Local Democracy Reporting Service

The wait to hear whether the planned reorganisation of Shropshire's hospitals will be reviewed by the government is frustrating Telford's Labour council leader Shaun Davies.

He told a meeting this week: "It’s beyond me why a referral to the health secretary, which took place months ago, still has not sparked a review."

The plans include making Shrewsbury the county's only centre for emergency medicine and also moving specialist women and children's services there. That's angered some politicians in Telford who say their hospital, The Princess Royal, is being downgraded as a result.

Conservative councillor Eric Carter responded to Mr Davies' comments by saying health secretary Matt Hancock had probably been distracted by Brexit, council elections and European elections, but "hopefully, now that nonsense is out of the way, we can actually move on and do something positive".

Matt Hancock is one of 12 MPs bidding to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's stayed pretty cloudy across the region today but that hasn't stopped our local BBC Weather Watchers snapping photos of their local area.

Here are three from today from users Snapper Simon in Much Wenlock, Shropshire; Margrose in Stoke Prior, Worcestershire; and SteveC in Charlecote, Warwickshire:

Image source, Snapper Simon

Image source, Margrose

Image source, SteveC

Dudley News

From the Dudley News:

• Plea to save Dudley Remembrance Concert, external
• School building sale sets path for new apartments in Dudley, external
• Pensnett crash: Inquest opens into death of teen, external

A company which runs tours at Shrewsbury's former prison says it might be interested in buying part of it.

The jail, which closed in 2013, has been put up for sale by its owners The Trevor Osborne Group and interested parties have been given five weeks to put forward a bid for the site.

Joel Campbell from The Campbell Group said "I think we'll take a look at it, if we can put together the funds for it and make it work and make it add up, then certainly I think we'll look at it."

But Mr Campbell added he wasn't a property developer and would only be interested in "the parts behind the walls".

Staffordshire Police is holding an inquiry after one of its cars collided with a vehicle driven by a member of the public who was hurt in the crash.

She is being treated in hospital for what West Midlands Ambulance Service calls "potentially serious injuries".

The crash happened on Liverpool Road in Chesterton on Wednesday evening.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The force says it's looking for witnesses to help with its internal investigation.

The officer driving the police car had minor injuries, according to the ambulance service.

Jurors fail to reach verdicts against four people accused of being in neo-Nazi group National Action.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gurdip Thandi

Free Sunday parking is going to be trialled for six months in Walsall as an attempt to boost the struggling town centre.

Image source, Google

The Conservative-led administration pledged to bring in the trial in their election manifesto and since confirmed it would be introduced this year.

However, leader Mike Bird says he's sceptical it will increase footfall as "we have tried it previously, during a Christmas period, and it did not have the desired effect".

He added that in the long term, the council would have to look at creating a different landscape in the town centre, including more residential and open spaces and less reliance on shops.

Striker Daniel Udoh joins Shrewsbury Town after a 26-goal season for AFC Telford in National League North

BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

Shrewsbury Town have signed AFC Telford United's top scorer, Daniel Udoh.

The 22-year-old scored 26 goals for the Bucks last season and claimed a number of prizes at Telford's end-of-season awards night.

Image source, Tim Roberts/AFC Telford United

The Telford manager, Gavin Cowan, said previously he wouldn't step in the way of Udoh trying to further his career.

Long Lartin inmate David McKenzie attacked Clare Pearson in an "abhorrent assault".

Drift displays, sprint racing, classic cars and a celebration of The Italian Job are all part of the two-day Motofest event in Coventry this weekend.

The Italian Job was released in 1969, with the subterranean Turin chase scenes actually shot in the sewers at Stoke Aldermoor.

The movie will be shown on Greyfriars Green tomorrow night, with three screen-used Minis and a coach also on show.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A fire in a martial arts centre in Stoke-on-Trent was arson, the fire service has confirmed., external

Image source, Alex Reynolds

It was called to Clough Street, Hanley, at about 22:30 last night.

Fire crews said the blaze caused significant damage to the building.

Image source, Staffordshire Fire Service

Prosecutors say Nathan Parry's vehicle was traced to two "dug out" sites by investigators in 2016.

The Conservative MP for The Wrekin, Mark Pritchard, says the party needs to change the way it elects its leader.

Tory MPs can stand for the top job with just two nominations from colleagues - that's compared to the 15 required for those wanting to stand as a chair of a select committee.

So far, there are 12 candidates in the leadership race, but Mr Pritchard hasn't said who he’s backing.

Condiment chiefs update the product's label to reflect restoration works on the Elizabeth Tower.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Kerry Ashdown

Cannock Chase Council's going to be run by Labour and the Green Party but they deny it's a formal coalition.

Image source, Google

Labour lost overall control of the authority in the local elections earlier this month and it's taken almost four weeks to reach an agreement over what happens next.

The Labour group said at this week's annual council meeting that it would form the administration and consult with Green Party councillors on policy issues.

Shropshire Star

From the Shropshire Star:

• Former prison put up for sale, external
• Council 'appalled' at cuts to hospice funding, external
• Chicken and dog forced to fight by youths, external

BBC Midlands Today

Millions of people are expected to watch esports gamers battle it out to win thousands of pounds at a three-day event in Birmingam.

Players from across the world have battled it out to be one of 12 teams taking part in ESL One, which runs from today at Arena Birmingham. , external

They'll be competing in groups playing Dota 2, a multiplayer online battle arena game, with organisers saying they have a prize pool of $300,000 (£237,700) on offer.

Last year's event was broadcast on BBC Three and those behind the event say 30 million watched the action online during the contest.

BBC Sport

Wocestershire coach Alex Gidman called yesterday's defeat to Middlesex "a disappointing performance all-round".

Chasing a target of 353 to win, they were eventually bowled out for 225 and Gidman said the team would "go away and discuss the areas of our game we need to do better".

Image source, Getty Images

Gidman also said: "The lads have acknowledged that we have performed poorly by our own standards."

Worcestershire's next county championship game starts on 10 June, against Lancashire.

Four people have been arrested following the death of Natasha Stewart.