BBC Shropshire

The leader of Telford and Wrekin Council has backed calls for an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in Telford.

Shaun Davies said: "Clearly there are still questions that need to be answered and the only way we can do that is by a completely independent inquiry.

"What I can pledge as leader of the council is that the scrutiny that inquiry will bring, we will cooperate with fully."

"I’m throwing the doors open of this council for a government commissioned inquiry."

BBC Archive

Twenty seven years ago today, six Irishmen jailed in 1975 for their alleged part in the IRA Birmingham pub bombings and the murders of 21 people, were freed after the court of appeal quashed their convictions.

The Birmingham Six, Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, Johnny Walker, Hugh Callaghan, Richard McIlkenny and Billy Power strode from London's Old Bailey on 14 March 1991, their innocence finally proved.

Chris Mullin, a journalist and MP who had been working towards their freedom since the late 1970s said: "I was convinced that here were six civilians who were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

BBC Midlands Today

A spectacular display of ceramic poppies, honouring those who fell in World War One, opens to the public in Hereford later.

The exhibition, which first went on display at the Tower of London, is now travelling the country.

The poppies, many of which were made in Stoke-on-Trent, will be at the city's cathedral for the next month.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

An electrical fault is being blamed for a fire that evacuated a student tower block in Coventry.

Crews were called to the 10th floor of Millennium Point just after 04:00 this morning after the fire broke out in a kitchen on the 10th floor.

Image source, West Midlands Fire Service

BBC News UK

Walsall Council is among five English councils who have been told they must adopt new integration plans to deal with problems of segregation.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, launching a consultation paper on the plan, said Britain "cannot ignore the fact that in too many parts of our country, communities are divided".

Image source, Getty Images

The government's Integrated Communities Strategy will see £50m invested in schemes to improve community relations over the next two years.

Walsall, along with Bradford, Blackburn, Peterborough and Waltham Forest in London have been selected for special help.

The plan includes schemes to encourage pupils to form lasting relationships with those from different backgrounds.

Sophie Madden
BBC News

Reports on the scale of sexual abuse in Telford are "sensationalised", a police chief has said.

A Sunday Mirror investigation , externalfound up to 1,000 girls in the Shropshire town may have been victims of grooming gangs since the 1980s.

But, West Mercia Police Supt Tom Harding said he "significantly disputed" the figures.

"I don't believe Telford is any worse than lots of places across England and Wales," he said.

BBC Weather

A chilly morning, but it'll feel mild in sunshine, highs of 12C (54F).

Monica Rimmer
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Wednesday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email ,Twitter , externaland Facebook., external

Bradford and Blackburn are among the councils given help to improve integration and community relations.

A deflected Wes York strike in added time earns 10-man Gateshead a share of the spoils against struggling Solihull Moors.

Luton hopes of winning the League Two title take a blow despite coming from behind to grab a draw at Coventry.

Sheffield United close the gap on the Championship play-off places to two points with victory over struggling Burton Albion.

Barnet move off the bottom of the League Two table on goal difference with a draw against Port Vale.

QPR upset Aston Villa's automatic promotion hopes as they ease to only their third Championship away win of the season.

Matt Doherty scores twice as Championship leaders Wolves strengthen their promotion push with victory over Reading.

Telford MP Lucy Allan says victims of sex abuse in the town are often written off as troublemakers.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

The head of midwifery at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust says the recent suspension of services at Shropshire's rural maternity units are down to a lack of midwives.

Sarah Jamieson says that's despite a recent successful recruitment campaign.

There have been closures affecting maternity units in Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Oswestry over the past year.

The hospital trust has previously blamed "staff sickness", but recently said it was having to concentrate staff in Shrewsbury and Telford instead, because mothers were preferring to give birth in the larger maternity centres.

Telford MP Lucy Allan addresses politicians following reports of abuse in her constituency.

A £350m housing deal for the West Midlands, announced in the Spring Statement today, will provide infrastructure to support the development of priority sites, as well as dealing with brown-field land.

Priorities include the Commonwealth Games Athletes' village in Perry Barr, Birmingham, and the development at Balsall Common, in Solihull.

A land fund of £100m will enable the authority to buy and clean up land, focused on the Walsall to Wolverhampton corridor, to deliver at least 8,000 homes, said the West Midlands Combined Authority.