Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

The family of a retiring police officer hoping to keep the police dog he trained when he hangs up his harness have spoken of their surprise at the numbers of people who have signed a petition supporting his wish.

Image source, Jennie Evans

Dog handler Sgt David Evans has been told he will have to pass the animal, Ivy, a Malinois cross German Shepherd, on to another handler to continue working for West Mercia Police, the family said.  

His daughter Jennie began an online petition to support her father, but spoke of her shock when it drew global interest with people signing "from as far as Canada and New Zealand" among more than 15,000 signatures, she said.

The family has had 12 ex-police dogs through the years, which Ms Evans said have all come home to live out their days with the family in Market Drayton, Shropshire.

Firefighters are hoping to find out if a dog they rescued in Donnington is someone's pet that may have gone missing.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

Here are Monday's top stories so far:

- Campaigners are calling for a police dog to stay with its handler when the officer retires

- A "major funding crisis" is looming for schools, The National Audit Office is warning

- Firefighters have rescued a pet from under shed and are hoping to find its owner

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

A cold and frosty start to the day with some misty patches.

There will be plenty of dry and bright weather for most of the day but it will cloud over and some showers will arrive in the late part of the afternoon. 

Highs of 6C (43F). Find out more. 

Carlie Swain
BBC Local Live

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for a police dog to be allowed to remain with her Shropshire handler when the officer retires.

Sgt Dave Evans wants to be allowed to keep four-year-old Ivy the German Shepherd, but his family say they have been told that will not be possible. 

He has offered to cover the cost of another dog to replace her. Since the petition was launched the force has said the chief constable has been told and has offered to speak to the officer personally. 

Ian Perry
BBC Radio Shropshire

Teaching unions say schools in Shropshire could be faced with a major funding crisis.

Image source, Thinkstock

The National Audit Office says there's a £3bn shortfall in the schools budget for England. 

Unions are also warning of staffing cuts and increased class sizes. When it comes to funding, they've calculated that by 2019 schools in Shropshire will be £395 - that's 9% - per pupil worse off than they were in 2015, and in Telford and Wrekin they'll be 4% worse off. 

The government insists it is putting a record amount of money into schools, but critics say they've failed to take account of rising pupil numbers and increased costs.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

I'll be bringing you Monday's news, sport, travel and weather updates.

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