Summary

  • An extra £1m for Shropshire A&E departments

  • Nine sentenced over Telford-based drugs operation

  • Extra police patrols following train vandalism

  • AFC Telford United make emergency goalkeeper signing

  • Updates on Friday 21 April 2017

  1. General election 2017: How do I register to vote?published at 18:01 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Don't get left outside on polling day. Here are details of what you need and where you need to go to register for the general election on 8 June:

    Media caption,

    The deadline to register is 22 May

  2. On Midlands Today from 18:30: Trains to carry free entertainmentpublished at 17:59 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Peter Plisner
    BBC Midlands Today

    On Midlands Today this evening, we'll have more on the news that free entertainment and wi-fi services are coming to some London Midland train services. 

    Peter Plisner on London Midland

    The firm behind the new system says there's something for everyone, from films to Peppa Pig - plus onboard wi-fi.  

    I've been swapping my magazine for a phone and will have more from 18:30 on BBC One.

  3. Watch: Lorry delivers 87-tonne casting machinery to Telfordpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Nicola Beckford
    Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

    A 96-wheel, 16-axle, lorry has driven across Europe to deliver a 87-tonne piece of machinery to a factory in Telford today.

    It's going to form part of a 273-tonne aluminium casting machine at the Magna Cosmo plant.

    Media caption,

    An 87-tonne piece of aluminium casting machinery has been delivered to a Telford factory

  4. Watch: The London Marathon finish linepublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Stephanie Barnard
    BBC Local Live

    Do you know someone who ran the London Marathon yesterday or maybe you ran it yourself?

    You can watch a feed of the finish line, showing everyone who finished between 2hrs 30mins and 6hrs.

    Find out their time and you can catch the moment they crossed the line.

    From tears of joy, limping over the line, through to some rather tired faces - watch six hours (or skip forward) and see friends/family/loved ones cross the finish line via the BBC iPlayer.

  5. Gritting lorries go out in Aprilpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    It seems a bit late in the year for the council gritting lorries, but they are being sent out around Shropshire tonight, with temperatures forecast to drop close to freezing.

    Gritting lorryImage source, Shropshire Council
  6. Your photos: Mystery bird appears in field near Oswestrypublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    One for the bird-experts here - a farmer near Oswestry says he is being visited what appears to be an Australian white ibis.

    Because the birds aren't native to this country, Thomas Bebb wonders if it might have escaped from a zoo or sanctuary.

    IbisImage source, Thomas Bebb

    If you know more about this bird, we'd love to hear from you - you can get in touch via email or by calling 01743 248484.

  7. Council elections: Conservatives promise 'measurable targets'published at 17:00 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    The leader of the Conservatives on Shropshire Council, Councillor Malcolm Pate, says his party is promising "measurable targets" in its manifesto.

    He also promised to keep council tax down to "reasonable levels".

    Malcolm PateImage source, Shropshire Council

    Mr Pate is looking to maintain the Conservative's grip on the local authority and said he hoped to stay on as leader if they retained power.

    All seats on the unitary authority are up for election on 4 May. We'll bring you the other parties' views through the week. 

  8. China collection expected to fetch £70,000published at 16:46 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Genevieve Tudor
    Journalist, BBC Shropshire

    A collection of blue and white patterned china will go under the hammer on Wednesday and is expected to fetch around £70,000. 

    The 400-piece collection of Caughley porcelain belongs to the Rev Maurice Wright and his wife, Janet and will be sold through Halls Auctioneers.

    China collection
  9. Massive delivery for new Telford factorypublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Telford Journal

    One of the biggest industrial developments in Shropshire in years took a big step forward, external today with the delivery of a massive piece of machinery.

    LorryImage source, Shropshire Star
  10. Chemical used to clear path through fieldpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Someone has used an unknown chemical to clear a path through a field near St Martins, without telling the farmer who owns the land.

    Moors lane footpathImage source, West Mercia Police

    The police say public footpaths are usually maintained by either the council or by farmers and they are advising people to avoid the footpath, which joins Moors Land and the Churchfields area of the village, until the substance has time to evaporate.

    They say there is no way of knowing how strong the chemical is and they have concerns about animals which might use that route.

  11. Your questions: What was Ironbridge called before the bridge?published at 15:15 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Andy Giddings
    BBC Shropshire

    Richard Downes got in touch through the Your Questions section of the BBC website, to ask "Did a village exist at Ironbridge before the iron bridge was built? If so what was it called and why was this site chosen for the bridge?"

    Great question and we went to the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, external for the answer.

    We were told the simple answer to the first part is that there was a community there before the bridge and it was called Coalbrookdale - a name which still describes the area a little further along the gorge.

    Iron bridge

    And the museums say the location was chosen for two reasons - because it was high enough for boats to pass underneath and because the land there was stable enough to support a bridge.

  12. VR enters world of drink-driving horrorpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Teenagers who tried out the police virtual reality experience were visibly shocked.

    Read More
  13. Watch: Shrewsbury runner completes marathon journalpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Carlie Swain
    BBC Local Live

    Among the Shropshire runners taking part in the London Marathon yesterday was Philip Fewtrell from Shrewsbury.

    He had a special starting place alongside celebrities in recognition of his efforts to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation.

    And he had been keeping a video journal of his preparations for the run.

    Media caption,

    Shrewsbury man's London Marathon story

  14. Ice hockey: Uncertainty over league future for Tigerspublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Andy Giddings
    BBC Shropshire

    It's not clear which league Telford Tigers will be playing in next season, because it appears the English Premier Ice Hockey League won't continue.

    Two of the teams from last season, Guildford and Milton Keynes, have bought themselves places in the Elite League next season and Manchester have gone out of business.

    Telford TigersImage source, Steve Brodie

    The remaining seven teams, including the Tigers, have been advised by the English Ice Hockey Association to apply for places in the National Ice Hockey League - the league below the old EPL.

    The Tigers say the move was "unexpected" and they are weighing up their options.

  15. Wyre Forest Lib Dems name their parliamentary candidatepublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    The Liberal Democrats have announced that Councillor Shazu Miah will be their candidate for the Wyre Forest constituency in the general election. 

    Mr Miah says he will be campaigning against a hard Brexit and for keeping Britain in the single market.

    Shazu MiahImage source, Wyre Forest Liberal Democrats
    Quote Message

    Thirty six percent of Wyre Forest residents voted to remain in the EU and many more oppose the reckless decision of this hard-right Conservative government to pursue a 'hard Brexit'. Only the Lib Dems here in Wyre Forest are truly fighting her plans and fought to Remain."

    Shazu Miah, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate

    The deadline for nominating candidates is 11 May, but most parties will want their representatives in place well before that. 

    We'll bring you the latest on the election campaign as we get it.

  16. Your photos: Cloudy day in south Shropshirepublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    It's a cloudy day in south Shropshire as these photos of Ludlow and Church Stretton show - thanks to BBC Weather Watchers Shropshire Lass, Snapper Simon and Foggy.

    LudlowImage source, Shropshire Lass
    Church StrettonImage source, Snapper Simon
    LudlowImage source, Foggy
  17. Noisy protest over A&E downgrade planspublished at 13:14 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Up to 900 people join a march in protest over plans to downgrade Telford's A&E.

    Read More
  18. Football: Shrewsbury fans celebrate on the pitchpublished at 13:06 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    Nick Southall
    Journalist, BBC Shropshire

    Shrewsbury fans were on the pitch after the final whistle on Saturday, to celebrate a win which almost certainly secures their League One status.

    The manager Paul Hurst said the move that led to the winning goal was one they'd talked about at half time, but he admitted he couldn't see the moment when Junior Brown put the ball in the net.

  19. Watch yourself finishpublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    #GetInspired

    Runners completing the London Marathon

    If you took part in the London Marathon yesterday, massive congratulations - we hope you're not aching too much today.

    You can watch highlights of the day here.

    And, if your time was between 2hrs 30mins and 6hrs, you can see yourself finish with this special feed on iPlayer.

  20. Council leader challenges MPs over hospital commentspublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 24 April 2017

    The Labour leader of Telford and Wrekin Council is urging the town's two Conservative MPs to clarify what they mean, when they said the Princess Royal Hospital was to "keep" its women and children's centre. 

    Hundreds marched through Wellington yesterday, in protest at plans to move the consultant-led maternity department to Shrewsbury and downgrade accident and emergency services at the hospital.

    PRH march

    Neither MP was on the council-organised march, but both Lucy Allan and Mark Pritchard have recently said they are pleased with assurances from the hospitals over women and children's services.

    The hospital trust has said the Princess Royal Hospital will keep its midwife-led maternity unit, but the specialist consultant-led unit, currently housed in the £28m women and childrens building would move to Shrewsbury under its plans.