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Updates from Friday 6 April
Allen Cook
BBC News
River levels in Shrewsbury are expected to peak tonight, external, after a flood alert was upgraded to a flood warning.
The Environment Agency's spent the day putting defences in place along the River Severn.
Image source, Environment AgencyMeanwhile, in Worcester, Hylton Road is going to shut for part of the night, externalso pumps can be brought in in case river levels rise further.
Joanne Malin
BBC journalist
Health bosses are being asked to speed up their bid for £29m , externalof government cash.
The money for the Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals was announced last summer but a full business case needs to be submitted before the money is released.
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean says she's frustrated with the time it's taking to get the cash, some of which would be used to improve hospital services in her constituency.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has yet to respond, but has said previously it's working in a timely manner to secure all the money.
It's been a pretty wet few hours for much of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Reflecting that, here are some snaps from our BBC Weather Watchers:
Image source, Sky HighWorcester
Image source, Crew Green ClareCriggion
Image source, Ella MentryBredwardine
Organisations employing more than 250 people have until midnight to report their gender pay gap - the difference in what women and men earn.
Shropshire Council should be "ashamed" over its 20.8% (mean) gender pay gap, according to Liberal Democrat councillor Andy Boddington.
The local authority, which released its figures last week, said the figures did "not tell the full story", external.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt said almost a third its workforce was made up of cleaning and catering services staff, which are "predominantly lower paid, part time job roles occupied by women".
In addition, it said 67% of employees are part-time and again in lower paid jobs such as administration and care workers - again roles often taken by women.
Mr Boddington, however, says the numbers don't explain why Shropshire Council is so much worse than other local authorities in England.
By comparison, Telford & Wrekin Council, another unitary authority, had a 7.9% pay gap.
Shropshire is one of only a handful of councils in the region not holding elections next month.
Quote MessageAll we have had so far are excuses. Councils like Shropshire should be beacons, they should be at the forefront, they should be leading on gender equality. Only 12 councils in the whole of England do worse than us, out of more than 300."
Andy Boddington, Ludlow councillor
The Redditch Advertiser features these main stories today:
BBC News
Image source, Canal and River TrustA £320,000 grant has been given to a project clearing a stretch of canal clogged with dead and fallen trees.
The Canal & River Trust has begun restoring just over a mile of the Montgomery Canal near Welshpool.
At the moment, it is "unnavigable" and the project aims to clear the water so boats can use the canal.
Mark Weatherall of the Canal & River Trust said this also meant "plants can flourish and create healthy habitats for fish, insects and small mammals".
Image source, Canal and River TrustAston Villa has paid tribute to former coach Ray Wilkins, who has died at the age of 61.
Wilkins who served as Tim Sherwood's assistant at Aston Villa in 2015 was being treated at St George's Hospital in London following a cardiac arrest.
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Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today
Any showers will slowly recede tonight.
Clear skies will develop during the early hours, and with light winds frost is likely, perhaps with some patchy ice in prone spots - feeling cold with lows of -1C (30F).
Latest weather forecast for the West Midlands
These are among the top stories on the Shropshire Live website today:
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
Shrewsbury Town are facing two major injury doubts ahead of this Sunday's EFL Trophy final.
Image source, Getty ImagesCaptain Abu Ogogo's (pictured) expected return from suspension is no longer guaranteed, after he suffered a knee injury in training.
While defender Toto Nsiala may have to play in a mask to protect his fractured cheekbone if passed fit for the game.
Quote MessageWe've seen many players play with the mask that they have made but each case is different and we don't know how much pain he's going to be in when he, perhaps, heads a ball."
Paul Hurst, Shrewsbury Town manager
A special exhibition featuring the work of a Black Country cartoon artist who illustrated the Dandy and Beano is on display.
Charlie "Chas" Grigg, who was born in Sandwell, drew the classic cartoon strips Desperate Dan and Korky the Kat.
Image source, Sandwell CouncilQuote MessageHe's one of Sandwell's hidden treasures. He's a secret that everybody know but doesn't know him. The exhibition is about celebrating his life and work and enjoying his wonderful creations.
Alex Howell, Sandwell Council
The exhibition at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery, external includes original drawings and unpublished images.
Image source, Charlie 'Chas' Grigg
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Those plans we told you of earlier, by Cheshire East Council, to turn two cul-de-sacs in Nantwich into a through road, external have been approved today.
Taylor Drive and Edmund Wright Way will be linked by a bridge, despite local objections.
The council says the new route will help improve traffic flow in that part of the town.
Allen Cook
BBC News
A flood alert in Shrewsbury's been upgraded to a warning this evening, external, meaning floods are expected.
The Environment Agency says it covers the River Severn at the Showground and The Quarry, adding that the river level is still rising.
It says it expected several roads to flood including Sydney Avenue and Frankwell car park.
Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire
Plans for a sand and gravel quarry on the edge of Newport have been thrown out, external.
Image source, GoogleThe 68-acre site on Pave Lane's been refused planning permission after a lengthy hearing.
The proposal by Mick George Ltd was to extract around 2.65 million tonnes of sand and gravel and infill the area with inert waste to restore the site.
But a government inspector agreed with campaigners, including that the plans "would have an unacceptable impact" on the area, and rejected the application.
There'll be no play before tea on this cricket pitch...
But as the Environment Agency's Dave Throup tweets, external, "a sad sight at New Road" in Worcester, just over a week before the start of the County Championship season:
Image source, Environment AgencyThere's still a flood alert in place on the River Severn, Worcester, external, meaning flooding is possible after recent rainfall.
Back in 2012, BBC Sport's Ged Scott described New Road as having a reputation as the "most flooded-out ground in world cricket".
Spaghetti Junction makes a perhaps surprising backdrop to Steven Spielberg's latest epic Ready Player One.
Much of the film features areas of Birmingham - Digbeth and parts of the Jewellery Quarter were turned into a US city.
Highways England said it was "thrilled" to see Spaghetti Junction (officially known as Gravelly Hill interchange) on the big screen.
"Those travelling on the road had no idea what was taking place underneath," Emergency planning officer Frank Bird said.
"Work started on Spaghetti Junction some 50 years ago this year and it’s great to see that the road continues to hold international acclaim."
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Drugs with an estimated street value of almost £30,000 have been seized in raids in Stoke-on-Trent today., external
Image source, Staffordshire PoliceStaffordshire Police says officers targeted homes in Chell Heath, Abbey Hulton, Tunstall and Longton and found drugs including heroin, crack cocaine and amphetamine.
Four men, aged between 22 and 46, were arrested and remain in custody. The force hasn't yet revealed what offence or offences they've been arrested for.
Officers also sezied £3,500 in cash.
A 22-year-old man has appeared in court charged with death by dangerous driving after a fatal road crash last year.
Mother-of-one Vikki Jones, 30, died after the crash on Wood Road in Lower Gornal in September.
Tyler Kendall, 22, from Lower Gornal was also charged with failing to stop after a road collision.
He is next due to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court next month.
The deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire has resigned today.
Rob Tromans will leave the role with immediate effect , externaldue to "personal reasons".
Image source, Warwickshire Police and Crime commissionerGlobal insurance brokers Gallagher are close to signing a long-term deal as the Premiership's new title sponsors.
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