Hereford Voice

Fraudsters target residents across Warwickshire and West Mercia Officers from Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police have received eight reports of attempted frauds, which have targeted residents across three counties. Working in conjunction with Action Fraud - the UK's national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre - we are now investigating reports of two incidents in Warwickshire, five in Herefordshire, and one in Shropshire. All were reported to us on 25 January. In one incident in Rugby, a woman received a phone call from a man claiming to be a police officer from 'the serious fraud office in Westminster'. The caller asked the woman to provide her bank details and to withdraw £5,000 from an ATM. The woman refused. In an incident in Wrexham, Shropshire, a woman received a phone call from a man claiming to be a police officer at Hammersmith Police Station in London. He said that two people had been arrested using bank cards with her details on, and he needed her home address to continue his policing work. When the woman refused, the caller threatened to have her arrested for perverting the course of justice. The woman did not reveal her personal or financial details. In five of the incidents, people were phoned by someone pretending to be from HM Revenue and Customs. The caller then stated that the people owed money, which could be paid in some sort of voucher (these turned out to be music or games vouchers). In three of these incidents the caller said that a courier would visit to collect the vouchers. Detective Sergeant Paul Bent from the Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police Economic Crime Unit said: Trust your instincts: if a phone call, text or email seems dodgy it probably is. To report fraud or a suspicious incident like the ones above, phone Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk. For more advice on how to spot fraud, visit the Take Five website takefive-stopfraud.org.uk. Take Five is a national campaign that offers straightforward advice on avoiding preventable financial fraud. It's led by Financial Fraud Action UK (part of UK Finance) and backed by the UK government.

Plans have been submitted for proposed hair salon (A1 use) that will occupy 30% of the building withan education and training centre (D3 use) for students of hairdressing to take up the remainder of the premises in the former Möben shop in Commercial Street Hereford. Planning application P174605/F Hopefully if these plans are passed it will encourage other businesses back to this forgotten area of our city. The only negative here is that the rates are higher than the rent!

The mighty Wye peaking now at Bredwardine. Several roads affected in area. Take care if travelling and obey Road closed signs. A lot of fast flowing water on A438 Leyton Herefordshire Road 'closed signs' in place but many motorists are ignoring. Lugg east of Hereford very high. Just spilling onto floodplain now Flood defences doing what they're designed for and keeping the city dry. Remarkable experience walking alongside - water waist height on wet side! Photographs courtesy of Dave Throup - Environment Agency

Peterstow Village Stores (Near Ross on Wye) Plans have been submitted for the proposed demolition of existing shop premises with post office and provision of new shop, post office with accommodation over. New driveway road with two semi detached affordable houses and two detached houses. Planning Application P174522/F

New Volunteer Pub for Marden plans approved. Plans have been approved for the demolition and clearance of the existing public house ('The Volunteer Inn') and erection of new family public house with rooms to include 8 bedrooms. Customer car park and relocated vehicular and pedestrian access. Planning Application P163159/F

The river Wye in Hereford is very high with flooding already along the river path with no access to the Old Bridge. This photograph was taken at 0800 this morning. The river is expected to peak this evening.

Darren Gibbons is leading the 12 in 12 challenge for St Michael's A growing band of Hospice supporters are gearing up for a busy year after agreeing to complete 12 runs in as many months. The ‘Runathon 12 in 12’ challenge is being led by Darren Gibbons who will attempt a world record at one of the events when he aims to complete the Swansea Half Marathon in record time while blindfolded. He hopes the ‘12 in 12’ idea will raise around £5,000 for St Michael’s Hospice. Darren knows all about the work of St Michael’s as his mother-in-law sadly died at the Hospice a few years ago. ‘I’m really looking forward to the Runathon 12 in 12,’ he said. ‘It’s great that so many people are on board, and I’m grateful and proud of them all. ‘Hopefully it will be a year to remember, and one which sees us raise around £5,000 for St Michael’s Hospice.’ So far, 15 fundraisers have signed up for the 12 in 12 challenge. Those taking part can choose whichever events they would like to complete, but they are all planning to enter the Hospice-led RUN Hereford in May, which features a Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K. The team have signed up to a variety of runs including 10k’s, Half Marathons and Marathons, with Darren’s world record attempt taking place in June. To sponsor the 12 in 12 team, visit https://www.justgiving.com/companyteams/Runathon12in12 To join the 12 in 12 Team, visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/12in12runathon

Photographs courtesy of OPU Hereford

Multi emergency services called out to reports of a vehicle in river Dore next to B4347 near Pontrilas. Emergency crews from West Mercia Police, firefighters from Ewyas Harold, Hereford, Ross, and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene. No persons were found in the vehicle. The driver was later located at home safe and well by West Mercia Police and it turns out that the driver had not reported the accident, which had happened overnight...

POP stars Peter Andre and Midge will be performing at an all day concert at Hereford FC's Edgar Street ground this May! The line up for the Hereford FC Live concert that will take place at Edgar Street on 12th May has been confirmed! Peter Andre Midge Ure Five The Real Thing N-Trance Cheeky Girls American Four Tops The concert will kick off at midday and run until 11pm. General admission adult tickets are £35 plus booking fee 10years and under – £10 plus booking fee Children 2 years and under go free of charge Peter Andre: Peter Andre is an English-born Australian singer, songwriter. He gained popularity as a singer, best known for his successful singles “Mysterious Girl” and “Flava”. He is also known for appearing on the third series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, and the thirteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. The song “Mysterious Girl” reached the top of the charts in New Zealand and number eight in Australia, and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Midge Ure: Midge Ure enjoyed success in the 1970s and ’80s in bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids and Visage, and most notably as frontman of Ultravox, where he scored international hits like “Vienna” and “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes”. He is also known for being co-writer of the enduring charity single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”. The ex-Ultravox singer wore a kilt for the occasion at Buckingham Palace. Ure was awarded his OBE for both his music and charity work. Five: Five are an English boy band from London. They were formed in 1997 by the same team that managed the Spice Girls before they launched their career. Sold a minimum of 1.6 million copies of their albums and 2.4 million copies of their singles in the UK alone. The band subsequently were signed by Simon Cowell and BMG/RCA for a six-album deal. In November 1997, Five released their debut single “Slam Dunk (Da Funk)“, which debuted at number 10 in the UK Singles Chart. The Real Thing: The Real Thing are a British soul group formed in the 1970s. In addition to a string of British hits, the band charted internationally with their song “You to Me Are Everything“, which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. By number of sales, they were the most successful rock/soul act in England during the 1970s. N-Trance: N-Trance are a British electronic music group who were formed by Kevin O’Toole and Dale Longworth in 1991. The group has sold over 5 million records worldwide and some of their hit singles include “Set You Free“, “Forever”, as well as covers of the popular 1970s disco songs “Stayin’ Alive“, “D.I.S.C.O.” and “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?“. Cheeky Girls: The Cheeky Girls are a Romanian-born British-based pop duo consisting of twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia. They achieved success in the charts with four top 10 hits between 2002 and 2004. They are best known for their debut single, “Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)“, which has sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide. American Four Tops: This phenomenal quartet are keeping the legendary Four Tops music alive worldwide. They’ll take you through the hits – Reach Out, Baby I Need Your Loving, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie), Standing in the Shadow, Bernadette, Walk Away Renee, Loco in Acapulco and plenty more from Platters, The Stylistics and the Temptations. With their high stepping choreography and the original harmonies from that era; the show is explosive. The group have toured extensively and are particularly well known in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Ireland. You can purchase your tickets HERE

Thank you for the info earlier Doug, we posted the information on our Facebook Page too. This is good news and nice to know that the new company will honour previous memberships/vouchers.

On Monday 29th January, 5.30 - 7pm Hereford BID members are invited to attend a parking meeting to discuss/ reflect and hear about the parking situation in Hereford. Many businesses have been touched by the changes made to waiting times/ meters introduced whilst both publicly and behind the scenes HBID have been constantly working on your behalf to ensure your views are heard and that we have a parking system that attracts visitors and shoppers. For more information and to download the monthly parking vouchers go here feel free to sign our petition here

Illegal Tobacco Seized During On 17th January 2018, a Multi Agency Task Force carried out search warrants on premises operating as 'mini markets' in Eign Gate Hereford and Drapers Lane, Leominster. Multi Agency Task Force of Trading Standards, Police, Fire Service and Immigration in action! Tobacco was secreted within very sophisticated and specifically made devices. These pieces of criminal ingenuity were quickly 'deconstructed' by a crew from Hfd Fire Station! Assisted by a specialist trained tobacco sniffer dog, numerous 'stashes' of illicit tobacco were located. The tobacco was secreted within very sophisticated and specifically made devices operated by hydraulic remote control drawers and lifts, said PC Duncan Reynolds, from Hereford Harm Reduction unit. In total 1,920 packets of fake and non-duty paid tobacco was seized along with 132 packets of hand rolling tobacco. This equates to approximately 33,000 cigarettes and £15,000 duty evasion. Four people were arrested during the raids for various offences and questioned by enforcement officers from several agencies. One person was identified as being illegally in the UK. The investigation is ongoing as enquiries continue. added Mr Reynolds. The public are requested to pass any information with regard to the sale of illicit tobacco to either the Police, Trading Standards or Crimestoppers. This information can be passed anonymously and will help to build the intelligence around this highly organised form of offending.

WIN - £30 Gift Voucher for The Glass Tandoori Restaurant! Our spicy friends and sponsors at The Glass Tandoori have teamed up with Hereford Voice to generously offer this tasty prize for our latest competition. This voucher will buy you a set meal for 2 people! To be in with a chance of winning follow ALL 3 simple steps: 1. LIKE Hereford Voice and The Glass Tandoori Facebook Pages 2. TAG A Friend 3. SHARE & COMMENT This Competition Post (Entrants MUST be over 16 years old) A winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries on Tuesday 23rd January 2018. Good luck! #hvcomps #hfdvcomps

That would be funny

A man charged with the murder of Julie Clark (we understand that this was his mother) who died from stab wounds at her home in Highmore Street, Hereford, last Tuesday appeared in court at Hereford today. Jason Nellist, 40, of Nicholson Court, Hereford was at Hereford Magistrates Court this morning. Nellist only spoke to confirm his name, age and address. The case has been adjourned until his next appearance at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday, January 17. Jason Nellist has been remanded in custody.

The Carrot and Wine Store in Wormelow will become home to the Post Office on Friday, January 26th. The Post Office at the former village shop closed in 2014, and was then demolished. When the Carrot and Wine store opened last year it presented an opportunity to restore Post Office services to Wormelow. Post Office services will be delivered from an open-plan till alongside the retail counter of the convenience store throughout the village shop’s opening hours. The opening hours will be Monday – Sunday: 7am – 9pm, which the Post Office says will make it very convenient for customers to visit as it will be more than double the branch’s previous opening hours. The re-opening will be part of a major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments.