An "unstable structure" at the scene of a fire at an abandoned recycling plant is unsafe for crews to enter completely, the fire service says, external.

Image source, @SFRS_cjackson

More than 70 firefighters were involved at the height of the blaze at Greenway Polymers, Ketley, Telford, on 26 April.

There was still burning waste inside, station manager in Shrewsbury Craig Jackson, said.

"We need to go into the building in sections in a safe way to bring the waste out, put it into... bays and then treat it with a wetting agent to make sure that the fire is fully extinguished," he said.

"It's unsafe for the firefighters to enter and also demolition crews. But that is why it's gonna [sic] take some time to gradually work through the building and process the waste."

Telford Conservative MP Lucy Allan, writing on Facebook, has said the fire was "deeply shocking".

She added: "The long-term impact on Telford is huge: our natural environment, air, water, health, schools - the multi million cost of the clean up, which could take several years."

Ofsted cannot conduct an impartial review into allegations of sex abuse in schools, a teaching union says.

Simon Read
Business Reporter

Domestic abuse victims will be able to use "safe spaces" in nearly 300 TSB branches to get specialist support, the bank has said.

People will be able to get help as lockdown restrictions ease, TSB said.

Image source, Laura Dodsworth

The scheme has been trialled in branches in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

The initiative, run by domestic abuse charity Hestia, is already in place in more than 5,300 pharmacies across the country.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is set to invest a further £3.25m to regenerate part of the city centre.

Meigh Street car park will be demolished as will the adjoining Goodson building.

Image source, Google

"This site is the single, largest regeneration opportunity in council ownership which we have power over, and we want to make sure that whatever we do on the site connects and benefits the whole city, and isn’t just about he city centre.

"This additional funding is absolutely vital to make sure the site’s full potential can be unlocked and make sure we get the best outcome for Stoke-on-Trent through its regeneration."

In its 10-15 year vision for the site, the council has said it wants to include a "transport hub" in the site's redevelopment, which would connect it by ultra-light rail trams to other parts of the city, designed to improve air quality.

The money is subject to agreement from the council's cabinet.

Staffordshire Police took responsibility for managing convicted terrorist Usman Khan after his release.

BBC Weather

Today will see patchy cloud and scattered showers throughout.

Showers may turn locally heavy, but there will be plenty of sunshine in between, particularly in the afternoon. Highs of 12C to 15C (54F to 59F).

Tonight showers will clear, but cloud will build in and it will become overcast. A few outbreaks of rain may push in during the early hours of Thursday. Lows of 8C to 11C (46F to 52F).

The Godivas have been selected for their "unique stories" to help celebrate the women of Coventry.

Sunni Patel experienced bulimia as a teenager and noticed a link between gut health and mental health.

Implemented eight months ago, the scheme has sparked a "divisive conversation" in Kings Heath.

Murder-accused PC Benjamin Monk was seen standing above Dalian Atkinson in a Telford street in 2016.

Carl Harris is the last resident on a Birmingham street that is earmarked for redevelopment.

Coventry Live

Here are some of the headlines from the Coventry Live website:

• Trio fined more than £2,700 for fly-tipping in Coventry, external
• Pensioner tried to hit neighbour with his car - but ran over his own wife, external
• Huge rail disruption after bridge damage between Nuneaton and Coleshill, external

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the headlines from the Shropshire Star's website today:

• Fire service takeover among re-elected police and crime commissioner's top priorities, external
• Shropshire maternity scandal: Review asks for staff experiences of service, external
• Staff 'devastated' as 30 set to lose jobs due to Calor Gas closure of Telford site, external

A trial is due in September following the death of father-of-one Nathan Burton.

Poet and playwright Kay Rufai will work with young people and West Midlands Police.

Maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust are under review after babies died.

Jack Sumner suffered a fractured skull in an attack in Newcastle-under-Lyme in June 2020.

BBC Radio Stoke

An inflatable hot tub has been stolen from a garden in Stoke-on-Trent.

It was taken from Hamil Road in Burslem over the weekend.

Staffordshire Police said the theft would have taken some time, as the perpetrators had to take out a garden fence panel, drain and deflate the tub.

Heather Brown and Paul Dowler both lost their spouses to dementia but are now set to marry.

BBC Midlands Today

Conservative councillors who won seats and control of councils in Staffordshire in this month's elections need to deliver on their promises, the leader of county council said.

The Tories took control of Cannock Chase District Council for the first time and increased their majorities on Tamworth Borough Council and the county council.

Alan White, leader of the county council, said the results had taken them by surprise but they now had to work on their pledges.

"The state of the roads is something we need to be addressing, we need to be making sure our social services are being run efficiently, our children's services are being run efficiently," he said.

Alan Pearson, a former Labour councillor, was one of those swept away by the Tory success, losing his Hednesford North seat.

He said his party had to be clearer on their policies: "If you put 'vote Tory' and a blue badge on anybody who walks by, they would have got in."