Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has welcomed the news Andrea Leadsom has withdrawn from the Conservative leadership, leaving the way clear for Theresa May to become prime minister.

Mr Kawczynski said it was important to have the contest settled, because the government had "some very important negotiations with Europe" and he said some of his constituents were unhappy with the length of the leadership election.

The Shrewsbury MP, who originally backed Michael Gove, said Mrs Leadsom had made the right decision and that "Theresa May was so overwhelmingly more popular".

Ex-UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire has criticised what she claims has been a public spend of £1.5m on the case against her.

She was cleared by a jury earlier of fiddling travel expense claims while in office and laundering the cash.

She criticised West Midlands Police's handling of the criminal inquiry, saying that the 10 claims upon which the Crown's case rested - and of which she was cleared - were now nearly "seven years old", dating to October 2009.

The force defended its handling of the investigation and has declined to say how much the inquiry cost.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

The President of the Lawn Tennis Association, Shropshire's Cathy Sabin, says she was "tired but very very happy" after watching four British players pick up titles at Wimbledon this year.

Gordon Reid won the men's wheelchair singles title, Jordanne Whiley the women's wheelchair doubles and later Britain's Heather Watson won in the mixed doubles.

Plus, of course there was Andy Murray winning his second men's singles title.

Image source, Getty Images/LTA

Mrs Sabin said Heather Watson "hadn't stopped smiling" since picking up her title and added her favourite moment from this year's tournament was watching Marcus Willis play Roger Federer.

Alexandra Hamilton
BBC Weather

The sun could break through from behind the clouds, but we're due more rain this afternoon.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Our top stories this lunchtime:

- Man seriously injured when he is struck by train near Craven Arms

- Ex-MEP Nikki Sinclaire cleared of expenses fraud

- Mechanical digger stolen in Newport

As a court clears former MEP Nikki Sinclaire of misconduct in a public office and fraud the BBC profiles her eventful private and political life.

BBC Weather Watchers

The BBC Weather Watchers have been sending in photos with a familiar theme this morning - lots of grey cloud.

This one was taken at Wilcott.

Image source, TaffD

More grey cloud at Hopton Heath, but that appears to be a rainbow peeking through the gloom.

Image source, Hopton Karen

Rob Mayor
Political reporter, BBC WM

Today's verdicts clear Nikki Sinclaire of allegations that have been hanging over her since she was arrested almost four years ago.

At times tearful and angry as she gave evidence, it was clear the suggestion she had abused the trust of voters was what hurt her the most.

Ms Sinclaire admitted there were errors in her expenses claims, but her lawyers maintained they had been "deliberately corrupted" by office aide John Ison in an atmosphere of political "hostility" - a defence that convinced the jury.

There had been an atmosphere of "hostility" between ex-UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire and party leader Nigel Farage, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

The jury was told John Ison, Ms Sinclaire's former office aide, had passed information about her to the senior figure.

Ms Sinclaire and her lawyers said Mr Ison had "deliberately corrupted"  her expenses.

The 47-year-old has been cleared of making false travel expenses claims.

Image source, Getty Images

Former UKIP MEP Nikki Sinclaire has been cleared of making false travel expenses claims amounting to £3,250.

The former West Midlands MEP, who represented the region in Brussels and Strasbourg until 2014, denied deliberately submitting 10 dishonest claims for road travel she never made when she had flown more cheaply.

Former West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire has been cleared in court of making false expenses claims.

Image source, PA

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Organisers have described the weather at Newport Show over the weekend as "challenging", but say thousands braved the rain.

Image source, Newport Show

This year the winner of the Great British Bake Off Nadiya Hussain was booked to give cookery demonstrations as part of the show's Festival of Food.

But there was still the usual assortment of animal contests and tractor displays, with show president Martin Hall saying it "remained true to its farming roots".

Image source, Newport Show

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Shrewsbury lost to West Bromwich Dartmouth by one wicket in the Premier Division of the Birmingham League.

Wellington's match against Barnards Green in the first division was called off because of the rain, but Bridgnorth managed a three-wicket win over Attock.

In the second division, Shifnal beat Old Elizabethans by six wickets, but Oswestry lost.

And in the third, Newport drew with Eastnor, while the match between Whitchurch and Worfield was abandoned.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

A man hit by a train near Craven Arms this morning is in a serious but not life threatening condition, West Midlands Ambulance Service says.

The man, aged in his 40s, was struck at about 07:30 at Stokesay bridge junction and has been flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for treatment.

Image source, Getty Images

The ambulance service says the man was using a dirt track that crosses the railway line and was found fully conscious at the side of the railway line with multiple injuries.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

We're forecast some rain this morning and looking outside our offices in Shrewsbury a few minutes ago, it can't be far off.

Shropshire Star

The owner of a Shrewsbury car wash was overpaid more than £8,000 in benefits after he failed to tell council officials that trade was picking up., external

Image source, Shropshire Star

Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire

The main news in Shropshire this morning:

- Rail services between Shrewsbury and Hereford are suspended after a person was hit by a train at Craven Arms.

- Telford and Wrekin Council's minority Conservative group wants the authority to introduce traffic wardens

- Police are concerned for the welfare of 75-year-old Diana Orrell, who has gone missing from her home in Admaston, Telford

Mark Elliott
Reporter, BBC Shropshire

An appeal has been made for information to trace 75-year-old Telford woman Diana Orrell. 

She left her home in Admaston on Saturday afternoon and was reported missing yesterday morning.

Image source, West Mercia Police

Ms Orrell is white, 5ft 3in (1.6m) tall and of average build. 

She has brown hair and when she was last seen was wearing a top, gilet and light brown trousers with black shoes. She was carrying a large blue duffel bag and a brown handbag.  

West Mercia Police says officers are concerned for her welfare.

Mark Elliott
Reporter, BBC Shropshire

Eight Shropshire churches have received grants worth nearly £500,000 to help with the cost of roof repairs. 

The largest individual grant of £100,000 has been given to St Bartholomew's, at Tong.

St Mary's, in Shawbury, gets just over £82,000.

Image source, Google

Mark Elliott
Reporter, BBC Shropshire

Traffic wardens should be introduced in Telford and Wrekin, opposition councillors claim.

The minority Conservative group is trying to persuade the Labour-run authority to take parking enforcement powers away from police. The issue will be put forward when councilors meet on Thursday.

Labour's leader of the council Shaun Davies says it might not be cost effective.

Image source, Getty Images