Local Democracy Reporting Service
Andrew Morris

Seven sites earmarked for potential housing developments near an historic hill-fort won't be adopted into a council's local plan.

Image source, Google

The locations in Oswestry had been put forward to Shropshire Council for consideration by the landowners.

But the authority's planning chiefs have confirmed that they have no desire to adopt the sites under the local plan, which runs until 2036.

The Hands Off Old Oswestry Hillfort group has been warning of the impact homes could have on the Iron Age landmark.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Stoke-on-Trent Live is covering these stories:

• Mum-of-five defends son who took knife into school to scare his tormentor, external
• Worker duped two companies out of £36k by flogging goods for half the price, external
• Woman caught drink-driving on church car park, external

BBC News England

Thousands of NHS jobs are requiring workers to pay for the costs of criminal background checks, research by the BBC has found.

Image source, Getty Images

Staff are being told to either cover the £44 fees upfront or have them deducted from their first wages, but the practice varies across England.

Data from the NHS jobs website showed more than 2,900 adverts stating the cost of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check would be deducted from the worker's salary - about one in 10 of the adverts listed since January.

They include 107 with the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and 73 with The Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust.

NHS Employers said passing on costs was down to "local discretion".

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City defender Danny Batth says the club will be stronger next season after a disappointing campaign in the Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

The club's ambition was a quick return to the Premier League following relegation last year but they're currently 10 points outside the play-offs with eight games to go.

Express and Star

From the Express and Star:

• Merry Hill shop staff backlash over new parking ban, external
• Almost 100 new homes to boost Black Country housing shortage, external
• Railways bolstered by five-year £5.7bn cash injection, external

Allen Cook
BBC News

A nest of jackdaws is thought by firefighters to have caused a chimney fire last night., external

Image source, Shropshire Fire Service

Shropshire Fire Service was called to Adderley, near Market Drayton, at 20:15 and the blaze was extinguished.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Drivers in parts of the West Midlands are being warned of dense fog patches this morning.

Image source, Met Office

The Met Office has a yellow weather warning in place until 10:00 and says buses and trains could also be delayed. , external

The alert covers Worcestershire, Herefordshire and parts of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

Any early mist or fog should soon vanish this morning - here's how the rest of Friday's weather is looking in the West Midlands:

You can get a latest forecast for your part of the region at any other time by heading to the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

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, external and Facebook., external

Staff are being told to either cover fees of about £44 upfront or have them deducted from wages.

One head teacher says she will have to cut classes on Fridays to save money.

Well-wishers wore bright colours and carried teddy bears in honour of the children killed in the blaze.

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

BBC Hereford and Worcester

The chairman of Worcester City FC says moving the club to being community-owned means they can step up their efforts to bring the team back to the city.

At its general meeting this week, shareholders backed a plan to change the club's constitution to allow it to start the process of being converted to a community ownership model.

The Midland Football League Premier Division side have been without a permanent home ground since moving out of St George's Lane in 2013 and currently groundshare with Bromsgrove Sporting FC. , external

In 2017, Worcester City's bid to build a new ground near Perdiswell Leisure Centre was rejected by the city council but the club's still keen to try again.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Today's lengthy statement from Coventry City owners Sisu accusing the city council of "dragging its feet" over the development of a new stadium comes hot on the heels of a letter from the council leader calling on Sisu to end the "divisive" dispute over the Ricoh Arena's sale.

Coventry City Council has yet to comment on today's statement from Sisu, but on Monday described its stance as "corrosive".

In an open letter, the leader of the council George Duggins said Sisu must either call off their legal action against the local council or sell the League One club.

In the long-term, Sisu says a new stadium is needed to ensure the sustainability of the football club, but more pressingly it also faces a 2 April deadline to inform the English Football League where it intends to play home matches next season.

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

It will be a clear and dry night with lows of 2C (36F).

Residential care has restarted at a private school for children with autism after safeguarding concerns were addressed.

In January, Cruckton Hall School, outside Shrewsbury, was ordered to close its residential care facilities with immediate effect, although day-to-day teaching wasn't affected.

Today, Ofsted revealed it had lifted the suspension notice "because the school has addressed immediate concerns".

However, a spokesperson said the organisation would continue to monitor the school "as restrictions are still in place, in relation to the number of children that can be accommodated".

The school has welcomed the lifting on the suspension and said the safety of pupils was "paramount".

it said it would continue to work with families, local authorities, social workers and Ofsted, to ensure children "receive the care and support they need".

Evesham Journal

The Evesham Journal's headlines today include:

• Improvement work to tackle congestion in Pershore backed by council planners, external
• CCTV to be installed in play park after vandal attacks, external
• Parish councils handed more than £844,000 for community projects, external

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Hundreds of people have gathered for a memorial service in Stafford this evening to remember four children who died in a house fire.

In February, Riley Holt, eight; Keegan Unitt, six; Tilly Rose Unitt, four; and Olly Unitt, three, died in the blaze in Highfields.

Schoolchildren, police officers and paramedics are among those who are attending the service at Collegiate Church Of St Mary.

The service has just started and there will be tributes from some of the children's teachers during the event.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

The manager of a wildlife centre says she considered closing it down after a fire killed several animals.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Three giant tortoises, a meerkat and a colony of fruit bats perished in the blaze at Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, on Monday.

Since then, staff say they've been "uplifted" at the response from members of the community who've helped clear the site and it has reopened today., external