BBC Shropshire

A so-called "upside down" house is being planned on a steep hill with the aim of letting a man paralysed in a car crash return home.

Image source, JDP

Dr Paul Buszard, from Bridgnorth, was left paralysed from the neck down, following a collision last year.

Johnson Design Partnership (JDP) are the architects behind the proposals for St Mary’s Steps and claim it will be built into the hillside and feature , externala "green roof" to try and blend in.

The home for Dr Buszard and his wife would feature full wheelchair access and living space for two full-time carers, as well as the family. Shropshire Council's now considering the plans.

JDP director Matt Spinks (pictured) told BBC Shropshire: "Because we've been working with Paul and his wife for some time now, we've built up a friendship, that's why we're just trying to do the best."

Matthew Page has been jailed for the attack at their home in January.

A nurse has completed a 220-mile charity swim along the length of the River Severn.

Image source, Melissa Compton

Melissa Compton, 39, who works in Shrewsbury, had planned to cross the estuary to Bristol at the end of last month, but low tides made it unsafe.

She began the swim in Wales in early June but twice had to stop due to flooding and being hospitalised with a sickness bug after "swallowing sewage".

She posted a photo of herself at Severn Beach, near Bristol with the words "only gone and done it".

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times is covering these stories today:

• Commemorative walk remembers village's fallen son, external
• Hundreds of litres of fuel stolen from farm, external
• Steam engine at Hereford station cancelled, external

Two people arrested over the alleged misuse of donated charitable funds at a national anti-grooming organisation have been released on police bail.

Image source, PA

Sikh Youth UK is being investigated over its "receipt and use of charitable funds" which has raised "a number of regulatory concerns", the Charity Commission said.

A 38-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were arrested in Birmingham in connection with alleged fraud offences, West Midlands Police said.

West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit made the arrests after examining items taken during property searches in September.

A new summer food bank appeal has been launched today to try and tackle hunger over the school summer holidays.

According to new figures, more than 280,000 children across the West Midlands are currently living in child poverty.

Birmingham has one of the highest rates in the country, with 41% of children living in poverty, recent research by Loughborough University found, external.

Food banks often see a rise in demand during summer holidays from families who see the safety net of free school meals removed.

Central England Co-op will host special collection points in all of its local stores and is encouraging customers to donate items.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Joe Burn

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is being urged to change its constitution in ongoing protests over a former British National Party (BNP) councillor being named deputy mayor.

Image source, Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Already more than 21,000 people have signed a petition calling for Melanie Baddeley to step down due to her previous connections to the right-wing party.

She had previously served the BNP between 2008 and 2011 and is now an independent councillor.

Councillor Baddeley has previously said she was "naive and made a mistake" joining the party, renounced its views four years ago and continues to do so.

Now, with the deputy mayor usually becoming mayor the following year, a second petition's been started on the council's website. , external

It calls for the authority to amend its constitution so any future mayor or deputy “does not have a history that would embarrass the queen, and our city”.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A search for an 18-year-old man who's disappeared after reportedly going into the water at a quarry is set to continue this afternoon.

West Mercia Police has Shavers End Quarry, near Abberley, Worcestershire, cordoned off.

Officers have been at the site since being called out yesterday and said the man's family was aware and being supported., external

An alleged terrorist drove at cyclists and police officers in an attack designed to cause maximum carnage, a court has heard.

Image source, Reuters

Salih Khater, 30, from Birmingham, allegedly carried out a "premeditated and deliberate" attack in Parliament Square, prosecutor Alison Morgan QC told the Old Bailey at the opening of his trial.

"His actions were not a mistake or as a result of some kind of mechanical error to his vehicle," she said.

"They were deliberate and designed to cause maximum death and injury."

Three people were injured during the incident on 14 August 2018.

Mr Khater, 29, of Highgate Street, Birmingham, denies two counts of attempted murder and two alternative charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.

Worcester News

The Worcester News' top stories today include:

• Family of teenager who died after falling into River Severn launch crowdfunding project, external
• Highways cabinet member defends decision to scrap parking restriction, external
• Council to leave customer service contract early after calls plummet, external

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Speed cameras are being demanded by people in a village in Cheshire as they claim it's a hotspot for high speeds and crashes.

The A530 drops from 50mph to 30mph as it goes through Bradfield Green, near Crewe.

But villagers have told BBC Radio Stoke of cars flouting the limit and repeatedly coming off the road in recent months.

Last month, Cheshire Police caught a driver going at 94mph in the 30 zone. , external

The force said it carries out speed checks on local roads every week and use the data to identify hot spots, which it uses with Cheshire East Council and the fire service to find long-term solutions.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gurdip Thandi

Planners are set to give the green light to plans to create 12 apartments in three Walsall town centre buildings.

Image source, Google

The council’s planning committee will meet and discuss the application, external at a meeting on Thursday.

The development would see the conversion of an empty shop on Freer Street into seven flats, while a warehouse connected to the property will be demolished and replaced with a two-storey building featuring two apartments.

The existing buildings fall within the Bridge Street Conservation Area and the developer says only a small amount of work will be carried out to the outside of the Freer Street property.

Desmond Wooding was found stabbed to death at his home in Droitwich last month.

A fire at a property in Smethwick on Sunday was confined to one room on the ground floor - thanks mainly to a closed door, said the fire service.

Crews were called to the blaze on Cheshire Road shortly before 16:30.

About 90% of the room, where the fire started, was damaged, said West Midlands Fire Service, but little outside.

Allen Cook
BBC News

A man's been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of an 80-year-old man.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Desmond Wooding was discovered stabbed to death in his own home in Vines Lane, Droitwich, last month.

West Mercia Police said the 32-year-old man, from Droitwich, was in custody and would be questioned by detectives. , external

A 55-year-old man, from Tibberton, has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is also still in custody.

BBC Weather Watchers

Our BBC Weather Watchers have been sending us photos today of the sights of the West Midlands, from flowers to cycling.

These three are from users Margrose in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Laura and Glenn in Delph, Dudley and Liam Ball in Dawley, Shropshire:

Image source, Margrose

Image source, Laura and Glenn

Image source, Liam Ball

Southampton keeper Jack Rose becomes League Two club Walsall's eighth summer signing - on a season-long loan.

Shropshire Star

A few of the headlines from the Shropshire Star today:

• Call for action to support carers 'in crisis', external
• Biker killed in Cotswolds crash was former RAF Cosford squadron leader, external
• Next phase of Shrewsbury roads revamp begins, external

A man has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty of raping a woman in Nuneaton.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

Mark Partington, 29, of Pear Tree Avenue in the town attacked the woman in Haunchwood Road, also in Nuneaton, in 2017.

A resident witnessed the "shocking and cowardly" attack on the victim, in her 20s, and called officers to arrest him, said Warwickshire Police.

He was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on Friday.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
David Irwin

Thousands of villagers will have the chance to vote on plans that could help shape development in a large part of rural Solihull.

The borough council has confirmed that a referendum on the Berkswell Neighbourhood Development Plan is now scheduled for Thursday, 18 July.

If a majority of eligible voters support the document – which offers a blueprint for future development in Berkswell parish – then it will be formally adopted.

Over 18s who lives in Berkswell parish, which covers the village itself and part of neighbouring Balsall Common, are entitled to have their say – although residents must be registered to vote.