James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

AFC Telford United are bringing in Dom Smith from Shrewsbury Town for the rest of the season.

The young defender hasn't been in Shrewsbury's plans since returning from a loan period at Barrow and the club says he has now left by mutual consent.

Image source, Shrewsbury Town

He's been with Shrewsbury since he was a youth player and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2014.

The government has confirmed Crewe is to be a hub station for HS2 and up to seven high speed trains an hour could stop in the town.

It said a platform at Crewe station will be extended, allowing for HS2 trains to split off and also serve Stoke-on-Trent.

Image source, Farrells

The Department for Transport said the changes follow a consultation on the Crewe hub last year. HS2 will reach the town by 2027.

The son of Anthony Banting, violently killed in an unprovoked stabbing attack at a tram stop, said his family will be left to deal with "a huge hole in our hearts".

Image source, BTP

Reading a statement on behalf of all four sons, James Banting said his family had "lost our leader, our stability, our comfort blanket and best friend."

"The hardest thing is I did not get the chance to say thank you for making me the man I am today.

"It was a sudden, violent and completely senseless way that he died.

"We still do not know the reason why.

"The pain of this loss is indescribable and goes on today, and tomorrow."

Alaeldien Ahmed, 27, was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years.

A man suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, who stabbed a father more than 50 times at a tram stop, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Anthony Banting, 57, had got off a tram in Winson Green, Birmingham, on 31 March last year when he was stabbed in the head, chest and back.

Alaeldien Ahmed, an asylum seeker, was found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and cleared of murder at an earlier hearing.

At a Birmingham Crown Court hearing today, he was sentenced to serve a minimum of 12 years.

Former Coventry City captain Carl Baker re-signs for the Sky Blues on a short-term deal following a spell in India.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Coventry City have signed midfielder Carl Baker on short-term deal until the end of the season.

Image source, Coventry City Football Club

He last played for the club from 2010 to 2014, but was most recently with Indian side ATK.

He'll be eligible to play in Saturday's fixture against Barnet at the Ricoh Arena, subject to international clearance, said the club.

The Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce doesn't want to get drawn into the debate over Wolves' relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes.

The English Football League is planning to meet with Wolves to discuss the issue "in light of recent concerns raised by a number of clubs".

Image source, Getty Images

Bruce said it was up to the football authorities to determine the matter and Wolves had built a strong squad.

Wolves say they expect the release of a further EFL statement in support of the club’s operations.

It’s not often a mother follows in her daughter's footsteps, but for Maureen that’s exactly happened.

Joe Rowlands, 13, pulled his unconscious dad from the sea before giving him the kiss-of-life.

The death of a prison inmate accused of a knife attack inside a church will be investigated by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, the prison said.

John Delahaye, 46, was found dead in his cell at HMP Birmingham on Monday.

The director of HMP Birmingham Rob Kellett confirmed Delahaye's next-of-kin had been informed.

"Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time," he said.

Mick, Keith and the band will play a Ricoh Arena date as part of their No Filter tour this June.

The band's publicists say tickets will go on sale next Thursday at 09:00.

The band last played the UK five years ago, with headline performances at Glastonbury and the BST Festival, but they haven't toured here for 12 years.

The Rolling Stones will be coming to Coventry's Ricoh Arena on 2 June.

Tickets will go on sale next Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

The dogs who are showing at Crufts can join owners while they eat at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

Jessica Labhart
BBC News

The cancellation of this year's V Festival at Weston Park will have an impact on the hotel business in nearby areas including Shifnal, Telford and Stafford, say owners.

But some are relieved crowds will no longer descend on areas like "locusts".

A spokesman for Welcome Break, which runs Days Inn in Telford, said: "The V Festival attracted thousands of people to Telford Services, which was very good for business.

"It is a shame that it has been cancelled this year."

Bed and breakfast owner Mike Davis, who runs The Anvil Lodge, Shifnal, said: "Some businesses will be affected more than others, but it will ultimately mean less people will be coming in and spending their money.

"To be honest the crowds were a bit like locusts when they came in, so I know some will be relieved it won't be going ahead."

Clare Evans, general manager of the Vine Hotel in Stafford, said: "The cancellation of the festival will mean less muddy wellies in reception for us!"

John Delahaye was due to stand trial for attacking a church elder and two other men with a knife.

James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

Shrewsbury Town's assistant manager Chris Doig says he's expecting a big atmosphere for every one of their remaining games this season - not just tomorrow's local derby against Walsall.

The club go into the final 12 games of the season in second place in League One, but third-placed Wigan have two games in hand, so they can't afford to drop points.

Seven of Shrewsbury's remaining games this season will be played at home.

A woman has been seriously hurt in a car crash near Bewdley, in Worcestershire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 17:15 yesterday to the junction of the A456 and the B4194 at Ribbesford.

Image source, WMAS

Two cars were involved and the woman, who was the driver of one of the cars, had been pulled from the wreckage by passers-by when paramedics arrived.

She was taken to hospital in Birmingham for emergency treatment.

Herefordshire Council has elected Conservative Councillor Jonathan Lester as its new leader.

He replaces Tony Johnson, who's retiring after five years in the role.

Image source, Herefordshire Council

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

Prop Andy Brown will win his 100th cap for Coventry Rugby Club when he takes the field against Old Elthamians at the Butts Park Arena tomorrow.

Image source, Coventry Rugby Club

He would have won it last week - but the trip to Caldy fell foul of the weather.

The only other change to the starting 15 is Paddy Ryan, who makes his club debut in the second row.

The death of a man in Sandbach yesterday morning is no longer being treated as suspicious by Cheshire Police.

Officers were called to Townfields at 06:48, following reports somebody had collapsed in a doorway, and found he had died.

Image source, Google

A 38-year-old woman who'd earlier been arrested in connection with the incident has been released without charge.