At 13:00 on 18/1/2021, HWFRS attended a fire involving approximately 500 tonnes of straw within two large barns large barns at Kings Pyon,” said Station Commander Deb Davies, North Herefordshire Cluster. “Throughout the afternoon and overnight, crews from multiple stations worked alongside the owners to contain the fire and prevent fire spread to numerous adjacent barns. All farm stock was safely moved to adjoining fields by onsite staff before our arrival. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service continue to have a crew on site and are working with the owner to bring the incident to a close.

19.10 Update: Water Carrier and a Pump from Leominster attended a barn fire this afternoon, near King's Pyon. Along with crews from Kingsland, Hereford, Eardisley, Kington, Ledbury and Malvern Fire Stations. Crews will remain at the incident through the night.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews have be called to a fire which has engulfed a barn at Kings Pyon in Herefordshire. The heat from the core of the fire is an incredible 650c as you can see from the heat gun.

Emergency services attended the scene yesterday morning between Croft Castle and Lucton involving two vehicles. Two people were treated for minors injuries at the roadside however, one motorist was taken to hospital and later released.

West Mercia Police Statement:

A respiratory consultant at Hereford County Hospital has spoken of her personal battle against COVID-19 and how she’s happy to be “first in the queue” to get vaccinated. Ingrid Du Rand, who has been on the frontline of treating COVID-19 patients this year, began her own very personal battle with the virus during November when she started to feel unwell. A fit forty-something and keen runner, Ingrid’s first inclination that something wasn’t quite right was when she slowed up on one of her regular runs. “I felt more tired than usual. This was unusual for me. A couple of days later I lost my sense of taste and smell,” said Ingrid. For the best part of a month, the mother of three suffered from severe head and muscle aches and had a temperature of just over 39C for three of the weeks with a cough and breathlessness. Ingrid’s breathing became laboured and she spent most of the time in bed losing a lot of strength. “I still feel weak now and I’ve lost a stone in weight,” she added. “COVID-19 is a random disease. You don’t expect it to attack someone in their forties who is fit, but it completely bowled me off my feet.” WVT Respiratory Consultant Ingrid Du Rand Ingrid, who works at Hereford County Hospital with her husband - also a consultant at the hospital - understands the seriousness of the disease. She sat down with her husband in the spring this year, during the first phase of the pandemic, and they made sure their wills were up to date and plans in place for the future care of their children should the unthinkable happen. “I’d looked after countless Coronavirus patients at the hospital, but this shows that it can infect someone in a low risk category. Nothing could have prepared me for what I went through.” Ingrid began her return to work in the last couple of weeks. In her capacity as a respiratory consultant she receives constant updates from around the world on the COVID-19 outbreak, treatment for the virus and the various vaccines and their trials. “I receive dozens of emails a day relating to the outbreak and have scrutinised the papers and test results of the current vaccines that are being made available. “I’m convinced that they are safe and I’d be happy to be at the front of the queue with the vaccines now going out to staff at the Trust. “Of course, there is always a longer term risk with any vaccine, but the risk associated with not having the vaccine and contracting COVID-19 is so much higher.” Ingrid explains the way news about the vaccines broke through the media created opportunities for some of the “fake news” about the safety of the vaccines. “Normally a scientific paper is published first in a peer reviewed journal, and then the next day you get the coverage and interviews in the media. “With these vaccines, it seems the story came out in the media – and on social media – first, with the science behind them coming out afterwards. “This hasn’t helped, but from all the research I’ve seen and investigated – I’ve watched the vaccines pass through the various phases of testing - I have concluded that these vaccines are safe. “This is our generation. It’s our war and we must trust the science.” While Ingrid is back at work, the experience of suffering the virus has given her a new insight into the challenges those with COVID-19 face. “I was humbled by the support I received from friends and colleagues at the hospital. It was amazing to see meals dropped off at the garden gate for my family. “We really detached ourselves from everyone while I was ill and it was reassuring to know we had good friends and colleagues who supported us as a family and I’d like to thank them for the support they have given us.” In conclusion, Ingrid said she was optimistic about the future. “The vaccines which have been developed so quickly are effective and safe. They come as hope after a long and arduous year and are a real positive note on which to start 2021.”

The Government is considering tough new measures over fears that people are not complying with the current rules. Members of the Sage scientific advisory panel are said to have called for a change to social distancing rules in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19.

West Mercia Police are appealing for information and releasing a CCTV image following a theft inside a Hereford store. On Friday 11 December at around 10.30am, a woman had been in the store on Whitecross Road when it is understood that she left her wallet on the counter before leaving. At around the same time it is believed another woman put a newspaper on top of the wallet and then took both the paper and wallet. She then left the shop. We are appealing to anyone who may recognise the woman pictured in the CCTV image to get in touch with us as she may be able to help with our enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to report it online here or call West Mercia Police on 101 quoting crime reference 22/105107/20. Alternatively, information can be given to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

If you're living in the Belmont area and are wondering what the huge crane is being used for this morning, it is for the new installation of a 16 metre phase 8 pole with wrap around cabinet built around the base with new equipment cabinets and ancillary development for EE and HG3 on the land adjacent to Tesco Belmont.

Michael Adam sent us this photograph this evening showing a different perspective of the Monument roundabout in Hereford at night.

Harry Glyn Prosser pleaded guilty to allowing livestock to suffer and for failing to dispose of large amounts of deadstock A farmer from Dulas near Ewyas Harold has been banned from keeping livestock for ten years, in a case taken to Hereford Magistrates’ Court by Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service. Harry Glyn Prosser (69) of Great Bilboa Farm Dulas pleaded guilty to six charges in total and was disqualified from keeping all animals (except his dog) for ten years after allowing livestock to suffer, failing to provide a suitable environment and for failing to correctly store and dispose of a large number of animal carcasses. Mr Prosser was sentenced in September at Hereford Magistrates’ Court and received a 10 year disqualification order from keeping animals, a fine of £1800 with a victim surcharge of £180 and ordered to pay costs of £3200. David Hough, Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service Manager, said: Officers first attended Great Bilboa farm in 2019 and were shocked to find a large amount of dead cattle and sheep on the farm with many just being left where they had fallen. The live sheep and cattle had access to all of the farm including the dead stock and other numerous hazards such as chemicals, broken machinery and a lack of fresh drinking water. One calf was left in a small enclosure on its own with no water. The only other animals the calf could see were a pile of dead sheep. It took several visits by Animal welfare officers to get Mr Prosser to remove the deadstock. At no time did Mr Prosser try to remove any hazards to the livestock on the farm or prevent the animals accessing the hazards. On further visits over the winter and early 2020 more livestock died and had not been disposed of. David Hough added:

Crews from Leominster Fire Station along with Kingsland fire station attended a large wood chipping machine on fire this afternoon. When crews arrived, they were faced with a well developed fire in the motor area of the wood chipper. Both crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire using 2 fire fighters in breathing aparatus, and also a covering jet to protect the adjacent building which was holding a large quantity of dried wood chip. #herefordvoice #herefordnews #herefordshire

A Herefordshire village are to receive funding from the PCC to help them tackle the issue of speeding. Lyonshall Parish Council highlighted their concerns about speeding through their village in a recent online engagement event hosted by Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion and, after speaking with him directly, the council applied to his dedicated road safety fund. Consequently, the council will receive £2,675 from the fund for a new speed indicator device that will operate in the village of Lyonshall, with the area identified by the local council as a speeding hotspot. The new device will provide a visible speed deterrent to motorists, as well as providing greater reassurance and an increased feeling of safety to residents.Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: Local councillor Rod Bevan said: #herefordnews

Herefordshire Council teams have gritted all Priority routes overnight with temperatures as low as -7 in Herefordshire. Allow extra travel time. Full Details here #herefordvoice #herefordnews #hereford

Police have now identified the woman who fell from the bridge on to the M5 earlier this evening (6 January). Thank you for sharing our appeal.

Gloucestershire Constabulary appeal for the public's help to identify woman who fell from bridge on the M5. Officers were called after a woman fell from a bridge on to the M5 southbound between Junctions 11A and 12 this evening (Wednesday 6 January) around 4.55pm. The woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Her death is believed to be non-suspicious. Currently officers are unable to identify this person and are asking any members of the public to come forward if they know anyone who has gone missing matching the description. The woman is white, believed to be approximately 60 to 70-years-old, shoulder length mousey-brown hair, a skin tag on her right cheek and above her right eye and has no tattoos or jewellery. She was wearing a dress, a stone coloured cardigan, pink slip on shoes and an orange check coat. Anyone who believes they can identify this woman is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 336 of 6 January.

First call last night in new lockdown measures for crews at Peterchurch Fire Station. They were called out to property whereby a two year old had managed to get a metal biscuit tin well and truly lodged on their head. Tin snips and pliers were used to cut it free and child was checked over by West Midlands Ambulance Service. #herefordnews

Latest advice from the Government on the national lockdown announced this evening http://orlo.uk/jDCep

The public are being asked to follow the new rules, which replace the current tiers system, from this evening and with people instructed to "stay at home" as they did during March's first lockdown. All schools will close with immediate effect. It comes as the UK recorded 58,784 new cases of the virus – the country’s highest daily increase to date, and the seventh day in a row it has registered more than 50,000 new infections.

The driver of the Volkswagen that was involved in a collision with a Monmouthshire Council gritting lorry over the weekend has written to us saying he cannot believe he is still alive! Billy Gurney was travelling near Grosmont when the accident happened. He wrote Billy later explained to us today what had happened.. In an exclusive interview with Hereford Voice today the driver of the Volkswagen which was involved in a collision with a Monmouthshire Council gritter lorry over the weekend said William (Billy) Gurney explained to us today what had happened.. He was travelling home and got stuck going up the hill, his car started sliding all over the place so he stopped with his hazards on, he looked up and saw a large HGV vehicle coming toward him with amber flashing lights, clearly the driver of the HGV hadn't seen him initially and Billy said that he feared for his life, he said Once he had got the lorry drivers attention it was too late, the driver tried breaking but just slid towards him. The gritter lorry driver tried to put the lorry into the hedge in an attempt to avoid a collision but it was too late and the lorry overturned and landed on my bonnet he said. Billy thought this was it and he was about to be seriously injured or even lose his life, he blacked out for a few seconds and was relieved to have survived the ordeal and walk away unharmed. Thankfully there was no casualties and both drivers survived. Our original article can be found here https://hfd.news/k1b

Well it was a late night last night, on a day where our story about a little Wallaby in Hereford reached over 134,000 people with more than 41,000 engagements, 1,200 Likes, over 800 comments and was shared no less than 922 times and those numbers are still increasing, unbelievable!

Incredible Stats of our Facebook page with our story today about our little Wallaby friend has reached almost 60,000 people in less than 2 hours! WOW! We rarely publish statistics but just wanted to highlight the reach of social media with warm charming articles like this. We all love a great story and this one was no exception. There is something delightful and contagious about being 'positive' and having lovely stories to write about. Our fabulous city of Hereford often surprises us with some great news subjects like this one. This story has captivated so many people today, we have reached almost 60,000 people in less than 2 hours with virtually 26,000 engagements and over 900 likes, 600 comments and nearly 700 people have shared our story. There is a lot of sadness and uncertainty in the World at the moment but we're loving this window of 'Positive Hereford' today. Have a great day folks and keep those stories and photographs of this fabulous city of ours coming our way. #herefordvoice #positivehereford #hereford

A Wallaby was spotted hoping around during the snowfall last night in Breinton Hereford. Our friend and local resident Crispin Abel got in touch and said he could not believe his eyes and wrote on his Facebook page; Hereford is a fabulous City and always full of surprises! And there is nothing better than a happy and positive story to start the day..