Four people died in the explosion at Wood Flour Mills in Bosley, Cheshire, in 2015.

Shropshire Star

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

• Three former mayors are not seeking re-election to Oswestry Town Council next month, external
• Biker killed in A41 crash named as 53-year-old man, external
• Knife amnesty campaign proving 'great success', say Telford police, external

The firm running the mental health hospital says it is working closely with the watchdog to address issues.

Free Covid-19 testing kits are being distributed in Bromyard today, Herefordshire Council says.

The site at the Co-op store is in addition to three others testing sites at Merton Meadow car park in Hereford, Broad Street car park in Leominster and Wilton Road car park in Ross-on-Wye.

The council also has a number of symptom-free testing sites available.

Two previous Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioners prepare to battle for the role again.

Covid-hit Shrewsbury boss Steve Cotterill is allowed to attend Saturday's home game with Oxford United.

Several people have been arrested in a county lines operation, police say.

The West Midlands County Line Task Force worked with Warwickshire Police to raid on a property on Thursday.

Police released footage of the operation leading to a number of suspects being taken into custody.

BBC Sport

The Elite Series has come to an end for Coventry Blaze, following a 4-1 semi-final defeat to Nottingham Panthers.

The result made the final score 6-1 over the two legs, but head coach Danny Stewart said he was "very proud of the group".

Image source, Karl Denham

The competition was put together as a replacement for the Elite League season which was lost due to coronavirus and Stewart said: "There has been some ups and downs along the way but I don’t feel bad for losing at all.

"I think we did the best we could with that we had and every bought in.”

BBC Radio WM

Birmingham Hippodrome has announced its reopening plans.

The theatre will welcome members of the public back on the 25 May with the Van Gogh Alive show.

It will then reopen for live performance on 24 August with the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Tell Me on a Sunday, starring Jodie Prenger.

Image source, Birmingham Hippodrome

Fiona Allan, artistic director and chief executive at Birmingham Hippodrome said: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank our audiences for all the support you have shown during our extended closure.

"Just knowing how many people were counting on us to find a way through the pandemic and make sure the Hippodrome could reopen again on the other side, kept me and the team determined and motivated through the last 13 months."

The BBC has announced a peak-time Wolverhampton radio service as part of its commitment to local news.

Wolverhampton is one of six areas that will receive a more bespoke radio service, alongside Bradford and Sunderland.

Image source, Gavin Dickson

The broadcaster will also offer on-demand news bulletins tailored to listeners' local areas through its BBC Sounds platform.

The plans were detailed by BBC director of nations Rhodri Talfan Davies detailed the plans during the Westminster Media Forum on Wednesday.

He also said the corporation would be making local news "front and centre" on its online platforms.

"We are going to be more local than ever before - better reflecting the passions and identities of a culturally diverse UK," he said.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The company running a Staffordshire landfill site that has attracted complaints about smells has changed its name.

Red Industries, which ultimately controls the Walleys Quarry site in Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme, has renamed itself itself Walleys Quarry Ltd.

The company said it decided to change its name because it is reducing its landfill operations.

Walleys Quarry and its operator have received thousands of complaints about a ‘rotten egg’ smell that some say causes headaches, coughs and sore eyes.

The company has promised to cover part of the site by the end of the week.

Later today the first air quality monitoring report into the Walleys Quarry landfill site will be made public.

BBC Radio WM

An international student has spoken of her worry for her parents in India amid the country's worsening Covid crisis.

Jinal Shah, a student at Birmingham City University, said she had been hoping to return to visit them last summer, but has been unable.

Her mother has also lost an aunt and uncle to coronavirus, Ms Shah said.

Image source, Google

More than 200,000 people have died during a second wave of the virus.

"They are actually scared with the things going on and in the news," Ms Shah said.

"It is a difficult one because you are stuck, you are scared, you don’t know when you will be reaching home."

BBC Weather

It's going to be another cool day, with temperatures up to around 11C (52F) and it will be cloudy too, but we could see some clear skies and sunshine too.

Tonight, temperatures could drop to around 2C (37F).

Image source, Jeff

BBC Radio Shropshire

There are concerns the building which is on fire at a recycling plant in Telford could collapse.

And firefighters believe the fire at Greenway Polymers in Ketley might not be fully extinguished for a number of weeks.

Image source, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service

Six schools remain closed this morning, with around 2,000 children going back to online learning because of the drifting fumes.

And one lane of the M54 will stay closed until tomorrow.

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

Thousands of pounds are raised so Michael Murray can get married after a terminal diagnosis.

Residents living near a landfill site say their physical and mental health is suffering.

Veatriki Sarri scores deep into injury time as Birmingham salvage a vital point to stay above WSL relegation rivals Aston Villa.

The American bulldogs, not a UK banned breed, were destroyed after fatally attacking Lucille Downer.

The brother of terrorist Usman Khan apologises to the families of Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones.