Central Herefordshire News

Council workers in Herefordshire have taken part in a mass lobby over more planned cuts to some services.

Unions say the council is planning a 75% cut in the library service budget for the next two years. Museum funding would also be drastically reduced.

Unions say it's not enough time for staff to look for alternative work. A petition against the cuts containing thousands of signatures has been handed in today.

The council says it's in 'constructive' talks with all parties.

• Politics
• Herefordshire
• Herefordshire Council

A union-organised protest is currently taking place outside the offices of Herefordshire Council over planned cuts to libraries and museums.

The UNISON branch of Herefordshire, who organised the protest, says Herefordshire Council has proposed a 75% reduction in the library service budget over the next two years.

• Politics
• Council cuts
• Herefordshire

A council in the Midlands is highlighting the importance of the MMR vaccination following a Measles Virus epidemic.

Derby City Council is urging parents who haven't already done so to get children vaccinated against the virus.

The majority of cases in the current outbreaks have been reported in unvaccinated school children and young adults.

We estimate that 4,000 – 5,000 children and young people between 10 and 20 years of age in Derby are not vaccinated against measles and so are not protected against the virus.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads very easily and in some cases can cause serious complications and death.

• Health
• Measles
• Herefordshire

Health officials have told ITV News Central they are bracing themselves for a potential outbreak of measles. Officials in Herefordshire fear the epidemic in Wales means an outbreak is 'on the doorstep'.

They say that so far this year they've already had the same number of cases as they had for the whole of last year. Charlotte Grant has been speaking to one family, who knows how frightening measles can be.

• Health
• Measles
• Herefordshire

"Measles is a highly infectious and potentially dangerous illness which spreads very easily particularly in schools.

It is crucial that children and young adults are fully immunised with the necessary two doses of MMR".

"The good news is that it is highly preventable when children are immunised with the MMR vaccine, but parents need to make sure their children receive two doses of the vaccine in order to be fully protected against measles.

We are seeing an increase in the number of cases as a direct result of parents not getting their children immunised."

• Health
• Measles
• Herefordshire

Health professionals in Herefordshire are preparing for a measles outbreak after it's emerged that one in five children in the county are not fully immunised.

It follows a recent outbreak of the disease in South Wales. Parents are being urged to ensure their children have had two MMR jabs.

• Health
• Measles
• Herefordshire

Network Rail has been fined £450,000 for breaching health and safety rules which led to the death of a woman at a level-crossing in Herefordshire.

A signalman was also fined for his role in the accident which killed Jane Harding. Today a judge said the incident was entirely preventable. Charlotte Grant reports.

• UK
• Herefordshire
• Network Rail