Environment Agency carries out big operation to clear Shropshire pool of unwanted invaders
MP warns hospital restructuring money could be at risk
German bomber delivered to RAF Museum Cosford
Updates on Friday 3 February 2017
Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire
An adventurer who swam through Shropshire and along the length of the River Severn last year has now successfully paddle boarded down Sri Lanka's longest river.
Kev Brady set off before Christmas and paddle-boarded the whole of the Mahaweli river, encountering elephants, bears and crocodiles along the way.
He's now making his way around the entire island.
Urgent action is needed before someone is killed at a problem road junction, according to residents., external
The Environment Agency has been working to remove invasive topmouth gudgeon from a pool in Shropshire.
The creatures, which aren't native to the UK, breed quickly and are a threat to fish because they compete for food, eat the eggs of other fish and carry a parasite, the agency says.
The location of the pool hasn't been given, for business reasons.
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James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
The Shrewsbury Town manager has a spring in his step after bringing in eight new players during the January transfer window.
He said this week the squad had had its best training session since he arrived at the club.
The Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst is pleased with the eight players he has brought in
Patients at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt hospital at Gobowen are being given pagers, so they can be free to leave the surgery waiting room and feel confident of not missing their slot.
The trust says it's using the pagers in preference to mobile phones because reception is sometimes patchy.
Patients at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt hospital are being given pagers
The number of recorded sex offences committed by children on other children has doubled in the West Mercia area, a charity has learned.
A freedom of information request by Barnardo's, external shows the number of offences rose by 128% in three years across the whole force area
Image source, BBC/Science Picture Library
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
Our headlines this lunchtime:
- MP warns hospital restructuring money could be at risk
- Two groups bid to run Church Stretton library
- Hospital gives pagers to patients waiting for operations
The county's chances of getting government funding to reconfigure its hospitals are "being put into jeopardy" because an agreement can't be reached on what to do - according to the MP for Shrewsbury.
Proposals to downgrade Telford's A&E department and base all emergency care in Shrewsbury have faced opposition from politicians in Telford and have been put on hold while a review is carried out.
Daniel Kawczynski warned "the longer we continue to fight one another in Shropshire, the further back in the queue we will come" and said around £300m would be needed to fund the proposed changes.
Quote MessageOther parts of the United Kingdom are going through the same process and they have got their ducks in a row much quicker than we have done. They've come together as counties collectively, cross party, and they are going to the government with their business cases for additional funding."
Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
It's not a good day to be outside, because we are forecast heavy rain and blustery winds this afternoon.
Latest weather for the West Midlands
A new town could be built on green fields in Telford, external, with 665 houses, offices, new shops, play areas and new public transport access.
Nick Southall
Journalist, BBC Shropshire
The AFC Telford United manager, Rob Smith, is pleased with his new goalkeeper and says signing Matt Urwin was a "no brainer".
Urwin was signed from Fleetwood Town to replace James Montgomery, who left to join Gateshead.
The AFC Telford United manager, Rob Smith, is pleased with his new goalkeeper
Tracey Higgins
BBC Local Live
A north Shropshire road that's shut during the day for resurfacing work is said to be "causing chaos".
Shropshire Council says repairing the route between the A49 and the A41 at Prees Green is "essential" and likely to continue for another five weeks.
Image source, GooglePeople who live nearby have described lorries turning around dangerously, and shopkeeper Belinda Thomas says customers can't get to her.
Quote MessageIt's pointless being open, for what I'm earning. I get a few customers before they shut the road off at 09:30 and when they reopen it in the afternoon. But the bit in the middle I get nobody."
Belinda Thomas, Shopkeeper
Pupils from Shropshire were shown the horrors of Auschwitz , externalduring a schools visit to Poland this week.
Image source, Shropshire StarAndy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
Our headlines this morning:
- Further options explored to keep A&Es safe after consultant quits
- Two groups bid to run Church Stretton library
- Passenger group complains about bus subsidy plans
Tracey Higgins
BBC Local Live
Two groups have come forward to say they'd like to run Church Stretton library, Shropshire Council says.
A previous attempt to move it to a new site was abandoned last year, after a legal challenge by local residents.
Image source, GoogleIt costs Shropshire Council up to £40,000 a year to run the library and the authority wants to hand over control to a charity or community group.
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
Shrewsbury Town Manager Paul Hurst says he's delighted with his new-look squad.
Hurst held his first training session yesterday since the transfer window closed on Tuesday night and feels the signs look good for a climb up the League One table
Quote MessageThat was the best session we've had since I've been here and would take some beating to be honest. In terms of the tempo, the quality, everyone's attitude, you know for me that's really set the bar high."
Paul Hurst, Shrewsbury Town Manager
Tracey Higgins
BBC Local Live
A document looking at bus routes and which ones Shropshire Council should subsidise has been described as "flawed" by a passenger group.
The Council would like commercial companies to run more services, but will also continue to fund priority routes.
Image source, PAThe passenger group "Bus Users Shropshire" claim the consultation has been used to justify cuts rather than looking at the needs of the rural County.
The Council has refused to comment on the outcome of the consultation at this stage.
Urgent action is needed before someone is killed at a problem road junction, external, according to residents.
Nick Southall
Journalist, BBC Shropshire
The chief executive of Shropshire's two acute hospitals Simon Wright says further options are being explored to keep accident and emergency services .
It comes as the already stretched service looks set to lose another consultant.
That leaves just four consultants at the two sites, instead of a recommended minimum of 10.
The trust says the service is fragile and that it can't continue to operate in this way.
Yesterday, Mr Wight said A&E services were being kept open on the "goodwill of staff".
Tracey Higgins
BBC Local Live
The top stories in Shropshire this morning:
- Shropshire's A&E units will be left in a fragile state with the expected loss of another consultant, the hospital trust warns
- Document looking at which bus routes Shropshire Council should subsidise described as "flawed"
- Closure of a road in Prees Green for resurfacing is said to be "causing chaos"
