People are asked to leave the Wrekin as crews tackle a fire on Friday afternoon.

Footage has captured a large fire which broke out at the top of the Wrekin in Shropshire.

There's a large fire on top of the Wrekin and walkers and cyclists are being asked to leave the area.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was affecting an area of about 35 square metres and it has got a fire engine up the hill, supported by off-road vehicles.

It has asked people not to park their cars near the base of the hill.

This video was tweeted by Hayley Hughes.

A number of salmon and trout have been rescued from a dried-up section of the River Teme in Shropshire.

The Environment Agency said it took them from a stretch at Lower Stanage, near Bucknell and moved them further downstream, where water levels were higher.

Image source, Environment Agency

Rangers at Carding Mill Valley near Church Stretton have faced abuse from angry members of the public driving to the popular beauty spot.

The National Trust said the valley was overwhelmed on Bank Holiday Monday, and the limited spaces left some day-trippers frustrated they couldn't park.

Ranger Patrick Edwards said his team had tried to "remain professional and explain where they need to park".

But he said a booking system used at other National Trust properties wouldn't have worked as [people still would have come and the site made it difficult to "turn those people away safely".

Telford's recycling centres have this week been their busiest since they reopened, with queues of up to two hours.

Traffic controls have been set up to cope with the number of vehicles visiting and although the sites stay open until 17:00, staff have been told to start turning cars around from 15:00, if they don't think they'll make it through the gates in time.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

Telford and Wrekin Council said "one or two visitors" had been showing their frustration, but the majority had responded well.

It repeated its plea for people to think carefully before deciding to visit.

The body of Kelvin Hanks, 73, was found near a Shropshire caravan park.

A 73-year-old man who was found dead on a track near Bridgnorth has been identified as Kelvin Hanks, who lived at the Knowles Sands Caravan Park.

West Mercia Police said a post-mortem examination established he died as a result of hanging and there was no third party involvement in his death.

The force is also investigating the death of a 67-year-old man who was found dead in a nearby field and said the two deaths appeared to be linked, and that it wasn't looking for anyone else.

Two castles have launched crowdfunding campaigns amid fears they are facing major struggles due to the pandemic.

Image source, Google

Whittington Castle, near Oswestry, dates back to the 13th Century, but the trust running it said funds to cover its monthly £1,000 running costs have dried up as no events like weddings or historical re-enactments could be held.

It's launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £50,000 , externaland trustee chairman Jonjo Evans warned it could shut for good without extra funds.

While Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust,, external which runs the Grade I listed site near Kidderminster, said being closed "has a significant impact on our work".

It's looking to raise £10,000, but has warned, even when it can reopen, limits on visitor numbers could affect it for the immediate future.

BBC Shropshire

A beauty spot's planning to reopen its 100 acres of parkland from this weekend for a three-day trial period.

Image source, Hawkstone Park Follies

Hawkstone Park Follies, near Market Drayton, will reopen from Saturday , externalbut managers say visitors who want to come must buy tickets in advance.

They added buildings would stay closed, hand sanitiser stations would be introduced and people could bring picnics if they took their rubbish home.

Actor Ricky Tomlinson's jail term for his role in a strike is to be reviewed by the Court of Appeal.

Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star's covering these stories today:

• 'Buzz in the air' as Shropshire shops prepare to reopen, external
• Telford Kwik Fit reopens following deep clean after worker tested positive for Covid-19, external
• Former Shrewsbury Jaguar showroom sold, external

Dozens of Halfords stores are set to reopen to customers after lockdown with new rules including queuing marshals, "sneeze screen" visors for staff and limits on the number of shoppers inside.

Image source, Reuters

The firm, which has headquarters in Redditch, has been allowed to stay open during the pandemic as an essential business, but with people only allowed to buy online or from outside at most stores.

No date has been set by Halfords as the firm said reopenings would be dictated by making sure staff and customers could be kept safe.

The stores set to reopen include Hereford, Leamington Spa and Telford.

BBC Shropshire

Shrewsbury's three main shopping centres will fully reopen on 15 June, owners Shropshire Council has said.

Image source, Flickr

Following the latest government advice, it said preparations would be made to keep staff and shoppers safe at the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside centres., external

They'll include queue management, monitoring customer numbers in the centres, installing hand sanitiser stations and new signs.

The council bought the three centres in January 2018 and, except for essential shops, they've been closed during the pandemic.

Police say a man who jumped into a disused quarry has been treated for a suspected head injury.

West Mercia Police was called to Shadwell Quarry in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, at about 16:20 to reports of a man "stuck" in the water there.

An air ambulance and West Midlands Ambulance Service also attended to bring the 19-year-old man to dry land, police said.

Insp Nikki Roberts said: "The water is incredibly dangerous and people are risking their own lives by going in.

"It is not only very deep but it is incredibly cold...and [could] put even the most competent swimmer into danger."

Image source, Getty Images

Insp Robers said the site was also private property and anybody using it was trespassing.

"While trespassing is a civil offence, if those responsible cause any damage they are in fact committing a criminal offence and we will look to take action," she said.

A running club in Shropshire has carried out a virtual relay to raise money for a local foodbank during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Whitchurch Whippets launched the 67-hour event over the Bank Holiday weekend and have so far raised more than £1,500 for Whitchurch food bank, external.

Participants have been taking turns running in 45 or 90-minute bursts around the clock since 05:00 on Saturday until midnight on Monday.

A total of 52 runners, aged from 17 to 65, collectively ran about 350 miles during the relay.

Image source, Fiona Leatham/Whitchurch Whippets

Coach Fiona Leatham said the event had "really brought the club together", with the group smashing the initial £250 fundraising target.

"We really wanted to do something to support the local community during this time and we chose the foodbank because it has seen demand for its services really increase during the pandemic," Ms Leatham said.

A Shropshire town was hit by an "invasion" of visitors during the Bank Holiday weekend, its mayor has said.

Church Stretton town mayor Bob Welch says walkers flocked to the Carding Mill Valley but found there was nowhere to park, leading to pavements and driveways being blocked.

Mr Welch is calling for more National Trust sites and countryside venues to reopen to ease the pressure on the town's facilities.

Image source, Google

Speaking to BBC Shropshire he said: "It was a veritable invasion.

"We had several thousand people come to the area and with the Valley only one-third open, we had an estimated 400 cars parked all over the place...with no regard for local residents' interests."

The sudden changes to our everyday lives have been difficult to adapt to but it has opened new opportunities for some.

Image source, Matt Sewell

Shrewsbury-based artist and author Matt Sewell had a busy summer lined up with festivals, workshops and exhibitions booked in.

But when the 43-year-old's work diary quickly dried up, he decided to start free illustration and watercolour workshops online, fitted around his wife's nursing shifts to make childcare work.

"I was thinking about how I could help keep people busy and their spirits up," he said.

"It was as much for me as it was for them as well."

On average, the classes, which are live streamed on his Instagram account, have attracted about 300 people, some from as far as South Africa, Australia and the US.

A drive-through drop-off service has been set up for foodbanks in need of extra donations.

A local community group set up the system in a pub car park in Telford so people could donate food without having to leave their cars.

Organiser Debbie Farlery said the items would hopefully mean there would be enough "to feed a week's worth of people in need across Telford".

Image source, BBC Sport

"More people are on universal credit... and the Telford Crisis Centre said to me they had something like a 73% increase in demand since January."

People hoping to visit some of Severn Trent Water's visitor sites this bank holiday are being warned only a few have been opened.

Image source, Severn Trent

The firm shut them all in March when lockdown measures were brought in and reopened several smaller sites this week., external

In the West Midlands, they include Trimpley, Worcestershire (pictured), Shustoke, near Birmingham and Priorslee in Telford.

But larger sites, such as Tittesworth, in Staffordshire and Draycote Water, in Warwickshire, remain shut. The firm said it was hoping they may open next month., external