Shropshire Council has voted to declare a "climate emergency", in line with dozens of other local authorities around the country.

A Labour motion called for Shropshire Council to make a pledge to become carbon-neutral by 2030, but it was rejected in favour of a slightly watered-down version put forward by the Conservatives and amended by the Liberal Democrats.

It said the council should write to the government to ask it to "be ambitious in its plans for carbon reduction targets" and set a national aim of achieving this by 2030.

Earlier, the Conservative leader of the council Peter Nutting said work was being done, but he didn’t think the council should commit itself to the date of 2030.

The four semi-finalists for this year's otherwise sold-out T20 Blast Finals Day are to get an increased 3,000 ticket allocation.

BBC Sport

At the tea interval on day three of their county championship match, Worcestershire have reduced Durham to 110-5 in their second innings at New Road.

The visitors are still trailing by seven runs after their first innings and the wickets have been shared between Joe Leach, Ed Barnard, Charlie Morris and Josh Tongue (pictured below).

Image source, Getty Images

Warwickshire are struggling to contain Hampshire at Edgbaston though.

They're now trailing by 371 runs and the visitors still have seven wickets remaining in their second innings.

A woman who was hit by a car on a West Bromwich pavement this morning has suffered serious injuries, police say. , external

Image source, Google

The 59-year-old was struck as she was walking along Great Bridge Street at about 08:20.

The pedestrian suffered life-changing injuries to her leg, said West Midlands Police, which is appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and remains in police custody.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Davis

The new Mayor of Coventry has described her appointment as a “great honour and privilege”.

Councillor Linda Bigham was sworn in at Coventry Cathedral today, watched on by her three children, three grandchildren, and husband Kerry.

The 71-year-old Labour councillor, originally from Birmingham, has represented the city's Longford ward since 2004.

“I cannot believe I am in this position and it is only now that you realise what a journey you have been on," she said.

Ateeq Rafiq died a week after his head got stuck in a "Gold Class" cinema seat in Birmingham.

Coventry Observer

Some of the Coventry Observer stories today are:

• Cannabis medication stops working for epileptic youngster, external
• Historic sports club faces closure from Jaguar Land Rover 'car park' move, external
• 'Internationally important' Priory Visitor Centre set to close, external

Shrewsbury Town defender Scott Golbourne signs a new two-year contract with the League One club.

A sword and Class A drugs have been seized and three people have been arrested after raids in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police said officers found the weapon and the drugs while searching a property on Metcalfe Road in Tunstall yesterday, and they also made arrests on Sandbach Road in Burslem, and Waterloo Road in Cobridge.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The three were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, along with two men from Liverpool, who were arrested in Tunstall on Tuesday.

Anna Hadley, 14, has a rare heart condition and is raising awareness of the need for child donors.

The PET scans are used to investigate the spread of cancer and how it is responding to treatment.

An investigation has started into a suspected arson attack on a bus in Birmingham.

The driver and passengers got off the number 97 service safely, after fire broke out on the vehicle at the city's coach depot in Digbeth.

National Express West Midlands said it would be working closely with the police and fire service to investigate how the fire started.

It apologised to customers for any disruption to their journeys.

The attempted abduction of a 10-year-old girl is being investigated after she was approached by a man in a Wolverhampton park.

Image source, Google

The girl was approached in Wednesdfield Park just after 15:30 yesterday by a man who asked if she wanted to see his dog.

The schoolgirl, who declined, was then grabbed by the straps of her bag, police said before she managed to run off and alert her parents.

Neighbourhood patrols have been stepped up in the area, said West Midlands Police, which is working with local schools to ensure the safety of pupils.

The creator and former presenter of the TV show Tiswas has been elected as the new chairman of Worcestershire County Council.

The Saturday morning show became cult viewing for a generation of children until it ended in 1982.

Image source, Worcestershire County Council

Peter Tomlinson, who lives in Ombersley, has been a county councillor for three years, and a Wychavon District Councillor for eight.

But in the 1970s, while working as a continuity announcer for ATV, he came up with the idea of what went on to become Tiswas and later became a regular presenter between 1974 and 1977.

The anarchic series, which ended in 1982 is best known for its sketches and stunts, fronted by the likes of Chris Tarrant, Sally James and featuring Lenny Henry and Bob Carolgees.

A man died after his neck became trapped in an electronic footrest in a Birmingham cinema, an inquest has heard.

Ateeq Rafiq, 24, became trapped by the mechanical cinema seat at the Star City complex, whilst searching for his keys and phone, Birmingham Coroner's Court was told today.

Image source, Google

His widow Ayesha Sardar paid tribute to him as a happy, positive and loving father as she explained how she unsuccessfully tried to free him.

Mr Rafiq, from Aston, suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital, but died a week later from "catastrophic" brain injuries.

The inquest continues.

BBC Business News

The Labour Party's plans to nationalise the country's energy networks would hinder the shift to green energy, National Grid has said.

Image source, Getty Images

The company, based in Warwick, Warwickshire is the UK's largest transmitter of electricity and gas via its network of pylons and pipelines.

Labour said its pledge to return it to public ownership would "usher in a Green Industrial Revolution" and tackle climate change.

The firm said the proposal was the "last thing" that was needed.

Read more here.

The bodies of a man and a woman have been found at an address at Hill Street in Hednesford.

Staffordshire Police says the bodies were discovered at 10:30 this morning.

Officers are treating the deaths as unexplained and are looking to establish what happened.

Worcester News

Here are three headlines from the Worcester News website today:

• Worcestershire schools go plastic free, external
• 'We can't live with stench from piggery' says villager, external
• 'Cat shooter' kills one pet and injures another, external

Protests began at schools in Birmingham where the No Outsiders programme was being taught.

Police say unsuccessful attempts were made to revive a man in Longton who became unresponsive after being detained in the street yesterday afternoon.

The Staffordshire force said officers were initially called out to reports of a man damaging a car with a hammer in Speedwall Street and they found the man had been stopped by members of the public in Wood Street.

The 25-year-old died later in hospital.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The dead man hasn't yet been formally identified, but his family have been informed, police say.

Three men, aged 20, 30 and 49 were arrested in connection with the incident and remain in custody.