29/06/2014 Midlands Today

The former Worcestershire cricketer Damian D'Oliveira has died.

He'd been battling cancer for the last two and half ydars

Worcestershire County Crickdt Club broke the news to players and

supporters ahead of today's county championship game against Glamorgan.

Damian D'Oliveira played for Worcestershire County Cricket

Club between 1982 and 1995, scoring more than 9,000 first class runs.

But most recently he was dedicated to developing young players

Today eight of those players were in the team for their countx

Both teams wearing black arlbands as a sign of respect.

It's very sad news for the club because he is a Worcestershhre

border and bred player. His life has been here. To pass away so darly is

very sad for him and especi`lly the family. They must find it vdry hard.

It's a big name at Worcestershire. They've got all our prayers today.

Damian D'Oliveira was responsible for discovering many

of the current first team spuad which includes his son Brett.

He was not only a fine county player but also giving a lot back to the

game. The 53 year old leaves

behind his wife and three sons Play has continued as usual today

but the day has been tinged with sadness. This man dedicated his life

to this club. Police say fears are growing

for the safety of an elderlx woman from the Black Country who's been

missing for the last two daxs. 79`year`old Cynthia Beamond,

from Halesowen, Her family have described hdr

disappearance as Police are also appealing

for sightings of her silver A Birmingham MP is calling

for a change in the rules on parents taking their children

on holiday during school term time. It comes as one couple are being

prosecuted for taking their children out of school for a

trip to America earlier this year. They claim the prosecution hs

a breach of the Human Rights Act. The MP for Birmingham Yardldy,

John Hemming, is advising the couple and is hoping the case leads to

current rules being revised. It's obvious that you need something

because you can't just allow children out because they nded to go

to the shops. However, it's clear from this particular case and others

that have been referred to le more locally, that the current rtles are

not working and need to be changed. A new campaign to keep children

safer on the roads as they walk to school is bding

launched in Staffordshire. It follows an increase

in the number of drivers fahling to stop for school crossing patrols

from 11 in 2012 to 18 last xear And, as Liz Copper reports,

things look to be getting worse as there have already been 06

incidents this year. Six year old Leighton and Lxnden,

who's five, rely on their lollipop lady Lorraine

to help them cross the road safely. But last year the brothers had

a close shave with a car that didn't stop outshde

their school in Kidsgrove. The car was already station`ry then

as the kids got halfway across the road she decided to pull off. We

shouted out the boys to stop and the driver carried on past the crossing

then stopped, turned around and drove on.

I thought he was going to rtn over my Certs. Was that scary?

The fact that the person had children in the card and sells

beggars belief. In this case, the driver

was caught and prosecuted. Road safety campaigners say

nationally there seems to bd a growing number of cases where

motorists fail to stop. Some councils have tried attaching

cameras to lollipops ` that can help provide evidence

for cases which go to court. It's also a deterrent

for errant motorists. Most motorists do stop

at school crossings ` but the message for the minority who

don't is that irresponsible driving Time for a look at the weather now,

here's Mel Coles with the forecast. Good evening. There have bedn 1

showers around today but for many places it has been an improvement on

yesterday. More settled conditions coming in for next week. It may be

slightly dry `` maybe one or two showers. This evening, clear skies

which means the temperatures will drop away with loads of 9 ddgrees.

In the countryside, they cotld be as low as three or 4 degrees. @ chilly

start to Monday morning but plenty of early morning sunshine whll stop

just the risk of an isolated shower and those temperatures creeping up.

I'll be back with the late bulletin at 10:15pl

Until then, enjoy your Sunday evening.

Northern Ireland, the afternoon will be dry and bright, 17 or 18 the top

temperatures. We have some sunny spells across northern England.

Heading across southern counties of England,

spells across northern England. Heading across southern counties the

risk of a light shower. Fairly scattered. The small risk of one

affecting Wimbledon. Temperatures in London at 20. More overcast across

Devon and Cornwall with the threat of patchy rain. Most places on

Tuesday will stay dry with sunny spells and warm weather in the

South.