BBC Midlands Today

Young drivers   can now experience the consequences of making a bad decision when behind the wheel through a new virtual reality , external app. 

"Drive VR" has been developed by the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia for drivers aged 16-24.

Image source, Warwickshire and West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership

The group says they get to choose a character similar to themselves and the app then shows them how a split-second decision can be a life-changing one.

The partnership say they hope the app will help promote safe-driving for life.

Shropshire health campaigner Joyce Brand has called cuts to spending on some operations "quite barbaric".

The Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is aiming to save nearly £18m from its 2017-8 budget and is going to change the guidelines which set out when surgery is necessary, to reduce what it sees as "unnecessary surgery".

Image source, SaTH

The CCG's accountable officer, Simon Freeman, said the cuts can be made without big changes to services and that people who need surgery will still get it.

But Mrs Brand said the cutbacks would force people to put up with "really painful conditions".

BBC Weather Watchers

The sun is out across the county, and it's staying out. Feeling mild too. 

Just take a look at the great photos captured by our Weather Watchers in Peplow (top) and Oswestry (bottom).

Image source, Shropshire Golfer

Image source, Julie

Shropshire Council is looking to build and rent out homes to bring in extra money. 

Labour-run Telford and Wrekin Council already do it and make £600,000 a year.

In three years' time authorities won't get government grants and will rely on business rates, council tax and bringing in investment themselves. 

Councillor leader Malcolm Pate says that's why they're considering building.

Faith Page
Reporter, BBC Shropshire

Health campaigners say Shropshire's NHS Commissioners should be "ashamed of themselves" for cutting spending on hip and knee replacements. 

It's part of plans to save nearly £18m from the 2017-18 budget. 

The clinical commissioning group (CCG) for Shropshire - excluding Telford and Wrekin - says some patients will benefit from having physiotherapy instead of surgery. 

The policy also includes conditions such as gallstones, tonsillitis and bariatric surgery. 

BBC Sport

Paul Hurst says he's looking forward to facing Shrewsbury Town fans tonight. 

It's an open forum with the manager at the Greenhous Meadow at 19:30 - with BBC Radio Shropshire's Stuart Dunn leading the proceedings. 

Hurst's promising to be as open as he can with anything that might be thrown at him.

If you can't get to the session, then you can listen here tomorrow from 18:00.

Andrew Hewkin
Newsreader, BBC Shropshire

People living near an ambulance hub in Shrewsbury are demanding action over the number of vehicles dispatched on 999 calls. 

Figures from a Freedom of Infomation request, seen by the BBC, show 4,448 ambulances were sent to emergency calls from near Longden Road in 2016. 

That's around 12 a day. Residents claim that's too many. 

Image source, WMAS

The depot on Longden Road is supposed to be used to maintain vehicles and not to dispatch from. 

But with two schools located on the road, local residents have demanded action from their local councillor Nic Laurens. He claims the situation is dangerous and "will only get worse". 

Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather

A bright and sunny day ahead, with some scattered cloud and highs of 13C (55F).

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

Photographer Michael Scott found the underground sanctuary after stumbling across a video online.

Carlie Swain
BBC Local Live

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

Got a story or picture to share? You can email us or get in touch via Facebook , external or Twitter, external . 

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.

The orthopaedic hospital at Gobowen is looking to hire more nurses to work in its operating theatres and plans to hold a recruitment day on Sunday.

It says there will be a chance to have a job interview on the day and successful applicants could be offered a contract straight away.

Image source, RJAH

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt hospital has held two other recruitment days in recent months, hiring 24 new staff.

Shrewsbury Chronicle

The operator of some of Shropshire’s most popular pubs and restaurants has admitted it is to close eight more sites around the country after racking up a £40 million loss last year., external

BBC Sport

AFC Telford United striker Lee Hughes could be out for another fortnight with his groin injury, assistant manager Larry Chambers says.

He missed their 6-0 defeat last night and Telford hope to have him back for the Bradford game, but admit it could take longer than that.

Image source, Mike Sheridan

Chambers also said the club might look to bring in fresh players ahead of Saturday's game, because the performance of the players they have wasn't good enough.

Dave Wade
BBC Local Live

The owner of two blocks of flats, which had no working fire alarms, put his tenants' lives at risks, a court heard.

Fire inspectors visited Brookview Court in Nottingham Road in 2015 after a tenant complained, Derby Crown Court heard yesterday.

They found there had been no working fire alarm system in the flats or common areas since 2007, there was defective emergency lighting and neither repairs nor a risk assessment were carried out after the visit.

Image source, Google

Robert Reilly, 66, of Much Wenlock in Shropshire, admitted four fire regulation breaches and was sentenced to four months, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay costs of £3,000 at Derby Crown Court yesterday,  according to the fire service., external

Area manager, Alex Johnson, said: “If a fire had broken out in any of the flats, due to the lack of a functioning alarm system, no alarm would have been raised. 

"Anyone discovering the fire would only have been able to raise the alarm by knocking on doors or pressing doorbells to rouse residents, by that time, any fire could have developed to prevent their escape down the only staircase."

Shefali Oza
BBC Midlands Today

You can also get the latest forecasts for your part of the West Midlands by heading to the BBC Weather website.

Westminster's sodden village green on a Budget Day of mixed metaphors

The police are trying to catch a number of motorcyclists who have been riding illegally around fields in the Benthall area.

The force say it will be carrying out patrols in the area, but has so far been unable to catch them in the act.

The motorcyclists have been warned that if they are caught they could be served with a warning notice - their bikes could be seized and crushed if they repeat the offence within 12 months.

BBC Weather Watchers

The BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing more of their photos of the county this afternoon.

These ones were taken in Shrewsbury (top) and near Badger (below).

If you want to sign up to be a weather watcher, you can do it online.

Image source, Bingoswestry

Image source, PJ's

Shrewsbury Chronicle

Around £14,000 has been raised to save Shropshire’s Regimental Museum, after it was revealed that its funding was being withdrawn., external