A duckling has been rescued from a drain in Shrewsbury by police who lured it out by playing duck sounds from Youtube.

Officers were called out when someone spotted it was stuck in the drain off Holyhead Road yesterday afternoon and some passing Shropshire Council workers helped them remove a manhole cover.

Image source, West Mercia Police

The drains were then gently flushed to bring it out and the duckling is now at a rescue centre in Much Wenlock.

Bill Etheridge becomes the third UKIP MEP to join the race to succeed Nigel Farage as party leader.

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It should remain a mostly dry, breezy and cloudy afternoon, with a few brighter spells developing. Feeling muggy. 

Maximum Temperature: 21C (70F).

Shropshire will be looking to maintain their 100% start to the Minor Counties Championship season, at home to Berkshire this weekend.

They will make one change, external from the side that beat Cornwall, with Tom Weston coming in to replace Omar Ali.

Image source, Andrew Carter

The game starts at Shifnal cricket club at 11:00 on Sunday.

The flags have been flying at half mast over the offices of Telford and Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council, as a mark of respect for all those who lost their lives in the Nice attack last night.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Our top stories this lunchtime:

- Flags fly at half mast in Shropshire for victims of Nice attack

- West Mids MEP to stand for UKIP leadership

- Inquest rules Shropshire man's death in Thailand probably an accident

A Harry Potter obsessed family has recreated a bit of Hogwarts in the dining room of their family home in Shropshire.

Nearly one month on from that epic referendum result, I've been sounding out opinions in the part of Britain which voted more enthusiastically than anywhere else for the UK to leave the EU.

Rob Mayor
Political Reporter, WM

MEP Bill Etheridge announces he is to stand as leader of UKIP.

The leadership race was sparked by the resignation of Nigel Farage, who quit following the EU referendum vote.  

Many of UKIP's best-known faces have been blocked from contesting the leadership after the Eurosceptic party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) said all candidates must have been a member for at least five years.  

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Politicians of all parties have been expressing their shock at the attack in Nice overnight.

These are the thoughts of the Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard and the leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, Shaun Davies.

Tim Page
News Editor, BBC Shropshire

A coroner has ruled that the death of a south Shropshire man in Thailand was probably an accident.

An inquest in Shrewsbury heard that Stewart Middleton, from Craven Arms, died in February after leaving a bar in the early hours of the morning.

He was found on rocks below a balcony.

Shrewsbury Town make their ninth signing of the summer by snapping up ex-Bristol City defender Adam El-Abd.

A young AFC Telford United side beat Bridgnorth 2-1 last night in a pre-season friendly - Will McGarry (pictured below) scored the winner.

Three under-18s made their first team debut, Mitchell Willdigg, Dom Bendall-Court and George Broome.

Image source, Mike Sheridan

Next up, Aston Villa at the New Bucks Head, tomorrow with a midday kickoff.

Clare Ashford
Presenter, BBC Shropshire

I've been following the journey of Emma from Telford, as she goes through weight loss surgery at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Surgeon's performed what is known as a sleeve gastrectomy on her.

It involves the removal of a section of the stomach.

A warning that the video below shows some graphic medical scenes.

Politicians in Shropshire have been reacting with shock at the news of the terror attack in Nice last night.

They include the MPs for Ludlow and Telford.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Our top stories this morning:

- Shropshire Council defends decision to use bus firm which went into administration

- Mother calls for greater infection awareness following daughter's death

- Politicians react with shock to Nice terror attack

Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire

A biker's critically ill after a crash on the A41, external, between Tern Hill and Prees Heath. 

The rider, who's in his 50s, lost control of his blue Yamaha - at Bletchley last night - bounced off the central reservation - and went into a car. 

He's in hospital - in a stable condition - with serious arm, leg and head injuries.

Genevieve Tudor
Reporter, BBC Shropshire

Parents affected by the probable closure of two Shropshire village schools have been giving us their reaction. 

Governors say falling pupil numbers mean the schools in Hope and Westbury are no longer viable. In a year's time they want children to move to an enlarged site at Worthen. 

Consultations are ongoing.

Image source, Google

Outside St Mary's School in Westbury, one parent told me "it's a real shame", but another admitted "there aren't enough children in the community to make it worthwhile keeping it open".

Shropshire Star

A small bronze figure created in memory of the Great War dead has been stolen, external from Shrewsbury's Quarry park.

Image source, Shropshire Star

Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire

Shropshire Council leader Malcolm Pate has pointed to the authority's "severe financial problems" in defending its decision to use bus operator GHA, which went into administration yesterday. 

The Ruabon-based firm, which employed 320 people, operated school and bus routes across north Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.

They are believed to have offered a cheaper deal than rival operator, Arriva, but Malcolm Pate says he felt they were a "reputable company".