BBC Shropshire

A group of musicians have released an album to raise money for NHS charities during the pandemic.

Image source, Mark Fielden

Organised by Mark Fielden, from Shrewsbury, most of the songwriters are from Shropshire.

"Music means a lot to many, many people so it seemed the obvious route to go down and so the CD was born," he said.

The group's decided to make the album, named Together, available to download, but also as a CD so people can have and, in the future, "remember what we did".

Inspectors highlight a "serious failing" in the way a council identified potential sites.

David Gomoh was fatally stabbed outside his home days after his father died with coronavirus.

Surely these bears could do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs?

If you've no idea what we mean - afraid you can't escape Star Wars references online as it's May the fourth (be with you).

Image source, Richard Crisp

Still, you have to love bears dressed up during the lockdown and Richard Crisp's sent this photo in from Childs Ercall, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

He said his wife Jan's been keeping local families amused during lockdown by having a daily window scene with these bears.

Richard added: "Today's photo is possibly the best!"

Shropshire Star

A few of the stories making the headlines in the Shropshire Star today:

• Shropshire recycling centres to reopen – under strict rules, external
• Teenager suspected of murdering young NHS worker arrested in Telford, external
• Shropshire RAF veteran proudly serving again in NHS care role, external

A post-mortem examination found David Gomoh was stabbed in the chest and abdomen.

A student nurse is set to "brave the shave" for a hospital charity.

Harry George, of Shrewsbury, is a second year nurse student at Staffordshire University and has so far raised more than £300 ahead of his head shave on 16 May.

The 22-year-old said: "I aim raising money for the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Charity to support the staff who have had to step out of their comfort zone during the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

"As a student who has worked in a number of different departments at the trust during my work placements I have seen first-hand the day-to-day pressures everybody faces."

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News

Hairdressers to the stars, Royston Blythe and Nick Malenko, have launched a campaign to offer free services to NHS staff.

The pair, who feature on ITVBe's the Real Housewives of Cheshire, called on salons across the UK to join National Hair Sunday.

The campaign pledges to give free hairdressing to NHS staff on the first Sunday that lockdown restrictions allow.

Thousands of salons across the UK have signed up including the Francesco Group, which has 40 salons across England.

Royston Blythe, who has salons in Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury, has styled Katy Perry, Antonio Banderas and Lily Cole.

Thousands of salons across the UK sign up to give free hairdressing to NHS workers after lockdown.

David Gomoh was fatally stabbed seconds after leaving his home in east London, police say.

BBC Weather Watchers

The sunny weather we saw last month has gone and been replaced by dark grey cloud.

These photos were taken at Doddenham in Worcestershire and Telford in Shropshire by BBC Weather Watchers.

Image source, TreeTops

Image source, Wrekin Rambler

An appeal to keep the Severn Valley Railway running has now raised £650,000.

The historic railway launched the fundraising bid in March to pay for 'care and maintenance', with an initial target of £250,000.

General manager Helen Smith said the railway has "already suffered a huge loss in income from tickets and secondary spend, and don’t know how long this will continue."

She said in a normal year the railway would look to spend around £4.5m on the railway, with the money coming from visitor revenue.

The 16-mile railway, which operates between Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth, ran its last service on 15 March and has had to cancel a number of big revenue-making events.

Betty Green says her secret to living to 100 years old is down to "boys, booze and baccy".

An independent brewery has stepped in during lockdown to support pubs that stock its beer.

Joules Brewery in Market Drayton, Shropshire, has told pubs that it will provide credit for any beer currently in cellars that can't be sold, so no-one is out of pocket.

Image source, Google

The brewery has also cancelled rents and is planning concessions for its franchisees when they're finally allowed to open.

BBC News

Testing of residents in care homes should have happened sooner, according to the manager of a site in Shropshire.

The government is now sending out kits to care homes to test their residents and staff, as well as using mobile units.

But Carey Bloomer, managing director of Marches Care Ltd in Shrewsbury, told the BBC she felt it had taken too long.

She said: "I do think there's a tsunami of deaths that we probably, we may have been able to avoid, should we have had this testing an awful lot earlier.

"Because the elderly do not present in the classic way, they don't normally have rip-roaring temperatures, it can be quite insidious. They [seem to be] just a bit off colour."

As well as painting roads to thank NHS staff and other key workers, Telford and Wrekin Council has been decorating four roundabouts.

The authority said the messages of support were done on its staff's own time and wasn't getting in the way of day jobs.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A Telford secondary school could expand to take on another 300 students, increasing its capacity by a third.

The Telford Langley School, in Dawley, has applied to build an extension with 14 classrooms and other facilities, saying its expecting to see student numbers increase in the coming years.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

Image source, LDRS

Another six streets in Telford are being painted with messages of thanks to NHS staff and other key workers.

Newport High Street is the latest to get the treatment and Telford and Wrekin Council said it would be painting the others today and tomorrow.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council

Mike Matthews says the rough sleepers he has given rooms to have become "extended family".

A Bridgnorth stonemason is hoping to donate this carved angel wing to the NHS, to show his appreciation for the work its doing.

Christopher Lawrence carved it for the Backyard Stone Carving Festival, which was held over four days over last weekend and encouraged people to create works of art at their home.

Image source, Christina-Clare Photography

Mr Lawrence said he will contact the NHS today, to see if it can be displayed at the town's hospital.

Image source, Christina-Clare Photography