BBC Radio Shropshire

The opening ceremony of the Paralympics gets under way in Tokyo later.

Team GB will be hoping for great successes at this year's competition.

Last time in Rio, Paralympics GB won 147 medals, including 64 golds.

Image source, Getty Images

Telford's Penny Briscoe, who is Team GB's Chef de Mission, said: "We're here to do our very best.

"We've got an incredible team of 227 of the finest para-athletes and we will be gunning over 12 days of competition to bring medals and lots of memorable moments for the British public."

However they are not deemed a person of interest to security agencies or police after an investigation.

A motorcyclist has been seriously injured in a crash with a car in Worcestershire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called at 08:23 BST to the collision at the junction of the A456 and Broome Lane in Hagley.

The male motorcyclist received specialist trauma care at the scene, it said, before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The car driver, a woman, sustained minor injuries, and was conveyed to Alexandra Hospital.

Image source, Google

Pubs in Staffordshire are backing a campaign to tackle mental health issues.

Support organisation Brighter Futures, based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, is supplying more than 20,000 beer mats that point people towards a mental health helpline.

The Princess Royal in Dresden is one of those supporting the campaign.

Image source, Google

Landlady Sarah Williams said: "People come to be in touch with other people, not just to have a drink but to [talk] and not just be on their own all the time.

"If they can see that we are getting involved and we are there and we are there to help them...they don't have to keep it to themselves."

A heritage railway is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The first passenger train on the Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire ran on 24 August 1996 over a one-mile section of line between Cheddleton and Leekbrook. The attraction has since grown to cover a 10-mile stretch.

It will be marking the anniversary with a special celebration over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Image source, Churnet Valley Railway

Gregory Wilson, managing director, said: “We've reached this milestone due to the dedication and passion of our volunteers.

"Devoting a quarter of a century to anything requires commitment.

"Our volunteers come rain or shine and they are the main reason we are here today."

A Shropshire road has been closed to allow the fire service to attend a multi-vehicle collision.

The A49 is closed just south of Dorrington, near Shrewsbury.

Assistant Group Commander Jim Barker said the road was likely to remain shut for the next few hours.

Olympic boxer Ben Whittaker has just undergone surgery on his shoulder.

The 24-year-old won a silver medal in the light-heavyweight category in Tokyo on 4 August.

In a post on Facebook, he said he had had a "tear" for three years which had never properly healed.

He said he was told he needed the surgery "ASAP" but made the decision to delay it in order to fight in the Olympics.

"Surgery went great and I'll be back soon," he said.

Image source, Ben Whittaker

Earlier this week the boxer was made Mayor of Wolverhampton for a day, after he said in post-bout interview in Tokyo he wanted the honour when he returned to the UK.

Lottie Littlehales admitted she had an issue with alcohol, a professional conduct panel hears.

Earlier we told you how the A46 had been closed between Leek Wootton and Kenilworth due to a collision.

Warwickshire Police has now confirmed the road has reopened.

The collision, at 05:00 BST, it said, was between a van and a lorry.

The van driver has been taken to hospital with serious injuries, it added

Comedian Joe Lycett is set to present a life drawing programme for the BBC.

Life Drawing Live! will air on BBC Two and BBC Four in September.

The two-hour special will feature life models disrobing and assuming poses inspired by great works of art, producers said.

Image source, Getty Images

Lycett, 33, of Birmingham, said: "Like many people I found great solace from making art during lockdown and am really excited to help get the nation creative through learning about life drawing.

"Any nudity is just an added bonus."

A Shropshire charity says it has seen "unprecedented" offers of support for Afghan refugees.

Thousands of Afghans have been trying to flee the country after the Taliban seized control of the capital Kabul.

Shropshire Supports Refugees said: "We have had an unprecedented amount of phone calls, messages and emails all offering support or donations of one sort or another."

The charity said it was currently seeking donations of clothes and shoes for women, men and children as well as bedding, pots and pans, bowls, games consoles and TVs.

BBC Weather

The day will start mostly cloudy or overcast with the odd spell of light rain or drizzle.

In the afternoon, it will continue largely cloudy, but a few brighter spells may develop between the cloud. Highs of 20C (68F).

Find your local forecast at BBC Weather.

A Warwickshire road has been closed following a serious collision.

Emergency services are at the scene on the northbound carriageway of the A46 between junction two, for Leek Wootton, and three, for Kenilworth.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

A post-mortem examination shows Jason Bentley-Morrison died as a result of a stab wound.

Ian Rivers becomes the first person to row solo across the North Atlantic, his team says.

A court is told David Rogers stabbed his younger brother while another brother filmed the attack.

Arthur Mortimer, 15, takes on the fundraising feat having not seen his nan and grandad for 18 months.

The English cricket season moves on from The Hundred to this week's four T20 Blast quarter-finals.

Items are being packed into rucksacks for nearly 50 children expected to arrive in Walsall.

Leicester City sign midfielder Connie Scofield after she leaves fellow Women's Super League side Birmingham City.