Summary

  • Live updates from Monday 2 July to Sunday 8 July

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Live Reporting

  1. Crewe manager worried players 'too fit'

    Graham McGarry
    Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

    The Crewe Alexandra manager, David Artell, says he's worried one or two of his players have turned up to pre-season training "too fit".

    But he's been impressed with what he's seen since they returned last Thursday, saying: "The lads are looking sharp and ahead of where we are."

    David ArtellGetty Images

    Crewe kick-off the season at home to Morcambe on 4 August.

    We might have to put the reins on one or two, to make sure that they're not too fit for the time of year. We don't want them fit right now, we want them fit in two weeks' time."

    David Artell, Crewe Alexandra manager

  2. No fall in stillbirth rate at hospitals

    Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust ordered the report after concerns over numbers of baby deaths.

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  3. Football is a game of two other halves

    What is it like to be married when your World Cup teams play each other?

    Read More

  4. Telford at 50: is it still a new town?

    As Telford celebrates turning 50, are we set for a new generation of new towns?

    Read More

  5. New contract for out-of-hours healthcare line provider

    The doctors cooperative group which provides out-of-hours healthcare advice over the phone in Shropshire will continue to operate the service, with the support of a new partner.

    Shropdoc has been chosen along with the Shropshire Community Healthcare Trust after a tendering process.

    Shropdoc call handler

    The decision was made by the Clinical Commissioning Groups in Telford and Shropshire and the new contract will start on 1 October 2018.

  6. Mother wants stricter control on sale of toxic diet pills

    A woman whose daughter died after overdosing on toxic slimming pills says more needs to be done to shut down websites that sell them.

    Eloise Parry, who was 21, died three years ago after taking the substance DNP, which is normally used as a pesticide, or to make explosives.

    Eloise ParryParry family

    Online dealer Bernard Rebello was jailed for her manslaughter last week, but Fiona Parry, from Shrewsbury, said there needed to be tighter controls on what can be sold over the internet.

    There are people who allowed him to operate. There are internet companies out there that allow these websites to set up and then when they're closed down, allow them to open up again. They must know what they're doing and I don't think that's a responsible way to behave."

    Fiona Parry

  8. Repairs to be carried out to road after lorry fire

    Repairs are being carried out to a Shropshire road which was damaged by a lorry fire on Friday evening.

    Workmen are clearing debris from the B4373 at Bridgnorth and they will return tomorrow to resurface the road.

    Road closed sign

    On Thursday they plan to replace road markings and clear gullies and drains, with a decision on re-opening the road to be made later in the week.

    Diversions will remain in place until then.

  9. University to recruit students to help design campus

    Gap year students are being given the chance to help design Hereford University's new city centre campus.

    They're being offered up to £14,000 to cover their expenses and living costs and the university team is looking to recruit 75 young people to take part.

    Hereford signGoogle

    NMite as it will be known, will focus on engineering, and it's hoped 350 undergraduates will based in the city by September 2020.

  10. WSL side Birmingham City change name

    Women's Super League side Birmingham City Ladies changed their name to Birmingham City Women.

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  12. Neves extends Wolves deal
    Breaking

    Wolves have extended the contract of their Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves.

    He has signed a five year deal that will keep him at Molineux until 2023.

    Ruben NevesGetty Images

  13. Two boys arrested after street robberies

    Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of street robberies in Stoke-on-Trent and

    It's after a boy said he had a mountain bike and phone stolen on the canal towpath near to Steelite in Middleport on Saturday.

    Staffordshire Police carStaffordshire Police

    And on Sunday, another boy said he had cash stolen near to Middleport Pottery.

    Staffordshire.Police say they're looking for more suspects.

  14. Off duty firefighters volunteer to come back to work

    Off-duty firefighters in Staffordshire are offering to come back to work as crews battle with grass fires among other incidents.

    Staffordshire fire engine

    The service has four crews at a fire in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as at a woodlands fire near Alton.

    The director of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Glynn Luznyj has praised the work his staff are putting in during the current hot weather.

  16. Knife recovered from hit-and-run death vehicle

    A large knife has been found in the recovered vehicle thought to have been involved in a hit and run death in Coventry.

    A 38-year-old man died after being hit by a car on Barras Lane during the early hours.

    The men in the vehicle, who had stolen it at knife-point moments earlier, were seen fleeing the scene on foot.

    Det Sgt Alan Hands said: “This is a deeply tragic set of circumstances where the theft of a car has led to the death of an innocent man who was simply making his way home".

  17. Britons among 'most renowned' cave divers in world

    The two Britons, including a former Coventry firefighter, who helped locate missing Thai children, are among the most "experienced and renowned cave divers in the world".

    John Volanthen and Richard StantonAFP/Getty

    Richard Stanton (pictured on the right) and John Volanthen "spearheaded" the discovery of 12 boys and their football coach who had been missing for nine days.

    Andy Eavis, former chair of the British Caving Association said "if anybody was going to get through and get to these kids, it was these two, John and Rick".

    "A major problem they will have had is the flow of the water, and fighting against that to get in," he said.

  19. Social club safeguarding plans discussed

    Plans for a housing development which could save a listed social club are to be discussed.

    Lea HallGoogle

    Lea Hall Allotments and Institute in Handsworth Wood has been going for nearly 100 years and has more than 400 members, but it is struggling financially and heading for administration.

    To safeguard its future club chiefs want to sell off a large proportion of the surrounding site for a 107-home housing development, set to be decided by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on Thursday.

    Developers Countryside Properties have pledged £350,000 towards repairing the grade II Lea Hall, which is the club’s premises at Wood Lane.

  20. 'Gnarly' dive for Brits who helped find missing Thai boys

    The British Cave Rescue Council, the body for voluntary underground rescue, said it has been in contact with the British divers, including a former Coventry firefighter, who helped find a missing Thai football team.

    Rick StantonGetty Images

    Richard Stanton, from the city, and John Volanthen joined the vast search after the group disappeared in the Luang Nang Non Cave, Chiang Rai province, on June 23.

    Thai cave rescue dive was 'gnarly'

    Bill Whitehouse, the council's vice chairman, said the men had described the dive as "gnarly" in an email, meaning there were complications and problems.

    It was a three-hour round trip, involving a 1.5km passage, partly flooded and partly open, he told BBC's Breakfast.