Local Democracy Reporting Service
Andrew Morris

A former Grade II listed care home which had become a target for vandals is going to be turned into apartments.

Image source, Google

The ex-nursing home in Ash Magna, near Whitchurch,, external has been empty for several years.

Shropshire Council's planning officials said it had fallen into a state of disrepair and been vandalised.

Now, they've given permission to the current owners to repair the building and turn it into five flats.

A mare and her newborn foal which died in Knowle, Solihull yesterday, might have been saved, a vet says, had he not been delayed by the Velo Birmingham and Midlands cycle event in the West Midlands.

Image source, Helen van Heyningen

Horse-owner Helen van Heyningen said the two died as road closures meant vet Jack Wallace could not reach them in time.

He told the BBC a steward would not let him through the road block for more than 20 minutes, and when he arrived the foal had already died and the mare was "undoubtedly suffering and thrashing on the ground".

"If I had been able to get to the foal in a timely fashion, there is a good chance I could have saved either the mare or foal," he said.

“In future want to see stewards have a contingency plan for situation, so vets are considered on a level with ambulance,” he added.

Organisers said they were "extremely saddened" to hear the news and had started an investigation.

A spokesperson said: "As soon as our event control team were alerted to the fact that a vet required access, we facilitated it."

BBC Radio Stoke

Hundreds of Sikhs brought colour to the streets of Stoke-on-Trent at the weekend for a religious event.

The annual Nagar Kirtan festival saw them hold a procession from Fenton through roads across the city over six hours.

The crowds dressed in orange or blue and sung devotional hymns as they passed through the streets.

A seriously injured driver had to be cut from a vehicle that crashed off the road in Warwickshire this morning, before she was airlifted to hospital.

Image source, West Mercia Police

The incident happened at about 09:45 on the A46 between Harvington and Salford Priors, said the ambulance service.

A man driving a second vehicle, which also left the carriageway, was able to get out of the car himself and was taken to Warwick Hospital.

The southbound carriageway is expected to remain closed between Station Road and the A44 Twyford roundabout for several hours.

Omar Ashfaq pleads guilty to distributing a terrorist publication at mosques in three counties.

Lee Blakeman
Port Vale commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Port Vale are expected to confirm John Askey as their full-time manager this week.

Image source, Reuters

He replaced Neil Aspin in January on a short-term contract and guided the Vale to League Two safety.

Last week, the club was sold to local IT firm owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan.

Kidderminster Shuttle

A few of today's headlines on the Kidderminster Shuttle website:

• Valuables stolen from car, external
• Council leader laughs off call to put up parking charges, external
• Kidderminster Neighbours fan meets Jason Donovan, external

BBC Shropshire

More than 100 recycling sites are going to be removed this week in Shropshire to save the local authority money.

Image source, Google

Shropshire Council's cabinet approved the move in March and said at the time that shutting the 120 "bring back" sites at supermarkets and car parks would save £270,000 a year.

Some local environmental groups have criticised the move, saying some items aren't collected from homes for recycling and that it could lead to fly-tipping.

But the authority said most recycling was now collected at kerbsides and many of the bring back sites contain contaminated waste which can't be recycled.

A graphic designer who is suing the club claims he created the club's wolf head shirt motif as a schoolboy.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Carl Jackson

A site earmarked for major housing development is to be swept for unexploded bombs and the remains of a Roman road.

Image source, Google

Birmingham City Council approved demolition of nearly a dozen former student blocks as well as the WDM Cars Mercedes garage on the Coppice site in Perry Barr last week.

But the authority ordered a programme of archaeological works to be carried out first because it is thought the plot was crossed by the Roman road Ryknild Street.

The Coppice site is part of the council’s wider plans to build up to 500 homes and a secondary school for more than 1,200 pupils in the area.

BBC Shropshire

A motorcyclist has been seriously hurt in a crash with a car in Shropshire.

Image source, Google

West Mercia Police said the collision was on Bayley Road, Telford, on Saturday morning. , external

The 27-year-old rider was airlifted to hospital with a serious head injury.

Details of all the county cricket signings and departures from the 2019 season.

Family and friends of a 12-year-old boy with a rare blood disorder have collected nearly 500 swabs this weekend, bringing the total up to more than 3,500 as they search for a donor match.

Image source, Donna Igoe

Paddy Igoe, from Earlsdon, Coventry, has aplastic anaemia, which requires frequent blood transfusions.

Volunteers gathered swabs from hopeful matches at events over the weekend including the Vélo cycle ride and Coventry Food Festival.

Paddy's mother Donna said the response was "absolutely amazing".

More than 3,500 people have so far volunteered to be tested at events in the city in the past fortnight.

Candidates standing for election to the European Parliament in West Midlands

BBC News Travel

The southbound A46 in Warwickshire is likely to remain closed for several hours after a crash involving two vehicles.

The crash happened between Station Road and the A44 Twyford roundabout close to Salford Priors.

Traffic is being diverted away from the scene, said Highways England.

A Land Rover's been destroyed in a suspected arson attack in Cheshire.

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

The fire service said the blaze was early on Sunday morning on Pinsley Green Road, Wrenbury, near Nantwich., external

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these headlines today:

• Pensioner's anger at council after binmen allegedly damage wall, external
• Reformed drug addict's shoplifting was 'a blip', external
• Family raising funds so girl can communicate after brain damage, external

A man has been arrested after a steward at Sunday's Velo cycling event was injured in a suspected road rage attack, police say.

Image source, Sarah Mills

It’s thought the 59-year-old from Plymouth was deliberately driven at, in Bromsgrove, leaving him with a suspected fractured hip.

The incident happened at about 11:30 on New Inns Lane, Rubery, said West Midlands Police.

A 72-year-old, arrested on suspicion of assault, has been released pending further investigations.

A football club has offered its "heartfelt sympathies" to the family of a man who was found stabbed to death at a house.

Image source, Family handout/Warwickshire Police

Daniel Pitham, 33, from Bedworth, was found at an address in Bulkington Road in the town on 6 May.

Nuneaton Borough Football Club said Mr Pitham signed for them in 2008 and played in dozens of matches before an ankle injury limited his game time., external

Two men have appeared in court charged with his murder and been remanded into custody, to next appear at Warwick Crown Court next month.

BBC Weather Watchers

Our BBC Weather Watchers are clearly enjoying the sunshine, looking at their latest photos taken in the West Midlands.

These three are from users Hopton Karen in Hoptonheath, Shropshire, Jeff in Barlaston, Shropshire and Margrose in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire:

Image source, Hopton Karen

Image source, Jeff

Image source, Margrose