Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire

A special school could move towns under a £2.5m relocation plan., external

Telford and Wrekin Council says it's started a consultation exercise over proposals to move Haughton Special School, external from Madeley to Wellington.

Image source, Google

The authority says there's more demand for places in Wellington, with the relocation possible through the merger of the town's New College with Telford College of Arts and Technology. The council is planning to buy the New College site.

The funding's coming from the government and the consultation runs until 23 February.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

The charge for Staffordshire Police's part of the council tax could increase by 6.29% in a move the county's police and crime commissioner (PCC) says , externalwill fund more community officers.

Matthew Ellis says the planned rise is also to meet the cost of dealing with a rise in more complex crimes.

The PCC has proposed raising the police precept by 95p a month for an average bill, or £11.40 a year.

Mr Ellis said the increase was needed as day-to-day community policing "has suffered" in recent times and he wants to raise officer numbers.

A road in Bedworth was closed for a time last night as armed officers searched for a man in connection with a rape allegation, police say., external

Image source, Google

Smorrall Lane was shut between 22:45 and 23:58, by officers acting on intelligence, Warwickshire Police said.

Following negotiations with officers a man went to Nuneaton Justice Centre and was arrested on suspicion of rape.

Crewe Chronicle

The Crewe Chronicle's covering these stories:

• Fire could have ripped through whole street, retired firefighter claims, external
• Appeal for information following two arson attacks in Crewe, external
• Crewe Alex reaction: 'We have to turn the corner quickly' - David Artell, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A man has been jailed after stealing more than £80,000 from his elderly aunt with dementia.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Telford and Wrekin Council said Kenneth Tranter had power of attorney over the finances of his 75-year-old relative , externaland transferred money paid by them for her care into his own bank account.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday, the 50-year-old of Willetts Way, Dorley, who admitted three charges of theft, was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Vicky Breakwell
BBC Hereford and Worcester

An actress who says she's had intimate photos put online by a hacker, told BBC Hereford and Worcester she hopes it helps show disabled people are just like everybody else.

Image source, Robin Savage

Melissa Johns, from Ledbury, was born with her right hand and part of her right arm missing.

Over the weekend, the actress, who has appeared in Coronation Street, posted on Instagram she'd found out private photos of her and her partner were leaked online., external

She says it's "completely unacceptable" but hopes there can be positives from what happened.

Lucy King
News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

A school is appealing for people to donate old dresses and shoes to them.

Trentham High in Stoke-on-Trent is setting up a "dress bank" and say the aim is to cut the amount it costs for Year 11 students to go to a prom.

Image source, Getty Images

They hope it'll reduce the pressure on parents to pay out for new gowns by renting them instead.

It's a scheme the school says it hopes will result in them building up a stock of dresses and shoes to loan out each year.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Two flood warnings have been issued this evening for the River Wye in Hereford.

Image source, Environment Agency / Dave Throup

The Environment Agency says they're for the north, external and south, external of the city.

The agency's manager for Herefordshire, Dave Throup, tweeted, external to say "no serious problems" were expected, but paths, gardens and roads might be affected.

League One promotion chasers Shrewsbury see the EFL Trophy as their best hope of winning something this season.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

It will be cloudy with some clear spells tonight but turning wet and windy with widespread showery rain and lows of 5C (41F).

BBC Midlands Today

The family of missing Coventry teenager Nicola Payne has begun working with a private forensic search team in an effort to locate her body.

The group of ex-military specialists has been using cutting-edge sonar and ground radar equpiment around Coombe Country Park, Warwickshire.

It says new information has prompted the search.

Nicola went missing in 1991 aged 18.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Two fires in Crewe are being treated as arson by police , externalwho say they could be linked.

Image source, Google

The first was on Saturday morning at an empty building on Property Walk. The force says it was started by three youths.

The second was a few minutes later on Gresty Road where officers say a garage had been deliberately set on fire.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Aston Villa players have donated £20,000 towards a fund in aid of a young fan who is seeking pioneering treatment for a rare skin disorder, the club says.

Moin Younis, 18, from Birmingham, has epidermolysis bullosa which causes his skin to tear and blister at the slightest touch.

At the moment, there's no cure but Moin and his family are trying to raise £250,000 so he can take part in a new clinical trial in Austria.

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

A teenager who died in a crash earlier this month has been named.

Harry Peter Ross, 17, from Leominster, suffered several serious injuries, and died a short time after a collision involving a car on the A49 Dinmore Hill, Hereford, on 11 January.

Image source, Google

An inquest into his death's been opened and adjourned by Herefordshire Coroner's Office.

Coventry Telegraph

Some of the headlining stories on the Coventry Telegraph website today are:

• Father of accused to give evidence in Dionne Clark murder trial, external
• Two men arrested after immigration officers raid restaurant, external
• Rugby and Warwickshire are UFO hot spots claims author, external

Elaine Muir
Journalist, BBC Shropshire

An application to demolish a Victorian care home near Telford's been withdrawn. , external

Rotherwood Property Holdings put the proposal to Telford and Wrekin Council in December, six weeks after being given planning permission to build a replacement care home alongside the existing one.

Image source, Google

The original intention was to refurbish Roden Hall and turn it into assisted living flats but the company said that would be too expensive and not safe.

Local residents told BBC Shropshire they were unhappy with the idea of demolishing the hall and parish and borough councillors got involved.

The plans have been withdrawn and local councillors say they'll now look to work with the company to come up with a solution.

A clubber suffered injuries including a broken nose after being subjected to a "vicious unprovoked" attack during the early hours of Christmas Day, police say., external

Image source, West Midlands Police

Officers are trying to trace a group of men seen leaving the Indy Bar in Birmingham's Arcadian Centre shortly after the attack.

The victim spent a week in hospital undergoing surgery for facial fractures, West Midlands Police said.

The Real Junk Food Project collects unsold food and turns it into meals made by volunteers.

Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire

What's thought to be Oswestry's oldest established pub has closed while the company that runs it looks for a new manager.

Image source, Google

Punch Taverns says it wants The Bell on Church Street to reopen as soon as possible.

They say a previous landlady has now left.

The Bell was refurbished in 2016 but parts of it date back to the 15th Century.

Witnesses told paramedics the lorry driver had suffered "a medical episode" before the crash.