Hospitals chief exec says A&E review will be back on track in weeks
Motorcyclist knocked off bike by Christmas lights stretched across road
Shrewsbury Town manager wants to improve disciplinary record
Updates from Thursday 15 December
A spinal injuries patient at a Shropshire hospital, external has got married – with a little help from his physiotherapist.
Image source, Shropshire Star
Joanne Gallacher
Political reporter, BBC Shropshire
An Oswestry tourist attraction that has expanded, largely without planning permission, has finally put in a retrospective application to Shropshire Council.
It was revealed in March that the British Ironwork Centre, external - famous for making a gorilla sculpture from spoons - had grown without the agreement of the local authority.
Image source, GoogleIts owner Clive Knowles has previously said he decided not to ask for permission for the café, toilets and the showroom as he was busy getting ready for a royal visit.
Another dull, cloudy and overcast day and again it’ll be mild.
There is scope for a little bit of brightness today but in the main it’ll be cloudy with a few spots of drizzle. Highs of 10 (50F).
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Here are some of the stories we're looking at this morning:
- West Mercia Police is promising more officers in town centres on the busiest nights this Christmas
- Oswestry tourist attraction submits planning permission to build, having already expanded its property
- RSCPA praises court decision to ban Telford man from keeping animals after he poisoned a neighbour's dog
BBC Travel
The roads aren't looking too bad around Shropshire this morning, but there are a few delays because of roadworks.
Haygate Road in Wellington is looking slow where gas works are ongoing, as is Brampton Road in Bishop's Castle, where there are water main works.
Alex Seftel
BBC Local Live
I'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates.
If you have a story, a comment, or any pictures for us, you can get in touch via email, Facebook , externaland 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.
Rebecca Wood
BBC Weather
It's going to be a cloudy evening and a cloudy night for most of us, but there will also be some fog in the west of the county.
The BBC weather forecast for the West Midlands
A number of shops around Telford have been given fake cash vouchers, the police say.
The real "Compliments" vouchers can be redeemed in stores, but have a number of security features including a bronze (not gold) hologram and a black circle on the rear that can be smudged to prove they are authentic.
Image source, West Mercia PoliceA Christmas tree should also appear on genuine vouchers when placed under a UV light and the police are visiting retailers in Telford Town Centre to help staff tell the difference between the fakes and the real thing.
We're starting to get some really festive photos, shared by the BBC Weather Watchers and we loved this one, taken in Telford earlier.
The colours look like they could be part of a Christmas display.
Image source, Raj's RangeAnd we had to share this photo, taken in Newport earlier.
Image source, Tay
Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser
An action plan to deal with future flooding in part of Ludlow is being prepared, external.
A Shrewsbury company that makes and restores guns is warning that unless more people train in the craft, it could die out.
Christian Riley set up Midlands Gun Services, external a year ago and says he's been doing good business, especially around the shooting season, and also gets outsourced work from companies in London.
The sport has grown in popularity, with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation reporting the number of female numbers rising by a third in the last five years, but Mr Riley says it is difficult to find a training course to learn traditional gun-smithing skills and there aren't enough apprentices coming through.
A Shrewsbury gun maker says he has seen business take off since he started a year ago
Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester
A man has appeared at Hereford Magistrates Court today charged with owning two dogs which were dangerously out of control and allowing his dogs to worry livestock.
The 64-year-old, from Stanton Lacey near Ludlow, was also charged with having an offensive weapon, an iron bar, in a public place.
He didn't enter a plea for any of the charges and is due to attend Worcester Crown Court next month.
The charges come after 34 lambs were killed in fields at Risbury in September and another 22 injured - the animals were valued at £21,000.
The leaders of Shropshire's two main councils say they fear hospitals in the county could be forced into making changes to accident and emergency departments, before a decision can be made on their long-term future.
Councillors Malcolm Pate and Shaun Davies have written to the Secretary of State for Health, external to express their concerns, following the decision of the county's Clinical Commissioning Groups to delay a review of hospital services.
Image source, SaTHThey have pointed to a recently published NHS report which says further reductions in consultant numbers would lead to real issues for the A&Es.
And yesterday the chief executive of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust warned his A&E departments couldn't continue rely on the "good will" of staff.
Quote MessageWe believe it is vital for the safety of our residents that the A&E departments at both hospitals are adequately staffed and maintained in their current form until the outcome of the ongoing acute reconfiguration is fully implemented. Our concerns are very real and jointly held and would ask that immediate action is taken to resolve this very serious situation.”
Councillors Malcolm Pate and Shaun Davies, Leaders of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin councils
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
Our headlines this evening:
- Council leaders fear changes to A&E before hospitals review can be completed
- AFC Telford United looks to relaunch shares in new year after "disappointing" initial take-up
- Telford produces above-average primary school results
Players and staff from AFC Telford United will be visiting children at the Princess Royal Hospital later, to deliver Christmas presents.
The gifts have all been bought with their own cash and they'll be giving presents to the doctors and nurses too.
The players will also be signing autographs and handing out match tickets for the children.
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Shropshire's two accident and emergency departments are reporting a 10% rise in the number of patients they've seen this week, compared with the previous week - up to about 350 a day.
Of those, they say only around a third have needed to be admitted and they're urging people only to go to A&E if there is no alternative.
West Midlands Ambulance Service has also reported an increase in the number of patients it has transported in the county.
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The price of a historic mansion up for sale has been slashed by £1m for the second time., external
Image source, Barbers and Reeves and Partners
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
The draw's been made for the Shropshire Premier Cup semi-finals.
The holders, Market Drayton Town will play Whitchurch Alport and Shawbury United will face Newport Town.
BBC Travel
The A5 in Gobowen is partially blocked and there is slow traffic in both directions between the B5009 junction and Gledrid Roundabout, because of an accident.
