Summary

  • 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

  1. Three sightings of missing foxpublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    There have been three sightings of the missing three-legged fox Thor, since it went missing from Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom, near Telford, on Saturday.

    The co-owner of the attraction, Edward Dorrell, said he was surprised there haven't been more reports of the four-year-old Arctic-silver fox cross, which lost one of its legs after injuring itself in its enclosure when it was young.

    ThorImage source, Hoo Farm

    Mr Dorrell said Thor was a "real softie" and used to people but he was concerned the fox was not used to traffic.

  2. Headlines: Hospitals agree sandwich deal; increase in speed-related crashes; Shrewsbury sign strikerpublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Andy Giddings
    BBC Shropshire

    Our headlines this evening:

    - Hospitals find new sandwich supplier after disagreement over payments

    - Increase in speed-related traffic collisions reported by police

    - Shrewsbury Town sign Barnsley striker on loan

  3. Shrewsbury sign Barnsley striker Paynepublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Shrewsbury Town sign striker Stefan Payne on loan from Championship side Barnsley for the rest of the season.

    Read More
  4. Football: Barnsley striker joins Shrewsbury Town on loanpublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    BBC Sport

    Shrewsbury Town have signed Barnsley striker Stefan Payne on loan until the end of the season.

    Stefan PayneImage source, Shrewsbury Town

    The 25-year-old former Fulham trainee has had spells at eight different clubs and was prolific in the lower leagues, scoring 40 goals in 85 appearances for Dover Athletic.  

  5. Hospitals find new sandwich supplierpublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Sandwiches are going back on the menu at the hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford, because another company has been found to supply them.

    SandwichesImage source, Thinkstock

    The last contractor pulled out after the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust asked them to renegotiate their deal and accept a new payment schedule.  

    The hospital trust says it apologises for the inconvenience to patients over the past three weeks.

  6. Fears for missing three-legged white foxpublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Wildlife centre staff expected more sightings of the Artic Siberian-cross fox described as a 'real softie'.

    Read More
  7. Increase in speed-related collisionspublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Last year there were 147 traffic collisions in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire which the police say, external were at least partially caused by speeding.

    Seven of those collisions were fatal - that's 16 more collisions than in 2015 and the highest number for five years.

    Police car door

    The force has also revealed the highest speed recorded in the region last year was 154mph (248kmph).

  8. Football: TNS sign Romanian defenderpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    James Bond
    Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

    The New Saints of Oswestry are set to sign a Romanian defender. 

    Mihai Leca has also been a regular in the Romanian Under 21s side and joins from Otelul Galati in the Romanian league.

    Leca has been training with the New Saints for the past few days and international clearance is expected on Wednesday.

  9. Headlines: Support for Trump ban; Wrekin MP hospital concern; three-legged fox escapespublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Andy Giddings
    BBC Shropshire

    Our headlines this afternoon:

    - More than 6,000 people in Shropshire sign a petition calling for President Trump's state visit to be cancelled  

    - Wrekin MP raises questions about hospital leadership after emergency care centre recommendation

    - Three-legged fox escapes from wildlife centre after a tree knocks down a fence

  10. Football: Departing Telford keeper thanks fanspublished at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    BBC Sport

    James Montgomery has left AFC Telford United on good terms and says he "can't thank the fans enough" for their support in his two years at the club.

    AFC Telford United have responded by thanking the 22-year-old for his service.

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    Montgomery admitted his dream was to eventually play at a higher level and the draw of full-time football was too strong to resist.

    Quote Message

    I'm still young so development is still massive. Most keepers don't come into their own until they are 30-year-olds, so I'm still a young buck really. So still got plenty of time and just want to keep on playing and keep on progressing."

    James Montgomery, Former AFC Telford United goalkeeper

  11. No jail for soldier who helped organise brawl after Telford matchpublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Shropshire Star

    A football thug who helped to incite a mass brawl after a match in Shropshire has been spared jail., external

  12. Watch: Telford man warms up for 'bum on seats' challengepublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Ian Perry
    BBC Radio Shropshire

    In April, Ian Bamber, from Telford, will be attempting to sit in every seat in Preston North End's stadium.

    And this morning he's been getting in some practice at AFC Telford United's Bucks Head ground.

    Media caption,

    A man is attempting to sit in every seat of one of AFC Telford United's stands today

  13. More than 6,000 sign Trump petition in Shropshirepublished at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    A petition calling for President Trump to be banned from making a state visit to the UK has been signed by 6,261 people in Shropshire - just over 1% of the population.

    It has been signed by more than a million people across the country and numbers of signatories have been rising rapidly since a US clampdown on immigration came into effect over the weekend, causing anger worldwide.

    Trump and MayImage source, PA

    Protests in response to Mr Trump's executive order are expected to take place after 17:00 in a number of towns and cities around Britain, including Wellington in Shropshire.

  14. Weather: Mist over the mere at Ellesmerepublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    We've had more mist and cloud to start the day and the BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing some stunning photos, like this one taken in Ellesmere.

    EllesmereImage source, RickandMeg
  15. Three-legged white fox escapes from wildlife centrepublished at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Andy Giddings
    BBC Shropshire

    A three-legged white fox has escaped from a wildlife centre near Telford, Shropshire, after a tree fell and damaged one of the fences in its enclosure.

    Thor the foxImage source, Hoo Farm

    Thor (pictured) was last spotted in the Crudgington area and Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom is asking people to get in touch if they see him.  

  16. Football: Telford keeper signs for Gatesheadpublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    James Bond
    Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

    James Montgomery has left AFC Telford United to join Gateshead.

    The goalkeeper has moved back to his native North East for an undisclosed fee.

    James MontgomeryImage source, Mike Sheridan

    The 22-year-old says he's loved his two years at Telford, but was drawn by the promise of full-time football.  

  17. MP raises questions about hospital leadershippublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    The MP for the Wrekin has raised concerns about the people running the hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford, after they came out in favour of having just one emergency care in the county, based in Shrewsbury.

    Mark Pritchard claimed the plans, which would also involve moving women and children's services from Telford to Shrewsbury, would put lives at risk.

    Mark Pritchard

    A review of hospital services, which made the same recommendations, is currently on hold after the county's health commissioners called for independent scrutiny of the process so far.

    Quote Message

    A lot of people are calling into question the leadership of the hospital trust and the leadership of clinical commissioning group. We've had enough of this to-ing and fro-ing, indecision, ill-founded decision and potentially, this going to put lives at risk, if it goes ahead

    Mark Pritchard, MP for the Wrekin

  18. Weather: Dry and cloudy with some rain overnightpublished at 11:59 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Sara Blizzard
    BBC Weather

    It's going to stay dry and overcast this afternoon, but we are forecast some rain overnight.

    Media caption,

    Latest weather for the West Midlands

  19. Football: Hurst pleased with pressure created by teampublished at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January 2017

    Shrewsbury have climbed to 19th in League One after their away draw with Gillingham and manager Paul Hurst is pleased with the pressure his side created in the second half.

    He said the players were more physical and "on the front foot" after half time.

    Paul Hurst

    Hurst also praised new signing Alex Rodman, who scored his first goal for the club since being released by Notts County earlier this month.