Local Democracy Reporting Service

The MP for Shrewsbury has accused Telford and Wrekin councillors of “protecting their empire without thinking of the long-term consequences” after they unanimously rejected his proposal of a merger with Shropshire Council.

Daniel Kawczynski said last month he was "looking for an "iron-clad business case to government for the abolition of Telford Council".

But the proposal appeared to have been killed off when the government told him it would only consider a merger if Shropshire's two councils both submitted a proposal - and neither said they were in favour.

Last week, all 54 Telford councillors supported a Conservative motion which read: “This council completely opposes both of these scenarios and, while recognising the benefits of joint working and co-operation with Shropshire Council, we also recognise the importance of local accountability and democracy.”

But Mr Kawczynski responded to say: "I think this motion shows that they have a little bit too much time on their hands, and it’s very concerning that they are trying to shut down any form of debate."

Goalkeeper Moha Ramos joins Championship side Birmingham City on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.

Car cruising has long been associated with "boy racers", loudly revved engines and the smell of burning tyre rubber.

When 17 people were injured at a recent "meet" in Stevenage its reputation was further dented.

But is the scene's negative image fair? Laurence Cawley has been looking at this issue for BBC News.

Police have recently shut down events in Birmingham, Derbyshire and Cambridgeshire while there are also injunctions against cruising in parts of the West Midlands and Southend.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

The first new tenants of the former Co-op building in Nuneaton are being lined up, after it was bought by the borough council.

The local authority took ownership at the start of the year, paying more than £2m for it, and BBC Coventry & Warwickshire can exclusively reveal that a local escape room operator is set to move in, subject to planning permission.

BBC Wales News

The former Glamorgan and Shropshire all-rounder Malcolm Nash has died at the age of 74.

He was the bowler Sir Garfield Sobers famously struck for 36 runs in an over in a county match in Swansea.

Image source, BBC Sport

Nash took 993 first-class wickets between 1966 and 1983 and was Glamorgan's leading wicket-taker when they won the County Championship in 1969.

Cristian Bogdan, who admitted having and making indecent images, is given a suspended sentence.

Police are continuing to investigate the mystery disappearance of a "number of dogs" that went missing under the care of a Birmingham-based dog sitter.

Officers have taken the unusual move to say they have not contacted owners to say pets have died - following what they describe as "unhelpful" reports in some media.

Image source, Becky Parsons

None of the pets have been found so far, West Midlands Police says, and added that speculation could "hinder the investigation".

It was claimed at least five dogs vanished during their walk in woods in Staffordshire on 23 June.

Speaking at the time, owner Becky Parsons, from Erdington, described the experience as her "worst nightmare".

The New Saints go into the away leg of their Champions League qualifier trailing FC Copenhagen by 2-0.

Their manager Scott Ruscoe, admits, "It's going to be a daunting one because of the crowd and the atmosphere", but he went on to say: "we can still play, we can score away goals as well."

The match is being played at Denmark's national stadium and FC Copenhagen are led by the former Wolves manager Stale Solbakken.

Ruscoe said: "In a football match you've never got anything to be afraid of. You respect the opposition, rightly so because of the players they've got and the manager they've got."

A fresh appeal has been made to find the body of a man who was killed in Evesham 10 years ago.

West Mercia Police said 40-year-old Jesse Richards from Gloucester was beaten up in Cleeve Prior "in a merciless and sustained attack over a drugs debt on 31 July 2009".

Image source, West Mercia Police

In 2012, five men were jailed in connection with Jesse's death and detectives believe the body was originally taken to Warwickshire and hidden there.

West Mercia Police said searches took place at a site near Corley in May last year, but nothing of significance was found.

A £10,000 reward is still on offer for information leading to the successful discovery of Jesse's body.

His mother, Lucy Richards, said: "My son was taken from me in the most violent way and, 10 years on, I have still not been able to lay his body to rest. I don't know where he is and the pain of not being able to visit his resting place is too much to bear."

Hereford Times

These are among the stories featured in the Hereford Times today:

• Crash driver jailed for causing death of boyfriend, external
• Pledge on end of M50 overnight closures, external
• Fallen tree blocking path, external

A man is in a stable condition, after being stabbed, external in Stafford.

Image source, Google

Police were called to The Haybarn at 23:40 last night, after a 33-year-old was found with multiple stab wounds. It is believed the incident took place on the Isabel Trail at about 23:30, the Staffordshire force says.

The man was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.

A section of the path between Aston Terrace and Tenby Drive, near to Astonfields Industrial Estate, was cordoned off for forensic examination.

Archaeologists digging in the courtyard of Shrewsbury Castle now think the sand and gravel they've uncovered are the top of the hill, instead of the remains of a road.

The team of volunteers had been hoping to find evidence of medieval buildings after some promising geophysical survey results.

Image source, Shropshire Council

The team have also found animal bones, glazed pottery and a glass seal.

They're spending two weeks on the archaeological dig.

Oak House in Tipton failed to report abuse allegations, a Care Quality Commission report says.

BBC Business News

Shares in shopping centre firm Intu Properties have plunged after revealing a big drop in rents.

Net rental income fell from £223.1m to £205.2m for the six months ended 30 June 2019.

The company, which owns the Merry Hill and Potteries shopping centres, among others, reported a £830m loss.

Image source, Google

The UK retail sector is going through a tough time, with a number of chains going into administration and shutting stores.

The fall in income also reflects Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) from the likes of Debenhams, Topshop owner Arcadia, and Monsoon Accessorize.

The firm said a "radical transformation" was needed and it was working to revamp its centres with curated spaces for online brands, street food, experiential markets and paid for experiences.

A number of flood alerts and warnings have been removed this morning and the Environment Agency says it anticipates this trend will continue.

But it's warned potentially heavy rainfall has been forecast in the north of the West Midlands region through to this evening, so it is "continuing to monitor the situation" and has "additional resources in place to cover this work".

River levels peaked in the early hours and levels were generally remaining steady or starting to fall at about 12:00.

The agency says its officers have reported from some key locations where warnings were issued, but so far it has not received any reports of properties flooded.

The flood gates at Brookvale Road, Birmingham, have been reopened.

The Premier League should share more of its riches to boost the finances of lower league teams, says Burton boss Nigel Clough.

Thomas Radbourne, 26, from Tamworth, died after his motorbike collided with a car in Warwickshire.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell will miss the rest of the season because of a tendon issue in his knee.

Image source, Getty Images

Bell, who was in the advanced stage of a return to action following a foot injury sustained during the Pakistan Super League, reported a knee concern following the Second XI Championship game with Lancashire.

Warwickshire sport director Paul Farbrace said it was "extremely frustrating" that another injury had happened when Bell was "extremely close" to a first team return.

He added: "Over the last couple of weeks our medical team have been regularly assessing the condition of his left knee, and we have also been supported by sports injury specialists in London.

"However, the outcome of this has confirmed that Ian will need to have several injections, which rules him out of action for six to eight weeks and effectively ends his season."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Aston Martin's £78.8m loss in the first half of the year compares with a profit of £20.8m just a year earlier.

The news also comes on the same day that the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported a big drop in investment by car firms in the UK.

Image source, Getty Images

John Nollett is chief executive of Pressmark Pressings in Atherstone, Warwickshire, which makes metal pressings and welded products.

"We've had to prepare for Brexit by overstocking," he says.

"That money that is tied up in raw materials, we have not invested in the business, so we've had to put a couple of things on ice, unfortunately."

He described the future of the UK car industry as "quite bleak".

BBC Business News

Aston Martin has reported a £78.8m loss in the first half of the year, sending shares tumbling 7%.

The luxury car maker, based at Gaydon, in Warwickshire, blamed weaknesses in key markets.

Sales to dealers in the UK slumped by 17% in the first six months, and 19% in the rest of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Image source, Getty Images

The company is hoping that its first sports utility vehicle, the DBX, will give the company a boost when it is unveiled at the end of the year.

Chief Executive Andy Palmer has also warned again of the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Palmer, who has previously described the government's Brexit strategy as "laughable" said the industry needed certainty, but had plans in place for the supply of parts in the event of a no-deal exit from the EU.