BBC Radio Shropshire Sport

Shrewsbury Town have had a message of support from the leader of the band that recorded Catch us if you can - a song that has become an anthem for their fans.

The Dave Clark Five had a hit with the song in 1965 and it is played today, as the team comes out on to the pitch.

Image source, Getty Images

Drummer Dave Clark, who co-wrote the song, admitted he was a Tottenham fan, but wished Shrewsbury well against Liverpool in the FA Cup, saying, "The great thing about cup matches is people in other divisions are allowed to get in and prove themselves.

"You go out and you play with a great passion and often you can beat the main teams."

Motorbike-mad three-year-old Romeo Ferreira died from a brain tumour in December.

A Birmingham woman has been found guilty of murdering her husband after a row at her home last year.

Deborah Carroll, who is 53 and from Alwold Court, Barnes Hill, Selly Oak, stabbed John Carroll on 2 April.

The jury at Birmingham Crown Court took nearly four days to deliver their verdict and Carroll is due to be sentenced tomorrow.

Louise Lawford was told that her account that the dogs had run off was not accepted.

Staffordshire Police is one of only four forces in the country to see a drop in overall crime, in the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics., external

Between September 2018 and September 2019, they show a 4% fall in the number of recorded crimes, excluding fraud.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The figures also show falls in the number of burglaries, sex offences, robberies, bike and vehicle crimes and violent crime resulting in injuries.

Temporary Chief Constable, Nick Baker, said he was "delighted" to be one of only four forces in the country to see a drop in overall crime.

Kamil Kopec critically injured the pair at a property in Hereford last year.

Worcester Warriors forward Michael Fatialofa is moved out of intensive care following his serious neck injury.

Susie Rack
BBC Coventry and Warwickshire

About 300 bikers have attended a funeral as the "last wish" of a motorbike mad boy.

Three-year-old Romeo Ferreira, from Sydenham, Leamington Spa, died from a brain tumour on 30 December.

Father Leandro had appealed for motorcyclists to be part of the procession and make as much noise as possible in honour of his "adorable" youngster who loved loud exhausts.

"Heaven needs to hear the bikes," said Mr Ferreira.

Romeo used to run to the door when he heard his father's motorbike and sit with him on it to listen to the revs, Mr Ferreira added.

Motorcyclists followed Romeo's coffin, carried on a Harley Davidson and sidecar, to the funeral at St Mary's Church, Leamington Spa.

Doctor's discovered Romeo's 12cm tumour in June and although he underwent chemotherapy, the cancer spread to his spine.

He was able to attend his parents' wedding the week before he died and accompany his mother down the aisle in his pushchair to give her away, but went downhill quickly afterwards.

"It's like he was waiting for a big moment," said his father.

"[The bikers] complete his last wish which I'm very grateful for," he added.

Audrey Dias
Journalist, BBC Midlands Today

The man behind hit BBC comedy Man Like Mobeen says he wants to bring more people from working class backgrounds into the TV industry.

Guz Khan, a former teacher from Coventry, stars in the BBC Three show which returns for a new series this weekend.

He grew up in the Hillfields area and now wants to give childen from similar backgrounds a chance to break into television.

As a result, six young people from the West Midlands won work placements to learn the ropes on this series.

Man like Mobeen will be available on the BBC iPlayer from 26 January.

These CCTV images of an armed raid in Newcastle-under-Lyme have been released by Staffordshire Police.

The thieves took cash and cigarettes after threatening staff with an axe at the Co-op on the High Street in Wolstanton at around 20:15 on 16 January.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Image source, Staffordshire Police

BBC Hereford and Worcester

A sleeping pod has been installed at the County Hospital in Hereford, so staff can grab a nap if they need one.

The Wye Valley NHS Trust is trialing the idea, as part of a national campaign to fight fatigue in the health service.

Image source, Wye Valley NHS Trust

The trust says it encourages staff working night shifts to take a power nap during their break to improve alertness.

A farmer from Herefordshire and researchers at Harper Adams University in Shropshire are hoping to show insects can be used as alternatives to everyday ingredients like flour.

Stephen Ware from Weobley is farming crickets, meal worms and black soldier flies and some will be milled into flour and others used as an alternative protein or meat substitute.

He is growing apples and then using them to feed the insects.

Eric Siquiros is from Harper Adams, where the bugs are dried, tested, ground up and turned into flour and he said there were studies to show growing insects also had less impact on the environment.

Mr Ware said it was a step forward from selling insects as "gimicky" crispy snacks.

Louise Lawford is accused of losing at least five dogs in her care last June in woods in Staffordshire.

Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today

Students living in flats in Coventry are refusing to pay their rent after rats were seen running around the building.

They pay upwards of £6,000 a year to stay at Callice Court, but say they have a catalogue of concerns which aren't being addressed, including faulty heating and fire alarms.

Private company Homes for Students, which runs the accommodation, has refused to comment.

Aston Villa sign England Under-17 striker Louie Barry from Barcelona for a fee in the region of 1m euros (£880,000).

Slipknot fans heading to see the band in Birmingham tomorrow are being warned to expect extra searches at the venue.

Image source, Getty Images

More than 200 phones have been stolen from unsuspecting audience members around the UK at the US heavy metal band’s gigs, said West Midlands Police.

Officers will be working with Arena Birmingham staff, who’ll be carrying out the searches on entry and exit points, it said.

Audience members in the standing area are being advised to consider leaving phones at home.

Tickets for this year's previously free Godiva Festival in Coventry have been increased, the city council has announced.

Image source, Marcus Pendleton

A £2 administration fee for tickets was introduced in 2019 when Levellers, Feeder and Busted were among the musical acts performing.

This year, "early bird" tickets for an adult for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday are £5, £6 and £4 respectively, with a three-day festival ticket having the discounted price of £12.50.

These are available until the end of April, said the local authority, with ticket prices rising to between £8 and £12., external

A family ticket for two adults and two children will now cost £37 for the weekend, but that doesn't include car parking which has been set at £25.

Councillor Abdul Khan said the council could "no longer allow the festival to run at a significant loss as we have done in previous years".

“The Godiva Festival is a jewel in the city’s crown and whilst we acknowledge there will be an increased cost in attending, we are committed to delivering a great weekend that people will come out and support in big numbers," he added.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three headlines from the Stoke-on-Trent Live website today:

• Two robbers beat a boy unconscious in street attack, external
• Car and lorry in crash on A500, external
• CCTV appeal after worker threatened with axe, external

The teenager faces seven charges and is due to stand trial on 24 February.

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

The family of a nurse who was murdered by a recently-released sex offender have said an apology from West Midlands Police's Chief Constable is not enough.

Dave Thompson admitted his force failed to protect Lisa Skidmore before she was killed in Wolverhampton in November 2016.

Her family said steps still need to be taken to stop the same thing happening to someone else.

Both the police and the probation service said lessons had been learnt but Lisa's sister Alison Parker said they've asked for a further meeting with Mr Thompson.