Officers are on standby to help evacuate properties near a large recycling plant fire in Shropshire, a resident has said.

Image source, Janice Bannister

Janice Bannister from Cottage Kennels, close to the scene of the fire at the Grange Lane plant in Redhill, said she first spotted the "very scary" fire just after 04:00.

Image source, Janice Bannister

"We had emergency evacuation plans all put into action so all the pets were ready to be evacuated," she said.

"We grabbed a few personal items in case we had to leave in a hurry," she added.

"The police are on standby to help us evacuate if necessary," she added.

The centre will continue to be known as Intu Merry Hill until a rebrand next year.

Ben Hunte
BBC London

A gender-fluid worker has won an employment tribunal against Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).

Ms R Taylor brought claims against the company, saying she had suffered abuse and a lack of support.

Image source, Getty Images

While Jaguar Land Rover could still appeal the decision, this employment tribunal is being called a "milestone moment".

It shows that people with more complex gender identities can be protected from discrimination under the Equality Act.

While some people will be shocked that this was not already the case, one legal expert told me our laws "have not developed as quickly as society's understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity".

It is these blurred legal lines that have led to some trans people being confused about what rights they actually have, including non-binary people who are not currently legally recognised in the UK.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

It looks like a public meeting to discuss the latest plans for the former Ironbridge power station site won't happen, because of coronavirus restrictions.

Harworth Group is asking tor permission to build about 1,000 homes there and other facilities and published revised proposals in August.

The Telford and Wrekin councillor for the area, Carolyn Healy, had wanted to give local residents the chance to debate them, before they go before the local authority's planning committee in November.

But she's been forced to concede she'll have to distribute a summary of the plans because of the limits on large gatherings.

A tactical adviser, specialising in wild fires, has been called to the scene of a large recycling plant fire in Shropshire.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

The whole of the site at the Grange Lane plant in Redhill near Telford is "well alight," said the fire service.

Adam Matthews from Shropshire Fire and Rescue said there were no water sources immediately available so specialist pumping vehicles have been called in.

Resources from across the county had also been called upon.

Firefighters were expected to remain at the site for "some considerable time".

A large smoke plume from a fire at a recycling center is likely to affect residents in Telford, said the fire service.

Image source, John Davies

Adam Mathews, from Shropshire Fire and Rescue said people living in a wide area including Oakengates, Trench and Hadley were being warned to keep their doors and windows closed.

More than 30 firefighters were called to the Granville Recycling plant on Grange Lane, Redhill near Telford before 05:00.

"We're currently reviewing our tactical plan," he added, "but the main thing is to deal with the plume that is heading over to Telford."

Rebecca Woods
BBC News

More than 1.6 million people in the West Midlands are under new lockdown restrictions.

But with the main message being not to mix households and the introduction of the national "rule of six" coming at the same time, confusion has been rife.

Image source, EPA

BBC Midlands has compiled a list of questions and answered them on what people in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull can do now, and what they cannot - until infection rates come down.

Read our explainer here.

BBC Radio Shropshire

Dozens of firefighters have been tackling a large fire a recycling plant this morning in Shropshire.

Image source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service

Eight fire engines were called at 04:42 to the Granville Recycling Plant on Grange Lane, Redhill, near Telford, the fire service said. , external

Crews said residents living north of the M54 over Oakengates, Trench and Hadley should keep their windows and doors closed., external

BBC Weather

It will be a dry and settled day with some cloud but lots of sunny spells with highs of 20C (68F).

This was the scene earlier in Ashton under Hill in Worcestershire as taken by BBC Weather Watcher Morning Amble.

Image source, Weather Watcher/morning amble

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to our live service for Thursday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you, so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email,Twitter , externaland Facebook., external

Birmingham City sign striker Scott Hogan from neighbours Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.

Roy Garmson, 33, is accused of stabbing Joseph, 31, at a house in Bartley Green, Birmingham.

Health chiefs describe scenes of guidance being ignored in a packed bar as "unprecedented".

An employment tribunal finds Jaguar Land Rover took an "insensitive stance" dealing with the case.

Some children with special needs were dropped at the wrong schools, Birmingham City Council said.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow.

BBC Weather

The end of the week is forecast to be a bit cooler, with temperatures on Thursday and Friday up to around 19C (66F) instead of the 25C (77F) we were seeing earlier in the week.

But it should remain sunny and clear.

Image source, Chris L

At the weekend, just days before Birmingham introduced its own lockdown measures, the city faced the second highest rate of coronavirus infections in England, with only Bolton higher.

The latest figures from Public Health England show week-on-week, the number of cases have risen in Birmingham, although many other places in England have seen big rises themselves.

In the seven days up to 13 September, Birmingham had 952 new cases of Covid-19, up from 924. That meant a rate of 83.4 cases per 100,000 people (up from 80.9).

However, in Bolton, the rate stands at 204.1 per 100,000 people and 11 other places in England now officially have infection rates of over 100 per 100,000 people.

Solihull and Sandwell, the other two areas to have extra coronavirus restrictions imposed yesterday have also seen rises, week-on-week, as did Rugby and Wolverhampton.

Worcester Warriors forward GJ Van Velze has shoulder surgery, and centre Will Butler is to see a a specialist about his ankle injury.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Councillors will have another say on the future of Shrewsbury's Clive of India statue when they meet next week.

Thousands of people have signed petitions calling for it to be removed, because of his prominent role in the colonial rule of India and Lib Dem councillor Roger Evans described him today as a "very unsavoury character".

But calls to move the statue have been turned down once already by councillors and the Conservative councillor Steve Charmley said: "The decision at the last council [meeting] was was pretty clear to take no further action and I don’t see any reason to change it.”

Image source, Getty Images

A scrutiny committee meeting which discussed the issue today voted by six votes to two in favour of taking no further action.

The matter, and a rival petition to keep the statue where it is, will be discussed by full council on 24 September.