One in four women are transferred from midwife-led units to consultants after facing complications when giving birth, a BBC investigation finds.

It should have taken 15 minutes to transfer Catherine Buckley from a midwife-led unit to the care of a doctor.

Instead, it took almost an hour to travel the 18 miles from Shrewsbury to Telford as the 35-year-old tried not to have her baby in the back of an ambulance. Her husband, Jack, 32, arrived half an hour before her.

Image source, Catherine Buckley

Eight months on, Ralph is a happy, healthy baby, but his mother said she would not choose again to have a child at a freestanding midwife-led unit, with no doctors present.

She chose to use the midwife-led unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, because it is the closest to her home, but was transferred during labour to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford after experiencing complications.

Women in Shropshire who opt to give birth locally, but are transferred because of possible complications, have to travel some of the longest distances in the country, research by the BBC has found. 

About one in four women end up being transferred from midwife-led units to sites staffed by consultants, like the one in Telford. 

NHS bosses say stand-alone midwife-led units are just as safe as doctor-led hospital care for low-risk deliveries.

BBC England's data unit contacted 139 hospital trusts, receiving information back about 128 midwife-led units in England under the Freedom of Information Act.  

Carlie Swain
BBC Local Live

Here are some of the stories we're looking at this morning:

- Telford and Wrekin councillors agree to start a legal challenge if proposed hospital changes go ahead

- Women from Shropshire who are transferred during labour have to travel some of the longest distances in the country, a Freedom of Information request by the BBC shows

- North Shropshire College is to get an upgrade from its inadequate Ofsted rating

BBC Weather

A cloudy start with outbreaks of rain this morning, but it should clear up later. Sara has all the details. 

Carlie Swain
BBC Local Live

Good morning from the BBC Shropshire newsroom. I'm taking a look at the latest news, sport, travel and weather. 

You can get in touch via email, Facebook , externaland Twitter, external. 

At least three-quarters of West Midlands MPs have been abused or threatened while doing their job, a BBC investigation finds.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening and into the morning.

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

It's going to remain cloudy and there's the chance of some showers overnight.

The leaked NHS England letter which criticises progress on Shropshire's future healthcare plan has been welcomed by both Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire Council.

Image source, Google/BBC

Both authorities raised concerns about the Sustainability and Transformation Plan when it was published last week, saying it lacked detail and had flaws with its financial projections.

The letter from NHS England raises similar concerns.

Alex Seftel
Journalist, BBC Shropshire

Campaigners raising money for Shropshire's Syrian refugees are holding two collections in Shrewsbury.

The group called Shropshire Supports Refugees is looking for donations of clothes and household goods for families who've recently arrived in the county.

Image source, Google

Collections are taking place between 19:00 and 21:00 tonight and 09:00 until 11:00 tomorrow at the Quaker Meeting Room on Coton Mount.

The North Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson has been suggesting changes to the UK's immigration rules.

He was speaking in a parliamentary debate on the government's timetable for leaving the European Union.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

The theft of the Christmas lights in Sheriffhales appears to have upset a lot of people.

Peter Young, the leader of the group which puts them up, said he found it hard to take after building the collection of lights through public donations over a number of years.

Image source, Pippa Hodgetts

Pippa Hodgetts, who lives opposite the display, said the lights bring a lot of joy to people living in the village and they were finding it hard to explain to the children what had happened.

People have also been reacting on our Facebook page., external

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Our headlines this evening:

- Shropshire health boss responds to critical leaked letter from NHS England

- Funding found for police body cameras

- A village that had its Christmas lights stolen gets an offer of replacements

Shropshire Star

There are "positive indications" from the government over the long-awaited Shrewsbury North West Relief Road, according to the town's MP., external

Image source, Shropshire Star

Regional health bosses have "little confidence" in proposals for health services in Shropshire, a leaked letter reveals.

The man leading a review of healthcare in the county has responded to a leaked letter from NHS England which criticised its progress so far.

Simon Wright said the Sustainability and Transformation Plan was a "working document and should not be seen as the finished article" and he welcomed the concerns raised by NHS England.

Image source, SaTH

Mr Wright said the leaked letter was an "initial response" from NHS England to an early draft of the plan and that detail would be added later.

He also said the plan should be "seen in the context of a five-year plan that is still developing".

The letter, dated 1 December and signed by regional NHS bosses, called for a revised plan by Christmas.

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Shifnal has offered to help out neighbouring Sheriffhales, after the village had some of its Christmas lights stolen.

Shifnal Town Council said it had some spares in storage and it is prepared to lend them, if Sheriffhales can get them safety-checked.

Meanwhile, people in Sheriffhales are planning fundraising events for next year, to get them replaced permanently.

BBC Sport

Telford Tigers have signed the former Czech Republic international Lubomir Korhon.

The 38-year-old forward has experience playing in this country after spending four years at Sheffield Steeldogs, scoring 270 points in 177 games, before leaving at the end of last season.

Image source, Peter Best

The paperwork for Korhon won't be completed in time for him to play against Sheffield tonight, but he should be available to take to the ice at the weekend.

Six players have left the club since being offered new contracts and Korhon is the first to join them.

Oswestry and Borders Chronicle

Two Shropshire people are among 930 new names in the newly published 2017 edition of Who’s Who., external