Warwickshire sign India Test batsman Hanuma Vihari as cover while South African Pieter Malan is delayed by a visa issue.

Shropshire Star

Here are some of the stories on the Shropshire Star website:

• Violence, vandalism and blood on Shrewsbury's streets: 'Pack it in plea' to yobs, external
• 103 give evidence in Telford child sex abuse inquiry, external
• Hundreds more dead in Shropshire than predicted - showing impact of pandemic, external

Relive the opening day of the 2021 County Championship season as defending champions Essex make a strong start.

BBC Midlands Today

Drivers who use the M6 toll are to benefit from improvements to its design, as part of a multi-million pound investment strategy.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology will be installed from today in some lanes, as part of a pilot project for trucks and vans.

It'll then be gradually rolled out for all other motorists.

It's part of a wider plan to make the toll safer and improve congestion and connectivity across the West Midlands.

Susan Lowe is among the carers who struggled to get pain relief for a loved one during the pandemic.

A stage area and 120 seats are to be installed in Birmingham's Victoria Square.

Len Redding, from Stourbridge, spent months in hospital before continuing his recovery in a care home.

Azam Mangori, 24, killed Lorraine Cox, 32, in his flat above a kebab shop in Exeter in September.

The Wildlife Trusts says it wants 30% of UK land and sea to be set aside for nature by 2030.

Ateeq Rafiq died after getting his head stuck under a motorised footrest while searching for keys.

BBC local radio cricket commentators give their thoughts on how the season might pan out for their county.

Matthew Downs admitted shouting at the teenager, mocking him and using unnecessary force.

With the County Championship making an eagerly anticipated return on Thursday, here's a look at who and what to watch out for.

Police say post-mortem tests have so far proved inconclusive after the death in Birmingham.

The government gives the festival £3.5m for "enhanced Covid-19 safety and hygiene methods".

Mark Robinson, the former England women's coach, on returning to men's county cricket with Warwickshire.

The Wildlife Trusts coalition has revealed 10 locations in England and Wales they are hoping bring back nature.

Sites in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire are included in the £8m project.

The trusts have begun a campaign, backed by Sir David Attenborough, to drive the recovery of nature across 30% of land by 2030.

Image source, Getty Images

In Shropshire, 12 acres of unsprayed fields around the Stiperstones ridge (pictured), above Tankerville, will be restored to allow harebells, yellow mountain pansies, stonechats and skylarks to thrive.

Meanwhile in Herefordshire, £200,000 will be spent restoring the 14-acre Ail Meadow, increasing wildflowers to boost numbers of the wood white butterfly, providing a home for species such as bog pimpernel.

Ninety-five acres of arable fields will be restored back to heathland in Worcestershire to connect four surrounding nature reserves and provide home to wildlife, including the hornet robberfly and minotaur bee.

"Just protecting the nature we have left is not enough; we need to put nature into recovery and to do so at scale and with urgency," Wildlife Trusts chief executive Craig Bennett said.

"We need to transform nature-poor areas into new nature-rich places - and change the way we think about land, looking for opportunities to help nature outside traditional nature reserves."

Today will begin dry and bright but it will feel cold. The cloud will build through the afternoon and it will turn overcast, but should remain dry. Gentle winds. Highs of 4C to 7C (39F to 45F).

This evening and tonight will be largely cloudy, but there should be a few clear spells. It will continue to stay dry. Winds will be lighter and it will not be as cold as the past couple of nights. Lows of 1C to 4C (34F to 39F).

England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck says the situation at Birmingham City is "unacceptable" following player complaints about conditions.

The patients at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital were allegedly exposed to "avoidable harm".