Local Democracy Reporting Service
Alex Moore

A nine-storey tower block could be demolished and residents offered replacement flats in a new building next door.

Image source, Google

Image source, Sutton and Wilkinson

The Wrekin Housing Group has applied to build 81 one and two-bedroom extra care apartments next to the Apley Court site in Dothill, Telford.

“Upon completion of phase one, the residents will be offered one of the new apartments,” a design statement says.

“Once all of the residents have vacated Apley Court the existing tower block will be demolished and the construction of phase two commenced,” it added.

One man has been taken to hospital after a car overturned in Telford.

Image source, West Mercia Police

The two-vehicle crash happened on Hortonwood 40 shortly before 09:00.

The road was blocked for a time but has since reopened.

Signs to help people stay safe while visiting Ludlow have been vandalised.

Shropshire Council has been putting up notices to advise people on social distancing and says some have been "defaced, removed or replaced".

Image source, Shropshire Council

The council said it had reported the vandalism to police.

Earlier we told you how a missing full stop on a Covid-19 sign in Ludlow had been causing parking problems, with the authority having to issue new notices.

A spot of punctuation - or lack thereof - has been causing confusion in Ludlow, Shropshire.

The council there put up a red sign about parking measures. But was it a warning or invitation?

The single-sentence notice in Castle Square said "no parking enforcement in operation," leaving some to believe it was a prime place to pull up.

The problem was, you weren't supposed to park there under local Covid-19 measures. The sign was meant to warn motorists there's no parking - and enforcement was in effect.

Image source, Andy Boddington

Councillor Andy Boddington was among those who wanted a full stop - period. The Liberal Democrat member said: "[The sign] should have read 'No parking. Enforcement in operation'. For want of a stop, a message was lost and parking fines were issued."

On the BBC Shropshire Facebook page, external, people have been sharing their views.

Jayne Cartwright wrote: "I immediately read that as 'you can park, restriction relaxed due to Covid'."

Chris Hudson added: "I'd be happy to challenge any fine in court if I'd had one."

Tory-run Shropshire Council said a full stop had now been included on the existing notice, with corrected signs going up later. The authority has been asked for comment over issued fines.

BBC Weather Watchers

The hot weather we've got used to over the past couple of weeks seems to have gone.

And the BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing their rainy photos from around the West Midlands instead.

These were taken near Hanbury, Leek and Telford.

Image source, Mrs_Strivzy

Image source, Videoman

Image source, Raj's Range

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Three new extensions could be added to the Telford International Centre, increasing its floorspace by more than a third.

The owners of the conference and exhibition venue says it receives 250,000 visitors a year and the extensions will allow it to provide more suites, office space and storage.

Image source, Corstophine and Wright Architects

The Southwater Event Group Ltd and Telford International Centre said the plans fell within outline planning permission that had already been granted.

Telford and Wrekin councillors will look at the plans at a later date.

Image source, Corstophine and Wright Architects

This was Telford Council's Southwater One offices last night.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

Like a number of other buildings around the country, it was illuminated purple to show solidarity with protests around the world following the death of American George Floyd in police custody.

The council said yesterday: "Telford and Wrekin Council stands together with all those who are rightly upset and feel compelled to respond."

Purple lights symbolise solidarity with anti-racism protests and the Black Lives Matter campaign.

Posters, flags and signs will be going up around Shrewsbury to welcome shoppers back to the town.

They'll carry positive messages, encouraging people to visit the town's stores after lockdown restrictions relax on 15 June.

Image source, Shrewsbury BID

Emma Molyneux, from the Shrewsbury BID group which represents traders in the town, said they wanted to make the centre a happy and welcoming place.

Image source, Shrewsbury BID

Key worker Kerry Boden is living in a camper van during lockdown to protect her new husband.

Telford Council's Southwater offices are going to be illuminated purple, as a show of solidarity "against racism, hate and prejudice".

The council said it was taking the step following the death of George Floyd in America, which has "ignited anger around the world".

An appeal to raise money for a nursery playground that was destroyed by fire at the weekend has collected £5,870 - nearly double the initial target.

Halesfield Day Nursery in Telford - which had been due to reopen on Monday - said it wanted the money to get the "playground looking amazing again for our children, staff and families and hopefully put the smiles back on their faces".

Image source, Halesfield Day Nursery

Kevin Davis has been named by police investigating two deaths connected to the site.

A "snake" made up of small painted stones around Priorslee Lake in Telford has raised £100 for the NHS.

It was was the idea of seven-year-old Jacob Atherton (below, middle) who explained he wanted to do something to brighten up the area and cheer people up.

Jacob invited people to add their own stones and so far nearly 500 have joined the line, with local removal firm Glynn Upton donating 50p for each of the first 200.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Shropshire sausage roll-maker, Coopers Gourmet Foods, is looking for an alternative source of power to meet its growing energy demands.

Since moving in 2015 from a starter unit in Shrewsbury to a factory in Roden, the company's electricity bill has risen to £50,000 a year and it has applied to set up more than 700 square metres of solar panels on the surrounding area.

Image source, Google

The company, which began in Oswestry in 2010, employs 24 staff and also makes pies and quiches.

BBC Shropshire

Parents and teachers have been dealing with the "very weird" situation of schools reopening under social distancing guidelines this morning in Shropshire.

Image source, Google

About 10 pupils were expected to return to Church Preen school, near Much Wenlock, across years one to six.

Head teacher Dave Tinker told BBC Shropshire they were going to use the weather to help with the restrictions.

"We're going to try and break out and do all of our learning outside this afternoon. In fact, we're going to try and do as much learning as possible in the outdoors," he said.

While Richard Englar, from Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, said his three-year-old daughter and five-year-old son went back this morning and had to cope with the measures.

"They've been aware of the virus but it's that sudden realisation this morning as he was walking in that actually he's seen all his friends but he can't actually go and see his friends and physically touch," he said.

People living near beauty spots across the West Midlands have told the BBC they are counting the cost of visitors flocking to their areas in the sunshine with lockdown easing.

Thousands turned up at the National Trust site at Carding Mill Valley, causing the nearby market town of Church Stretton to be overrun with hundreds of cars.

The town's mayor, Bob Welch, pleaded with visitors to delay their journeys "until we've reached the new normal".

Image source, Other

While in Staffordshire, a resident of Knotbury, in the Peak District, said the tiny hamlet had been "overwhelmed" with tourists.

The hamlet is made up of 12 houses, but she said yesterday dozens of cars had turned up and rubbish was left everywhere on the tiny farm roads, including nappies.

Staff at the nursery, which was due to reopen on Monday after a 10-week closure, are "heartbroken".

A water company has apologised after there was "low pressure and/or no supply in a number of areas".

Severn Trent said yesterday was another day of "incredibly high demand for treated water" across pretty much its entire area - almost reaching its highest ever level and finishing at 2.275bn litres.

Image source, Getty Images

The Coventry-based company said it knew "just how difficult it must be with the heat and with everyone needing to wash their hands... during the coronavirus crisis".

Areas affected included Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, Knaptoft in Leicestershire, Rugby in Warwickshire, Much Wenlock in Shropshire and Bushbury in Wolverhampton.

Whittington Castle trustees launch an appeal to save the Shropshire landmark.