Conservatives increase majority on Shropshire Council
Labour group leader "concerned" by national picture
Man jailed after admitting for two armed raids
Further closures at Ludlow maternity unit
Updates on Friday 5 May 2017
Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather
A dry day with plenty of sunny spells, but feeling chilly in the breeze with top temperatures of 17C (63F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Tracey Higgins
BBC Local Live
I'm here with all of the news, sport, travel and weather updates this morning.
Do get in touch if you have a story or pictures you'd like to share with the rest of the County.
You can email, tweet, external or get in touch via our Facebook, external page.
We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 tomorrow.
A Shropshire charity which collects unwanted football shirts and takes them to children in the poorest parts of the world has already made eight deliveries this year and handed out 2,239 shirts.
The Taking Football to Africa and Beyond Charitable Appeal, external has visited Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Nepal, Turkey and Syria.
Image source, Taking Football to AfricaIt is planning trips to Kenya and Zambia in the coming weeks, as well a trip to America to hand over shirts to US servicemen, who want to set up leagues with local teams over there.
The Classicist and TV presenter Mary Beard is visiting Church Preen Primary School on 26 May, to talk to the children about classical civilisations and her current job - Professor of Classics at Cambridge University.
Professor Beard is a former Church Preen Pupil and her mother was also headteacher at the school.
One of Shropshire’s hidden gems will be open to the public this week., external
An Oswestry woman has appeared before magistrates in Telford, charged with attempting to murder a baby.
The case relates to an incident at an address Shrewsbury on 22 April 2016.
The 31-year-old was held in custody and is next due to appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court on 30 May.
Due to reporting restrictions the defendant cannot be identified.
Lee Hughes is appointed joint-manager by relegated National League North side Worcester City.
Read MoreThe 31-year-old is accused of trying to kill a baby girl found in Shrewsbury in April last year.
Read MoreIt's been another beautiful afternoon around Shropshire and the BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about taking photos of the county.
These ones were taken in Oakengates (top) and Newport (below).
Image source, Ray
Image source, Ray
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
Shrewsbury Town's chief executive Brian Caldwell says he wants the team to "kick on" next season after securing their League One status last weekend.
In October, Town were bottom of the pack, but manager Paul Hurst's arrival led to a turnaround in form, with Shrewsbury finishing 18th, two places higher than last season.
Genevieve Tudor
Journalist, BBC Shropshire
Firefighters at stations in Telford, Wellington and Shrewsbury have observed a minute's silence this lunchtime, to commemorate colleagues who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Flags were also flown at half-mast and officers in charge read out the Firefighters Prayer.
A suspected "card duplication device" has been found on a cash machine in Telford., external
Police in Wellington are warning about a gang of rogue traders.
They say three men in their 20s have been knocking on doors in Dothill and offering to take rubbish to the tip for £30, saying they were already collecting waste for a relative nearby.
The rubbish was later found dumped on the side of a road.
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
As well as being polling day, today is also a day celebrated by Star Wars fans because May the fourth sounds a lot like the film's catchphrase "may the force be with you".
And it's not gone unnoticed by the library in Market Drayton, which has taken to Twitter, external to advertise its Star Wars novels, or by police in the town.
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BBC News England
In case you were wondering why Thursday always seems to be the day we vote on in the UK, here's a BBC explanation:
Explaining the Thursday tradition
We've got blue skies around Shropshire now, but earlier this morning it was a bit overcast and you can see that in these photos shared by BBC Weather Watchers in Market Drayton (left) and Ludlow (right).
What do they say about red skies in the morning?
Image source, Loisflower/FoggyJames Bond
BBC Shropshire
The new principal at the Telford College of Arts and Technology says its planned merger with New College will make a "tremendous difference" to the local community.
Graham Guest, who started work on Tuesday, has also been spending his first days in the job talking to local businesses and potential employers for his students.
The new principal at TCAT is looking for a successful merger with New College
David Gregory-Kumar
Science correspondent, BBC Midlands Today
Scientists at Harper Adams University have started using unmanned tractors to sow a field of barley.
They have been working on technology to allow robots and drones to plant, grow and harvest crops.
Robocrop: The tractor sowing crops with no one at the wheel
Four people are in hospital after a three-car crash on the M54 this morning.
A man and a woman in their 40s were taken to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton with back pain along with two children with minor injuries. The man was also suffering neck pain.
Image source, GoogleThe collision happened between junction three for Cosford and junction two for Wolverhampton at 08:31.
